November 2022 Newsletter
News from the Spring Creek Chapter of TU
Visit our website for the most current information about Volunteer Opportunities, Conservation Projects, and more!
2022 George Harvey Award
Congrats Bob Vierck!
Bob Vierck, 2022 George Harvey Award Recipient: George Harvey was the father of the Penn State Flyfishing program, an author, and a mentor to the area’s flyfishing community. The George Harvey Award is named after him to acknowledge his outstanding contributions to conservation and preservation of the Spring Creek Watershed. Bob Vierck’s contributions to the Watershed continue George’s legacy.
In Memory of Ted Trostle
Ted Trostle’s Accomplishments for Trout Unlimited by Dan Kerstetter
Ted was a very well organized person who was dedicated to what he believed in. He started the Spring Creek Trout Unlimited Veterans Service Program’s Winter Education Program in 2016. I volunteered to help Ted with this program which he called the “Winter Session”. Ted and I believed that it was important to get people involved in Trout Unlimited and our Veterans Service Program. This program for the first year was called: “The Water That Matters, the Rod, the Line, Leader and Tippet plus the Fly That Catches”. This first Winter Session included seven sessions on consecutive Saturdays in January through February 2016 and one Saturday in March. Click HERE to read more about Ted and his dedication the SCCTU. Ted's obituary can be found HERE.
Annual Redd Count
Volunteers Needed!
We are almost a week away from the annual Redd Count and we still need volunteers! The Redd Count involves teams of volunteers counting and mapping redds (trout nests) in sections of Spring Creek. The Redd Count provides invaluable data used in assessing the continued health of the trout population in our watershed.
The 2022 Redd Count will be taking place on Saturday November 19, 2022 from 10 AM to 3 PM at Spring Creek Park. As always, hot food and coffee, as well as equipment for the volunteers will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to do their counts on the November 19, 2022, but feel free to conduct the counts whenever is convenient (as long as the fish are still spawning). There are a few things I could use your feedback on to help with assigning sections:
Please let me know if you are able to participate in the count this year, either on November 19, 2022 or another date. (Remember you don't have to participate precisely on November 19)
If you are able to participate, please let me know if you plan to come to the event on November 19 and if you need any equipment for the count. (Waders, wading staff)
Also, if you are participating, please let me know if there is a particular section you have counted in the past, or would like to count this year.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me any time at j.himesusc@gmail.com, my number is 513-545-7851 if you would rather chat on the phone.
Thank you, and I look forward to seeing old friends and some new faces at the count!
January General Meeting
Thursday, January 5th at 7:30pm
Join us for a our annual State of the Chapter meeting with President Jamie SanFilippo followed by a special presentation by Steelhead Guide, Jeff Blood!
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85842959389
Thank You Girl Scouts!
A group of Girl Scouts helped to plant 75 native trees and shrubs at our recently completed project on Spring Creek near the Trout Road Bridge. Clearwater Conservancy’s Colleen Delong provided the instructions for the scouts. The plants were supplied by Chesapeake Conservancy’s 10 Million Tree project and Pheasants Forever Georgia Port coordinated the planting locations.
Women Anglers
The Women Anglers held two events in October; both were well attended! On October 16, over 40 people attended the Mayflies and Manhattans at the Gamble Mill Speakeasy. This event was co-hosted with the SCCTU. Friends and fishing buddies enjoyed food and swapped “fishing stories!” On October 25, a dozen women fished Spring Creek. We saw lots of fish in the water, some rising, some looking at our flies, but not many hooked! Enjoy the pictures! If anyone would like to learn more about the Women Anglers, please contact Diane Brown at dmb490@gmail.com.
Rick VanHorn Memorial
On September 25 some 30 friends of Rick VanHorn gathered in a significant rainstorm at Fisherman’s Paradise to dedicate a tree to the legacy of Rick VanHorn. Attending were many members of the Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited (where Rick was the Treasurer for more than 10 years), as well as friends from all over the eastern U.S. The tree was planted just off to the side and behind the Tony Gerace Bench.
Rick was a long time volunteer with the chapter, treasurer, member of the board and volunteered for everything that came up. He was the recipient of the Order of the Sulphur award.
Holiday Party
Thursday, December 8th
Join us at the State College American Legion on Thursday, December 8th at 5:30pm! The cost is $20 per person, includes a pasta dinner, door prizes, and one free drink. Registration is required no later than November 30th.
Cedar Run Tree Planting
In October, volunteers planted 300 native shrubs and trees at the headwaters of Cedar Run (first major tributary of Spring Creek). Excellent work by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, Spring Creek Chapter Trout Unlimited, Habitat Forever LLC - Central Pennsylvania, National Resource Conservation Service.
2021 George Harvey Award- Roger Garthwaite
There is no more worthy recipient than Roger Garthwaite, the father of Otto’s Golf Fest -- and really so much more. Roger is a former ClearWater Conservancy board member, joining after getting to know more about ClearWater when he generously supported ClearWater with the highly successful Otto’s Golf Fest Fundraiser. Now in its 19th year, we’re so very grateful to have raised more than $1.3M for our conservation efforts.
Veteran Service Program
SCCTU VSP 2023 Winter Fly Fishing Program
Plans are underway for the 2023 SCCTU VSP Winter Fly Fishing Program Classes: Fly Fishing 101 and Beginner and Intermediate Fly Tying.
This annual Program will include an introduction to all the aspects of fly fishing, including fly fishing equipment and setup, flies and hatches on local trout streams, identifying different types of trout and the insects that they feed on, techniques for catching trout in our local streams, and manners on the stream. Classes are open to all who are interested.
Exact dates will be provided shortly. All classes will be held at the South Hills Business School at 480 Waupelani Drive, State College, PA 16801. Contact Ray for more information: rfaczan@aol.com
TROUT UNLIMITED HONORS VETERANS DAY WITH A COMPLIMENTARY MEMBERSHIP
Trout Unlimited would like to show our appreciation by inviting veterans to take advantage of our complimentary one-year trial TU membership* in honor of their service.
If you have a friend or family member who is not already a TU member, has served our country and shares our passion for conservation and fishing, we hope you will forward this message to them and share this offer on social media. This limited time offer is only available today, Veterans Day. So, don't delay.
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The Spring Creek Watershed Atlas
Title: An Overview of Pennsylvania Water Law
Author: Robert T. Caccese, Esq., Staff Attorney
Pennsylvania water law can be best described as various pieces of law interwoven together to manage water, but is not well designed for future demands and emergency situations. In addition, allocation of water is not quantified nor do sufficient databases exist to amend regulatory development based on the best science available. Sources of PA water law include common law, interstate compacts regulating some parts of the Commonwealth, and statutes targeting specific water topics. Both surface and groundwater are legally managed separately under riparian law, but the recent state water plan has recommended managing both conjunctively as science of hydrological connectivity continues to be advanced. Under the common law, PA water is classified in four ways: surface water, diffused surface water, groundwater in well-defined subterranean streams, and percolating groundwater.
