PFD's, Erie trib. access, vhs...

[Joe D]

COMMISSION MOVES TO SECURE MORE ERIE COUNTY ACCESS

January 24, 2007

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will secure an additional 19 acres adjacent to Walnut Creek in Erie County, the latest in a series of acquisitions to ensure public access to Lake Erie tributary streams. At its winter quarterly meeting in Harrisburg, the Commission approved the purchase of a trio of properties in Fairview Township, Erie County. The parcels, totaling 19.3 acres, are located south of Route 5 and north of Route 20, between Dutch and Manchester Roads. The parcels provide more than 900 feet of frontage along Walnut Creek approximately 1.5 miles upstream from the mouth of the creek in an area that is already heavily used by steelhead anglers just south of the Commission’s existing Walnut Creek Property. The $36,000 purchase will be funded from the Lake Erie Access Improvement Program with monies generated by the sale of special Lake Erie Fishing Permits. This is the sixth acquisition funded through the Lake Erie Access Improvement Program in recent months, securing some 10,000 feet of stream and shoreline for angling purposes. Four of the projects involved pooling funds with other public entities (thereby leveraging PFBC monies) with the other two involving purchases by the agency. “Recreational fishing gives a $36 million boost annually to the Erie economy. So while these purchases represent a significant investment, they will also provide an equally significant return,” said PFBC Executive Director Doug Austen. “Ensuring public access for recreational fishing and boating is a major focal point for the Commission both in Erie and elsewhere in the Commonwealth.” In another move to secure public fishing access, the Commissioners approved securing an easement to provide better shoreline access to its Canonsburg Lake, Washington County, property. Also during the meeting, the Commission: Voted against extending mandatory lifejacket wear requirements to boaters in certain small watercraft. Proposed a ban on the movement of live fish from the Lake Erie watershed. This prohibition, if adopted as a final rule, is designed to help reduce the potential spread of aquatic invasive species and disease from the Great Lakes to inland waters. The Commission also opted against increasing the number of licenses for the seining of baitfish in Lake Erie. Currently 10 such licenses are issued. Moved to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking to raise the maximum motor size for boats from 6 to 10 horsepower on Sugar Lake in Crawford County. Also at Sugar Lake, the Commission is proposing removing miscellaneous special fishing regulations on muskellunge now that a more conservative creel limit applies to musky fishing statewide. Supported the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking to clarify existing regulations on Cloe Lake, Jefferson County, prohibiting the use of internal combustion engines. Approved an office lease for the Three Rivers Ecological Field Station in Allegheny County. Proposed additional reporting requirements for bait dealers selling American eels. Added sections of Kettle Creek, Blair County; Sandy Run, Blair County; and Glen Brook, Columbia County, to the list of waters supporting Class A wild trout populations