Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2018 - 58

CURRENTS
Board of Commissioners Reaffirms Budget Decision
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC)
announced at its quarterly business meeting on Tuesday, April 24,
2018, that the Pennsylvania Board of Fish & Boat Commissioners
reaffirmed its decision from last fall to reduce spending by $2
million beginning in July if the General Assembly does not act on
legislation to raise license fees.
The current plan for achieving the $2 million reduction
in operating expenses would involve closing two warmwater
hatcheries and one trout hatchery. The plan would reduce the
number of trout stocked in 2019 by 7.5 percent and would result
in severe reductions to PFBC's cooperative nursery program.
"The price of a general fishing license was last raised in 2005,"
said PFBC Executive Director John A. Arway. "Since then, we have
continued to provide the same level of services to our customers
while seeking an increase from the General Assembly. But unless
legislators act, we must cut expenses to remain financially solvent."
The Board also voted to acquire three properties and an
easement on a fourth one in Erie County, further expanding
angler access to popular steelhead streams.
The Lake Erie Region Conservancy has applied for grant
funding to acquire 181.2 acres along Elk Creek in Girard
Township, Erie County, for $911,000 and then transfer ownership
to PFBC. The property, known as the Gilmore Farm, provides
access to approximately 6,325 linear feet (1.2 miles) of frontage
along Elk Creek. The property is located immediately south of
Interstate 90 off Beckman Road.
The conservancy has applied to the Pennsylvania Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources for half of the cost,
plus acquisition fees. To complete the transaction, the Board
of Commissioners approved a grant to the conservancy for an
amount not to exceed $460,943.
The second acquisition involves the purchase of 8.27 acres in
Springfield Township, Erie County, for $176,000. The property
provides access to approximately 1,300 linear feet (0.25 miles) on
Crooked Creek and is located at the intersection of Happy Valley
Road and Lucas Road near East Springfield.
The third property contains 8 acres and approximately 1,165
linear feet (0.22 miles) of frontage on Conneaut Creek in West
Springfield Township, Erie County. The PFBC will purchase it
for $24,500. The property is located off Griffey Road near
West Springfield.
As part of the fourth acquisition, PFBC will pay $11,500 for
an easement on 760 linear feet (0.15 miles) of Elk Creek on a
property in Fairview Township, Erie County. The easement area
is located off Luther Road downstream of the Route 98 bridge
over Elk Creek.
To date, PFBC has acquired more than 22.5 miles of public
fishing access in the Erie watershed through easements and land
purchases under the Erie Access Improvement Program. The
program uses proceeds from the special Lake Erie permits to
improve access and habitat.
In other action, the Board:
* Added 99 waters to the list of wild trout streams and revised
the section limit of one water. The list can be found on
PFBC's website at www.fishandboat.com.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2018

* Another 38 stream sections were added to the list of Class
A wild trout streams. The list can be found on PFBC's
website at www.fishandboat.com.
* Commissioners approved the designation of Shenango
River Lake, Mercer County, as a panfish enhancement
water for crappies. The change reduces the creel limit
from 50 to 20 per day and creates a 9-inch minimum
size. The change is intended to boost the population of
White Crappies.
* A 2017 survey of 138 anglers showed that 89 percent
of those who identified themselves as crappie anglers
preferred the 9-inch minimum size limit and 71 percent
preferred a 20 per day creel limit. The change will take
effect on January 1, 2019.
* Commissioners also voted to remove panfish
enhancement regulations from Lake Chillisquaque, a
165-acre impoundment in Montour County, after surveys
showed that the rules weren't increasing the population
and size of crappies and sunfish as expected. The lake will
now be managed under inland water regulations. The
change will take effect on January 1, 2019.
* In Luzerne County, the board approved a land transfer
with the Department of Military Affairs for a property
in West Pittston Borough, which will serve as a PFBC
regional office when renovations are completed. The
3.33-acre property is located at 1308 Susquehanna Avenue
and was used as an Army National Guard Center until
2016. The property will be renovated with $1.2 million in
capital budget funds released by Governor Tom Wolf. The
PFBC expects to relocate staff from its Sweet Valley office
to the new building in late 2021.
* In Juniata County, Commissioners approved a rightof-way to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
(PennDOT) for a bridge replacement project that crosses
the northwest corner of PFBC's Mifflintown access area.
The access runs along the Juniata River and Horning Run
and is located about 1.5 miles downriver from the end
of the Lewistown Narrows. It has a paved access drive, a
paved parking lot and a concrete boat ramp.
* PennDOT expects to replace the State Route 3002 bridge
over Horning Run during the 2018-2019 construction
season. The project won't affect the access area, but,
anglers and boaters will only be able to enter from SR 3002
south during the construction.
* Commissioners approved an increase in the subscription
rate for Pennsylvania Angler & Boater magazine to help
offset ever-increasing production costs and to remain
consistent with other outdoor periodical pricing. Under the
new pricing, a 1-year subscription will increase from $12
to $20 and a 3-year subscription from $30 to $48. The new
rate will go into effect on September 1 with the September/
October 2018 issue. All subscriptions purchased at the
current prices through August 31, 2018, will be honored at
the prior rate for the term of the subscription, up to 3 years.
The last increase went into effect 11 years ago.
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2018