The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) this week released the final 2022 Pennsylvania State Water Plan and an interactive online atlas of statewide water resources and use trends to inform leaders’ decision making and educate Pennsylvanians on sustainable use of lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater.
“While Pennsylvania is a water-rich state, our water resources are affected by many factors, including the warming climate, increased development, and others,” DEP Secretary Rich Negrin said. “The State Water Plan helps leaders understand how these factors can affect water resources and make planning decisions that protect this precious natural resource for all Pennsylvanians.”
The final 2022 Pennsylvania State Water Plan follows announcement of the draft plan in August and public feedback. The DEP Water Use and Planning Section developed the plan in collaboration with more than 100 water resources professionals who served on a statewide committee and six regional committees.
The plan recommends 100 actions statewide in areas such as floodplain and stormwater management, water withdrawal policy, contaminants of emerging concern, and others.
It also recommends actions tailored to each of six water planning regions across Pennsylvania: the Great Lakes basin and the Upper/Middle Susquehanna, Lower Susquehanna, Potomac, Ohio, and Delaware river basins.
The online water atlas shares data on statewide water use from 2008 to 2020. Overall water use in Pennsylvania decreased 33 percent, as daily withdrawals declined from 7.8 billion to 5.2 billion gallons per day in this time period.
Closure of some coal-burning power plants was the primary reason for the decline, followed by reduced water use by some large manufacturers. However, overall water use varied by region. For example, water use ticked up in the Potomac region.
Designed to be not only a planning tool, but also an educational resource, the water atlas provides information on many other factors that may negatively or positively affect the quality and quantity of water resources in Pennsylvania.
Since the 2022 Pennsylvania State Water Plan isn’t regulatory, the next step is educational outreach to inform legislative, government, advocacy, and business leaders on how they may implement the strategies and actions to benefit all members of their communities.
Pennsylvania Act 220 of 2002 requires DEP to develop updates to the State Water Plan every five years.
Susquehanna River North Branch
named 2023 River of the Year
The North Branch of the Susquehanna River in northeastern Pennsylvania has been selected by a public vote as the state’s 2023 River of the Year, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Janet Sweeney of the Pennsylvania Organization for Waterways and Rivers (POWR) announced.
“Through planned River of the Year celebrations, public awareness of the value of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River will be increased and major initiatives along this section of the river will be underscored,” Dunn said. “Economic revitalization of river-town communities will enhance access to the river; increase tourism; and provide additional land and water-based recreational opportunities for local residents and visitors alike.”
Flowing from the New York state line to Sunbury near Shikellamy State Park at the confluence with the Susquehanna River West Branch, the Susquehanna River North Branch meanders through eight Pennsylvania counties including Susquehanna, Bradford, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland.
A water trail, the Susquehanna River North Branch is widely used by paddlers, anglers, recreational boaters, and wildlife enthusiasts. Recreationalists enjoy the calm, class-I waters which serve as both a playground for experienced boaters to explore the area’s natural and historic offerings, as well as a learning ground for new paddlers to develop their skills.
In addition to the paddling opportunities, visitors are surrounded by abundant history. These historic connections earned the water trail a “National Recreation Trail” designation by the National Park Service in 2009 as part of the larger Captain John Smith National Historic Trail system; a recreation trail that celebrates the exchange of goods and cultures between the early, famed explorer of the Chesapeake Bay and the native peoples of the Susquehanna River basin.
The public was invited to vote online for the River of the Year, choosing from among four waterways nominated. A total of 11,438 votes were cast, with Susquehanna River North Branch receiving 4,098; the Perkiomen Creek 3,110; Conestoga River 2,490; and Schuylkill River 1,740.
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region, which nominated the North Branch of the Susquehanna River, will receive a $10,000 Leadership Grant to help fund a slate of year-long 2023 River of the Year activities. DCNR and POWR will work with the region to create a free, commemorative poster celebrating the North Branch as the 2023 Pennsylvania River of the Year.
“We nominated the North Branch in the hopes of receiving this prestigious designation in conjunction with our organization’s 25th anniversary in 2023 and now that we have it, we couldn’t be more excited,” said Cain Chamberlin, Executive Director of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region.
PGC: You can watch wildlife
around the clock from home
Eagles and snow geese and bears, oh my! You can watch all of them this winter, anywhere you go, through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s round-the-clock livestreams.
A new 24/7 livestream from a black bear den in Pike County launched this week, bringing to four the number of livestreams the Game Commission plans to run into the spring of 2023.
Also showing are the Farm Country Eagle Livestream, which provides a bird’s-eye view into a long-established nest in a giant sycamore overlooking scenic farmland, the ever-popular Hanover, Pa. Eagle Livestream and the agency’s Snow Goose Livestream capturing the migratory action at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.
This is the first time since 2021 the Game Commission is offering livestream viewers an up-close look inside a black bear den. Bears den each winter, but few of them in known spots where cameras can be installed and footage streamed to viewers.
Luckily, the opportunity has presented itself again, and the Game Commission is proud to bring the livestream back, said the agency’s Information and Education Director Steve Smith.
“While all of our wildlife livestreams are popular with viewers, there’s nothing like watching and listening to bear cubs as they begin to explore their surroundings and, ultimately, emerge from the den with their mothers to see their new world in Penn’s Woods,” Smith said. “We’re glad to bring back this livestream for 2023 and offer it alongside our annual wintertime wildlife cams, all of which entertain and educate viewers, and give them a whole new appreciation for wildlife.”
The livestreams are a collaborative effort by the Game Commission, HDOnTap and Comcast Business. HDOnTap provides the streaming services and Comcast Business provides the internet connectivity for the two eagle cameras.
All of these livestreams can be viewed directly at HDOnTap.com or through pgc.pa.gov.
Pennsylvania’s black bears usually are born in January and begin walking in about eight weeks. They leave the den when three months old. During the 2019 run of the black bear livestream, the bears left their den on April 11. In 2021, their departure date was March 24.
Bald eagles typically lay eggs in mid-February and, if the eggs are viable, they’ll hatch in mid- to late March, with young fledgling in June, but continuing to stop back at the nest.
Snow goose migration typically peaks at Middle Creek from mid-February to March.
For more information on these species and others, visit www.pgc.pa.gov.
Bassmaster Kayak Series expands
competition days for 2023 season
After crowning its first Angler of the Year in 2022, the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX now has its five-tournament regular-season schedule in place. New for 2023, every tournament will feature two days of competition.
“It’s been really fun to watch anglers enjoy this trail as the sport — and our trail — continues to evolve and grow,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “We value the feedback of anglers who are traveling from across the country to fish with B.A.S.S., and the two-day events we experimented with last season were extremely well-received.
“We’re excited to offer expanded competition on some iconic lakes. The 2023 season will showcase fisheries where the Kayak Series has already made history as well as some exciting new waters.”
The 2023 schedule begins on one of the sport’s most iconic fisheries when the field takes on Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Ala., March 4-5. While Lake Guntersville has hosted three Bassmaster Classics and numerous major B.A.S.S. tournaments, this will be the first time that a Kayak Series event has been held on the “Big G.”
The country’s best kayak anglers — including 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Drew Gregory — will compete for a National Championship on legendary Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn., March 22-23 as part of festivities surrounding the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville.
Chickamauga last hosted the Bassmaster Kayak Series in 2020. The winner of the season-ending tournament was Iowa’s Tyler Cole, with five bass measuring 89.5 inches. The big bass of that event was a largemouth coming in at a whopping 23 inches.
After the Championship in Tennessee, the Kayak Series heads to Anderson, S.C., to do battle on Lake Hartwell April 15-16.
For more information on registration for Bassmaster Kayak Series events, visit Bassmaster.com/kayak.
PFBC encourages anglers to
be safe on the ice and water
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) began its quarterly business meeting by encouraging anglers to be safe on the ice and water when taking advantage of remaining winter fishing opportunities, especially during times when the temperature warms but the water remains very cold.
“Many anglers stay busy year-round by ice fishing on their favorite lake when conditions are safe, seeking out trophy steelhead on the tributaries of Lake Erie, or running their bass boats up and down the river when its not frozen,” said Tim Schaeffer, PFBC Executive Director. “For those who remain active on the water and ice this winter, we ask them to stay safe by being mindful of changing weather conditions, checking for adequate ice thickness, ice fishing with others, and always wearing your life jacket.”
Schaeffer reminded anglers and boaters who are looking forward to spring that the PFBC is already preparing for pre-season trout stocking operations in anticipation of the statewide Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day on Saturday, March 25, and the statewide Opening Day of Trout Season on Saturday, April 1.
“Our hatcheries are bustling with activity right now, as we get ready to stock millions of trout into hundreds of waterways for anglers to enjoy throughout the 2023 season,” Schaeffer said. “Our hatchery staff and Waterways Conservation Officers look forward to partnering with local volunteers to make sure the trout are stocked safely and efficiently and will be ready to tug on your line on opening day and for many weeks to follow.”
Schaeffer noted that the 2023 Adult Trout Stocking Schedule will be published on the PFBC website (Fishandboat.com) during the first week of February and reminded anglers to revisit the stocking schedule frequently to remain aware of changes that may occur due to inclement weather and hatchery logistics.
The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout throughout the 2023 season, which is consistent with the number of fish stocked over the past decade. Fishing licenses and permits may be purchased through the FishBoatPA mobile app, on the PFBC website, and by visiting nearly 700 retail license issuing agents.