guttrap
Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2007
- Messages
- 51
Something we should take the time to do:
PFBC News Releases
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PUBLIC COMMENT SOUGHT ON ADDING WILD BROOK TROUT TO ACTION PLAN
June 28, 2007
spacer
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is inviting
public comment on adding naturally reproducing eastern brook
trout to the State Wildlife Action Plan, the document that
prescribes conservation measures for species and their critical
habitat before they become more rare and more costly to protect
and restore.
The brook troutÃÔ historic range and abundance has been
considerably reduced throughout the east coast, including
Pennsylvania. Habitat and water quality degradation caused by
urbanization, acid mine drainage, acid deposition, and poor land
use practices have contributed to the decline. The addition of
the species to PennsylvaniaÃÔ State Wildlife Action Plan, if
approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would highlight
the status of the CommonwealthÃÔ state fish. But itÃÔ more than
a symbolic move. Including brook trout in the stateÃÔ Wildlife
Action Plan would provide the Commission with more flexibility
to fund, or receive funding for, projects that benefit the
species.
The native range of the eastern brook trout extends along the
Appalachians from Georgia to Maine and encompasses 17 states. Of
these states, 12 currently include the eastern brook trout in
their Wildlife Action Plans. The need for special attention to
wild brook trout was documented by Pennsylvania and others as
part of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV), a
regional project of the National Fish Habitat Initiative. In a
2006 report, the EBTJV noted that brook trout populations have
been eliminated or greatly reduced throughout more than 70% of
their historical habitat in Pennsylvania. These results reflect
the condition of brook trout across their entire Eastern range,
according to the assessment.
Å£ased on stream surveys by the PFBC conducted since 1976, wild
brook trout populations have been documented in 1,524 stream
sections covering a total of 5,044 miles of streams. Although
this is a considerable wild brook trout resource, much of this
resource is fragmented and primarily exists in first and second
order headwater streams,said PFBC Executive Director Doug
Austen. Å¢dding wild brook trout to PennsylvaniaÃÔ Wildlife
Action Plan is a logical step in conserving and enhancing our
state fish./P>
The Fish and Boat Commission is specifically recommending that
eastern brook trout be added to the Action Plan at "Conservation
Tier 5 - Maintenance Concern Level." Conservation Tier 5
contains species that are considered relatively abundant and
fairly secure in Pennsylvania, but have undergone declines.
In September 2005, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and
the Pennsylvania Game Commission submitted the Wildlife Action
Plan to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This Wildlife Action
Plan was required from each state and U.S. Territory in order to
continue to receive funds under the State Wildlife Grants
Program. Since 2001, Pennsylvania has received over $13.8
million with an annual appropriation of nearly $2 million. This
funding is shared equally between the Fish and Boat Commission
and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The intent of the Wildlife
Action Plan is to manage proactively, not reactively, in order
to keep ÅÄommon species common./P>
PennsylvaniaÃÔ Wildlife Action Plan can be downloaded from the
Commission web site at www.fishandboat.com [located on our State
Wildlife Grant program page [1]]. The proposed brook trout plan
amendment [2] is also posted online, as is a form that allows
the public to comment [3] on the proposal. Public comment will
also be accepted in writing through 4:00 PM, August 3, 2007.
Direct mail to: Brook Trout/WAP/Public Comments, c/o Dave Day,
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000,
Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000.
PFBC News Releases
------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLIC COMMENT SOUGHT ON ADDING WILD BROOK TROUT TO ACTION PLAN
June 28, 2007
spacer
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is inviting
public comment on adding naturally reproducing eastern brook
trout to the State Wildlife Action Plan, the document that
prescribes conservation measures for species and their critical
habitat before they become more rare and more costly to protect
and restore.
The brook troutÃÔ historic range and abundance has been
considerably reduced throughout the east coast, including
Pennsylvania. Habitat and water quality degradation caused by
urbanization, acid mine drainage, acid deposition, and poor land
use practices have contributed to the decline. The addition of
the species to PennsylvaniaÃÔ State Wildlife Action Plan, if
approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would highlight
the status of the CommonwealthÃÔ state fish. But itÃÔ more than
a symbolic move. Including brook trout in the stateÃÔ Wildlife
Action Plan would provide the Commission with more flexibility
to fund, or receive funding for, projects that benefit the
species.
The native range of the eastern brook trout extends along the
Appalachians from Georgia to Maine and encompasses 17 states. Of
these states, 12 currently include the eastern brook trout in
their Wildlife Action Plans. The need for special attention to
wild brook trout was documented by Pennsylvania and others as
part of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV), a
regional project of the National Fish Habitat Initiative. In a
2006 report, the EBTJV noted that brook trout populations have
been eliminated or greatly reduced throughout more than 70% of
their historical habitat in Pennsylvania. These results reflect
the condition of brook trout across their entire Eastern range,
according to the assessment.
Å£ased on stream surveys by the PFBC conducted since 1976, wild
brook trout populations have been documented in 1,524 stream
sections covering a total of 5,044 miles of streams. Although
this is a considerable wild brook trout resource, much of this
resource is fragmented and primarily exists in first and second
order headwater streams,said PFBC Executive Director Doug
Austen. Å¢dding wild brook trout to PennsylvaniaÃÔ Wildlife
Action Plan is a logical step in conserving and enhancing our
state fish./P>
The Fish and Boat Commission is specifically recommending that
eastern brook trout be added to the Action Plan at "Conservation
Tier 5 - Maintenance Concern Level." Conservation Tier 5
contains species that are considered relatively abundant and
fairly secure in Pennsylvania, but have undergone declines.
In September 2005, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and
the Pennsylvania Game Commission submitted the Wildlife Action
Plan to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This Wildlife Action
Plan was required from each state and U.S. Territory in order to
continue to receive funds under the State Wildlife Grants
Program. Since 2001, Pennsylvania has received over $13.8
million with an annual appropriation of nearly $2 million. This
funding is shared equally between the Fish and Boat Commission
and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The intent of the Wildlife
Action Plan is to manage proactively, not reactively, in order
to keep ÅÄommon species common./P>
PennsylvaniaÃÔ Wildlife Action Plan can be downloaded from the
Commission web site at www.fishandboat.com [located on our State
Wildlife Grant program page [1]]. The proposed brook trout plan
amendment [2] is also posted online, as is a form that allows
the public to comment [3] on the proposal. Public comment will
also be accepted in writing through 4:00 PM, August 3, 2007.
Direct mail to: Brook Trout/WAP/Public Comments, c/o Dave Day,
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000,
Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000.