Donegal Creek restoration

[wgmiller]

I passed Donegal Creek yesterday and saw restoration work below the 772 bridge is in full swing. The work they've done looks amazing and has really cleaned up the creek. This area was choked with dead fall and had some janky stream bends that caused flooding issues. I cut my teeth trout fishing on the Donegal (in this area in particular) and it's really nice to see it getting cleaned up. You may have different feelings about stream restoration and whether it's a good or bad thing, but in this case it is a good thing. Streambank stabilization, habitat improvement, etc., all are good things on the Donegal. I spoke with an angler as he was leaving (who happened to be a member of DTU) and he wasn't sure how far downstream they would make it. The area being restored is above the top of the fly stretch to the 772 bridge.

Looking downstream from the 772 bridge.

 

[riverwhy]

What is planned to make it cleaner? Its headwaters are mainly residential development mixed with corn fields now. I fished that creek a ton back in the 90’s and enjoyed it for what it was back then. I am guessing they removed legacy sediment which is a good thing. What type of vegetation is planned?

 

[wgmiller]

What is planned to make it cleaner? Its headwaters are mainly residential development mixed with corn fields now. I fished that creek a ton back in the 90’s and enjoyed it for what it was back then. I am guessing they removed legacy sediment which is a good thing. What type of vegetation is planned?

Looks like it's going to restore a 2,384 foot stretch of the creek. I'm not sure exactly what they're doing as far as structure, vegetation, etc.

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/fishand...ed-watersheds-york-lancaster-counties-apr2025

 

[troutbert]

Do you have "before" pictures so that we can do a "before and after" comparison?

 

[Oregon_OwlII]

I passed Donegal Creek yesterday and saw restoration work below the 772 bridge is in full swing. The work they've done looks amazing and has really cleaned up the creek. This area was choked with dead fall and had some janky stream bends that caused flooding issues. I cut my teeth trout fishing on the Donegal (in this area in particular) and it's really nice to see it getting cleaned up. You may have different feelings about stream restoration and whether it's a good or bad thing, but in this case it is a good thing. Streambank stabilization, habitat improvement, etc., all are good things on the Donegal. I spoke with an angler as he was leaving (who happened to be a member of DTU) and he wasn't sure how far downstream they would make it. The area being restored is above the top of the fly stretch to the 772 bridge.

View attachment 1641252900
Looking downstream from the 772 bridge.

View attachment 1641252902

Needs some streamside vegetation. I hope that is in the plan.