PA Wildlife Agencies In the Red

[jgish92]

Treading into dangerous areas with that logic. Messing with politicians gravy trains.

 

[lycoflyfisher]

I'm not positive but I believe PA DCNR does not operate in the red and receive no gov't funding. Funds are generated from fees and sale of natural resources.

Dcnr is funded nearly 100% by state general funds. Sales of trees and natural resources (gas) are supposed to be used for natural resource management, but that is not how our state legislature has acted.

 

[RLeep2]

Good to know. I guess my perception is that they do lots of easements up in Erie, but why not more widespread throughout the state? Not trying to knock what we have already, but rather to bolster it and I also would like to see more funds directed that way instead of stocking streams that don't need it (That topic has been beaten to a pulp on PAFF already).

For example on the Apply for the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program, it states that "Easement acquisition is contingent upon the completion of due diligence, Commission approval, and funding availability."

As an Erie County resident/native, I think there are a number of reasons for the disparity in access acquisition activity between the Lake Erie tribs and the rest of the state, but they mostly come down to money and opportunity, with money being primary. The direct and quantifiable value of the Lake Erie steelhead fishery to the regional economy means there are no shortage of advocates, from the local Chamber of Commerce to the PA Steelhead Assoc. to the Lake Erie Charter Captains and so forth and so on. All these organizations keep things pretty stirred up and the new opportunities for additional easements are a direct result. The economic impact of all this is concentrated and easily identifiable. Much more so than say, a half dozen new easements scattered on trout streams statewide. It's far from the way I'd like to see it go, but it's money that matters and hence, that's the way it is..

 

[bdhoover77]

View attachment 1641248906

Is everything alright here, Postal Employee Newman?

 

[Bamboozle]

Good to know. I guess my perception is that they do lots of easements up in Erie, but why not more widespread throughout the state? Not trying to knock what we have already, but rather to bolster it and I also would like to see more funds directed that way instead of stocking streams that don't need it (That topic has been beaten to a pulp on PAFF already).

For example on the Apply for the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program, it states that "Easement acquisition is contingent upon the completion of due diligence, Commission approval, and funding availability."

In some geographies the easement ship sailed a LONG time ago. For that reason you take easements wherever you can get them...

That may be one of the reasons some of the programs with donations aren't as popular with folks I call OIMBY's that stands for "Only In My Back Yard."

For example, I know that a lot of the money I've donated over the years has gone to Eire, and other places I've never fished and aren't on any of my short lists. However, I don't care. To me securing access comes first and the where comes second. It doesn't have to be 100% of what I want...

The same goes for the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy; I belong, but don't live in that part of PA. However I fish there and cut my fly fishing teeth in the region so it is important to me and they have secured a lot of access.

Unfortunately the OIMBY attitude also has infiltrated the feelings of some on PAFF who dislike the PFBC and/or their programs so much they are boycotting things like the Voluntary Wild Trout and Enhanced Waters Permit.

I get the anger and it is none of my business with what they do with their money...

But...

 

[tjsingle]

In some geographies the easement ship sailed a LONG time ago. For that reason you take easements wherever you can get them...

That may be one of the reasons some of the programs with donations aren't as popular with folks I call OIMBY's that stands for "Only In My Back Yard."

For example, I know that a lot of the money I've donated over the years has gone to Eire, and other places I've never fished and aren't on any of my short lists. However, I don't care. To me securing access comes first and the where comes second. It doesn't have to be 100% of what I want...

The same goes for the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy; I belong, but don't live in that part of PA. However I fish there and cut my fly fishing teeth in the region so it is important to me and they have secured a lot of access.

Unfortunately the OIMBY attitude also has infiltrated the feelings of some on PAFF who dislike the PFBC and/or their programs so much they are boycotting things like the Voluntary Wild Trout and Enhanced Waters Permit.

I get the anger and it is none of my business with what they do with their money...

But...

Totally agree. I get excited when I see land preserved in Maine, for places I haven't even stepped foot. If its for the common good, I'm all for it, regardless if it benefits me directly or not.

Do I think we will ever see a Valley Creek easement in SEPA through all the various homeowners properties along its course, NO! But if we could get easements for the places we hold dear local or not, its a win for all

 

[Mike]

As an Erie County resident/native, I think there are a number of reasons for the disparity in access acquisition activity between the Lake Erie tribs and the rest of the state, but they mostly come down to money and opportunity, with money being primary. The direct and quantifiable value of the Lake Erie steelhead fishery to the regional economy means there are no shortage of advocates, from the local Chamber of Commerce to the PA Steelhead Assoc. to the Lake Erie Charter Captains and so forth and so on. All these organizations keep things pretty stirred up and the new opportunities for additional easements are a direct result. The economic impact of all this is concentrated and easily identifiable. Much more so than say, a half dozen new easements scattered on trout streams statewide. It's far from the way I'd like to see it go, but it's money that matters and hence, that's the way it is..

You are so right and not only is the economic impact from anglers quantifiable; it has been quantified either independently or as part of the Lake Erie angler use and harvest study in the past. Your third to last and second to last sentences are dead on. I would add that it doesn’t necessarily require special funding around the rest of the state to maintain access, but it does require effort as a starting point, and when I say effort, I mean effort before the posting appears.

 

[tjsingle]

As an Erie County resident/native, I think there are a number of reasons for the disparity in access acquisition activity between the Lake Erie tribs and the rest of the state, but they mostly come down to money and opportunity, with money being primary. The direct and quantifiable value of the Lake Erie steelhead fishery to the regional economy means there are no shortage of advocates, from the local Chamber of Commerce to the PA Steelhead Assoc. to the Lake Erie Charter Captains and so forth and so on. All these organizations keep things pretty stirred up and the new opportunities for additional easements are a direct result. The economic impact of all this is concentrated and easily identifiable. Much more so than say, a half dozen new easements scattered on trout streams statewide. It's far from the way I'd like to see it go, but it's money that matters and hence, that's the way it is..

It makes sense, the impact of easements and steelhead have measurable goals - it leads me back to the original point I had, its literally all about money and funding agencies so they can achieve their goals. Maybe something like this could work in a different area in the state, say maybe AMD reclamation watersheds or specific groupings of streams that already see high angler usage.

 

[Bamboozle]

Totally agree. I get excited when I see land preserved in Maine, for places I haven't even stepped foot. If its for the common good, I'm all for it, regardless if it benefits me directly or not.

Do I think we will ever see a Valley Creek easement in SEPA through all the various homeowners properties along its course, NO! But if we could get easements for the places we hold dear local or not, its a win for all

Sometimes the easements or acquisitions DON'T HAVE TO BE about the fishing or fishing access to be worthwhile to the fishing. Case in point, headwaters preservation...

Anybody who ever fished the Letort back in the days of watercress farming should take a trip on a warm afternoon and have lunch at the Letort Spring Garden Preserve created by the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy and our donors.

The place is beautiful and being able to "legally" walk through those old cress farms was something I never thought I would be able to do in my lifetime.

While it wasn't necessarily saved for fishing access, it's great having some of the Letort's source protected and it sure beats NOT having another 50 houses sitting on that dirt.

There's a LOT of good stuff happening out there. It's just not all about fishing but it is still worth an investment IMHO.