​HARRISBURG, Pa. (April 29) – The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) began its quarterly business meeting by thanking anglers, agency staff, and volunteers for a safe and successful start to the 2024 trout season and promoting the plentiful fishing and boating opportunities that remain throughout the spring and summer months.

“The spring and summer seasons are special times of year in Pennsylvania, where the Opening Day of trout season is only the tip of the iceberg,” said William Gibney, PFBC President and District 7 Commissioner.  “We’re grateful to the volunteers who assisted us with stocking trout in hundreds of waters so far and will continue to help us stock over the next several weeks right up until Memorial Day.”

Gibney also encouraged anglers to explore new waters and seek out different types of fishing experiences beyond trout.

“When you combine the opportunities that our stocked trout program provides with our phenomenal wild trout streams, panfish and catfish action that really picks up this time of year, and the opening of Walleye season on May 4, you’ll never run out of options,” added Gibney.  “If you fish from a boat, please remember to always wear your life jacket.”

Anglers and boaters are reminded that the PFBC’s cold weather life jacket requirement remains in effect from November 1 through April 30.  During this time, anyone aboard a boat less than 16 feet in length, including all canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, is required to wear a life jacket.  In addition, the PFBC and many other organizations throughout the Commonwealth will partner with the National Safe Boating Council to celebrate National Safe Boating Week from May 18-24, 2024.

Boating Facility Grants Awarded

The PFBC awarded several grants through the Boating Facility Grant Program.  Funds for this program are derived primarily from boat registration fees, state motorboat fuels tax, and restricted revenue accounts, if applicable.  In certain instances, federal aid is also used, if appropriate. 

In 2023, the PFBC was awarded a $1,000,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund to improve access in the watershed and connect anglers, boaters, and others to the region’s water resources.  As a result of this funding, the PFBC gave special consideration to proposed projects within the Delaware River Watershed, resulting in over $1,114,000 being dedicated for six impactful projects, including:

Delaware River Watershed

• *Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art; Design and Construction of Canoe/Kayak Access, Brandywine Creek, Delaware County
• *City of Allentown; Canal Park Boat Launch Upgrade Site Plan and Engineering Design, Lehigh River, Lehigh County
• County of Bucks; Hal H. Clark Boat Launch Design and Construction, Delaware River, Bucks County
• Delaware River City Corporation; Tacony Boat Launch Design and Construction, Delaware River, Philadelphia County
• Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation; ADA Compliant Dock Design, Delaware River, Philadelphia County
• *Schuylkill River Development Corporation; Boating Facility Feasibility Study, Schuylkill River, Philadelphia County

Ohio River Watershed

• *Boroughs of Tarentum and Cheswick; Master Plan for Two Fishing and Boating Accesses, Allegheny River, Allegheny County
• *Borough of Union City; Construction of Canoe/Kayak Access, South Branch of French Creek, Erie County
• *Carnegie Science Center; Boating Facility Feasibility Study, Three Rivers Heritage Trail, Allegheny County
• Forward Township; Gallatin Sunnyside Park Boat Ramp Replacement, Monongahela River, Allegheny County

Susquehanna River Watershed

• French Azilum, Inc.; Non-Motorized Boat Launch Construction, North Branch Susquehanna River, Bradford County
• *South Middleton Township; Design and Construction of Canoe/Kayak Access, Yellow Breeches Creek, Cumberland County

Statewide:

• *Pennsylvania Lake Management Society; Mobile Boat Cleaning Station

* Denotes projects announced during the first round of Boating Facility Grants in March 2024, for which the PFBC has awarded $100,000 or less, and did not require Board approval.

Boating

The Board approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to boat rental businesses, also known as liveries.  Under this proposal, customer safety and education at liveries would be improved through several changes to 58 Pa. Code § Chapter 117 (Boat Rental Businesses).  Changes would include new responsibilities for livery operators to provide accurate business information to the PFBC, deliver safety orientation to all renters, possess a Boating Safety Education Certificate if conducting the required safety orientation for motorboat rentals, and properly display boat registration or use permits on rental boats for the access areas on which the rental boats will be used.  In addition, livery operators would be required to document the names of renters who have been provided with boating safety orientation.  If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, this amendment will go into effect on January 1, 2025.

Fisheries

Commissioners approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to changes in fishing regulations at Glade Run Lake located in Middlesex Township, Butler County.  Under this proposal, the 52-acre impoundment would be removed from Miscellaneous Special Regulations (58 Pa. Code § 65.24) which require catch-and-release for all species except trout, and allow PFBC staff to consider this reservoir for management with Big Bass (58 Pa. Code § 65.9) and Panfish Enhancement (58 Pa. Code § 65.11) special regulations.  Glade Run Lake was completely dewatered during spring 2011 to upgrade the dam and spillway structures per Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dam safety standards. Following the completion of these repairs and modifications, refill occurred in winter 2017, and the PFBC stocked the lake from 2017 through 2023 with select fish species to establish a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery.  The black bass and panfish populations were evaluated from 2019 through 2023 to monitor progress towards development of a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery.  Sportfish abundance and population size structure have improved to levels where populations can now sustain limited harvest.  If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, these changes would go into effect on January 1, 2025.

The Board approved the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to changes in fishing regulations at Chapman Dam Reservoir located within Chapman State Park in Pleasant Township, Warren County.  Under this proposal, the 68-acre impoundment would be removed from Miscellaneous Special Regulations (58 Pa. Code § 65.24) which require catch-and-release for all species except trout, and allow PFBC staff to consider this reservoir for management of all species with Commonwealth Inland Waters regulations (58 Pa. Code § 61.1).  Chapman Dam Reservoir was completely dewatered during fall 2017 to upgrade the dam and spillway structures per Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection dam safety standards.  Following the completion of these repairs and modifications, refill occurred in fall 2018, and the PFBC stocked the lake from 2019 through 2023 with select fish species to establish a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery.  Sportfish populations were evaluated from 2022 through 2023 to monitor progress towards development of a high-quality, warm-water and cool-water fishery.  Sportfish abundance and population size structure have improved to levels where populations can now sustain harvest.  If adopted on final rulemaking at a future meeting, these changes would go into effect on January 1, 2025.

The Board voted to approve the addition of 20 new waters to the PFBC’s list of wild trout streams and the revision of the section limits of four waters currently listed.  A list of waters proposed for wild trout stream designation can be found in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.  All of these additions will go into effect upon publication of a second notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

Public Access and Real Estate

Commissioners voted to authorize the lease of the Tidioute Borough Access, which provides public fishing and boating access to the Allegheny River in Tidioute Borough, Warren County.  Under the proposed agreement, the PFBC will lease approximately four acres of property to Tidioute Borough for a period of 25 years.  The Borough, which previously leased the property beginning in 1976, has continued to act as a holdover tenant since the expiration of the initial lease agreement.  The Borough is interested in pursuing opportunities to enhance the access site through different grant programs and potential partnership opportunities, which will require a new lease agreement.  Under the agreement, the Borough will continue to be responsible for the routine maintenance, operation, repair, and supervision of the access site, which will remain open for public fishing and boating free of charge.

The Board authorized the acquisition of two flowage easements on a property located near Harris Pond located in Ross Township, Luzerne County.  A temporary flowage easement totaling approximately .8 acres, and a permanent flowage easement totaling approximately .5 acres are needed as part of a pending dam rehabilitation project at Harris Pond.  The flowage easements are expected to have minimal value, and the PFBC will pay the estimated fair market value of the rights or accept donations if offered.  Staff will pursue the acquisitions in an amicable manner and only utilize the Commonwealth’s power of eminent domain as a last resort.  Additionally, staff will adhere to the PFBC’s standard practices for acquiring property including meeting due diligence and funding requirements.

Special Announcements

The PFBC’s remaining quarterly business meetings in 2024 are scheduled for the following dates at the PFBC headquarters located at 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110:

• July 22-23, 2024
• October 21-22, 2024

Meeting times will be announced at a later date.