State Council recently sent out an action alert asking
members to comment on the Class A policy change for statement of policy 57.8a.
This policy allows the PFBC Board of Commissioners and Executive Director to
approve Class A trout waters for stocking.
We
ask that you as an individual chapter member please comment on this policy change and let PFBC know
they should look at this policy again and include the criteria that was
originally proposed. The chapter will send out their own letter as a group but your individual voice needs to be heard!
For
more information on the original criteria and PATU's position, A copy of the letter that the PA Council will be sending out to the PFBC has been pasted below.
The
public comment period is open until December 15th. We ask that you
provide comments, if you cannot get chapter approval by this date, we encourage
you to still submit a letter to PA Fish and Boat Commission and/or talk to your
PFBC Commissioner.
As a chapter member and member of Trout unlimited, we must stand united and let the commission know that this is detrimental to our Class A trout populations and we need to oppose
this policy as written.
To provide input to statement of policy 57.8a, please submit comments in writing to Executive Director, Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 57000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, by December 15th. Comments may also be submitted electronically by completing the form at www.fishandboat.com/regcomments. If an acknowledgment of electronic comments is not received by the sender within 2 working days, the comments should be retransmitted to ensure receipt. Electronic comments submitted in any other manner will not be accepted.
To provide input to statement of policy 57.8a, please submit comments in writing to Executive Director, Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 57000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, by December 15th. Comments may also be submitted electronically by completing the form at www.fishandboat.com/regcomments. If an acknowledgment of electronic comments is not received by the sender within 2 working days, the comments should be retransmitted to ensure receipt. Electronic comments submitted in any other manner will not be accepted.
Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited
PO Box 5148
Bellefonte, PA 16823
December 9, 2014
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Attn: John Arway
1601 Elmerton Ave.
PO Box 67000
Harrisburg, PA 17106
Dear Mr. Arway,
The Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited (PATU) is writing to oppose the amended statement of policy for section 57.8a. Under this revised policy, the Executive Director will obtain the approval of the Commission without taking into account any factors of the coldwater resource.
After discussing this policy with PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) staff, we understand that the intention is not to allow stocking in all Class A streams, however, the current language leaves it open to any Class A streams. PATU would like to advocate that the PFBC reexamine this policy and restore the criteria that were originally proposed to PATU and the Commission that allowed the stocking of Class A streams if:
- Angler use meets or exceeds the 75th percentile (number of anglers/ mile on Opening Day)
- The water had been stocked the year preceding the Class A designation
- The stream does not contain a wild brook trout population or the trout species to be stocked are not the same species as the primary component of the wild trout population.
- The stream was not identified as Class A prior to 2013.
- After review of the above data, stocking could be approved by the Board of Commissioners and the Executive Director.
Although we are not in support of stocking over wild trout, the above conditions will provide guidance and a uniformed structure for the protection of our Class A wild trout streams into the future. We hope the Commission will reconsider this policy to include the criteria listed above.
Sincerely,
Richard Soderberg Ken Undercoffer
Brian Wagner Richard Soderberg, Ken Undercoffer
President Co-chair Co-chair
Pennsylvania Council Trout Management Committee Trout Management Committee
Of Trout Unlimited
Cc: PA Fish and Boat Commission Board of Commissioners
Leroy Young, Director of Fisheries
Your U.S.
Senators 
