Newsletter of the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources March 9, 2022

Featured in Our Good Natured Blog

Solar Deployment Growing on DCNR Lands As the state’s leading conservation agency, DCNR strives to model practices that conserve and sustain our natural resources. By 2030, the department will derive 50 percent of its electric from renewables. That will be accomplished mostly through solar installations. DCNR is deploying small-scale solar arrays to take certain buildings and facilities off the grid, saving money and reducing the department’s carbon footprint. These are not commercial arrays, intended instead to power department operations. Read more...

Grant Awarded for 162 Acre Addition to White Clay Creek Preserve DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the department has awarded a $754,300 grant for a major addition at White Clay Creek Preserve. "White Clay Creek Preserve is integral to providing outdoor recreation opportunities in this community and the region at large, which is why we are pleased to make today’s grant announcement,” Dunn said. The acquisition of the Martin tract adds 162 acres to White Clay Creek Preserve for additional recreation space. The 3,050-acre White Clay Creek Preserve is in southern Chester County, three miles north of Newark, Delaware, and possess outstanding scenic, wildlife, recreational, and cultural value. It has been designated by Congress as a National Wild and Scenic River. Read more…

Protect Against Tickborne Diseases When Venturing Outdoors Pennsylvanians experiencing “spring fever,” that perennial urge to venture outdoors to hike, hunt, fish, and explore, should plan now to protect themselves and their families against potentially serious tickborne diseases -- including Lyme disease and the rare, but dangerous, deer tick virus, which has been found in ticks at high levels for the first time in multiple locations around the state. “Pennsylvanians should learn about the threats posed by tickborne diseases and take commonsense precautions so they can enjoy our abundant natural resources -- and the many wonderful physical and mental health benefits of outdoor recreation -- as safely as possible,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. At the locations where the Department of Environmental Protection’s Tick Surveillance and Testing Program found high levels of deer tick virus, the infection rate exceeded 80 percent of ticks sampled. Deer tick virus has been detected in a total of 15 Pennsylvania counties, and the statewide infection rate outside of the multiple “hotspot” locations is currently 0.6 percent of ticks sampled. Read more…

Importance of Outdoor Recreation Highlighted at Cumberland County Fly Shop DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, Department of Community and Economic Development Acting Secretary Neil Weaver, and Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer visited TCO Fly Shop in Boiling Springs, Cumberland County, to highlight the significance of outdoor recreation to the economy and to the well-being of all Pennsylvanians. “We are fortunate to have a wealth of public lands, waters, and energetic entrepreneurs that, combined with Pennsylvanians’ love for the outdoors, have created a great environment for outdoor recreation businesses,” Dunn said. Pennsylvania’s waters provide excellent fishing opportunities. In 2021, more than 920,000 anglers purchased a fishing license, marking a continued resurgence in the popularity of fishing and boating as affordable, family-friendly outdoor activities. Read more…

DCNR Names New Park Manager for Washington Crossing Historic Park DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the appointment of Mike Kuzar to manage Washington Crossing Historic Park in Bucks County. “Washington Crossing is unique because of its historic legacy and the partnerships it has with the community that go along with the traditional park operations,” Kuzar said. “This is a great opportunity, and I am grateful to have the privilege of working in this park and using my past experience to take on this new challenge.” Kuzar will oversee the 500-acre park that preserves the site of George Washington’s dramatic boat crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolution and is a National Historic Landmark. Read more…

Delaware Canal State Park Towpath Selected as 2022 Trail of The Year The Delaware Canal State Park Towpath has been named Pennsylvania’s 2022 Trail of the Year. “We celebrate the Delaware Canal State Park Towpath and the multitude of outdoor recreation opportunities it has provided for generations, as it continues to be a destination for so many people,” DCNR secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “With this honor, I am hopeful that even more people seek out this gem of a trail and the larger region to which it connects its users.” The Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee designates the Trail of the Year to help build enthusiasm and support for trails across the state, and to raise public awareness about the value of the Pennsylvania’s land and water trail network. Pennsylvania continues its tradition of being a leader in trail development by providing its citizens and visitors with more than 12,000 miles of trails. Read more…

Tohickon Creek Whitewater Release Planned for Annual Boating Event Whitewater boating enthusiasts once again will converge on Bucks County’s Tohickon Creek Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20, when DCNR releases water from Lake Nockamixon into Tohickon Creek. The water releases from the Nockamixon State Park dam provide suitable whitewater boating conditions downstream through Ralph Stover State Park from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. each day. Water releases begin at 4:00 A.M. Several hours later, the release, consisting of millions of gallons of water moving down the waterway, will create class 3 and 4 whitewater conditions at Ralph Stover State Park. Suggested hours for viewing the release and boating activity are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at Ralph Stover. Read more…

Good Natured Pennsylvanians Margot Kaye is a forestry professor at Penn State University who also coaches for a local youth mountain biking team and is an avid outdoor recreationist. Margot teaches Forest Ecology, Forest Fire Management, and Research Integrity and Communication in the Ecosystem Science and Management Department. She also is the head coach for the youth mountain biking team -- Centre County Crows -- for kids in sixth to twelfth grade as a part of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Cycling League. “Our goals are to get more kids on bikes in the woods, provide youth cyclists an inclusive community where they can learn to ride in a safe and fun environment, and increase diversity and accessibility in mountain biking,” Margot says. “We have 50 riders on the team and 12 coaches, and the really exciting thing is that our team is nearly 50 percent female -- typically teams are less than 20 percent female.” The teams get to go out riding in Rothrock, Bald Eagle, and Moshannon state forests. Margot thinks that access to public lands for recreation is essential for keeping the population engaged in conservation. Central Pennsylvania has an incredible amount of public lands that can be used for hiking, biking, hunting, bird watching, horse riding, and more. “What’s amazing is that these forests are also providing wildlife habitat, wood products, and water protection,” she says. “Each person who spends time in a state park or state forest -- or municipal park or forest -- is likely to think about stewardship of that land.” Margot finds that a bike is an excellent way to explore the outdoors, and that working with kids on bikes in the woods is a blast. She hopes that by taking more kids in to the woods on bikes, they will feel a deep connection to the outdoors, and contribute to land conservation, land use, and recreation access. Know of a good natured Pennsylvanian who is passionate about outdoor recreation and/or conservation that we should feature? Contact us at ra-resource@pa.gov to nominate someone.

Also in the News

Wolf Administration Announces Funding to Protect Lake Erie The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced that six projects received Coastal Zone Grants totaling more than $250,000. The grants, which are aimed at protecting and restoring the Lake Erie Coastal Zone, will be used toward projects that will benefit this critical habitat and ecosystem. The funding was announced at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, where the Regional Science Consortium, a grant recipient of $62,525, invited Department of Environmental Protection officials to take a firsthand look at the research being conducted on harmful algal blooms as a result of receiving their grant. “Harmful algal blooms remain a growing concern in Lake Erie,” said Department of Environmental Protection’s Northwest Regional Director Erin Wells. “The Regional Science Consortium’s research is vital in helping protect the thousands of visitors to the shores of Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay.” Coastal Zone Grants are awarded to projects related to fisheries, wetlands, recreation, public education, coastal hazards such as bluff recession, and other areas.

Mark your Calendars for Trout Season Opening and Mentored Youth Day Anglers from across the state are gearing up to fish their favorite spots at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 2, 2022, which marks the opening day of trout season. Since late February, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has been busy stocking waterways with a fresh supply of brook, brown, and rainbow trout. With approximately 3.2 million adult trout stocked in lakes and creeks, along with more than 70 stocked state park waterways and lakes, anglers will have plenty of opportunities to catch a stocked or wild trout. Boaters are reminded they are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or on any kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. This yearly, mandatory requirement lasts through Saturday, April 30. Opening days are: Statewide Mentored Youth Day -- Saturday, March 26 (8:00 A.M.) Statewide Opening Day of Trout -- Saturday, April 2 (8:00 A.M.) Anglers are encouraged to stay aware of local and statewide burn bans during spring wildfire season. Information about fishing opportunities at Pennsylvania state parks and forests is available at the DCNR website. Additional information and trout stocking schedules are available at the Fish and Boat Commission’s website.

Help Plant Trees This Spring in Pennsylvania The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s Pennsylvania Forests Team is looking for volunteers to help plant nearly 5,000 trees across the commonwealth! Consider attending one of these spring forest plantings and be a part of restoring Pennsylvania’s lands and waters. Plantings will begin Thursday, March 31, and take place across Centre, Franklin, Lancaster, Schuylkill, and York counties. All plantings begin at 9:00 A.M. Additional information will follow via email closer to the planting date about parking locations and other important details. Please register online for any plantings you wish to attend.

Grow Native Plants to Thwart Invasive Species DCNR recently published a blog about how native plants can and should be used in the fight against invasive species. According to the blog, if we want to get the upper hand on invasive plants, then we need to take a page from nature and restore our native seed source plants to a dominant status in our disturbed landscapes. Doing so will help to restore a functional ecosystem. However, the prospect of outcompeting invasive species by planting natives on a large-scale basis is not realistic if there is not enough human participation. Read more…

Botanical Bullies and Pennsylvania’s Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Law Webinar PennState Extension is hosting a free webinar for home gardeners, outdoor enthusiasts, land owners, farmers, and landscaping professionals to learn more about invasive species, its impact on the environment, and how Pennsylvania is attempting to stop their spread through Pennsylvania’s Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Law. The Botanical Bullies and Pennsylvania’s Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Law webinar will be held Wednesday, March 23, from 6:00 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.

High gas prices can have a big effect on the environment as well as our wallets. Fuel conservation can help drive your cost down as well as reduce the emissions being released into the atmosphere. Here are some tips to help reduce fuel use: Lighten the load in your vehicle by removing any unnecessary, heavy items. Make sure your tires are properly aligned and inflated. For every pound of pressure a tire is under-inflated, you can lose as much as 2 percent of your fuel efficiency. Avoid fast starts, hard stops, and weaving in and out of lanes and traffic. Reducing this aggressive driving can save as much as 33 percent of your fuel costs.

Sap is flowing in many parts of the commonwealth, but maple sugaring season will soon be winding down. Check out these upcoming events and festivals about this all-natural product produced right here in Pennsylvania’s woods: Saturday, March 12 -- Maple Harvest Tour -- Laurel Hill State Park (10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.) Saturday, March 12 -- Maple Sugaring -- Parker Dam State Park (2:00 P.M.) Sunday, March 13 -- Basics of Maple Sugaring -- Raccoon Creek State Park (10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.) Sunday, March 13 -- Maple Sugaring -- Parker Dam State Park (2:00 P.M.) Saturday, March 19 -- DIY: Maple Sugaring -- Chapman State Park (10:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M.) Saturday, March 19 -- DIY: Maple Sugaring -- Chapman State Park (1:00 P.M. - 2:30 P.M.) Saturday, March 19 -- Maple Weekend Open House -- Hills Creek State Park (10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.) Sunday, March 20 -- Maple Sugaring -- Parker Dam State Park (2:00 P.M.) Check the DCNR calendar of events regularly for additional events, as they are continually being added.

Featured Photo

Holman Lake at Little Buffalo State Park is hopping! The ice is nearly all gone and the waterfowl have returned! As of last week there were approximately 90 tundra swans on the lake, more than 75 Canada geese, dozens of common mergansers, over two dozen ring-necked ducks, pintails, wigeons, and more.