Sportsmen by the hundreds show up to local streams with hopes of catching a trout on opening day of trout season in Tionesta, Pa., at the stocked Ross Run Fish Habitat Improvement Area, Apr. 12.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, Tionesta Lake collaborated in a partnership agreement with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Kellettville Sportsmen Club, and the Collins’ Pine Company to improve fish habitat, and to designate a youth and persons with disabilities only fishing area along Ross Run Stream.
The habitat improvement project provides children and individuals with disabilities a unique opportunity to fish in a beautiful mountain stream. It encourages children to learn about fishing, and introduces them to wildlife and the outdoors.
The Ross Run partnership project provides an excellent opportunity for fishing and proves partnerships can be successful.
The partnership establishes a continuous working relationship with the partners and it enhances the Ross Run and Corps-owned property while encouraging families to visit and recreate utilizing the Corps’ natural resources.
The Ross Run fish habitat improvement project, located near Kellettville, Pennsylvania, is designed to stabilize eroding banks and provide in-stream and overhead cover along the stream. This project provides habitat for both wild and stocked trout by supporting a larger number of fish in the stream and consequently promoting better recreational fishing opportunities. A new sign has been installed to identify the partners and the habitat improvement area.
The Ross Run fish habitat improvement project contributes to the Corps’ environmental stewardship mission by impacting the health of a stream’s ecosystem and physically improving the trout habitat of Ross Run. Currently, there are several eroded areas on the banks of the stream and the right bank has channel braids. These devices will stabilize banks and eroding channels, centralize flow to create deeper water, and provide cover for the fish. With these objectives completed, the stocked trout will have a better chance of surviving from year to year.
A new sign was erected onsite to recognize the Corps’ partnerships.