Read About North Pocono CARE and the Important Activities Carried Out By Members
North Pocono CARE Begins Monitoring PPL Transmission Line Impacts on Streams
North Pocono CARE has begun to study the potential impacts of the PPL transmission line on three tributaries to the Lehigh River, which in turn feeds into the Delaware River. The tributaries are Ash Creek in Clifton Township, Lackawanna County, Sand Spring Creek in Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County, and Choke Creek which forms the boundary between Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County and Buck Township, Luzerne County. The monitoring addresses the greatest concerns for these cold water streams - temperature, siltation, and other pollution.
On Ash Creek, NPC has held two public meetings to get input from the public and share data, suggestions, and conservation strategies. The lessons learned from this process may be applied to other tributaries of the Lehigh River similarly impacted by the transmission line.
North Pocono CARE Awarded Coldwater Heritage Partnership Grant
North Pocono CARE received one of five Coldwater Heritage Partnership Planning Grants awarded across the state. The grant was awarded by the Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP), a collaborative effort between the PA Fish & Boat Commission, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, and Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, during the Keystone Coldwater Conference on February 27, 2016.
The $5,000 grant will be used to monitor Ash Creek for impacts of the PPL transmission line and resulting forest clearing that recently occurred. Ash Creek is a Class A wild trout fishery, containing naturally reproducing wild brook trout and is an exceptional value stream and an important cold water tributary to the Lehigh River. It is located in Clifton Township, Lackawanna County.
The lessons we learn from this study will help to conserve and protect this cold-water stream. In addition, they can be applied to other cold water streams impacted by energy infrastructure in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. The PPL transmission line cuts a swath through the forest and across more than 20 exceptional value streams, all tributaries to the Lehigh River. This grant will help us advance our mission of preserving the environment in the North Pocono area, with a primary focus on protecting the headwaters of the Lehigh River and its watershed.
The Coldwater Heritage Partnership (CHP) provides leadership, coordination, technical assistance, and funding support for the evaluation, conservation, and protection of Pennsylvania's cold-water streams. While Pennsylvania has over 86,000 miles of streams, only 30% are considered high-quality cold-water fisheries. Of that, less than 2% are designated as highly productive waters that contain naturally reproducing wild trout. The CHP's primary focus is to foster protection and improvement of these streams and their watersheds.
