News & Views March 2017

West Chester Fish Game & Wildlife

Association

Events Calendar

March 25, 2017

Mentored Youth Trout

Day-Regional

March 25, 2017

Trout Stocking 10 AM -

West Valley Creek

April 1, 2017

Regional Opening Day

Trout Season

April 8, 2017

Mentored Youth Trout

Day-Statewide

April 14, 2017

Trout Stocking 6 PM -

West Valley Creek

April 15, 2017

Statewide Opening Day

Trout Season

April 15, 2017

Chip Gibson/Dave Demp-

sey Trout Rodeo

May 19, 2017

Trout Stocking 6 PM -

West Valley Creek

May 20, 2017

Dave Heller/Bruce Rid-

dell Trout Rodeo

June 17, 2017

Art Colley Bass Rodeo

July 15, 2017

Hunter Safety Course

Inside This Issue Annual Meeting 1

Study Group 1

Hunter Trapper Ed 2

Members Night 2

Sink Hole Update 3

Mentored Youth 3

Our Sponsors 4

West Valley Creek Study Group Created

The West Valley Creek Study

Group was created to try to determine

what is causing the sink holes in and near

West Valley. Members include repre-

sentatives of West Chester Fish, Game &

Wildlife, Trout Unlimited, West Chester

University, Chester County Water Re-

sources Authority, Chester County Con-

servation District, PA Fish & Boat Com-

mission and CCWA-Paradise Farm

Camps (which owns and provides stew-

ardship to 600 acres of land, including much of the borders to West Valley along Valley

Creek Road).

The group will work to assess the potential causal relation between the quarry-

ing activities (including the blasting), the long standing drought in our region, and the

creation of the sink holes. They will also work to compile a knowledge base of data,

information and maps to create a complete picture and help all the stakeholders move

forward with designing a formal plan to restore the stream to a more natural state.

Annual Membership Meeting & Election

The WCFGWA Annual Membership Meeting

& Election was held January 20, 2017.

Our guest speaker was M. John Johnson, one of

our past Presidents. John presented a classic show from

memorable fishing trips he took to the Smith River in

Helena, Montana, the Trout Wilderness Area of Yellow-

stone National Park and several other memorable fish-

ing adventures in Florida, Lake Erie, the Adirondacks,

New Hampshire, Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada

and large-mouth bass fishing in Mexico. John narrated

his experiences from these great wilderness fishing trips

and regaled his audience with his great fishing stories.

Also on the agenda were elections. The follow-

ing members were elected to the WCFGWA Executive

Committee to serve a two-year term: Mike Colley, Matt

Estberg, Steve Estberg, Colin Finn (Jr. Mem.), Andy Madsen, A.J. Miller, John Rick-

ards, Jim Semetti, Glade Squires. Congratulations to all those elected.

Page 2 News & Views

WCFG&WA Officers

2017—2018

President—Gary Dunn

Vice President—Fletcher

Swanson

Secretary—George Poole

Treasurer—Bernie McGovern

Exec. Committee 2016-17

Tom Anderson, Ben Anderson

(Jr. Mem.), Gary Dunn, Don

Finn, David Goodroad, John

Johnson, Bernie McGovern,

George Poole, Liz Rutter,

Fletcher Swanson, Arlene

Stewart

Exec. Committee 2017-18

Mike Colley, Matt Estberg,

Steve Estberg, Colin Finn (Jr.

Mem.), Andy Madsen, A.J.

Miller, John Rickards, Jim

Semetti, Glade Squires

Turn In A Poacher Or

Litterer

Call W.C.O. Bob Bonney

610-637-6398

Helpful Contacts

PA Game Commission

Hunting License Division: 717-

787-2084

SE Region Office: 610-926-3136,

610-926-3137

Report a Violation: Operation

Game Thief: 1-888-PGC-8001

PA Fish & Boat Commission

Pollution Incident 1-855-FISH-

KIL (1-855-347-4545)

Licensing – 877- 707-4085

Boat Registration/Titling – 866-

262-8734, (866-BoatReg)

SE Region Office: 717- 626-0228

Member’s Night on the Pond Planning for Member’s Night on the Pond is in the works for an evening in June.

Join us for an evening of fun and fishing on the Pond. We will also be raffling off:

Remington 870 12 Gauge Pump Action or $300

Remington 870 20 Gauge Pump Action or $300

Fishing Trip for 2 People from Rock Hall, MD

Blue Fishing Trip for 2 People on Cockrobbin, from Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Pheasant Hunt for 2 People in Chester County

A Night at the Warner Hotel, West Chester

1 Saltwater FishingCombination - Rod, Reel & Tacklebox or $100

Fly Rod and Reel

Basket of Cheer

So check your mail/email for updated information on this fun Night on the Pond.

We would like to thank Gordon’s Sports Supply Inc. of Uwchland, PA for supplying

the guns for our raffle and for all of their assistance and support.

Hunter-Trapper Education Course July 15th A Hunter-Trapper Education Course will be held

July 15, 2017 at the East Bradford Township Building in

West Chester, PA.

This is a one day training class. In order to pre-

pare for your class, you must read Chapters 1, 4, 5 and 9 of

Today's Hunter & Trapper in PA. These four chapters are

part of the Hunter-Trapper Education course, but will not

be covered at your class. It will be your responsibility to

study this material before you attend a class.

The online version of the manual can be accessed

at www.hunter-ed.com/pennsylvania/handbook. Hard cop-

ies of the manual are available at Gordon's Sports Supply, 129 Pottstown Pike,

Uwchland, PA 19480 or at The Downingtown Bicycle Shop, 833 W Lancaster Ave-

nue, Downingtown, Pa 19335.

All first-time hunters and trappers, regardless of age, must successfully com-

plete Hunter-Trapper Education training before they can buy a Pennsylvania hunting

or trapping license. A training certificate, which is recognized throughout North

America, is awarded when you pass a test at the end of the course.

You must be at least 11 years old to enroll in a class. Parents are encouraged

to attend with their children. The program is designed to produce safe, responsible,

knowledgeable and involved participants.

The East Bradford Township Building is located at 666 Copeland School

Road, West Chester, PA 19380.

For more information and to register for the class, go to the PA Game Com-

mission website at www.pgc.state.pa.us.

Page 3 News & Views

West Valley Creek Sinkhole Repair Update Attendees of the Annual Meeting also received an update on the West Valley Creek

sinkholes. An inspection of the Creek was held January 20th. The eight attendees of the meet-

ing included Amiee Bollinger and Joseph Blyler from PA DEP - District Mining Operations;

WCO Bob Bonney from PA Fish and Boat Commission; Gary Dunn, President and George

Poole, Secretary from West Chester Fish, Game and Wildlife Association; Andrew Gutshall,

Mark Kendrick, and Timothy Poppenberg from Hanson Aggregates. The repair efforts have

now restored constant flow in West Valley Creek through the affected area.

WCO Bob Bonney, Martin F. Helmke, PhD, PG, Professor and Chair, WCU De-

partment of Earth and Space Sciences also and Timothy Poppenberg, PE, Area Operations

Manager, Hanson Aggregates attended the WCFGWA Annual Meeting and reported on the

completed sinkhole repairs to West Valley Creek.

Poppenberg gave a comprehensive explanation of the repairs done to the nine sinkholes found in the creek.

He explained that a concrete slurry was pumped into the holes to fill them. The areas were then lined with 1 ½ -2 feet

of clay to line the low flow channel. The clay was compacted and the sides were lined with rock too finish the repair.

Helmke then informed the audience that sinkholes can be an ongoing problem. “Hopefully Hanson’s good

work fixed the problem,” he added. The priority now is management of the sinkhole problem going forward. “I am

confident you can manage the problem and maintain the water flow,” he said.

Bonney reported that the work done by Hansen Aggregates was more than satisfactory. He also stated that the

stream bottom is beginning to look more like a normal stream bottom. Bonney also cautioned that this stretch of the

creek still needs habitat improvement. “It will just take time. In two or three years you should be able to see the re-

sults,” he added. The State still plans to stock there and the rest of the stream, Bonney informed the audience. The

greatest number of fish, however, will be concentrated toward Boot Road.

Many thanks to all the parties involved for all of their cooperation, dedication and hard work restoring the

water flow in West Valley Creek.

MENTORED YOUTH PROGRAM 2017 The 2017 Mentored Youth Trout Days will be held on two days this year. March

25, 2017 is the designated regional day. April 8, 2017 is the designated statewide day.

ADULT ANGLERS - Adult anglers 16 years of age or older (adult anglers) must possess

a valid Pennsylvania Fishing License and be accompanied by a youth (less than 16 years of

age) who has obtained a Mentored Youth Fishing Permit or Voluntary Youth Fishing Li-

cense from the Commission. While mentors will be permitted to fish for trout, they are not

permitted to harvest trout and must release them unharmed.

YOUTH ANGLERS -Youth anglers must obtain a Mentored Youth Fishing Permit or Voluntary Youth Fish-

ing License from the Commission and be accompanied by an adult licensed angler in order to participate. Youth may

harvest up to two trout (combined species) with a minimum size of 7 inches. All other Commonwealth Inland Water

regulations apply.

The Mentored Youth Permit is free. The Voluntary Youth License is $2.90 ($1.00 cost + $1.90 agent/

transaction fee). Youth permits, voluntary licenses and vouchers are available at GoneFishingPA.com or at any of the

more than 900 licensing agents across the state. Licensed agents can be found at http://www.fishandboat.com/Fish/

FishingLicense.

WHY BUY? For each Voluntary Youth License purchased for $2.90 (or Voucher once it is redeemed), the

PFBC receives $5 back in funding as a federal reimbursement. These funds are dedicated to be used in youth outreach

and education programs. The Commission receives no federal reimbursement for Mentored Youth Permits.

Courtesy of the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

West Chester Fish Game & Wildlife Association

P.O. Box 511

West Chester, PA 19381-0511

Upcoming Events

Executive Committee meets the second Monday

of each month at the East

Bradford Township Build-ing.

March 25, 2017

Regional Mentored Youth Fishing Day

April 1, 2017 Regional Opening Day

Trout Season

April 8, 2017 Statewide

Mentored Youth Fishing Day

April 15, 2017

Statewide Opening Day

Trout Season

Please remember to

send your email to: wcfgwa@gmail.com

West Chester Fish, Game & Wildlife Association

Membership Application

Date:_______________

Full Name (Please Print Clearly) □ New □Renewal

_____________________________________ □ Regular $25.00

Address:

_____________________________________ □ Family $30.00

City, State, Zip:

_____________________________________ □ Junior $10.00

Telephone No.:

_____________________________________ □ Life $250.00

E-Mail Address:

______________________________________ □ Donation $______

Make your check payable to:

West Chester Fish, Game & Wildlife Association

P.O. Box 511

West Chester, PA 19381-0511

www.wcfgwa.org

wcfgwa@gmail.com