The Kettle Creek Watershed Association held its 15-year celebration of accomplishments in the Kettle Creek Watershed in Clinton and Potter counties on May 9.

The association was formed in 1997 and partnered with Trout Unlimited in 1998 as TU adopted Kettle Creek as its third Home Rivers Initiative project, a river-based effort combining scientific and economic research, community outreach, restoration and the development of long-term conservation and management initiatives.

A group of about 75 people gathered at Deb’s Cross Fork Inn, many of whom took a morning bus tour of two abandoned mine drainage remediation projects, followed by a luncheon and awards presentation.

Luncheon speakers included Joe Pizarchik, director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; R. John Dawes, executive director, Foundation for PA Watersheds; and John Arway, executive director, Fish and Boat Commission.

A second bus tour of fish habitat projects was given in the afternoon.

The event was organized by TU’s Amy Wolfe, director, Eastern Abandoned Mine Program and PA Eastern Brook Trout Habitat Initiative, and Richard Sodergren, president, Kettle Creek Watershed Association.

(Reprinted from May 15 DEP News. Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

5/19/2014