Join the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited and its partners, Mountain Watershed Association and the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper, Ohiopyle State Park and the Fayette County Conservation District for the 2nd Youghiogheny River Symposium on June 24-25.

The opening day June 24 features a keynote address by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.

In addition, Dr. Cynthia Walter, associate professor of biology at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, will discuss World Heritage Sites and why many areas in Pennsylvania should be considered as candidates.

Other panel discussions on June 24 include:

-- The Living River: with speakers from Fish & Boat Commission, Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;

-- The River of Opportunity: with speakers from Laurel Highlands Visitor Bureau, Wilderness Voyageurs and Ohiopyle State Park;

-- History of Healing: with speakers from Casselman River Watershed Association, Chestnut Ridge TU, Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, Mountain Watershed Association, Sewickley Creek Watershed Association;

-- The River at Risk: with topics including Invasive Species, Shale Gas, Abandoned Mine Drainage, Active Mining Water Quantity and Climate Change by California University of Pennsylvania.

The symposium ends with a “Call to Action.” Afterwards, attendees and guests can meet for Happy Hour at the nearby Knights of Columbus pavilion to hear some of the best fishing guides on the Yough talk about their creel surveys – the number and size of some of the river’s big browns and rainbows.

Events will be held June 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pennsylvania State University Fayette, Eberly Campus, on Route 119 in Uniontown. Cost is $20.

June 25 is a relaxed day for attendees beginning at 11 a.m. at the Youghiogheny Lake outflow in Confluence.

Tour the cage culture nursery maintained by Chestnut Ridge TU in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Stop by the chapter’s tent at the outflow, grab a hot dog at noon and see one of CRTU’s most popular projects while taking some time to wet a line on the Yough.

Co-sponsors for the symposium include the Fayette County Commissioners, Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, Mountain Watershed Association and the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper, and the Fayette County Conservation District.

Visit the 2nd Youghiogheny River Symposium webpage to view the agenda or download directions and to register.

For more information of programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Mountain Watershed Association websites.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Association.

(Reprinted from the Spring 2016 newsletter of PA Council of Trout Unlimited.  Click Here to sign up for PA TU updates by email (top of page).)

5/16/2016