The latest newsletter from the Kettle Creek Watershed Association includes a status report on a variety of watershed restoration projects and provides an overview of Eastern Hellbender research in the watershed.

The main stem of Kettle Creek traverses nearly 43 miles beginning in southwestern Tioga County, flowing through Potter County, and then emptying into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in northwestern Clinton County.

There are over 350 miles of coldwater tributaries, many of which are designated by the Fish and Boat Commission as Class A Wild Trout streams.

Even though the majority of the watershed is considered Exceptional Value by the Department of Environmental Protection in terms of water quality, the Kettle Creek watershed suffers from acid mine drainage in its lower watershed.

Restoration Projects

The newsletter takes a look at the various projects Trout Unlimited, the Clinton and Potter County Conservation offices, and the KCWA have worked on this summer to help prevent habitat loss, create habitat, and reconnect habitat throughout the Kettle Creek valley in order to help maintain this valuable resource and excellent fishery.

-- Clukey Property: The Clukey Property was identified as an area that needed improvements to help reduce bank erosion and thus decrease sedimentation downstream. A combination of deflectors, mud sills, and woody debris were strategically constructed to reduce erosion and create habitat diversity.

Multiple defectors were put in place along the entire stretch to help narrow the stream channel. Deflectors help to cause scouring and deepening along the outer face of the structure and provide some bank stability where the device is located. Mud sills were also constructed to help protect the bank. Some of the steeper banks were graded back to a 3:1 slope down to the mud sill. Click Here for more.

-- Aquatic Organism Passage - Stewardson Twp: Trout Unlimited has completed another Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) structure at Gravel Lick Run on Cross Fork Creek Road in Stewardson Twp this past summer. These bottomless sluice pipes allow easier, unobstructed passage of fish and other aquatic organisms, both upstream and downstream.

-- Hammersley Fork: A very large project was undertaken on Hammersley Fork to create habitat, reduce erosion, and redirect the stream bed back to its original path.  Large woody structures were created to help shape the stream channel and create variability in habitat types.

-- Cross Fork Kids Area: Today, this short section of stream is very different than it had been 10 years ago. If you look upstream and downstream from the bridge in downtown Cross Fork, one of the first things that jump out are the large deflectors, first put in place by the KCWA several years ago, that are designed to help enhance the fishing opportunities for young children.

This past summer, volunteers from the Kettle Creek Watershed Association joined together to repair damage to rocks used within a log frame of a stream deflector.

By providing an enhanced section of stream to young kids we are helping to increase their fishing opportunities and enjoyment, and help build a new generation of conservationists.

Eastern Hellbender Research

Dr. Peter Petokas, from Lycoming College Clean Water Institute, provides an overview of his research in the Kettle Creek Watershed on Eastern Hellbenders, now the official Pennsylvania State Salamander and clean water ambassador.  Click Here for the full article.

Dr. Petokas first began searching for the giant Hellbenders during the summer of 2006 in the watershed, which has become his favorite place to study the salamanders.

Contributing Articles

Are you a writer, historian, or naturalist? Want to be a contributor to the KCWA newsletter and have your articles shared with our subscriber base?

Doug Roberts, who is on the Kettle Creek Board Member and Outreach Committee, is looking for volunteers to submit articles for future newsletters on various topics within the watershed, ranging from wildlife, recreation, history of the area, and more.

If this is something that might interest you, please contact Doug Roberts by sending email to: douglas.roberts2011@gmail.com or kcwatershed@gmail.com.

Click Here to read the entire newsletter.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the Kettle Creek Watershed Association website. Like them on Facebook.  Click Here to support their work.

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Feature: Hellbent For Hellbenders In The Kettle Creek Watershed

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[Posted: January 2, 2020]

1/6/2020