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Posted in Citizen Science Rock Run

Rock Run Water Tests 3.2.24

Linn Run
Linn Run flows strong, cold and clear - March 2, 2024

High flow today on Linn Run and Rock Run after heavy rains on February 29th. The Linn Run gauge bumped up again today with rain this morning.

It’s predictable, flow goes up, alkalinity goes down.

Air Temperature – 45°F
Water Temperature – 42.5°F
pH – 6.7
Alkalinity – 3.2
Linn Run Gauge Height – 2.3′
Linn Run Flow – 35.3 ft³/sec

Posted in Citizen Science Rock Run

Rock Run Water Tests for February

Water test results for February:
Water Temperature: 38° F
Air Temperature: 30° F
Linn Run Gauge: 2.08′
Linn Run Discharge: 24.2 ft³/sec
Flow: Med/High and clear
pH: 6.3
Alkalinity: 3.6

Alkalinity goes down with higher flow. This time from snow melt.

Water Collection
Ron Miller (L) and Denny Hess collect water samples near the mouth of Rock Run
Water Test Equipment
Denny Hess (L) and Scott Minster prepare to test alkalinity of Rock Run water samples.
Posted in Uncategorized

Winter Newsletter

The Winter 2024 edition of The Trails is out. Download your copy by clicking here –  The Trails Winter 2024.

Posted in Uncategorized

FTTU Honored at State Meetings

Larry's Award
Larry Myers with the Ken Sink Award. (L_R) Denny Hess, Larry Myers and Ron Rodgers.

FTTU President Larry Myers was presented with the Ken Sink Award for Outstanding Service to the State Council at the annual PA TU State Meetings held in September in Mill Hall PA.

In addition to all the endless hours of work Larry puts in on behalf of FTTU, he somehow managed to get five TU Chapters to cooperate and acquire funding for a successful relaunch of the Laurel Highlands Trout Trail.

Ron Rodgers represented us at the meetings and brought home the hardware.

Also, our newsletter, “The Trails” was again named best in the state by winning the Samuel Slaymaker Award. FTTU considers communication with members a top priority so a lot of effort is put in to each issue of “The Trails”. We also hope to inspire members to get involved with the chapter through our newsletter.

Congratulations Larry, and all who contribute to “The Trails”!

Posted in Citizen Science Rock Run

Rock Run Water Tests January 2024

Linn Run Dec 30, 2023
Snow falls on Linn Run December 30, 2023

The first monthly water tests at the mouth of Rock Run for 2024 were actually done on December 30, 2023.
Just a hundred yards or so below  the test site rain changed to snow and began collecting in the tree tops and leaf litter. Winter is here!

Water Temperature – 39.5° F
Air Temperature – 32° F
pH – 6.8
Alkalinity – 6.0
Linn Run Gauge Height – 2.04′
Linn Run Discharge – 19.9 ft³/sec

Posted in Fund Raising

Trout Unlimited Supports Local Food Bank

Check Presentation
Jennifer Miller, Westmoreland Food Bank CEO, accepts the $600 check from FTTU chapter leaders. (L-R) Denny Hess; Ron Rodgers, Jennifer Miller; Rick Yaksic, Larry Miller, and Monty Murty.

Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) presented a $600 check to the Westmoreland Food Bank to help those in local communities in need of food.  Through its annual, fall meat raffle, TU gave away eight $250 gift cards to either Werry’s Provision Meat Market in Scottdale, or Walmart.  TU members sold 801 raffle tickets at $10 each to friends and family members throughout Westmoreland County.  The winning numbers were drawn on November 16th and the gift cards were delivered shortly thereafter.  TU shared 10% of the raffle profits with its partner, the Food Bank.

“I want to thank the members and all of those who purchased tickets or supported this project in any way”, noted Jennifer Miller, WFB Chief Executive Officer.  “We are very grateful for this effort as it helps to feed 8,000 families throughout Westmoreland County who are finding it difficult to make ends meet.  With this support we can assure that all neighbors who need our help throughout the year can rest easy knowing that people care enough to make sure that no one has to know the anguish of food insecurity.”

“This is the fourth year we’ve conducted this raffle and shared the profit with the Food Bank.  It’s an easy way for our chapter to raise unrestricted funds for community, school and local stream projects” explained Larry Myers, Chapter President.  “It’s an opportunity for all of our 500 plus members to get involved in fundraising with minimal effort.”  Trout Unlimited also thanks our other partner, Werry’s Provision, for promoting our raffle on their Face Book page and selling tickets at their market.  Their market is easy to find near Overton just off Rt. 119, and their meat quality and selection is excellent.  

“We gave away one gift card for every 100 tickets sold, which are really good odds.”  said Myers.  “Winners got to select which gift card they preferred.  The final drawing this year was for a $500 gift card.  Knowing that each ticket purchased helps those in need of food makes the selling easier.  There are many families in our communities who could use a helping hand, and the raffle is a simple means for us to provide that support.”

Posted in Citizen Science Rock Run

Rock Run Water Tests 12.2.23

Rock Run
Rock Run 12.2.23

Recent rains have pumped up the volume of Rock Run on this Saturday, the final water test of 2023.

Air Temp – 53° F
Water Temp – 45.5° F
pH – 6.9
Alkalinity – 6.1
Linn Run Discharge – 16.1 ft³/sec
Linn Run Gauge Height – 1.98′

pH and alkalinity averages are down slightly from 2022, but considering a pH reading of 4.7 was recorded at this loctation in 2005 we can rest assured our limestone sand project has had a overall positive impact on the stream.

Click HERE to download the final pH chart for 2023.

Posted in Chapter Business

Officers and Directors Set for 2023-2024

FTTU’s slate of Officers and Directors was set at the Annual Meeting in October. Two Director positions were open with Milt Claney and Bill Somogyi’s terms expiring. Both Milt and Bill agreed to serve another 3-year term. The only other change has Rick Yaksic replacing Denny Hess as Vice President as Denny has decided to step down. Many thanks to Denny for his years of service as an officer. He is passionate about improving the health of Linn Run and Rock Run and will continue on as Chair of the Conservation Committee.

Rick Yaksic is happily married for the past 22 years and retired from Westmoreland Casemanagement and Supports where he ran a program that helped adults with mental illness achieve life skills. This program covered all of Westmoreland County including Torrance State Hospital and inmates in our county jail. 

Rick is currently seated as a member of Westmoreland Casemanagement and Supports board of directors. 

He is an active member of his church’s council. For the last 15 years Rick has been a member of the Ray of Hope Suicide Awareness Task Force.

Rick has been a fisherman all his life but has only been fly fishing for the past 3 years. Rick also enjoys fly tying and because of an invitation from Larry who attends the same church, became a member of Forbes Trail Trout Unlimited and enjoys helping with all the community events and educational activities as much as possible.

Officers
Officers 2023-2024. (L-R) Larry Myers, President; Rick Yaksic, Vice President; Scott Minster, Secretary; Ron Rodgers, Treasurer.
Directors
Board of Directors 2023-2024. (L-R) Angela Schultheis, Bill Somogyi, Milt Claney, Rod Cross, Monty Murty. Not Pictured, Hank Balles and Doug Yocabet.
Posted in Fund Raising

Congratulations Raffle Winners!

FFTU’s annual “Autumn Special” fundraiser drawing was held this evening at the PA Fly Co fly shop near Acme, PA.

We topped out at 801 tickets sold. That meant we drew seven $250 winning numbers with the last draw for $500.

Here are the winning numbers.
2402
2009
0615
5341
0515
2356
1403
and 0602 for the $500 gift card.

Congratulations to all the winners, and a huge thank you to all who bought and sold tickets making this another successful fundraising event.

Posted in Meetings

Chapter Awards Presented at November Meeting

Silver Trout Angie Schultheis
Angie Schultheis accepts the Russ Mowry Silver Trout award From Larry Myers
Silver Trout Awardee Milt Claney
Milt Claney accepts the Russ Mowry Silver Trout Award from Larry Myers
B. Drew Banas Award
Joe Bilotta accepts the B. Drew Banas Education Award from Larry Myers

Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited held its monthly meeting last evening at the Nimick Education Center in west Ligonier.  Forbes Trail used the event to recognize several outstanding members for their service.  The Chapter has a selection of formal awards they present to TU members and other individuals and businesses from the community. 

Their Russ Mowry Memorial Silver Trout Award is reserved for individuals who have gone above and beyond in volunteering their time and talents.  This year, the award was presented to Angie Schultheis from Latrobe, and Milt Claney from Greensburg.

Angie chair’s the Chapter’s Diversity Committee and also serves on the Board of Directors.  Angie has worked very hard over the years to develop programs for both ladies and youth, including STREAM Girls.  STREAM Girls is an outdoor watershed experience for middle school aged girls that employs STEM-based education (science, technology, engineering, math), recreation and arts to explore a local stream.  She has also organized fly tying, fly casting and fly fishing trips for the Chapter’s lady members.  Angie’s entire family is involved in TU activities.

Milt Claney, a TU member since 1989, was also a recipent of our Russ Mowry Memorial Silver Trout Award.  Milt is a retired teacher with the Westmoreland IU…but he has never stops teaching.  He’s aways looking for new ways for the Chapter to reach out and recruit young conservationists, including starting new programs in local schools.  Milt serves on the Chapter’s Membership Committee and is always present at meetings to welcome and introduce new members and guests.  Milt also serves on our Board of Directors.

The third award of the evening was the B. Drew Banas Education Award for outstanding service in the field of education and was presented to Joe Bilotta.  Joe serves as Chair of the Chapter’s Education Committee.  Joe coordinates all of the Chapter’s outreach and education activities with local schools, scouts, 4-H, and community groups and has developed working relationships with each.  He also maintains the Chapter’s supply of equipment and materials for various programs. 

Forbes Trail applauds the award winners for their dedication to TU’s mission and for their generous donation of time and talent to make all of TU’s programs and activities successful!   

Award Winners
2023 Award Winners with FTTU Officers & Directors. (L-R) President, Larry Myers; Joe Bilotta; Vice President, Rick Yaksic; Director, Angie Schultheis; Director, Rod Cross; Director, Milt Claney; Secretary, Scott Minster; Monty Murty; Treasurer, Ron Rodgers; Director, Bill Somogyi.