Author: Wade Rivers
Forbes Trail TU Volunteers Assist PFBC with Trout in the Classroom Program
Five members of Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited spent Monday, January 9, 2023 packing rainbow trout eggs to be shipped to schools across Pennsylvania. The PA Council of Trout Unlimited and the PA Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) partner in an interdisciplinary program to teach students in grades 3-12 the challenges of raising trout from eggs to fingerlings ready to be released into a stream. Of course surviving in an aquarium being fed every day pales in comparison to surviving in the wild dealing with flood waters, pollution and predators. But that too is part of the curriculum taught in the classroom. The program titled Trout in the Classroom (TIC) began in PA in 2008. The packaging took place at the PFBC Centre Region Office Warehouse in Bellefonte.
Each year volunteers from Forbes Trail and other TU chapters assist with packaging both eggs and fish food. This year, 384 boxes were shipped overnight to schools across the Commonwealth. The interest in TU members helping is so keen that the limited offered seats are claimed within minutes. Its rewarding knowing we are part of a program to teach students about coldwater conservation and the survival challenges that trout face from the time the eggs become fertilized.
Teachers must complete a training course conducted by the PFBC then secure all the necessary, expensive equipment to raise the trout in their classroom. Grants are made available to purchase equipment. It requires dedication from both the school staff and students to successfully raise the trout and release them into a trout approved stream. Forbes Trail members sometimes assist the teachers with the equipment set-up and eventual release of the trout.
The process of packaging the eggs is a well-designed and efficient process but is highly dependent upon TU volunteers. PFBC staff train the volunteers in each of the stations from measuring and packaging eggs to labeling the boxes for shipment. It’s a fast assembly line operation and each volunteer must keep up a steady pace. PFBC provides a pizza lunch after the work is complete. The event helps build camaraderie among chapter members as well as with other chapters and PFBC staff. Come April, hopefully most of those eggs that were shipped will be trout swimming in a stream. And, the students will have a better appreciation for the life cycle of a trout.
Raffle Prize Donations
We already have a lot of fantastic prizes lined up for the 50th Anniversary Banquet raffle, but if you know of a business that would be willing to donate a prize, you can use the official letter available for download below.
Soliciting raffle prize donations is a good way for members to help the chapter put on a great banquet and celebrate our 50th year. Prizes should have a value of at least the price of a banquet ticket ($35). Thank You!
Rock Run Water Tests 1-1-23
The first of the year brings some snow but warming temperatures.
Air Temperature – 37°F
Water Temperature – 34.5°F
Linn Run Gauge – 1.81 ft.
pH – 7.5
Alkalinity – 4.3 ppm
FTTU Fulfills Promise to Donate Portion of Raffle Profits to the Westmoreland County Food Bank
Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) recently 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 seven $250 gift cards to either Werry’s Provision Meat Market in Scottdale, or Walmart. TU members sold over 700 raffle tickets at $10 each to friends and family members throughout Westmoreland County. The winning numbers were drawn on November 17th and the gift cards were delivered shortly thereafter. TU donated 10% of the raffle profits to the Food Bank.
“We are grateful to Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited, for once again choosing the Westmoreland Food Bank as their charity of choice for this amazing fundraiser” expressed Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Miller. “We are grateful as well to all who supported it! In this time of uncertainty with inflation and gas prices as they are, we need people and organizations such as this to give a hand up to their neighbors in need. This is, indeed, what they have done!”
“This is 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 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. “Knowing that each ticket purchased helps those in need of food makes the selling very easy. 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.”
Final Rock Run Water Tests For 2022
FTTU Citizen Scientists wrapped up monthly water tests at the mouth of Rock Run for 2022. After a few months of low water, The flow was at its highest since April. Readings showed pH at 7.4, and Alkalinity at 5.5. Air temperature was 50° and water temperature was 43°. Linn Run gauge was at 2.03 ft. and discharge was 16.3 ft³/sec.
Averages over the 12 months of 2022 were 7.55 pH and 6.85 alkalinity. Alkalinity was down a bit from 2021 but average flow was a little higher. Those two things go hand-in-hand. When flow is up, alkalinity goes down. Overall averages show significant improvement and slow but steady progress since we started doing monthly tests in 2017. Alkalinity that year was 5.9 and pH was 6.47.
The pH and alkalinity chart for 2022 can be seen here – pH Chart 2022
Thank You For Another Successful Fundraising Raffle
The FTTU Fall fundraiser – “Autumn Special” Raffle wrapped up this evening with the drawing held at PA Fly Co fly shop on Three Mile Hill near Acme, PA. This year, we sold 623 tickets and we drew six winning tickets.
Here are the winning numbers:
4073
2306
0994
2099
0248
0057
Congratulations to the winners. They will have their choice of a $250 gift certificate from Werry’s Provision, Walmart or half and half.
If you have one of the winning numbers, you should have already received a call. If you have a voicemail from us, please call back and state your gift certificate preference. The prizes will be sent out via certified mail.
Thanks to all of you who purchased and/or sold tickets. Check back for a complete financial rundown – 10% of our profits will be donated to the Westmoreland Food Bank.
Local Self-Taught Artist Showcases His Works at Westmoreland Museum
Rod Cross, a director for Forbes Trail Chapter of Trout Unlimited, was invited to display his art work and explain his hobby at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg. The event, Sunday, November 13, included a display of many of his past and recent art pieces.
Rod is multi-talented and puts many of his skills to work during TU events, including being the chapter’s go-to instructor for fly casting. But his passion is really in “whittling” which he proudly distinguishes from “carving” where the wood is held in a vice. Whittling involves holding the raw wood in his hand and using a small knife to produce the intricately designed final product.
Like many artists, Rod prefers the quiet of his wood shop to create his masterpieces with just music playing softly in the background. Many of his pieces take a full week of work, including as many as 20 coats of tung oil. The oil gives the wood a rich, glass like finish, penetrating the wood to help preserve it. Rod’s wife Judy was on hand to greet visitors and to share the stories behind the artwork.
Forbes Trail is blessed with so many talented members willing to give of their time and talents to help promote our mission of conserving our coldwater fisheries. But what’s more interesting sometimes is their backgrounds, and what to do in their spare time.
Many of Rod’s art pieces tell a story, including the source, and importance of the wood from which it is whittled. Following is Rod’s introduction to his story for visitors at the museum.
“My name is Rod Cross, and I am a self-taught wood carver, or more accurately, a “whittler”. I was taught to respect and use a knife as a tool, and later as an instrument to create my expression of Art.
My carvings reflect a passion in other areas of my life that bring me joy and satisfaction, as art should.
Trout fishing and conservation have led me to carve the flowing lines of the brook trout, and the carvings are donated to conservation fund-raising banquets.
Over the years the carvings that give me the most satisfaction are the simple cherry nativity scenes that I carve for one person, or a family each year. This gift of giving has given back to me the real meaning of the Christmas season.
And trout pins for hats or vests are carved and given to fishing friends, and a former President and First Lady.”
Cross grew up in North Huntingdon Township. His working career was in the industrial gas business, first driving a truck, then retiring as a Regional Operations Manager for the Northeast.
Yough Defense Party 11/17/22
The Mountain Watershed Association and Yough Riverkeeper will hold a Yough Defense Party on Thursday, November 17 from 2:00 – 10:00 pm at the Falls City Pub in Ohiopyle, PA
Join us for an evening of celebrating the Youghiogheny River
Live music, silent auction with outdoor gear and goods from local artisans, potluck dinner, and great company
Indoor and Outdoor space, we’ll be ready for cold weather with fire pits and an outdoor event tent!
WIN A KAYAK, DRY SUIT, OR ANOTHER OUTDOOR GEAR ITEM VALUED AT $1,500 OR LESS
Silent auctions end at 7pm and 8pm.
Door Tickets are $20.00
The door ticket gets you entry to the event, free food, one free drink ticket, and an entry for the door prize. There will be a Will Call list at the event with your name.
Tickets are available through the Mountain Watershed Association.
MORE INFORMATION
Raffle Ticket Sales Update
With less than a week to go until the drawing on November 17th, ticket sales have fallen short of last year. We will still make a nice profit of unrestricted funds for the chapters’ use and draw for at least 5 gift certificate prizes.
As of the deadline 11/12/22 we have sold 567 tickets.
Although the deadline for sales has passed, any stragglers still out in the mail will be collected and included in the raffle.
We will award one $250 gift certificate prize for every 100 tickets sold and donate 10% of our profits to the Westmoreland Food Bank.
Thank you and good luck to all who have purchased and/or sold tickets!
The drawing is November 17, 2022 at 6:00 pm, live on the FTTU Facebook page.
Rock Run Water Tests for November
Water quality tests for November:
Air Temperature: 42° F
Water Temperature: 47.5° F
pH: 7.5
Alkalinity: 12.4
Linn Run Gauge: 1.46
Linn Run Flow: 1.9 ft³/sec
A splash of rain brought water levels up a bit but alkalinity also went up. Maybe recent addition of limestone has helped.
