FTTU recently formed an advocacy committee to speak out on issues affecting cold water conservation in Pennsylvania and our local area. The committee has 9 members and is chaired by Rod Cross. They hit the ground running first with Woolly Adelgid in Linn Run State Park then quickly came a call to action to comment to the PA Fish & Boat Commission in opposition to stocking over class A wild trout in Potter County’s Freeman Run.

On February 1st, we were alerted by the Mountain Watershed Association of a proposed expansion of the Rustic Ridge mine. The 1,440 acre expansion will take operations into Donegal and Mt. Pleasant Townships. Watersheds affected would be Indian Creek, Jacobs Creek and Loyalhanna Creek.

On February 9th, the Committee responded to an informal Public Comment with a letter to the DEP expressing our concern that the expansion would threaten the cold water resources in these watersheds along with the recreational and economic benefits of the Laurel Highlands.

The committee will continue to participate in meetings with the Mountain Watershed Association, Township Supervisors and PennDot to stay abreast of the issue.