Post by pfsc on May 13, 2015 9:57:43 GMT -5
Senate Game and Fisheries Committee
5/12/15, 11:30 a.m., 8E-B, East Wing
By Trevor J. Monk, PLS
The committee held an informational meeting to discuss the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Annual Report.
John Arway, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), provided a summary of the PFBC 2014 Annual Report. Arway explained the PFBC Board of Commissioners voted in September to reduce the price of a fishing license for the first time in the history of the agency. He added the price reduction is an attempt to attract back anglers to the sport and newcomers. He stated the discounted licenses are marketed under the promotional slogan Catch the Value!. Arway reported that the number of anglers is up more than three percent from last year. Arway announced that 2014 also marked the return of the PFBC's popular fishing license button as an alternative to the display requirement. Buttons are available online or at any of the 900 license issuing agents across the Commonwealth. Arway explained how the PFBC is expanding mentored youth trout fishing opportunities statewide. He said that in 2013, the PFBC piloted a program in southeastern Pennsylvania which allowed children under 16 and their adult mentors to fish in select waters a week before the opening day of trout season and keep two fish apiece. He added for every voluntary youth license sold, the PFBC is eligible to receive approximately $5 in federal aid from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Sport Fish Restoration Act program. Arway thanked the committee for including the PFBC in Act 89 of 2013 and directing the full amount of taxes paid on motorboat fuel to the PFBC. Arway explained that every project is different, and all require creativity and flexibility to identify and secure funding sources necessary to design, repair, and construct the multi-million dollar, Commonwealth-owned facilities over the course of many years. He added that thanks to Act 89, PFBC has begun the repair process on some facilities and has a plan in place to complete designs for all of the high-hazard dams managed on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Related to the health of the Susquehanna River, Arway stated, "In October, we joined the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a broader workgroup of agency and academic experts to begin a Causal Analysis/ Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS) process to help identify causes of health issues with Smallmouth Bass (SMB) in the Susquehanna and its tributaries." He continued, "The CADDIS process is ongoing and will culminate in September 2015 with a collaborative report of the group's findings on causative factors associated with the reduction in recruitment and abundance of SMB in the middle Susquehanna and lower Juniata Rivers. This report can then provide direction and support for DEP to use to complete their Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (305b) in January 2016." Arway also addressed the recent announcement last week that two independent laboratory tests confirmed a malignant tumor on a Smallmouth Bass caught in the middle Susquehanna River by an angler late last year. "If we do not act to address the water quality issues in the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania risks losing what is left of what was once considered a world-class Smallmouth Bass fishery," Arway stated, "When DEP releases its next list of impaired waters, we are hopeful they will follow the science and add the Susquehanna River to the list.
Arway reminded the committee the PFBC depends almost entirely on fishing licenses, boat registrations, and federal funding tied to fishing and boating to pay for almost everything. He added that in a 2010 triennial performance audit of the agency, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee recommended that the General Assembly "consider providing additional resources to the PFBC so it can continue to make efforts to protect water resources from potential degradation by Marcellus Shale drilling efforts." Related to PFBC technological advancements, Arway said the PFBC unveiled a new mobile device application to help anglers and boaters better navigate the Keystone State's streams and lakes, the free app is called FishBoatPA app. He added the app helps Pennsylvania's anglers and boaters to see which streams have been stocked with trout, how to get to those locations easily, and what other access areas are near their current location.
Regarding hatchery expenses, Arway expressed his concern with the license and permitting fees used to fund the hatcheries. He explained the fees have only increased twice in the last 24 years. He recommended that the fees need to be increased in order to maintain the hatcheries and the delivery of fish to their respective bodies of water. Arway provided the committee with proposed fee increase of a $1 annually over four years. He noted there are countless funding scenarios that could be analyzed for different increase amounts.
Chairman Scavello is there is correlation between unhealthy fish and specific parts of the river. Arway said parts of the Susquehanna River stretching from the Sunbury and Holtwood have been identified and shut down.
Chairman Scavello asked if Waterlife Conservation Officers (WCOs) inform DEP when sick fish are found. Arway explained the PFBC and DEP have a great working relationship. He said WCO officer inform DEP, and DEP informs the PFBC any time sick fish are identified. Chairman Scavello asked if there the PFBC is using technology to help understand the health of the Susquehanna River. Arway said the CADDIS tool has been helpful in organizing and analyzing the large amounts of scientific data collected of the last ten years. Arway said he is confident that DEP will recognize there is a problem. Chairman Scavello asserted that the culprits of the pollution need to be identified and fined. Arway said the PFBC is currently trying to locate the sources of the contamination.
Chairman Scavello inquired about how much Act 89 generates. A PFBC staff member answered the Act 89 revenues increase over time and are used to repair hazardous dams. He said the Act 89 revenues will amount to roughly $4.5 million this year, and up to $7 Million over the next four years.
Minority Chairman Brewster inquired if the PFBC knows who is responsible for polluting the Susquehanna River. Arway said the PFBC has some hypotheses, but nothing concrete. Chairman Brewster asked if the PFBC needs help from the committee to declare the river unhealthy with DEP. Arway stated it would require a regulatory change. Chairman Brewster said the river has been healthy for ten years, and that it may be time to talk with DEP. Chairman Brewster asked where the funding to repairing the Susquehanna River would come from. Arway said the money for fixing the Susquehanna River's problems would come from the EPA and the Clean Water Way program. He said the most money is spent on the sickest rivers, and that money will not be allocated until a river is declared sick.
Chairman Brewster if there is support for fee increases. Arway said there is support for the fee increases, but this meeting was the first time the fee increases were discussed publically. Chairman Brewster said he would be happy to work on increasing the fees.
Sen. Wiley echoed Chairman Brewster's sentiments in raising awareness about the health of the Susquehanna River to DEP. He said he would like to work with Chairman Scavello and Chairman Brewster on making DEP aware of the severity of the situation. He also expressed his hope that SB 604 leaves committee soon.
Chairman Scavello asked if declaring the Susquehanna River as unhealthy would attract negative attention and negatively affect tourism. Arway expressed his belief that it would negatively affect the image of the river, and would act like a statement that the river is sick, but there are efforts to repair the health of the river.
Chairman Scavello said he would talk with the House Game and Fisheries Committee chairmen about drafting a joint letter to DEP discussing the health of the Susquehanna River. Arway said, "The small mouth bass thank you."
5/12/15, 11:30 a.m., 8E-B, East Wing
By Trevor J. Monk, PLS
The committee held an informational meeting to discuss the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Annual Report.
John Arway, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), provided a summary of the PFBC 2014 Annual Report. Arway explained the PFBC Board of Commissioners voted in September to reduce the price of a fishing license for the first time in the history of the agency. He added the price reduction is an attempt to attract back anglers to the sport and newcomers. He stated the discounted licenses are marketed under the promotional slogan Catch the Value!. Arway reported that the number of anglers is up more than three percent from last year. Arway announced that 2014 also marked the return of the PFBC's popular fishing license button as an alternative to the display requirement. Buttons are available online or at any of the 900 license issuing agents across the Commonwealth. Arway explained how the PFBC is expanding mentored youth trout fishing opportunities statewide. He said that in 2013, the PFBC piloted a program in southeastern Pennsylvania which allowed children under 16 and their adult mentors to fish in select waters a week before the opening day of trout season and keep two fish apiece. He added for every voluntary youth license sold, the PFBC is eligible to receive approximately $5 in federal aid from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Sport Fish Restoration Act program. Arway thanked the committee for including the PFBC in Act 89 of 2013 and directing the full amount of taxes paid on motorboat fuel to the PFBC. Arway explained that every project is different, and all require creativity and flexibility to identify and secure funding sources necessary to design, repair, and construct the multi-million dollar, Commonwealth-owned facilities over the course of many years. He added that thanks to Act 89, PFBC has begun the repair process on some facilities and has a plan in place to complete designs for all of the high-hazard dams managed on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Related to the health of the Susquehanna River, Arway stated, "In October, we joined the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a broader workgroup of agency and academic experts to begin a Causal Analysis/ Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS) process to help identify causes of health issues with Smallmouth Bass (SMB) in the Susquehanna and its tributaries." He continued, "The CADDIS process is ongoing and will culminate in September 2015 with a collaborative report of the group's findings on causative factors associated with the reduction in recruitment and abundance of SMB in the middle Susquehanna and lower Juniata Rivers. This report can then provide direction and support for DEP to use to complete their Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (305b) in January 2016." Arway also addressed the recent announcement last week that two independent laboratory tests confirmed a malignant tumor on a Smallmouth Bass caught in the middle Susquehanna River by an angler late last year. "If we do not act to address the water quality issues in the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania risks losing what is left of what was once considered a world-class Smallmouth Bass fishery," Arway stated, "When DEP releases its next list of impaired waters, we are hopeful they will follow the science and add the Susquehanna River to the list.
Arway reminded the committee the PFBC depends almost entirely on fishing licenses, boat registrations, and federal funding tied to fishing and boating to pay for almost everything. He added that in a 2010 triennial performance audit of the agency, the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee recommended that the General Assembly "consider providing additional resources to the PFBC so it can continue to make efforts to protect water resources from potential degradation by Marcellus Shale drilling efforts." Related to PFBC technological advancements, Arway said the PFBC unveiled a new mobile device application to help anglers and boaters better navigate the Keystone State's streams and lakes, the free app is called FishBoatPA app. He added the app helps Pennsylvania's anglers and boaters to see which streams have been stocked with trout, how to get to those locations easily, and what other access areas are near their current location.
Regarding hatchery expenses, Arway expressed his concern with the license and permitting fees used to fund the hatcheries. He explained the fees have only increased twice in the last 24 years. He recommended that the fees need to be increased in order to maintain the hatcheries and the delivery of fish to their respective bodies of water. Arway provided the committee with proposed fee increase of a $1 annually over four years. He noted there are countless funding scenarios that could be analyzed for different increase amounts.
Chairman Scavello is there is correlation between unhealthy fish and specific parts of the river. Arway said parts of the Susquehanna River stretching from the Sunbury and Holtwood have been identified and shut down.
Chairman Scavello asked if Waterlife Conservation Officers (WCOs) inform DEP when sick fish are found. Arway explained the PFBC and DEP have a great working relationship. He said WCO officer inform DEP, and DEP informs the PFBC any time sick fish are identified. Chairman Scavello asked if there the PFBC is using technology to help understand the health of the Susquehanna River. Arway said the CADDIS tool has been helpful in organizing and analyzing the large amounts of scientific data collected of the last ten years. Arway said he is confident that DEP will recognize there is a problem. Chairman Scavello asserted that the culprits of the pollution need to be identified and fined. Arway said the PFBC is currently trying to locate the sources of the contamination.
Chairman Scavello inquired about how much Act 89 generates. A PFBC staff member answered the Act 89 revenues increase over time and are used to repair hazardous dams. He said the Act 89 revenues will amount to roughly $4.5 million this year, and up to $7 Million over the next four years.
Minority Chairman Brewster inquired if the PFBC knows who is responsible for polluting the Susquehanna River. Arway said the PFBC has some hypotheses, but nothing concrete. Chairman Brewster asked if the PFBC needs help from the committee to declare the river unhealthy with DEP. Arway stated it would require a regulatory change. Chairman Brewster said the river has been healthy for ten years, and that it may be time to talk with DEP. Chairman Brewster asked where the funding to repairing the Susquehanna River would come from. Arway said the money for fixing the Susquehanna River's problems would come from the EPA and the Clean Water Way program. He said the most money is spent on the sickest rivers, and that money will not be allocated until a river is declared sick.
Chairman Brewster if there is support for fee increases. Arway said there is support for the fee increases, but this meeting was the first time the fee increases were discussed publically. Chairman Brewster said he would be happy to work on increasing the fees.
Sen. Wiley echoed Chairman Brewster's sentiments in raising awareness about the health of the Susquehanna River to DEP. He said he would like to work with Chairman Scavello and Chairman Brewster on making DEP aware of the severity of the situation. He also expressed his hope that SB 604 leaves committee soon.
Chairman Scavello asked if declaring the Susquehanna River as unhealthy would attract negative attention and negatively affect tourism. Arway expressed his belief that it would negatively affect the image of the river, and would act like a statement that the river is sick, but there are efforts to repair the health of the river.
Chairman Scavello said he would talk with the House Game and Fisheries Committee chairmen about drafting a joint letter to DEP discussing the health of the Susquehanna River. Arway said, "The small mouth bass thank you."