Brodhead Chapter Trout Unlimited Volunteers Contributed Over 2100 Hours Last Fiscal Year

Across Monroe County, Pennsylvania, conservation projects and educational programs improve stream health

Streams across the Monroe County are cleaner and healthier thanks to countless volunteers with Brodhead Chapter Trout Unlimited. In the past fiscal year – from October 2016 through September 2017 – volunteers contributed more than 2100 hours of service to the mission of this national conservation organization.

With 5 conservation projects protecting, restoring, and repairing rivers, and over 20 education and outreach programs and activities to engage community in conservation that were held from Blakeslee to Delaware Water Gap and from Skytop to Saylorsburg.

 “Trout Unlimited’s philosophy is simple and powerful. If you take care of the water, the fishing will take care of itself,” said Todd Burns, President of the Brodhead Chapter Trout Unlimited which serves Monroe County, PA. “We are a community of people who care deeply about our local rivers and the trout and other wildlife that need clean, healthy rivers to survive and we’re willing to roll up our sleeves to ensure those rivers are in better shape for our children and grandchildren.”

Here in Monroe County, PA, projects and programs that improved rivers, engaged local communities and educated youth were broad and diverse in their location and impact. They included:

• Restored 2,000 feet of the Pocono Creek in Tannersville, PA
• Restored 300 feet of the Cherry Creek near Stroudsburg, PA
• Monitored the physical and chemical properties of two streams in Monroe County as part of the Coldwater Conservation Corps program
• Investigated and monitored for potential impacts from a sewage treatment plant in Snydersville, PA
• Participated in to garbage clean-up efforts in Tannersville and Stroudsburg, PA
• Improved access to public open space properties in Tannersville, PA
• Installed signage promoting the catch and release of wild trout in Tannersville and Paradise Valley, PA
• Provided financial support for Monroe County Conservation District Programs and advocated to strengthen their environmental program.
• Provided financial and volunteer support for the Monroe County Youth Field Day
• Partnered with the Kunkletown, PA Major Paul Syverson Veterans Sanctuary to help veterans heal and recover from the trauma of combat through therapeutic fly fishing lessons and 10 fishing trips
• Educated more than 20 students of Pocono Mountain East School District on the importance of clean water through the Trout In The Classroom (TIC) Program
• Provided a women’s only fly fishing course in Neola, PA
• Taught fly fishing to more than 20 youth campers at the Monroe County Conservation Camp in Marshalls Creek, PA, and sponsored two campers to the camp
• Sponsored a local camper at the Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp
• Provided a fishing opportunity for more than 80 children with a Fishing Contest held in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus in Stroudsburg, PA
• Provided 10 public meetings on Conservation and Fishing topics in Bartonsville, PA
• Held more than a dozen fly fishing and fly tying classes in Bartonsville, Neola, and Stroudsburg, PA

These projects and so many more were thanks to the members and volunteers of the chapter and the many of supporters who provide the time, talent and resources to make Monroe County’s rivers healthier. To support the chapter or to volunteer, visit WWW.BRODHEADTU.ORG 

Plans for Next Year

For 2017 and 2018 the Brodhead Chapter Trout Unlimited already has a busy schedule planned.  In addition to our usual slate of conservation, educational, and youth activities the chapter is planning the following large scale projects

• The Chapter plans to restore 2700 additional linear feet of Cherry Creek in Stroudsburg, PA
• The Chapter plans to restore 1000 linear feet of the Tobyhanna Creek in Blakeslee, PA and provide signage for catch and release fishing in cooperation with Tobyhanna Township

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  The Chapter plans to restore an additional 500 linear feet of the Pocono Creek in Tannersville, PA by partnering with the Brodhead Creek Regional Authority and the Pocono Heritage Land Trust, along signage promoting catch and release fishing

• The Chapter plans to monitor and document the impacts of previous years’ habitat improvements on the Pocono and Cherry Creeks
• The Chapter is looking into partnering with the Monroe County Conservation District for riparian buffer restoration
• The Chapter is looking to add an additional Trout In the Classroom program with a local school district
• Installed signage promoting the catch and release of wild trout in Jonas, PA
• The Chapter is preparing to increase the advocacy efforts in Monroe County
• The Chapter plans on improving and providing additional opportunities for veterans
• Working with the new Watershed Stewardship Program

While the Chapter has a busy slate we are always looking for new ideas and new partners to work with.  If you are interested in helping the chapter you are welcome to do the any of the following:

• Join the Brodhead Chapter Trout Unlimited
• Volunteer at any of our outreach, education, or conservation efforts
• Attend our banquet in March
• Donate, we are always looking for gifts for our March banquet, and cash is always welcome

About Trout Unlimited

Founded in Michigan in 1959, Trout Unlimited today is a national nonprofit organization with 150,000 members in over 400 local chapters and councils dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Our volunteers and staff work from coast to coast to protect, reconnect, restore and sustain trout and salmon habitat on behalf of today’s anglers and coming generations of sportsmen and women who value the connection between healthy, intact habitat and angling opportunity.