Fishing Creek and Cedar Run

            The majority of the Fishing Creek Watershed is located in southern Clinton County with portions in Centre, Union and Lycoming Counties.  It consists of four major subwatersheds:  Fishing Creek (99.5m²), Little Fishing Creek (42.1m²), Long Run (24.4m²), and Cedar Run (15m²), which encompasses 181 square miles.  The major towns within the watershed include Mill Hall, Lamar, Pleasant Gap, and Loganton. 

The purpose of this project is to locate current and potential impacts within the Fishing Creek/Cedar Run watershed. The study will focus on Fishing Creek from the Tylersville State Fish Hatchery downstream to the confluence of Long Run, as well as, the entire Cedar Run watershed.  The Conservation Plan is a continuation of an assessment completed in 2006 that encompasses the headwaters of Fishing Creek to the Tylersville State Fish Hatchery.

            Fishing Creek is 42 miles in length, most of which is designated as a High Quality Cold Water Fishery.  The only section of the mainstem that is not designated as a High Quality Cold Water Fishery is from the confluence with Long Run to the mouth of Fishing Creek, which is designated a Cold Water Fishery.  Cedar Run and Long Run, tributaries to Fishing Creek are designated High Quality Cold Water Fisheries.  Cherry Run, another tributary of Fishing Creek within the study area, is classified as an Exceptional Value stream. 

Fishing Creek, Cedar Run, and Long Run contain Class A trout waters, which are streams that support naturally reproducing trout populations.  There are three sites within the entire Fishing Creek watershed that are included in the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat (PFBC) Commission’s trout stocking program.  The ‘Narrows’ section of Fishing Creek is included in PFBC’s Trophy Trout Project Waters.

The study conducted will be lead by the Clinton County Conservation District (CCCD).  The Clinton County Conservation District’s mission is to “provide quality leadership, education and service for the stewardship and conservation of the county’s natural resources.”  The sampling will be completed in cooperation with CCCD interns from Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, and Millersville University.  Partners for the project include Lock Haven University, Lloyd Wilson Chapter of Trout Unlimited, USDA – Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Centre County Conservation District. 

Data assessment will be done using various techniques.  Physical characterization/water quality field data collection and habitat assessment data collection will be performed at each site.  Benthic macroinvertebrate populations will be sampled and identified to their families.  Chemical analysis of the water (selected sites) will be done by Lock Haven University.  Electrofishing will also be completed at selected sites. 

         The purpose of the grant is to identify potential impacts, problems, threats and opportunities within the Fishing Creek watershed.  Through this process, community awareness and support for the conservation of the watershed will be increased.  The final result will be a plan of action for the conservation and protection of the coldwater streams within the Fishing Creek watershed.   

Contact:

Erin Dunleavy
Watershed Specialist/Education Coordinator
Clinton County Conservation District
45 Cooperation Lane
Mill Hall, PA 17751
(570) 726-3798 

Email Erin