Since our last newsletter Chapter Members have been very active in the following: Opening day of trout food stands, Tee shirt sales, A fishing day for children and their families from “For Sight and Vision”, Spring Fling event, potting 500 plants for our native plant nursery, building an additional native plant nursery, two new stream projects have been planned and permitted, attended the Red Lion Street fair. There are also numerous activities that members, directors and officers do behind the scenes, so to speak. In this newsletter you can read the details of some of our past and planned events. This is what we do and have been doing for, from what I know, a long time. Which is why I was surprised two years ago when we were referred to as a “struggling chapter” at the Annual State Council membership meeting.
However, their definition of “struggling” is a number rather than in terms of what we accom-plish. Recalling what Maurice wrote in his last Chapter newsletter as President. His quote was “Last year at the Annual State Council membership meeting our chapter was ranked at 47 of 51 in the state for membership retention. Considered a “struggling chapter”, we are asking you to offer ideas and support to help change that status.”
I am very pleased to report that since then many of you have worked to reverse this trend. Our Chapter membership has grown from 95 to 137 over the last two years. Membership meeting attendance has increased. These are positive trends. This is very important as new members bring new ideas and we welcome that. We need that. If you are willing, help to keep us moving in this direction by inviting a friend to a meeting or workday, pick up a TU application at a meeting to give someone streamside, hand out a copy of our newsletter or direct a prospective member to our website. There are many ways to get more people involved in what we do.
Reading the newspaper last week a report stated that our weather for York County was very close to normal. Following what Maurice did during a hot spell a couple years ago I sampled water temperatures in the watershed during a hot spell in July. Water temperatures were taken in the North and South Branches and some of their tributaries. Temperatures in the Branches were running 78F. Their tribs were at 70F. About 100 yds below those tribs I measured 76F. Then back up to 78F until the next trib would lower another 2 degrees and so on. Which brings us to the “how did the trout hold up” question. Here we are at the end of September and the water temperatures are down in the high 50s, low 60s all depending what time of day and where you are fishing. Reports are that there have been catches of wild trout showing up in the main stem as well as the branches. This seems to be a trend since I have been back fishing this watershed. We are very encouraged by this and our hopes are that the wild trout are being conserved for fishing enjoyment and any natural reproduction that may be taking place. If you have been fishing and have a report you would like to share, we’d like to hear from you.
Make sure to make note of our winter meeting schedule elsewhere in this newsletter. Also please take note of past and planned activities. There is a bit of something in this chapter that should be of interest to all of you who believe in enjoying, conserving and preserving the Muddy Creek watershed.
All the best,
Fred