A Bit of a Mid Winter Update From the Upper Delaware River

It never ceases to amaze me how the New Year sneaks up on me.  The season begins in April chasing rainbows and browns on the Upper Delaware and with a few diversions for striped bass, false albacore, bluefish and steelhead, bang, it's time to shout "Happy New Year!"

January catches me off guard after a busy year of meeting many new fish.  The colder days the month brings make it the perfect time to take a short break and reflect back on the past year. It also allows time to look forward to the coming season with all the exciting new plans laid down.  Relaxing hours spent at the tying vise daydreaming of hungry fish with the completion of each new fly.

2010 was as interesting as any with some spectacular days on the water and other days that presented a host of challenges not all that different from other years.  The one common denominator on each and every day was the camaraderie and the good times we shared.

This coming season there are a few new things coming up.  First, not really new, but worth mentioning again is our trip to Patagonia this February.  We’ll be hosting several weeks at different locations in Chile. If you’re interested in coming along drop an email or call for more details.  There's only a couple of spots open.

This summer is a trip fishing for Atlantic salmon on the Gaspe peninsula in Quebec with my good friend, Glenn LeGrande at his Camp Bonaventure Lodge.  This is an excellent Atlantic salmon destination with access to some outstanding water, top notch guides and excellent food and lodging.  A trip not to be missed!  Drop me a note at crosscurrent@optonline.net if you want to learn more.

There's a new guide on our Delaware River line up.  Ryan Furtak is joining us this coming season.  Some of you know Ryan from Border Waters Fly Shop where he worked the last couple of seasons and from guiding on the Lake Erie tributaries also.  Check the guide page on our website where Ryan’s complete bio will be posted in the near future.  Ryan is a hard working, personable and knowledgeable guide whose training as an engineer at Penn State University has him paying attention to the details others often miss.

Some “reel” excitement comes with the unveiling of the Double Haul Club.  This has been a yearlong project that has finally come together. We’ll be sending out a separate announcement real soon, but briefly the Club will provide its members with many benefits including discounts on goods and services, savings on sporting travel, and private access on the Upper Delaware and other locations. All the information will be available at the two fly fishing shows we'll be at this winter or drop us a note at crosscurrent@optonline.net for more info.

We’ll be at the Somerset, NJ Fly Fishing Show January 21, 22, 23, 2011 and at the new Philadelphia Fly Fishing Show on March 5, 6, 2011. Stop by our booth for a visit and learn about the new programs we’re offering.

Capt. Joe Demalderis
2010 Orvis Endorsed Freshwater Guide of the Year
www.CrossCurrentGuideService.com

The Colorful World of Black & White

In the latest issue of Catch Magazine, Colin Archer shares his unique black & white photo essay on the Upper Delaware River System.

Go to: http://www.catchmagazine.net/ and click on the table of contents, then click on Colin's article/essay, In the Shadow of Civilization.  You could just browse your way through the magazine too; not a bad idea for some good reading and excellent photography.  But when you get to Colin's essay check out the second to last photograph. It's one of my favorites.

The Mercury's Rising

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an updated advisory today about eating fish from waters in the commonwealth.  It's not all bad news as seven waterways had their warnings either lifted or eased. But it there is some bad news for the Upper Delarew River. 

The DEP has issued a new warning for smallmouth bass in Pike and Wayne Counties.  These two counties encompass the entire Upper Delaware River and include all the border water between Pennsylvania and New York.  In the case of Pike County part of the border is also shared with New Jersey. All total, this is somewhere around 100 mile of river.  What the DEP suggests is that no more than two meals per month be from smallmouth bass from this section of river due to mercury contamination.

Mercury from emissions is thought to be a major contributor. A 2008 study published by the New York State Department of  Environmental Conservation revealed a similar pattern on the New York side of the river in several lakes in the Delaware River Basin.

Other Pennsylvania waterways with new advisories are:

• One meal per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Shohola Lake in Pike County;
• Two meals per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Lackawanna Lake in Lackawanna County;
• Two meals per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Stephen Foster Lake in Bradford County;
• One meal per month advisory for Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River in Bradford and Wyoming counties;
• Two meals per month advisory for Smallmouth Bass in the Allegheny River in Warren, Forest, and Venango counties;
• One meal per month advisory for Northern Pike in Conneaut Lake in Crawford County; and
• One meal per month advisory for Largemouth Bass in Crystal Lake in Crawford County.

To read the entire press release, including waters with lifted or eased advisories check out this link:  DEP Issues Updated Fish Consumption Advisories for 2011

Trout Unlimited Supports Governor's Horizontal Fracking Moratorium in New York, But More Protection Needed

Arlington, Va. - "On December 11, Gov. David Paterson took a step in the right direction by executing an order placing a moratorium on the issuance of permits for horizontal, hydraulic fracturing until July 2011," said Katy Dunlap, Director of Trout Unlimited's Eastern Water Project.  "However, by excluding vertical wells from the moratorium, Gov. Paterson has carved out an dangerous exception and has ignored the will of the people - as expressed by the New York legislature - as well as his earlier statements that gas drilling won't be allowed in New York until we can be sure that it won't harm the environment," Dunlap said.
 
"The impacts of hydraulic fracturing have not yet been fully assessed by the state and all types of drilling using this technology should be suspended until the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has determined that is safe for the environment and humans. Trout Unlimited calls on Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo to expand the executive order when he enters into office to include vertical wells and to fully protect New York's natural resources from the impact of gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing," Dunlap said.

Trout Unlimited is the nation's largest coldwater conservation organization, with 140,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.

The Delaware River Needs Your Vote

While the Lackawaxen River completes its tenure as Pennsylvania’s 2010 River of the Year, the Delaware River is poised to wrest the title/mantle for 2011. Nominated for this recognition by the Delaware River Sojourn Steering Committee and Delaware River Basin Commission, the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi is one of six finalists for the designation. 

As highlighted in the river’s nomination, ‘Its waters serve the needs of over 15 million people from four different states and hundreds of communities, as well as provide healthy ecological habitat to all forms of life.’

The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers administer the River of the Year program, which culminates in a year-round slate of activities and events celebrating the river, including a special extended paddling trip.

The honor is bestowed to raise public awareness about the resource and recognize important conservation needs and achievements. Earlier this year, the Delaware was selected as America’s Most Endangered River by the American Rivers organization for the threats posed to it by natural gas development.

Delaware River lovers can read statements for each of the rivers and cast a vote for their favorite at surveymonkey.com/s/9YM8TSK . Voting ends January 3, 2011 and the winner will be announced later in the month. Spread the word!

Japanese Knotweed

A group called The Sullivan Renaissance has awarded a grant to Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc. for a public education project targeting Japanese Knotweed.  This $1,900 grant will go towards meeting the required matching funds required by The Federal Highway Administration National Scenic Byways Program grant that will kick in another $12,900 toward a knotweed education campaign.  A series of 4 seminars will be offered at no charge.  Participants in these seminars will receive information on mechanical and chemical control of Japanese Knotweed. Also eight information panels will be set up along the route 97 corridor; one for each municipality.

Japanese Knotweed , often called bamboo or monkeyweed is an invasive plant that the World Conservation Union calls one of the world's 100 worst invasive species.  That should give you an idea how nasty this stuff is.

Knotweed grows like crazy in dense colonies that choke everything else out.  It easily reaching heights of 8 to 12 feet.  Once it shows up it's very hard to control let alone eradicate, though there has been some success with herbicides and more recently biological controls like leaf spot fungus and Aphalara itadori which is a psyllid from Japan.  Psyllids are plant eating bugs that are usually host specific.

The Delaware River valley is loaded with knotweed.  The large colonies have taken over huge expanses of riparian ecosystems driving out native plants.  The roots of these plants can go as deep as nine feet and with a cold tolerance of 30 below zero F. One more illustration of how hard it can be to get rid of Japanese Knotweed.

Pennsylvania's Oil & Gas Industry Becomes More Transparent

DEP Makes Oil and Gas Operations More Transparent with New Online Resources

Information on Well Production, Waste Products, and Violations Now Online

HARRISBURG -- For the first time, Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry production and compliance information is available online as part of the commonwealth’s ongoing effort to make the industry’s operations more transparent.

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said the oil and gas public reporting website, which debuted today, allows access to production statistics for oil and gas wells in the state, including historical data. A new, separate webpage also lets users view violation data, by operator, as well as the department’s enforcement measures.

“The public reporting website will create much needed transparency that allows for citizens and policymakers to be aware of the increasing amount of natural gas being generated in Pennsylvania,” said Hanger. “This is an industrial activity that is taking place widely throughout the state. It’s important that families know what is happening in their backyards and whether or not the company drilling there has a good track record of safe and environmentally sound operations.”

The public reporting website, www.marcellusreporting.state.pa.us/ogrereports/, enables users to search all oil and natural gas production data by operator, county or a specific well number. Information on industry-generated waste can be viewed by operator, county or processing facility.

Act 15 of 2010 required Marcellus operators to report to DEP their well production totals from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010 by Aug. 15. Subsequent reports on Marcellus production are due every six months. All other oil and gas production besides Marcellus wells must be reported annually.

“It is absolutely essential for the oil and gas industry to be excellent in their operations to protect public health and our environment,” Hanger said. “This information will allow the public to see which operators are leading the way in a safe and environmentally conscious manner and which ones need to address their operating procedures.”

The violation, inspection, and enforcement information is available for 2008 through 2010 to date, including resolved violations for the three-year span. Information for 2010 is available year-to-date or monthly. To view the violation reports, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on the button that says “Gas Well Violations.”

For more information about oil and gas operations in Pennsylvania, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on “Oil and Gas.”