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Pennsylvania Conservation Projects

	EMERGENCY ACTION BATTLES DROUGHT A trout hatchery near Renovo, Pennsylvania was facing the worst drought conditions in more than four decades. The water supply for the hatchery had slowed to a trickle and hatchery operators predicted it was only hours before fish started dying off. Wildlife Forever and FishAmerica Foundation raced to the rescue – purchasing a water aeration system and piping for the Laurelly Fork Trout Nursery – and local volunteers from the Western Clinton Sportsmen’s Association (WCSA) provided the labor to complete the project. In the fall, the hatchery released 12,000 healthy “catchable size” trout in north central Pennsylvania. “Had it not been for the joint grant from Wildlife Forever and FishAmerica,” explains James Nevins from the WCSA, “All 12,000 trout would have been lost!”
	UPLAND PROJECT ADDS 1,500 ACRES IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA “This property is a real gem!” stated Barry Jones, a former Land Management Supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, about a two-mile stretch of the Little Schuylkill River in Schuylkill County. Soon after, Wildlife Forever joined an effort to acquire the 1,510-acre property, doubling the size of a State Game Land area open for public use. The river has pristine trout water and has been listed as one of Pennsylvania’s most scenic rivers. The Game Commission has improved the habitat through forest management, with an emphasis on increasing the wild turkey, grouse and deer habitat. The land is home to many other species as well, including numerous species of waterfowl, the great horned owl, black bear, and red and gray fox.
	TURKEY HABITAT RESTORED IN ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST Wild turkey habitat in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest has been improved thanks to support from Wildlife Forever. An intensive habitat management program, undertaken in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and National Wild Turkey Federation, has restored critical brood rearing and winter habitat. Prior to the project's implementation, winter habitat had been a key limiting factor for the survival of local turkey populations. Habitat improvements include the creation of 10 wildlife openings totaling 45 acres; the planting of native shrubs on 112 acres; the mowing and thinning of understory on 239 acres; and the improvement of soil on 162 acres.
	200 MORE ACRES OF PHEASANT HABITAT More than 200 acres of ring-necked pheasant habitat were restored thanks in part to your support. In a cooperative agreement with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and private landowners that provide public hunting access, more than 1,000 pounds of switchgrass and other native grasses were seeded over 200 acres. Participating local landowners and members of nearby Pheasants Forever chapters provided the volunteer labor. The established grasses are providing needed cover for nesting pheasants and are helping increase the population of the popular upland bird. Areas covered by the project include Westmoreland County and Mount Pleasant, Unity, East Huntington and Hempfield townships. The project has been hailed as an example of what can be accomplished when public, private and nonprofit sources work together.