WATERSHED HABITAT WORK

“Tubmill Watershed ” stream work started way back in 1998, then restarted again in high gear in 2008. This page is a collection of photos and descriptions of our efforts just since the 2008 restart. Many more projects exist.

Bolivar resident and stream improvement team member Bert Cramer (left) with the director of habitat improvement for Tubmill Trout Club Unlimited Lin gamble (right) work along with Greg Schaetzle (back) on every project with many volunteers and workers from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

Lin Gamble, president and director of habitat improvement for T.T.C.U. was interviewed along the stream while working on a project. The reporter simply asked “What is it you are doing here?” Lin replied “we are determined to make better streams and making better fishing as a result”. “We plan to make this the Crown Jewel of the Laurel Highlands trout fishing streams” said Greg Schaetzle stream biologist with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

T.T.C.U. began stream improvement projects in 1998. T.T.C.U. partnered with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and the Fairfield Township Commissioners. We began on the the Jim Stiffler farm, the headwaters of Hendricks Creek. “Pasture fencing” was built to eliminate sediment by keeping livestock from crushing stream-banks, at the same time Township dirt road improvements were made to divert storm water drainage into wooded and grassy filtering areas along Beauforts Road. Similar dirt road projects came before any in stream renovations. Stream projects began again in 2008 having big plans, https://conemaughvalleyconservancy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/tubmillcreek.pdf with tributary work in Hypocrite Creek @ the Graham Farm and the Craig Peters property. Mainstream work followed in Hendricks Creek @ Midget Camp and Beauforts. Projects became larger and more ambitious continuing to today and for some time to come.

In order to build projects, much has to happen. Stream evaluations are made by T.T.C.U., PF&BC and WPC next landowners must agree to work with T.T.C.U. Then the building partners then design the project. Next, heavy equipment with expert labor gets the work done quickly and efficiently. T.T.C.U. is successful bringing together these components which has worked well for more than twenty years.

We ask corporate donors to please consider contributing to our work. We think it is valuable, mostly for our environment and the western Pennsylvania recreational economy. We hope to be amendable to your support.

2024 “The Meadows” @ Tubmill Farms

2100 feet of cattle farm pasture gave us new challenges to deal with. Worked areas have specific easily accessible cattle crossing locations for cows to get to greener pasture of course on the other side.

Ross Mtn. road along the Meadows was in sore need of repair.. the stream had taken the fence out and was working towards road. This project did some fixing here too.

Before

After

Before

After

Twenty plus pools like these have been built where only shallow riffles were. you can fish all day in this project and only get a couple hundred yards if you fish it hard.

2024 Ross Mtn. Road, Emergency washout repair

Our community suffered a road washout that isolated people from emergency services or added time to such needs. TTCU and its donors jumped into action along with the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy to remedy the situation.

Before..

After

2023 Jim Peters Property project

This is the largest project we’ve done so far. 2500 feet in length on the widest section of Hendricks Creek. The overall cost of $184,000 is for 15 days of work, 2000 ton of huge rock, 400 logs all set using heavy machinery and securely anchored in place.