NAB: Conservation Corps Improve Stream Habitat at Raystown Lake

Lake: Raystown Lake, PA

Partners: USACE; Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission; Pennsylvania Conservation Corps; Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps; Huntingdon County Conservation District; Western Pennsylvania Watershed Protection Program; Southern Alleghenies Conservancy

Partnership Type: Cooperative Agreement

Corps POC: Jeff Krause, Biologist

Story: In July 2003, Baltimore District’s Raystown Lake staff teamed up with numerous partners to successfully restore and stabilize Tatman Run, a high-quality cold water fishery at the project. The partners included the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Conservation Corps, Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps (a chapter of AmeriCorps), Huntingdon County Conservation District, the Western Pennsylvania Watershed Protection Program, the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy, and Juniata College. Watershed changes and flooding caused debris jams and degradation to the streambanks, creating fish blockages and reduced available habitat for native brook trout, migratory smelt, and other fishes. Under the auspices of the Adopt-A-Stream program with the Fish Commission, various organizations provided funds, structure and stabilization design, and labor to restore a stable stream channel capable of supporting long-term habitat for cold-water and migratory fish. Long-term benefits include a more diverse riparian community, increased habitat for native fishes, increased diversity for macro-invertebrates, reduction of fish blockages, decreases in sediment load, and improved recreational fishing potential. The scope of the project, including numerous partners and funds of nearly $100,000, speaks volumes about the cooperative atmosphere and common goal the group wanted to achieve in restoring a critical habitat at Raystown Lake. The Pennsylvania Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps particularly stood out in performing all the labor associated with this project.