walcat01
Posts: 1284
Joined: 5/18/2002
Status: offline
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Hello,
Thanks for writing. I want to update you on the Commission's efforts to enhance fishing and boating on Lake Erie. I'm not exactly sure which meeting you are referring to but I'm guessing that it was the meeting held at the Tom Ridge Center in November, 2007 to obtain public input on proposed improvements to the Walnut Creek marina. As you are well aware, our Walnut Creek and Northeast marinas are an expensive but important part of our overall efforts for fishing and boating on Lake Erie. The consultant report on Walnut Creek was just submitted to the commissioners at our July 2008 meeting and staff is currently evaluating the report to determine improvements that will be implemented. There will be a final public meeting to describe these recommendations as well as an implementation plan.
We currently collect more than $600,000 annually in Lake Erie stamp revenue. To this point, you are correct in identifying that much of that has been spent on stream access. In the future a significant amount of that money will be spent on improvements to the Walnut Creek Marina. This includes some much needed changes to the facility to better facilitate access to the ramps and the water. This will likely include improving traffic flow, increasing parking, and may, if funds become available, include deepening the channel, and repairing the retaining walls. Of course, we will continue to strive to improve access to Erie streams for steelhead fishing. However, our purchase of fishing easements and property along these streams in no way detracts from the Commission's commitment to provide boating opportunities at our two existing marinas.
At the Northeast Marina, we have budgeted for replacement and repair of some of the docks and will have that initiated in late 2009 or 2010. Hopefully, the improvements we are making to our Northeast and Walnut Creek facilities will improve boating access to the lake and solve some of the problems that you have experienced.
We have also used Commission provided funding from our Boating Facility Grant Program to improve public boating access along Lake Erie. Funds from the program were used to completely revitalize the Harborcreek Access Area. This facility was totally restored from an unprotected and unusable boat launch into a modern four lane facility that is protected by a break wall at a cost of approximately two million dollars. The Commission contributed $300,000 towards the Harborcreek facility.
Best wishes and be safe,
Daniel G. Martin
Director
Bureau of Boating & Access
PA Fish & Boat Commission
P.O. Box 67000
Harrisburg, PA 17106
(717) 705-7849
FAX (717) 705-7831
www.fish.state.pa.us
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