Loyalhanna Streambed Restoration Project

Anyone taken a spin through the area where they're lining the stream with those boulders?  The lower DHALO there was one of my favorite areas before they came in.  I'd see big trout there every time I went, even in the middle of summer heat.  I cleared out when they came in with the dozers and backhoes. 

A few days back I walked/fished the entire length of the DHALO, and from what I could see, they've ruined that section as far as fishermen are concerned.  From the mouth of Mill creek down 3/4 of the way to the bridge by Lady of the Lake, the best holes have been totally washed out, and the creek there is straight, fast, and shallow, with no tree cover, eddies, or seams to fish.  Once you get to the last 100 yards or so, their project ends and there are a few decent places, and maybe within a few years, enough silt and structure will wash down to make it a nice place again, but for now, at least as far as I can tell, it's like it went from a back country road to a freeway.

Any other thoughts on this?  I was under the impression that the project was to improve the stream, but now I'm thinking it was probably more to save Rte. 30, and whatever happened to the water to get the current away from the 30 side was fine. 

Really, I hope my initial reaction is wrong, and that the trout will like their new environment down there after the october stocking, but as of now, it doesn't look too promising to me.

I really hope youre right, man.  It quickly became one of my favorite areas to fish with the amount of fish present compared the the traffic it got (when it comes to fishing I'm an antisocial hermit).  And seeing it like this really bums me out.  Still, your prognosis is encouraging. 

To the extent of my knowledge, this is it.  Farther down, I think, the creek broadens enough that it doesnt undercut the banks too badly.  Farther up, it doesn't have the volume (Mill creek marks the beginning of the project).

fishrmn, do you think the "baffles" (for lack of a better word), might turn into nice holes once things settle down?  They're the closest thing I saw to a fishable feature in the stream.  Also, I suppose that channel in the center might make decent seams on either side, though these will get fished heavily, I'm sure.  The easy access will be a mixed blessing, I think.

Did they take the road out where they crossed at Mill creek yet?

From what I have been told the stream is super low and probably looks much different from the spring/early summer flows.  I could be wrong but the construction going on is not stream related as much is it is a construction project.   Not preaching just saying- join TU or a local club and help save and preserve the stream.  I did'nt consider this type of thing really until 2 years ago and I am glad that I did.  Have learned a lot and made some friends. 

Not for months, going by some local info.   Is it that the construction is messing up the creek- by sending sediment into the creek or have created erosion with a channelization?