Youghiogheny Symposium to evaluate, celebrate 鈥淭he Yough鈥�
You can live by a river for a lifetime; you can drive over it on bridges, hear its murmur as background noise, even draw water up from it through a network of pipes, and never give thought to where it came from or where it鈥檚 headed, never ponder what that stream means to your community, to your own life.
That鈥檚 why the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited, together with its partners, the Mountain Watershed Association and the Fayette County Conservation District are presenting the Youghiogheny River Symposium at Penn State, Fayette Campus on Friday, June 24 and inviting 鈥淵ough鈥� enthusiasts, fishermen, boaters, local elected leaders and all residents of Fayette and surrounding counties to attend.
鈥淭he Youghiogheny was once one of the most heavily polluted rivers in the state,鈥� said Chestnut Ridge TU president Dale Kotowski. 鈥淏ut the hard work of a lot of people have brought the Yough back to where it is making a huge contribution to this region鈥檚 environment and its economy. It now adds immeasurably to Fayette County鈥檚 appeal to visitors, and to residents鈥� quality of life.鈥�
The Symposium, patterned after a first-ever such event sponsored by Chestnut Ridge TU in 1997, offers a high-powered roster of speakers who will recognize the Youghiogheny鈥檚 recovering fisheries, note its positive impact on the region鈥檚 economy, celebrate volunteer efforts to restore its watershed, and assess old and new threats to its continued health.
The event is organized into themes called 鈥淭he Living River,鈥� 鈥淩iver of Opportunity,鈥� 鈥淗istory of Healing,鈥� and 鈥淩iver at Risk.鈥�
Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will present the keynote address. Organizers expect her remarks to focus on the Youghiogheny River as a key resource within the Laurel Highlands, both as a visitor-draw and an indicator of environmental quality in the region.
To affirm the Youghiogheny鈥檚 growing importance and expanding recognition, Dr. Cynthia Walter, associate professor of biology at St. Vincent College, who has studied World Heritage Sites worldwide will present 鈥淭he Youghiogheny in Global Perspective.鈥�
Biologists from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will report on surveys of the river鈥檚 aquatic life and future plans for managing its fishery.
Eric Martin, owner of Wilderness Voyageurs Outfitters in Ohiopyle will present the river鈥檚 importance to small business, discuss expanding opportunities and acknowledge challenges to river-related business development.
In the River at Risk session, presenters will address acid drainage from abandoned mines, proposed active mining in the watershed, shale-gas concerns, demands on water quantity drawn from the Yough, and the threat to the watershed posed by invasive species, particularly hemlock woolly adelgid and Japanese knotweed.
Attendees are invited to ask questions of the speakers at the end of each set of themed presentations.
鈥淥ur speakers will cover a lot of optimistic but serious topics,鈥� Kotowski said. 鈥淥verall, the trends in the Youghiogheny are good but we must remain vigilant stewards for the Yough to remain the resource it鈥檚 become today.鈥�
Following closing remarks at 4:00 p.m., Attendees鈥揳s well as the general public鈥揳re invited to a 5:00 p.m. post-Symposium celebration at the Knights of Columbus on Gallatin Avenue Extension. Refreshments will be available from the Knights of Columbus and The Stone House smoker will be on site with a full menu of barbecued ribs, brisket, chicken and more.
鈥淭he highlight of the celebration will be presentations by professional Youghiogheny fishing guides operating out of Ohiopyle,鈥� Kotowski said. 鈥淭hese talks aren鈥檛 about management plans or biology. These guides know the river and how to fish it and they鈥檒l tell us about the world-class fishing that now draws people from around the country to Fayette County.鈥�
A continental breakfast and catered lunch, along with access to all presentations and exhibits are included in the $20.00 registration fee. Guests are asked to arrive at the Magerko Hall in Penn State Fayette鈥檚 Community Center before presentations begin at 8:30 a.m. A registration table will open at 7:30 a.m. Registration to the Symposium is not required to attend the celebration at Knights of Columbus, as the two are separate events.
Detailed information and a registration form are available at www.chestnutridgetu.org.