Gas companies in southwestern Pennsylvania are leasing portions of streams from Pennsylvania’s Fish and Boat Commission to build a 16.5-mile pipeline to move locally drilled gas to larger markets. Why is an agency that promotes sport fishing making it easier for gas companies to operate in and around waterways used for fishing? Because it’s $36 million short on cash to repair dams in danger of collapse (the dams are classified as high risk because they’re incapable of holding 50 percent of the maximum precipitation that a region could receive). The Fish Commission also plans to sell water to the gas companies for use in drilling operations. (Wait: aren’t surface waters in the public trust—owned by the people? Maybe they’re selling groundwater – the story is unclear.) So far, about one-third of the commission’s waterways—some 14,000 acres–are potential drilling sites.

It gets worse; not only will the pipeline cross a few bazillion streams and wetlands, but they’re going to let the industry police itself?

The pipeline will cross wetlands 71 times and streams 41 times. Kelly Swan, a spokesperson for Williams Production Appalachia, which is pursing a permit to drill under Donegal Lake, a popular trout-fishing spot in Donegal Township, among other sites, minimizes the potential for environmental damage: “Company inspectors will be stationed along the pipeline daily to ensure that construction adheres to state DEP requirements.” Very reassuring: the company guards itself, under requirements set by a notoriously drill-friendly agency. (We’ve seen how well this worked with BP in the Gulf, ExxonMobil in Yellowstone, and so on.)

Royte is not a fisheries person, but she is a meticulous writer and researcher, and I wonder if any of the Undergrounders in Pennsylvania can offer any information or perspective?

See you at the pipeline, Tom Chandler.

We took a quick detour to the Upper McCloud (look, but don’t touch until late April). Like all trout streams you’re not allowed to fish, it looked incredibly inviting, though snow across the road made getting even to Fowler’s Camp a hike.

I know why we have a closed season on some rivers, but I can’t look at a closed – and perfectly fishable – trout stream without thinking those rules should apply to everyone but me.

It makes perfect sense when I’m thinking it (and sometimes early in the morning).

The Upper Sacramento

The flows are falling slowly and the Upper Sac is entirely fishable in places, but instead of fishing it, I’m heading south on a one-day charge to Sacramento and back (the L&T and I plan to heave a dead fish out the window of the car when we pass near Singlebarbed World Headquarters).

Sitting on my ass for 7.5 hours (not including food stops) isn’t exactly my idea of a wilderness adventure – especially when we’re experiencing the first nice day for a week up here.

When I get back, I’ve got a pair of Simms rubber-tread wading boots to compare to the Patagonias I reviewed here, and a 9′ 6wt mystery rod & reel outfit that’s also up for review.

Stay tuned, Undergrounders. See you on I5, Tom Chandler

Apparently, that’s easier than fixing the problems that got them in hot water to begin with, but if you want to read an intelligent writer’s take on Nestle’s problems with the town of Fryeburg, Maine, then consider Elizabeth Royte’s soon-to-be-available book: Bottlemania

You can read an excerpt here. Frankly, it looks like fascinating stuff, and Royte is heavy hitter, with credits from Harper’s, National Geographic, Outside, The New York Times Magazine, the New York Times Book Review, and OnEarth.

See you in Maine, Tom Chandler.

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