Projects – Page 2 – Little Juniata River Association -a 501 c3 non-profit organization

12th Annual River Bank Clean-up

12th Annual Riverbank Clean-up

Students from the Philipsburg-Osceola fly fishing club with the two trucks load of trash they picked up near the Pemberton bridge. Great job!

LJRA held its 12th annual river bank clean-up on Saturday April 8th. We had a great turnout, with approximately 200 volunteers showing up to clean the J.

Electroshocking survey on the upper J

Wild trout survey on the upper river yields encouraging results

We are pleased that Kris Kuhn, Fisheries Manager for the south central district, and his PFBC crew electroshock surveyed two 300 meter stretches of the upper J between Bellwood and Tyrone (upstream from the DHALO) on June 10th. Large numbers of brown trout were found at both both locations. (During the survey they captured one of our telemetry study fish -see picture below).

Observers, including LJRA officers, are hopeful that, once the results are totaled, more than a Class A population will have been found at both locations. Being declared a wild Class A fishery is a requirement for gaining high quality cold water (HQCW) Designated Use and the added protection that follows this designation by PADEP. Adding this very significant section of the upper J to HQCW designated use list is one big step forward towards meeting the LJRA goal of obtaining HQCW designation for the entire river.

42.5 cm brown — A 42.5 centimeter telemetry study brown captured during the survey. He looked to be in fine shape. There was no sign of the sutured wound for the transmitter, however the antenna exit point was reddened for a small area around it (you can see it in the close up).

These observations, together with the increasing presence of pollution intolerant mayflies and stoneflies throughout the river, are very exciting developments indeed!

Gorge float clean up

Natural Area (Gorge) River Bank Float Clean-up

some of the items pulled out of the Gorge by boaters in 2014

The boating and kayaking members of the LJRA once again are organizing a float cleanup of the Little Juniata Natural Area from the Spruce Creek Church to Barree on Saturday, May 7^th, 9:00 am to noon. Meet at the Spruce Creek United Methodist Church parking lot at 8:45 AM. Groups (church, office, clubs, etc.) are welcome. We will have johnboats and canoeists for hauling the trash but need kayakers and hikers to access the riverbanks. Car shuttle service provided. All bags, gloves and vests furnished by LJRA. (we go rain/snow or wind)

Download a printable flyer

Contact: John Corr [email protected] or Bill Anderson [email protected]

LJRA Riverbank clean up

LJRA 2016 Riverbank cleanup

Thanks to all!

It didn’t go as planned and the final stages have yet to be completed, but the 11^th Annual LJRA bank clean up was a success! Volunteers collected 61 tires and filled 1.5 large roll-away dumpsters so far. The major work was done on April 16^th, but different groups who could not attend the make up date organized or will organize on the following weekends.

April 23^rd: Angie Spagnoli (PSU-Altoona) organized a group of students to clean Spring Run in Altoona, the uppermost headwater of the LJ. They filled more than 130 garbage bags full of trash and lots of other large objects. This was the first time the clean up extended that far up the watershed. Great job PSU-Altoona

April 30^th: Boy scouts will clean the upper river

May 7^th: Our boating members and their friends are planning to float the Gorge area and clean areas inaccessible by foot

Thanks to Spruce Creek United Methodist Church for the great lunch, Sheetz Co for bottled water, Tastykake Co. for treats and Veederoot Co. for a monetary donation and commitment of labor

If you are interested in helping with the remaining stages of the clean up email [email protected].

Brown trout Telemetry study

Brown Trout Telemetry Study

The Little Juniata River Association and Juniata College have launched a program to determine where the wild trout on our river spend their time. The plan is for LJRA members to capture mature wild brown trout with hook and line. Then we surgically insert a small transmitter that gives off a signal that is detectable for up to 1/2 mile. Thus far 11 transmitters have been activated. A total of 24 transmitters will be followed for approximately 14 months. We will follow the trout as they flee the warm water of mid summer to see where they find refuge. We will also follow these mature trout as they spawn next fall. The knowledge gained will allow the LJRA to direct future fish habitat projects to those areas of the river used most by our brownies.

River cam in place on Little J

As of Feb. 13th we have the capability to monitor the conditions on the river via a camera. The river cam is located at the Greene Hill Campground on the river bank below Barree. It is managed by LJRA Life Member, Beth Teeter, camp host. For the time being, this camera is being updated every 10 minutes. Just click on the Rivercam menu button on this website to see the latest shot.

Bill