23rd
ANNUAL CrCWA FISH FRY, Saturday, July 19, 2008, starting
at 2:00 til sunset. ALL ARE WELCOME! Small pavilion,
Falcon Park, Rt. 66, south of Ford City. Donation: $5/person.
Drawing for a 14-foot Old Town Canoe package. Enjoy food, fun,
friends and terrific door prizes! Fish, french fries, and cold
refreshments provided by Crooked Creek Watershed Association!
A covered dish to add to our feast is appreciated. Info: call
Pam Meade 724-783-6692 or Dennis Hawley 724-763-6316. Tickets
may be purchased at the park.
Adopt-A-Lake
Project, July 29, 2008
Get the kids interested in conservation! Bring them to Keystone
Lake NuMine Boat Launch off Rt. 85, Tuesday, July 29, 9:00a.m.
to noon. to help assemble porcupine cribs, an ideal home for fish
and other aquatic life. Next, the kids get to ride along with
the PA Fish and Boat Commission in a special boat to watch them
sink the habitat structures! PFD's provided for the kids. Questions?
Call Pam Meade 724-783-6692 or Dennis Hawley 724-763-6316.
Come
and hear about the findings and recommendations of Armstrong County’s
Draft Recreation Plan:
Carnivorous
Plants of Pennyslvania
Did you know that we have meat eating plants living right here
in Pennsylvania? The Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center
will host the program “Carnivorous Plants of Pennsylvania”
presented by the Armstrong Conservation District’s Americorps
Member, Mike Basista, on June 29, 2008 at 2pm.
Come learn more about these fascinating but little-known plants.
Call or write for more info.
The
Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center is available year-round
to organized groups for environmental education, workshops,
meetings, and retreats. For more information, contact the ELC
by phone at 724-763-6316 or by email at elcaet@alltel.net
As
a non-profit organization, the Crooked Creek Environmental Learning
Center relies entirely on donations, sponsors, user fees, and
grants to promote environmental education and responsible resource
stewardship. The ELC is operated under the auspices of the Armstrong
Educational Trust, bringing post-secondary education and training
opportunities to Armstrong County.
The
Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center is located about
5 miles south of Ford City. From Rt. 66, turn onto Crooked Creek
Dam Road (SR2019), travel about 1/2 mile, then turn left onto
Kerr Road (T670) and travel 1/4 mile. The ELC is at the end
of Kerr Road.
PAST EVENTS
Biological Inventory of Armstrong County's Natural Areas
Learn more about unusual mussels that should be considered a
national treasure! Thursday,
May 29, 2008 7:00 pm at the Crooked Creek Environmental Learning
Center
A
two-year effort to identify Armstrong County's most ecologically
significant natural environments will continue with a public
presentation of the team's first-year findings at the Crooked
Creek Environmental Learning Center. With funding provided by
the Wild Resource Conservation Program, the biologists with
the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) are in their
second year of a county-wide inventory to locate and document
undisturbed wetlands, forests and other high-quality natural
habitats harboring uncommon animal and plant species. The inventory
is a natural partnership between local governments, the state,
and private organizations, and increases the available information
about the county and state's biological diversity.
The presentation
of the project will include a visual overview of the project,
what has been found so far, and the project goals for the coming
year. PNHP biologists have been in selected parts of the county
to document the best natural habitats. So far, the project team
has identified freshwater mussels as one of the most ecologically
significant groups of organisms in the county. The program will
feature a presentation on freshwater mussels of the Allegheny
River and their unusual life history. For instance, did you
know that many freshwater mussels spend the earliest part of
their life attached to the gills of specific fish hosts? Some
adult mussels actually display a "lure" to entice
fish close enough, and then release their young to attach to
the fish. The larval mussels don't hurt the fish, but grow on
their gills into juvenile mussels that then drop off onto the
stream or river bottom. The PNHP tam will also present a collection
of freshwater mussel shells to the Crooked Creek Environmental
Learning Center for inclusion into their natural history programs.
On
Sunday, October 17, 2004, at 2:00 p.m., a "Native American
Artifacts of Western Pennsylvania" program will be presented
by Ed Divers.
On
Sunday, October 24, 2004, nationally known mushroom expert and
photographer, John Plischke, will give a talk on edible wild mushrooms
and how to prepare them. Afterwards, there will be a slide show
and mushroom hunt.
Fall
Foliage Hike
The
Second Annual Fall Foliage Hike was held on Sunday, October 10,
2004, at the ELC
at 2:00 p.m. Everybody meandered through the woods, enjoying the
colors of the leaves and making some delightful discoveries. If
you missed the event this time around, come and join us for next
year's trek. (Check back to see photos of the hike!)
3rd
Annual Riverboat Cruise
The
Third Annual Riverboat Cruise was held on Thursday, September
16, 2004, and the four hour cruise down the Ohio River was enjoyed
by all.
River
Blast 2004
Again
this year, CrCWA joined Cowanshannock Creek Watershed Association,
the Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center, Armstrong Rails-to-Trails
and the Armstrong Conservation District at Kittanning River Front
Park for River Blast 2004, The event, held on Sunday, September
12, from 12:00 noon to dusk, included food, fun, crafts, live
music, boat shows, a water show, a car show and much more.
CrCWA's
1st Annual Summer Raffle
CrCWA
sold tickets for a canoe package raffle - the proceeds from which
will enable CrCWA to continue the clean-up of Crooked Creek Watershed.
Two hundred tickets were sold and, at Riverblast 2004, on September
12th, Steve Wilson from Kittanning, a new life member, was announced
as the winner!
The
19th Annual Fish Fry (2004)
Crooked
Creek's 19th Annual Fish Fry was held on Saturday, July 17, 2004,
at Falcon Park, Route 66 (south of Ford City) at the small pavillion
- from 2:00pm until dark. Fish and beverages were provided by
the event's host, CrCWA. Lots of delicious covered dishes were
brought to share. Even though it rained all day, over 55 kids,
adults and four legged friends enjoyed the great food, good friendship,
the beauty of Falcon Park and the many door prizes that were awarded.
If you missed this year's event, be sure to come next year. It
will be extra special: the 20th Annual Fish Fry and the 25th Anniversary
of CrCWA - Saturday, July 16, 2005 - same time, (2:00pm), same
place (Falcon Park small pavilion).
Final
Public Meeting
On
Tuesday, June 22, 2004, CrCWA was proud to host a picnic at Crooked
Creek Lake Park to present the completed copy of our Lower Crooked
Creek River Conservation Plan. With the help of our consultants,
the Western Pa. Conservancy Watershed Assistance Center, the steering
committee worked for one and one half years to compile the data
that is incorporated in this plan for the lower Crooked Creek
watershed. (The completed River Conservation Plan may be viewed
here.)
More than 35 interested and supportive folks came to enjoy hot
dogs and hamburgers on the grill, delicious picnic salads, and
pride and satisfaction in this project. (See photos below.)
The steering committee and the Board of Directors would like to
express our thanks to the staff of the Watershed Assistance Center,
especially, Carla Ruddock, Jessica Boil, and Mark Keylar, for
all their help, time and expertise.
Riversweep
2004
On
Saturday, June 19, in conjunction with nine other states in the
Ohio River Basin, CrCWA participated, for the first time in RIVERSWEEP.
We chose the Rosston Boat Launch as our first cleanup site. More
than twenty volunteers helped to clean up the launch and Allegheny
River Bank, and enjoyed free snacks, a souvenir t-shirt, and the
knowledge that they were cleaning up their community. Thanks to
the kids, scouts, neighbors and directors who made this first
RIVERSWEEP a success. Hope to see you next year!
Chemsweep
2004
On
Saturday, June 12, 2004, at the Armsdale Recycling center, the
Household Hazardous Waste collection was held for the first time
in Armstrong County. There were 131 households represented and
they brought in over 11,000 pounds (that's right, 11,000) of hazardous
waste which might have otherwise found its way into a land fill
or in a creek or stream.
CrCWA's
thanks and appreciation are extended to everyone who took the
time to participate.
If
you missed this one and would like to participate, there will
be similar events in adjoining counties: Indiana, Butler and
Westmoreland. Call them for more details.
"Spring
Has Sprung" Stroll
On
Sunday, April 18, 2004, CrCWA sponsored a its first annual "Spring
Has Sprung Wildflower Stroll" in the woods around the ELC.
The group included members of CrCWA, members of the Pittsburgh
Botanical Society, members of the Master Gardeners, members of
the Pittsburgh Field Institute and visitors with no affiliation
whatsoever. Many species of beautiful wildflowers were in bloom
and some unexpected discoveries were made. Afterwards, the hikers
retired to the ELC for refreshments and visiting. (See
photos below.)
Winter
Wonderland Walk
On
Sunday, January 18th, 2004, CrCWA hosted a "Winter Wonderland
Walk" at Crooked Creek. The turnout was terrific. Afterwards,
the hikers sat around the fireplace at the ELC, visiting, sipping
on hot chocolate and marshmallows and munching on snacks. Everybody
had a great time getting to know about the woods in the winter
and getting to know each other. A good time was had by all! (See
photos of the hike below.)
Fall
Foliage Tree Hike
On
Sunday, October 12th, at 2:00 p.m., Crooked Creek Watershed Association
conducted a Fall Foliage Tree Hike at the Environmental Learning
Center at Crooked Creek Lake on Route 66, south of Ford City.
Completing
a non-point source pollution assessment is a critical first
step in implementing restoration or protection projects within
a watershed. This project is designed to collect both existing
and critical new water quality data, which will then be analyzed
and formulated into a watershed restoration plan. When completed,
the restoration plan will provide an overview of the type and
extent of non-point source pollutants within the watershed and
establish restoration priorities. Particular attention will
be paid to both excessive sediment and nutrient loading sites
and abandoned mine drainage pollutants. The association has
contracted with CWM Environmental of Kittanning, PA to conduct
the assessment. The project is a three-year effort, which is
scheduled to conclude in 2005. Be on the lookout for information
about the project and for public meeting notices.
