Mission: Conserve and Restore

The Codorus Creek is a field-and-meadows trout stream in the heart of one of America’s oldest industrial corridors. Still, Mother Nature does a pretty amazing job at flourishing here, as long as she gets a little help from time to time to correct a situation that’s detrimental to the creek. That’s where we come in. In this example, a bend in the stream was gradually moving toward an existing railroad line, resulting in severe bank erosion that was adding harmful silt to the stream. The erosion was also undermining the root systems of many large trees (which provide important, cooling shade) and eventually, some of those trees toppled into the water. Codorus TU secured grant funding and partnered with a local contractor to address and correct the area. The light colored rock in the first photo is a new, man-made stream bank that redirects the stream away from the tracks at normal flow, while providing a stable mini-floodplain to accommodate higher flows. The second photo, taken just 4 months later, shows just how quickly the project grew over and seamlessly blended into the natural landscape. A win for the railroad, a win for the creek, and a win for the trout!

How can you help? We regularly have a project or two like this one in the works at all times - and can always use a helping hand, from grant writing all the way to getting dirty when it’s time to dig in. Follow us on social media, come to a meeting, or browse our ”Events” section to learn how and when you can give back!

Mission: Educate and Inspire

Our favorite example of sharing our message is probably our work with a program called Trout In The Classroom. Participating schools receive fertilized trout eggs from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in the fall, and raise them through their school year. Codorus TU provides a complete, refrigerated aquarium system for each classroom. In the spring, when the trout have grown to around 2”, they’re released into a local trout stream. On those ‘Release Days’ we also conduct a very immersive stream survey where the kids explore the stream looking for macroinvertebrates and other stream life. The Release Days are always very high-energy events, and something we really look forward to each year. There are now hundreds of fish tanks throughout Pennsylvania as a result of this wildly successful and growing program.

How can you help? Equipment maintenance costs mean this program is one of our chapter’s single largest financial commitments, and donations of any size are always appreciated. Send us a note if you would be willing to contribute!

In addition to our TIC work, we also conduct on-stream mini-clinics, winter fly tying clinics and other events to share our knowledge of the great sport of fly fishing. We’re always looking for opportunities to enlighten whoever we can about the fascinating world of trout and clean streams.

Mission: Partnerships and Community

Over the years, we’ve formed a variety of partnerships which have been very important and valuable to us. From school districts to local governments to state agencies and others, our relationships have helped on countless occasions, and we hope others have benefited as well. Perhaps no other relationships have been more important than the ones we have with the stream-side landowners along Codorus Creek. Without their generosity in allowing access to their land, there would simply not be a Codorus Creek fishery to speak of. Unfortunately, there are those few disrespectful and ignorant individuals whose behavior can, and has, resulted in loss of access. We consider our access as a privilege - we treat it like one and pay it back by helping out however we can. It may be as small as a simple litter cleanup or some signage to control parking, or it may a larger scale cleanup or erosion control project, but the goal is always the same - to let them know that they have people on their side who respect and appreciate their private property.

How can you help? Fish the Codorus like we do - as a guest. Pick up trash, obey all streamside signs and be courteous to the landowners you may meet out there. Being seen helping at one of our cleanups also can’t hurt. Follow us on social media below or check back to our “Events” section for the next opportunity to lend a hand.