The Little Juniata River Association is making an effort to promote the waterway’s importance and value at a time when the river has received substantial coverage by the media due to flooding late last summer.
The Daily Herald recently completed a series noting the six-month anniversary of heavy rains which led to the Little Juniata overflowing its banks. The series detailed the effects and costs of the flood and what has and can be done in terms of control and prevention.
The river, as a Class “A” trout fishery, also presents economical and recreational opportunities for the area.
The association recently offered a slide presentation about the “river of opportunity” during a Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast and meeting, earlier this month.
The presentation was offered by Bill Anderson and Eric Stroup of the Little Juniata River Association.
They began their presentation with a brief history about the waterway.
The area’s railroad history and industrial development was highlighted. It was noted other industries rapidly developed once the railroad was completed. Coal, timber, papermaking and manufacturing enterprises flourished along the river and its tributaries for 100 years.
In its presentation, the association said, “Pollution followed, and the Little J was rendered an industrial sewer by the 1890s and remained so until the early 1970s.”
After the brief history, Anderson and Stoup detailed the river as it is today and what it could become to the area for recreational and tourism purposes.
The association presentation offered this: “The Little Juniata watershed holds tremendous promise as a world-class trout fishery. Emanating from coldwater springs and tributaries in the Logan Valley and enhanced by limestone geology from Tyrone to its mouth, the ‘J’ has shown a remarkable recovery from its formerly, polluted condition just 30 years ago.”
According to the association’s information, insects and trout have responded extremely well to the cleansing of the “J”.
The Little Juniata River Association was formed in 1998 to monitor the return of flies to the “J” after a mysterious pollution event wiped out virtually all the aquatic insect life, leaving the trout to starve.
During the presentation, it was noted the river had made a fast recovery. Stoup noted the importance of the “bugs” in fly fishing during his portion of the presentation.
The economic opportunities of the river were also discussed, noting Spruce Creek businesses which benefit from the river and its tributaries’ recreational uses including bed and breakfast locations such as Cedar Ridge, Marshall House and Rivers Edge; fly shops such as Spruce Creek Fly Company and Spruce Creek Outfitters; fishing clubs such as Spruce Creek Rod & Gun Club, Spring Ridge Club, Harpster’s Club and Nelson Constantine’s and restaurants such as Spruce Creek Tavern, Main Street Cafe and C & Cs Wings and Things.
The presentation also detailed other towns which are benefiting from the fishing industry in areas in the northeast. Essentially, the group’s speakers tried to show those attending the Chamber event how much more could be done to tie the river to the community economically.
The association’s presentation noted the following trout fishing economic statistics and demographics: “The consumer for this industry is, indeed, impressive: The average (visiting) fly fisher is married (83 percent); nearly 90 percent attended college, the average income is $140,000 and 90 percent own their own home. In direct support of this industry’s tourism product – fly-fishing – some 95 percent traveled an average of 900 miles in the past year, spending an average of $2,800 per trip.”
Reflecting these demographics, The American Sportfishing Association and Trout Unlimited, in a jointly sponsored 1996 study said, “The Economic Impact of Trout Fishing On the Delaware River Tailwaters in New York found that angling for the Delaware’s wild trout resulted in some $17.69 million in local revenues and generated some $30 million in local economic activity.”
The local river association noted the study was done only for Delaware County in New York, however it provided a window into the region.
In Tyrone, the association noted Burley’s Restaurant already benefits from the Little Juniata. It also pointed to a number of other businesses, either existing or those which could be created, which might benefit from the development of the river for recreation and tourism. Some examples were hotels, gifts and specialties, antiques, coffee shop, outdoor clothing, and canoes and kayaks.
The presentation also touched on the next steps which could be taken to develop the river.
The importance of getting “catch and release” regulations instituted on the river was detailed at the recent Chamber breakfast.
Anderson said he attended a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission hearing, and as a result of a proposal adopted at the hearing he said, “It’s very promising we will get catch and release on the river.”
Anderson said if the plan were to go into effect it would not be until next season at the soonest.
The Little Juniata River Association is a non-profit conservation group formed to: monitor, preserve and improve the Little “J” as a cold water resource.
Anderson is the former owner and operator, along with his wife Carol, of Joybeans. A retired CEO of a New York state-based electronics company, Anderson is now the owner of the Spruce Creek Fly Company, LLC.
Stroup, a Tyrone native, is a veteran full-time fly-fishing guide, outdoor writer and fly-fishing editor of Pa. Outdoor Times Magazine. He is also an owner of Spruce Creek Fly Company, LLC of Franklinville and Spruce Creek.
