Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan
Chapter 5. Cultural Resources
Located within the project area is the Oswayo State Fish
Hatchery. This facility was originally built in 1968, and is located on
1,250 acres near the village of Oswayo in Potter County. It contains
raceways, an earthen pond, and a hatchery building with indoor
rearing, egg incubation, and a visitors’ center. The hatchery is
supplied by two non-limestone aquifer springs. The facility produces
an average of 181,261 pounds of brook, brown, rainbow, and golden
trout each year at a cost of approximately $3.20 per pound.
The Pennsylvania Wilds region, which encompasses the
Allegheny River headwaters watershed, provides ample opportunities
for anglers. The opportunities are compiled in the Pennsylvania
Wilds Fishing Guide, available on the Pennsylvania Wilds website:
http://www.pawilds.com. Areas within the watershed are summarized
below. However, these designations change frequently, so please
consult the annual fishing summary guidelines for any changes and
additions to these regulations.
Trophy trout section of
Tunungwant Creek in Lewis
Run, PA
Class A Wild Trout
Class A Wild Trout streams support a population of naturally reproducing trout of sufficient size and
abundance, which will support long-term, rewarding fisheries. Waterways under this designation do not
participate in stocking programs. Within the project area, nine tributaries have received the designation of
Class A Wild Trout streams and are identified in Appendix N.
Approved Trout Waters
Approved Trout Waters are waterways—lakes, ponds, and reservoirs—that meet criteria qualifying
them to be stocked with trout by PFBC. The 20 waterways designated as Approved Trout Waters within
the project area are identified in Appendix N.
Special Regulation Areas
Special regulation areas are waterways that fall into various regulations of PFBC, such as catch and
release, fly-fishing only, and delayed harvest. As of 2009, there were five special regulation areas in the
Allegheny River headwaters watershed.
Two Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only areas are located along the Allegheny River and
West Branch Tunungwant Creek. These 3.9 miles are restricted for angling—fly-fishing or spin
casting—using artificial lures made of metal, plastic, rubber, or wood; and/or flies and
streamers constructed of natural or synthetic materials. Up to three fish per day may be kept, if
they are at least nine inches in length and caught between June 15 and Labor Day. The
Allegheny River section provides 2.7 miles from Pond Road to a ford—an area where the river
is shallow enough to cross by wading—approximately three tenths of a mile below the Prosser
Hollow Bridge. A stretch of 1.2 miles of the West Branch Tunungwant Creek, from the Route
499 Bridge to a pipeline near the confluence of Gates Hollow, is also designated as a Delayed
Harvest Artificial Lures Only waterway (PFBC, 2009b).
The Trophy Trout Program opens streams to fishing year-round; however, a limit of only two
fish over 14 inches in length per day may be kept between opening day through Labor Day. All
fish caught that are shorter than 14 inches, and fish caught between Labor Day and opening day,
must be released. Anglers must use artificial lures constructed of metal, plastic, rubber, or wood
and/or flies and streamers created from natural or synthetic materials. Fly-fishing or spinning
gear may be used, and anglers must possess a trout stamp. Three miles of East Branch
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