Around the Fish & Boat Commission

Notes from the outdoors

Pittsburgh Tribune Review
13 February 2011
By Bob Frye

The Fish and Boat Commission has scheduled a series of meetings to talk about the river management plan it's created for the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio.

Biologist Bob Ventorini, the commission's three rivers biologist, will discuss the history of fish management in the rivers, identify factors influencing their health, prioritize future fish management needs and discuss proposed future plans.

Meetings are set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Doubletree Hotel in Monroeville, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Franklin Public Library in Franklin, and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 24 in conference rooms 301 and 302 of the Stover Campus Center at Waynesburg University.

The plan is not yet online, but is scheduled to go up at http://www.fishandboat.com/ThreeRiversPlan.htm.

Management plans are also being developed for the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers. Fish and Boat Commissioner Lenny Lichvar of Somerset County questioned the reasoning behind giving those rivers specific plans of their own, while lumping the "three rivers" — which he said can be very different — together.

But he also said he has not seen the plan and was willing to give it a chance before further commenting.

• Speaking of public presentations, the Fish and Boat Commission's executive director will also be giving one locally.

John Arway will speak at 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show at the Monroeville Convention Center. He'll give a preview of the river plan, talk about other issues of interest to anglers and take questions.

Bob Frye can be reached at bfrye@tribweb.com or 724-838-5148.