By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

Updates of projects surrounding East Branch Clarion River Lake were discussed during the facilities recent biannual community affairs meeting.
Park Manager Gary Froelich conducted the meeting, which included reports from Don Hunt of the Elk County Fishermen Watershed and Habitat Group, Jim Reinsburrow, Bendigo State Park complex maintenance supervisor, Toby Herzing, forester at the Elk State Forest in Emporium, Tim Shaw of Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) and Joe Fadden, representative from Congressman Glen Thompson’s office.
Reinsburrow informed the group of Jason Heasly being appointed as the new park manager. Work which has been completed by park staff include continuing to offer a temporary dock at Instanter.
Last year they completed a half mile of trails which they will attempt to maintain despite the loss of seasonal park employees due to state budget cuts.
In addition Bendigo was awarded a grant to dismantle the park’s Old Stone Dam by efforts of the state fish commission. While there is no specific time frame for the project, the stones will be staying in the park and utilized for future projects.
The dam was rebuilt 15 years ago and is possibly being dismantled to aid in fish migration.
Hunt of the Elk County Fishermen Watershed and Habitat Group gave a brief update of the organization. He explained the Adopt-A-Lake program runs in three-year intervals and this is the last year for the current segment, the next of which will begin in June.
Hunt explained that boards are missing from the bass spotting platforms which have been moved from the upper end to the lower end of the lake for the past several years. The boards measure eight feet in length and are coming apart to easily for someone to steal them. The organization plans to address the problem within the next year.
Herzing said gas wells continue to be a major topic within the Elk State Forest. Notification has been received that 21 new shallow wells and four deep Marcellus Shale wells will be drilled within the forest. There are currently two Marcellus Shale wells on existing pads which Herzing said cuts down the need to open up two new footprints.
A new bridge is being constructed in North Fork which runs into Straight Creek. According to Herzing the bridge spans a ford which is used by residential vehicles but cannot be used by commercial vehicles, hence the need for the bridge. Herzing explained that 5,000 acres of woodland would be taken out of management if commercial vehicles cannot access it.
A second bridge was completed in Little Dense Run as a camp access road.
In addition, foresters are investigating cases of Oak Wilt within Elk County. Oak Wilt is a fungus disease which killed many trees along the east coast this summer. Two cases of the disease have been confirmed in Cameron County. Currently testing is being done on trees located on Red Hill Summit in Kersey.
He added the only confirmed case in St. Marys was on Timberline Road, which was reported a few years ago.
Details are yet to be solidified regarding the future Elk Country Visitors Bureau. Plans are still in the works as financial issues resulted in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation turning over the project to DCNR.
New concrete outhouses were constructed in the Hicks Run elk viewing area. The outhouses replace former portable toilets.
According to Froelich, 10 new camping sites have been added at the lake. Nine sites are walk-in tent sites located on the opposite side of the park office. Four electric camp sites were added bringing the total number of electric camp sites to 20. There are a total of 41 authorized camp sites at East Branch Lake.
The boat launch was closed on Wednesday for the season.