Funding approved to buy land near eagle nest
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority was awarded a grant of $800,000 for its pending purchase of some 563 acres of undeveloped land above the steep hillside that holds the nest site of the Hays bald eagles. The endowment is part of a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources funding initiative announced last week that will put nearly $3.5 million into 20 projects in Allegheny County.
The hilltop overlooking the Monongahela River is among a few places within the City of Pittsburgh where safe public hunting continues, if discreetly. URA plans to develop real estate some distance from the eagle nest. A spokesperson for the state Game Commission, which controls access to the nest, said the agency and URA have signed an agreement that will keep most of the hilltop open for archery-only public hunting. The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is expected to continue maintenance of the nest site, and Murrysvillebased PixController will maintain the live-streaming camera recently re-installed above the nest.
The slopes of Mount Washington were legally and safely hunted until 2005 when a 235-acre tract was purchased by the city to create Emerald View Park, which has since expanded to 257 acres. DCNR has granted the city $80,000 to draw up further park development plans.
Also on the funding list is $175,000 for renovation of a cascading water feature, a storm-water drainage system and other improvements at South Park, where a controlled archery program helps to keep deer deforestation in check. funding, for development
Additional D C N Rof a conservation area on grants will fund development Elk Creek in Erie County of a trail system in near the juncture of West Dead Man’s Hollow Cons and Sterrettania roads off e r v a t i o n Area near the I-79 McKean exit. In addition Boston on the Youghiogheny to building trails and River, construction a picnic area, the grant will Josh Miller of Ross, a of 16 acres of riparian contribute to the construction coach for the U.S. Youth forest buffers along Saw of an ADA-compliant Fly Fishing Team, will talk Mill Run and improvement fishing platform that will about the team’s participation at several suburban give kids and mobilitychallenged in the 2017 World parks. anglers access Youth Fly Fishing Competitions
DCNR’s Recreation and to the creek’s stocked trout in Slovenia at a 7 Conservation grant program and steelhead runs. p.m. Dec. 11 meeting of is funded through In WestmorelandPenn’s Woods West Trout state and federal sources. County, two DCNR grants Unlimited in Wexford (724totalling $232,400 will pay 759-1002). In Lower Burrell, for a 41-acre addition and three expert tyers will new development at Twin demonstrate patterns 7 Lakes Park, a popular fishing p.m. Dec. 13 at a meeting of destination. In Fayette the Tri-County Trout Club.
Funding for fishing
An additional DCNR grant will provide $164,500, a 50 percent match to other County a $10,000 DCNR grant will fund streambank stabilization and other improvements along statestocked Mill Run.
Talk on the fly