PENNSYLVANIA
PENNSYLVANIA
Rescue training program gets recognition
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Water Rescue Program has been recognized with the prestigious Higgins and Langley Swiftwater Rescue Program Development Award.
The awards honor outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue. The awards were established in 1993 by members of the Swiftwater Rescue Committee of the National Association for Search and Rescue in honor of Earl Higgins, a writer and filmmaker who lost his life in 1980 while rescuing a child who was swept down the flood-swollen Los Angeles River, and Jeffrey Langley, a Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighter-paramedic, who lost his life in a helicopter incident in 1993. "This award recognizes that Pennsylvania is a national leader in water rescue, and I am extremely proud of the work by our staff and volunteer instructors," said Dr. Douglas Austen, PFBC Executive Director.
The PFBC initiated the Pennsylvania Water Rescue Program in 1983 to provide water and ice rescue training for fire and rescue department personnel. Since that time, nearly 15,000 students have been trained in the most current techniques. It is now the largest nonprofit, public water and ice rescue training program known to exist in the United States.
Water rescue courses are taught by PFBC employees and by more than 100 certified volunteer instructors.
DMAP deadline July 1
Eligible landowners interested in enrolling in the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Deer Management Assistance Program, designed to help landowners manage deer on their properties, have until July 1 to submit an application for the 2004-05 hunting seasons to the Bureau of Wildlife Management in Harrisburg. So far, the agency has received 78 applications requesting 5,280 coupons.
Lands eligible for DMAP are: public-owned lands, private property where no fee is charged to hunt, and private land hunting clubs established before Jan. 1, 2000, that own 1,000 or more contiguous acres. In addition to the application, a map describing property boundaries must be enclosed with the application.
Coupons for DMAP antlerless deer harvest permits may be issued to landowners at a rate of one coupon for every five acres in agricultural operations or one coupon for every 50 acres for all other lands. Management plans will be required only when an applicant requests more than the standard rate for issuance of DMAP harvest permits.
Landowners will receive one coupon for each DMAP permit allocated for their property. Landowners may not give more than one DMAP coupon to a licensed hunter, who will then apply to the Game Commission for the DMAP harvest permit. Landowners may not charge or accept any remuneration for a DMAP coupon.
Hunters may possess only one DMAP permit for a specific DMAP area in any given license year.
DMAP permit allotments will be made separate from general antlerless deer license allocations, and permits will be $6 for residents and $26 for nonresidents.
Landowners may obtain DMAP applications from the Game Commission's Web site (www.pgc.state.pa.us) or the agency's Harrisburg headquarters or regional offices. For more information, call the Bureau of Wildlife Management at (717) 787-5529.
Several weeks after July 1, hunters interested in obtaining a listing of DMAP properties will be able to consult the agency's Web site or mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with a letter indicating their county of interest to the Bureau of Wildlife Management at: 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, Pa. 17110-9797.
OHIO
High water advisory
A statewide boating advisory has been issued for all Ohio inland lakes, rivers and streams due to recent storms that have pushed water levels higher throughout most of the state.
The advisory will remain in effect until water levels begin to return to normal or near-normal conditions. Boaters should be aware that swift currents, floating debris and other hazards to navigation increase with high water levels.
They should pay particular attention to any area that may be designated with flash-flood watches and warnings as issued by the National Weather Service.
BOATING
New recreational plan
A recreational boating plan suggesting ways to improve boating opportunities and amenities in Ohio recently was completed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft. The plan will serve as a guide for future development of the state's waterways.
The Boating on Ohio Waterways plan offers recommendations to improve the boating experience on Lake Erie and Ohio's inland lakes, rivers and streams. Some highlights of the plan include:
Lake Erie: Develop transient facilities on Lake Erie's western basin islands and on the coasts of gateway cities such as Sandusky, Port Clinton and Cleveland. As a secondary focus, develop transient facilities along the coasts of Toledo, Lorain, Fairport Harbor and Ashtabula or Conneaut. Provide additional security, ample dock size and nearby parking and restrooms. Launch ramps should be accessible to a variety of watercraft and large enough to accommodate boats longer than 18 feet.
Inland lakes: Increase boating related activities on inland lakes. Improved launch ramp access is needed for unlimited horsepower on inland lakes in central and southeast Ohio, as is access for medium horsepower lakes in the northeast region. Improved amenities are needed at ramp sites, including convenient parking, restrooms and lighting. Improve amenities at marinas and add more dock areas.
Rivers and streams: Improved launch ramp access is needed on the Ohio River, as are additional overnight accommodations with short-term dock rental and nearby restaurants. Strategically located small tie-up facilities are needed adjacent to state tourist sites, such as Shawnee State Park and Forest, Forked Run State Park and Shade River State Forest. Some improvements already have begun, including the development of a marina on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie. The plan for the marina is in the engineering and design phase and includes plans for 300 slips -- 200 transient and 100 seasonal. The Division of Watercraft is working with Port Clinton on conceptual plans for a transient harbor at the mouth of the Portage River. The facility likely would include a harbormaster, restrooms and showers. Inland, the division is in the process of evaluating all of its recreational boating access sites to determine which areas need improvements.
Additional information on the BOW plan can be obtained on the ODNR Web site at ohiodnr.com.