Absent from Pennsylvania for more than 60 years, the federal and state endangered Piping Plover — a small shorebird — has made a comeback at Presque Isle State Park in Erie.

Federal, state and local officials came together at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie this past weekend for “Pennsylvania Piping Plover Fest” — a celebration of the shorebird’s 10 consecutive years of nesting in the Commonwealth.

“Although our small population is extremely fragile, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and our team of partners are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring these remarkable birds endure for generations to come,” said Cathy Haffner, PGC Wildlife Biologist and Piping Plover Recovery Coordinator.

The Presque Isle shoreline is the only breeding habitat for the Piping Plover in Pennsylvania. However, increased recreational activity throughout the years endangered camouflaged eggs in shallow depressions in the sand. Piping Plovers eventually abandoned Presque Isle by the mid-1950s, like many other nesting sites throughout the Great Lakes.

“We are celebrating the restoration of a native species to Pennsylvania’s beach ecosystem, the team who worked tirelessly for decades to encourage their return, and the army of Great Lakes Piping Plover stewards beyond Pennsylvania whose vigilance has enabled us to, once again, experience the joy of piping plovers on Lake Erie,” Haffner said.

In 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published a recovery plan for the Piping Plover, and shortly after, three Piping Plover were observed at Presque Isle State Park in 2005.

Eventually, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) formed the Piping Plover and Common Tern Recovery Partnership which included the USFWS, Army Corps of Engineers, the United States Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Erie Bird Observatory, and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

USFWS’s Pennsylvania Field Office remains focused on key recovery strategies to ensure Pennsylvania’s Piping Plovers contribute to the wider Great Lakes population. Those efforts center on boosting adult survival and nest success so birds can help fill important genetic and geographic gaps in the species’ recovery.

From a habitat standpoint, DCNR and staff at Presque Isle State Park have worked to protect and restore the dynamic shoreline and fragile habitat at Gull Point. Soon after Presque Isle became a state park, the Commonwealth recognized the ecological importance of the area by designating Gull Point as a bird sanctuary in 1927 and reaffirming that protection in 1957. These efforts support species like the Piping Plover and the Common Tern and are strengthened by the presence of native plant communities that form the backbone of healthy coastal ecosystems.

Pennsylvania Piping Plover Fest featured a public premiere of Our Threatened & “Endangered Species: Piping Plovers” — a documentary film, followed by an expert panel discussion.

PA DEP announces new methane rules to reduce pollution from oil/gas operations

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection this week announced it will develop new regulations to reduce methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas operations across Pennsylvania — including requirements to detect and repair leaks and phase out routine venting and flaring — two major sources of methane pollution.

DEP will develop rules requiring equipment and practices that reduce leaks from well sites, pipelines, and other oil and gas infrastructure, while reducing emissions from venting and flaring activities.

“As a greenhouse gas, methane is more potent than carbon dioxide and is a key driver in climate change,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These commonsense regulations will prevent it from leaking into the atmosphere and improve air quality. This is the first step in the regulatory process, and we will hear from stakeholders and the public before these regulations are finalized.”

The proposal builds on efforts to reduce harmful air pollution, protect public health, and ensure Pennsylvania’s energy industry remains competitive by reducing waste and improving operational efficiency.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and the principal component of natural gas. The new regulations will reduce leaks and emissions from wells, pipelines, and other infrastructure, and require regular monitoring to identify and plug any new leaks.

Pennsylvania is also investing in environmental protection, while supporting Pennsylvania’s energy and manufacturing future.

Through the RISE PA program, the Commonwealth is investing $396 million in projects that will create thousands of good-paying construction and manufacturing jobs while reducing carbon emissions and air pollution from industrial facilities.

The state has also secured more than $210 million in federal funding to plug 400 orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells — more than were plugged in the previous ten years combined — and secured more than $29 million in state funding to continue this critical work and reduce methane emissions that contribute to climate change.

DEP announced the rule-making in its updated Regulatory Agenda, which outlines the regulatory actions the Department expects to undertake over the coming year. The proposal will move through Pennsylvania’s public regulatory review process, including opportunities for stakeholder and public comment before any final regulations are adopted.

BACK WOODS BASS RESULTS

Week of July 12

Bob Strunk reports results from the Back Woods Bass Harveys Lake Wednesday Night Lunker Tournament, the Back Woods Bass Harveys Lake Friday Night Tournament and the Monday Night River Tournament.

Monday Night

River Tournament

1st Place: John Centak/Ron Dopko 5.11 lbs

Also won Lunker Award 1.50 lbs

2nd Place: R.J. Kresge/Jon Wychock 4.70 lbs

3rd Place: Jerry & Jerry Vitale 4.50 lbs

4th Place: Ryan Borton/Jake Seymour/Jared Adamski 4.48 lbs

5th Place: Bread Keen/Austin Swartwood 3.82 lbs

Wednesday Night

Harveys Lake Lunker Tournament

1st Place: Jake Seymour 4.12 lbs

2nd Place: Kevin Seymour 3.96 lbs

3rd Place: Jake Rolands 3.60 lbs

4th Place: Chris Kalna 3.36 lbs

5th Place: Joe McGraw Jr. 3.20 lbs

6th Place: Harlow Rolands 3.13 lbs

7th Place: Jimmy Roberts 3.10 lbs

8th Place: Dave Brill 3.01 lbs

9th Place: Justin Kubilus 2.99 lbs

10th Place: Jarrett Wolfe 2.95 lbs

Friday Night

Harveys Lake Tournament

1st Place: Jake & Kevin Seymour 13.25 lbs

Also won Lunker Award 3.90 lbs

2nd Place: Johnny Niezgota 10.70 lbs

3rd Place: Matt Fredmonski/Bruce Rhin 10.42 lbs

4th Place: Josh Colarusso/John Wargo 9.00 lbs

5th Place: Shawn Sekelsky/Gary Cnudde 5.18 lbs

6th Place: Chuck Peterman/Duke 3.46 lbs

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