There’s little evidence that gamefish are seriously impacted when municipal water treatment systems experience temporary sewage overflow, periods when raw sewage mixes with rainwater during heavy rain and discharges into the environment. The fish just move to a cleaner stretch of water.
But the micro-invertebrates at the bottom of the food chain often can’t move that far, and even brief spells of biological pollution can cause permanent damage. People with low resistance to contagions or open wounds are also vulnerable to e-coli infection and other problems when they come in contact with raw sewage in an open waterway.
An interactive web page recently launched by the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority alerts anglers, boaters and other recreational water users when raw sewage is discharging into the Three Rivers. When an alert has been issued, the free Sewage Overflow Advisory Key, or SOAK, sends water-quality messages that are accessible on the ALCOSAN website, texted or emailed to personal computers or communication devices, or relayed visually via colored flags raised at eight sites along the Pittsburgh Pool straddling the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. When a sewage overflow or combined rainwater and sewage overflow alert has been issued, look for the flags at Silky’s Crows Nest and Marina, Fox Chapel Yacht Club, Washington’s Landing Marina and Three Rivers Rowing Club on the Allegheny River; Southside Riverfront Park boat launch and Braddock Boat Ramp on the Monongahela; and Peggy’s Harbor Marina and RiverQuest on the Ohio.
Access the SOAK water-quality tool or program automatic text or email alerts at www.alcosan.org.
Ramp it up
As promised by the Pittsburgh Department of Public Works, the city-run boat launch at Southside Riverfront Park was repaired and all lanes opened in time for boating traffic expected during the Fourth of July weekend. The only public ramp between The Point and McKeesport has been partially closed since it was damaged by erosion in 2014, causing long lines and wait times for anglers, tournament anglers, recreational boaters and water skiers.
Free fishing
Monday is the last of two “fish for free” days in Pennsylvania. All anglers, resident and nonresident, can fish on the state’s public waters without a fishing license. All other regulations and private property laws apply. The Fish for Free Days program is designed to get people on the water who otherwise wouldn’t buy a license to fish.
License fees
The initiative to allow the state Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission to set their own license fees is still in play.
Senate Bills 1166 and 1168 have survived three rounds of hearings, were approved in the state Senate and sent to the House June 22. The wildlife management agencies say legislators’ reluctance to raise hunting and fishing fees on constituents results in long lag times between the time when an increase is clearly needed and the date it’s finally voted into law.
Setting their own rates, they say, would enable fees to increase incrementally and encourage the agencies to come up with price-reducing marketing campaigns.
First Published: July 3, 2016, 4:00 a.m.