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Upcoming Member/Area Events:
Clean up day at Opossum Lake
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Events page
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9/16-
Clean up day at Opossum Lake |
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Start: 9/16 - 9:00 AM |
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End: 9/16 - 5:00 PM |
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Location:
Opossum Lake
Carlisle, PA 17013 |
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The Friends of Opossum Lake Conservancy (FOLC) announces the first major project towards its goal of preserving the lake and its surrounding recreation area for future generations of central Pennsylvanians. The event will be held Saturday, Sept. 16, beginning at 9 a.m. and will kick off the development of the "Anglers' Access Trail", major improvements to the existing 3.59 miles of trail that surround the Lower Frankford Township lake.
Following safety training for any interested area participants, groups will divide up to do everything from picking up trash to clearing brush from areas of the existing trail. There will also be an informal informational session to update everyone about the preservation of Opossum Lake and where efforts currently stand. The day's events will begin at the main parking lot for the lake.
Trail development will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony.
This effort is being made possible by a matching grant for $8,075 from Cumberland County Land Partnership funds, announced recently by county commissioners Rick Rovegno, Bruce Barclay and Gary Eichelberger. In addition to the activities planned for Sept. 16, long range goals are to widen and level the trail, the installation of foot bridges and benches, plus trail markers and kiosks that will offer nature and wildlife information, according to Ruben Lao, FOLC projects committee chairman.
The commitment has grown to include funds designated for the reconstruction of the dam and spillway, coming from three sources to-date. As a direct result of a $100,000 pledge from Lower Frankford Township supervisors, funds originating from Pennsylvania's Growing Greener program have been dedicated in the amounts of $500,000 by the Cumberland County commissioners and $775,000 by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
FOLC Board President Ed Franco noted that these commitments total $1,375,000, representing close to 45 percent of the estimated total project cost of replacing the dam. This leaves a balance of $1,675,000 of the cost estimated by Fish and Boat Commission representatives at the April informational meeting held in Lower Frankford Township. This would bring the total replacement cost to 3.05 million dollars.
Tom Ford, Director of Policy, Planning and Operations for the PA Fish and Boat Commission, told a recent FOLC board meeting that he had computed the annual number of lost angling days at Opossum Lake due to the drawdown that began in late fall 2005. The figures he cited included 9,182 total trout fishing days lost annually and 12,602 annual lost angling days at Opossum Lake.
In an earlier letter to the FOLC, Ford said that the commission supports the FOLC "proposal to develop a 3.5-mile angler access trail around Opossum Lake. This angler access amenity, including signage and the publication of maps, will greatly enhance the experience of anglers using this facility. The proposed trail, and its development standards which will minimize erosion and protect environmentally sensitive areas, is another aspect of this project which we acknowledge and encourage."
Also at a recent board session, officers were elected for the FOLC's inaugural year. President is Ed Franco, Lower Frankford Township; Vice President, Steve Fealtman, Lower Frankford Township; Treasurer, Wayne DeMoss, Lower Frankford Township; and Secretary, Cindy Crisswell, Dickenson Township.
This September's cleanup and kickoff for the trail cap the FOLC's first six months of activity, an effort started by residents of Lower Frankford Township and users of the lake from across central Pennsylvania. Although the organization has expressed its long range hopes and goals for the Opossum Lake area, what the group envisions can best be described by the words of Fealtman's daughters, 9-year-old Chloe and 10-year-old Stevie.
Chloe says, "I can see Opossum Lake from my front yard. I like the lake because it is a close and quiet place that I take my dogs for walks. I like to hike the trails because I can see lots of deer, fish, turtles, ducks, frogs, birds and fox. More people should visit Opossum Lake and enjoy it."
Stevie adds, "I live by Opossum Lake. Whenever they drain the lake, it hurts fish and other organisms. Little fish will become over-populated. People fish for big fish and lots of fish die when the water falls below where they are swimming. I've seen it before. Plus, plants drink water, so it might take away more water. Then even more animals could die. Opossum Lake should be a healthy habitat for all animals."
Chloe, Stevie and Board President Franco urge everyone to join the FOLC Sept. 16 to help make a difference in the future of Opossum Lake. For additional information and to keep up-to-date with FOLC activities, go to the organization's website at www.opossumlakefriends.org.
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