Fishing Adversely Affected By Release Of Sediment

Jan. 29, 2024 Editor, The News-Gazette: With the week-long cold snap ending, I knew I had to head to a stream, wet a line, and enjoy some “nature time.”

At the overlook just before Goshen Pass, one can see the car-sized boulders with rushing water wrapping around them, all signaling a Class A trout stream. But once parked by the swinging bridge, and all equipped to swing a streamer into the current, I came upon a fisherman, who I quickly asked, “How’s the fishing?”

“Not a fish nor a bump, but what’s with this brown stained water? I just traveled close to two hours for this!”

I immediately knew what he was referring to, the release of sediment from the Boy Scout dam. What a shame, to knowingly deteriorate a clean, welloxygenated, cold fishery by releasing sediment trapped by their 450-acre dam. Fishing up and down the Pass I couldn’t see more than 6 inches into the water. Imagine the impact on trout that need clean, cold waters to survive.

The next day I read Sarah Clayton’s informative letter. Her knowledge and insight of the danger and ongoing damage to the aquatic ecosystems is well expressed. Scout leaders of that camp, and their organization, need to rise to the level of the Scout oath, which states … “Use time, food, supplies, and natural resources wisely.”

The Scouting organization is failing citizens who desire and deserve a Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve that has a “River Runs Through It” that’s clean, clear of sediment and supports a healthy aquatic environment.

BILL DOCEKAL Rockbridge County