Fish and Boat Commission adds online maps to web site
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has just made locating places to launch a boat, visit a hatchery or fish for stocked or wild trout a “snap.” To be more precise, the PFBC has made finding places to fish and boat a “click” – a mouse click.
The Commission has unveiled the newest addition to its informative web site: online maps. Fishing and boating maps for each of the state’s 67 counties are now on line. By selecting the “Online Maps” link from the PFBC homepage, users can pick one of six PFBC regions on which to focus. From the region level, users then hone in on a single county.
The county maps are based on the official Pennsylvania Transportation Maps created by PennDOT. Full-color keys easily enable anglers and boaters to locate Class A wild trout streams, streams approved for trout stocking, waters managed under special fishing regulations, boat launch sites, state-owned hatcheries and PFBC offices. Selecting a keyed location will activate a frame providing site-specific information.
Additionally, every county is available in high resolution or low resolution Portable Document File (PDF) format ideal for printing. Also available are region listings in a PDF format.
On-line maps is the natural progression of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to ensure anglers and boaters can easily access information that will allow them to better enjoy their sports. Maps have long been one of the most-requested publications. The internet allows the Commission to take traditional mapping efforts a step further.
Mapping efforts began with a standard statewide fishing and boating map, which was recently supplemented with regional guides. Now, the on-line maps provide a wealth of information in a readily accessible electronic format. The intention is to further refine the on-line maps in the future to include even more detail such as driving directions, site photos and maybe even hydrographic maps showing lake bottom contours.
Also available on the Commission web site are copies of other PFBC publications, including the Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws and the Pennsylvania Boating Handbook.
The Fish and Boat Commission has maintained an active presence on the World Wide Web since 1996. The Commission’s site, part of the Pennsylvania PowerPort, attracts thousands of users and millions of hits each month. Whether it’s stocking information, the latest news, boating safety information or information on Pennsylvania’s fishes and reptiles and amphibians, you can find it on the Commission’s site.