May 19, 2007 By Jackie Beranek 3 min read

DUNBAR – Scott Hoffman, vice president of the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited, told council Monday that his organization has secured a Growing Greener grant to collect stream data on Dunbar Creek and its tributaries. Hoffman said the grant, acquired through Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will include measurements of stream and floodplain characteristics and photographs of the stream corridor.

“This information will be used to evaluate stream conditions and provide concrete recommendations for stabilizing and rehabilitating Dunbar Creek and its tributaries,” Hoffman said.

The field surveys take place at various times between June of this year and February 2008.

Hoffman said anyone involved in the field activities will have appropriate identification indicating that they are employees of the consulting firm of Skelly and Loy Engineers-Consultants of Harrisburg or that they are municipal, county or state staff involved in the project.

He additionally said that borough officials and borough police have been notified of the data collection activities.

“The stream assessment and prioritization project on Dunbar Creek will begin at Limestone Run and run all the way to the mouth of the Youghiogheny River, which is about eight stream miles,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman said his group is looking to improve the habitat and trying to address runoff and flooding issues.

“We want to improve the habitat so that the fish will have a better chance of survival,” he said. “There is a saying ‘If you take care of the fish, the fish will take care of themselves.”

Hoffman said the grant is worth a little over $51,000.

In other related matters, Hoffman said a public meeting would be held at the borough building on July 12 at 6:30 p.m. for anyone interested in listening to an overview of the stream project or providing information.

In other unrelated matters, borough resident Peggy Zadell told council that the North Fayette County Municipal Authority employees and people in general are dumping stuff on borough property off Pottstown Road.

Zadell said some of the dumped material looks like dirt while other materials being dumped are just plain garbage.

“What are you going to do about this?” Zadell asked. “A lot of that stuff is not burnable.”

Councilman William Watson said he had the borough workers dump some brush on the property and then burn it and Councilman Howard Hair said that he has noticed that people are dumping on the property.

Watson and Hair agreed to have “No Dumping” signs placed on the property and Watson said that he could have a chain placed at the opening of the property. Council President John Maddas said anyone caught dumping on the property could face a citation and a stiff fine.

Councilwoman Kathy Dynes told council that she and borough resident Kim Zebley are working on children’s activities for the summer and said that a volleyball tournament is being planned for the near future.

Dynes additionally said the final arraignments for the volleyball tournament are still being formulated and will be announced when completed.