The PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs wrote to members of the Senate Wednesday expressing their opposition to House Bill 1565 (Hahn-R-Northampton) eliminating the nearly 4 year old requirement for stream buffers in High Quality and Exceptional Value streams.
The text of the Federation’s letter follows--
As the largest single sportsmen’s organization in the commonwealth, we are proud to represent a large number of people who not only live in Pennsylvania, but enjoy its many natural resources in the pursuit of our interests – namely hunting, fishing and trapping as well. It is quite apparent to us that the condition, quality and abundance of those resources are critical to maintain life as well as provide recreation.
We are very concerned about the impact on one of the most precious resources, water that will result if HB 1565 is accepted and passed by our legislators. We were disappointed to learn that the House voted so quickly and favorably in support of the bill. Now the issue is coming before the Senate.
Over eighty years ago, our organization was born out of the collaborative efforts of sportsmen on a water quality issue. We are just as passionate today on this issue. Please do not support this bill or the concepts it contains. It would represent a step backwards.
Having mandatory riparian buffer regulations does not take anything away from a landowner. By comparison, think for a moment about zoning regulations that require ‘set-backs’ many times for aesthetic or social reasons alone.
Buffers along waterways serve to protect a necessity of life – quality water. We recognize that in both situations the landowner, whether private or commercial, may feel as though the use of a small part of their property is limited; but, everyone has a responsibility to steward the natural resources on which all of mankind relies.
Without riparian buffers, erosion and sedimentation is certain to happen. By allowing these harms to occur simply by demanding remedial efforts in another area, we would be remiss. Erosion and sedimentation is a problem no matter where it occurs and should be managed in as many places as it occurs.
Keep in mind that the result of erosion and sedimentation does not only effect those who are local to the occurrence; but, it causes trickle down problems as a watershed feeds into larger bodies of water such as the Chesapeake Bay, the DE Bay and the Great Lakes.
While native plants maintained in riparian buffers help stabilize stream banks thereby minimizing erosion and sedimentation, they also provide aesthetic value, air quality advantages and even additional wildlife habitat. It should be obvious that these benefits in addition to clean water distinctly outweigh land use practices of a harmful nature.
Please do not support the weakening of soil and water quality regulations in Pennsylvania.
Thank you,
Lowell D. Graybill
President
PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
The bill is also opposed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, PA Environmental Council, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the PA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the Fish and Boat Commission, PA Council of Trout Unlimited, PA League of Women Voters and former DEP Secretary David E. Hess.