FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2010
Contact: Steve Wagner, Blue Heron Communications, 800-654-3766 or steve@blueheroncomm.com
RMEF Celebrates 135 Acres of New Elk Habitat in Pa.
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MISSOULA, Mont.—Reclamation of a 135-acre abandoned mine site has been
completed in Pennsylvania’s elk country, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is
celebrating the accomplishment as part of a habitat conservation project that it helped
initiate back in 1998.
The project reclaimed deep and surface mining areas as new grassland habitat on State
Game Land 321 in West Keating Township, Clinton County, Pa.
Spoil piles, dangerous highwall cliffs and lowwall disturbances were backfilled, graded,
dressed with biosolids, seeded and planted. The site drains to Little Birch Island Run and
Sugar Camp Run, both tributaries of the West Branch Susquehanna River. Engineers
designed the project to restore water quality, enhance recreational opportunities and
revitalize degraded habitat for elk and other wildlife.
Originally known as the New Garden or Kelley Estate property, the 4,042-acre tract was
purchased by RMEF in 1998. RMEF transferred 3,195 acres to the Pennsylvania Game
Commission for creating State Game Land 321. RMEF transferred the other 847 acres to
the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for expanding
Sproul State Forest.
RMEF administered a major grant for the reclamation work, which began in 2006. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection awarded a $1.35 million Growing
Greener II grant to RMEF, and all but $1,600 passed through directly to the project.
“Our organization has been working for years to conserve and enhance habitat in
Pennsylvania,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO, “and this project is a good
example of our long-term commitment to ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife and
their habitat in the Keystone State. We intend to build on this longstanding relationship
and success in the years ahead.”
Since 1984, RMEF grants have helped complete 216 different conservation and education
projects across Pennsylvania with a combined value of more than $20 million.
RMEF partners in the recent reclamation effort included the state agencies listed above,
Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Clinton County Conservation District, Kyler
Environmental, E.M. Brown, Alder Run Engineering, Inc., and project consultant New
Miles of Blue Streams. All contracts were awarded based on bids.
Wildlife food and cover specialists with the Pennsylvania Game Commission will
maintain the newly restored habitat.
Unregulated coal mining practices prior to 1977 left Pennsylvania with an estimated
2,500 miles of streams polluted by acid mine drainage, 250,000 acres of un-reclaimed
surface mine land, 100 million cubic feet of burning coal refuse and potential subsidence
problems for hundreds of thousands of acres.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country
initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.8 million acres—a land area
equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide
from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for
hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.
5705 Grant Creek Road, Missoula, MT, 59808
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2010
Contact: Steve Wagner, Blue Heron Communications, 800-654-3766 or steve@blueheroncomm.com
RMEF Announces Conservation Grants for Pennsylvania
MISSOULA, Mont.—Wildlife conservation and public education projects in 18
Pennsylvania counties have been selected to receive grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation in 2010.
The new RMEF funding, totaling $115,580, will affect Armstrong, Bedford, Cameron,
Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Fayette, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer,
Montgomery, Philadelphia, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga and Washington counties.
Other projects have statewide interest.
“These grants are possible because of the successful banquets and fundraisers staged over
the past year by our Pennsylvania volunteers—most of whom are elk hunters as well as
devoted conservationists,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Since 1984, our
annual grants have helped complete 217 different projects in Pennsylvania with a
combined value of more than $20 million.”
RMEF’s lead volunteer in Pennsylvania, State Chair Ben Hoffman of Elizabethtown, Pa.,
said, “We are proud to support the elk program because it benefits many different game
and non-game species. The projects that we funded this year meet the RMEF mission
very well, which is something that all of our Pennsylvania members can be proud of.”
RMEF grants will help fund the following projects, listed by county:
Armstrong County—Provide sponsorship for Armstrong County Sportsmen and
Conservation League 2010 Youth Field Day to introduce students to outdoor recreation
and conservation.
Bedford County—Provide sponsorship for Everett School District Rifle Team to
promote safe participation in shooting sports.
Cameron County—Improve forage for elk and other wildlife by applying lime,
fertilizer, herbicide and seeds to approximately 2,000 acres of forage openings on state
game lands, state parks and other public forestlands (also affects Centre, Clearfield,
Clinton and Elk counties).
Clarion County—Provide sponsorship for Clarion County Youth Field Day to introduce
students to outdoor recreation and conservation.
Elk County—Improve 40 acres of habitat for elk and other wildlife by applying lime,
fertilizer, seed and top-dressing to forage openings on public land (also affects McKean
County); sponsor Keystone Sportsmen’s Club 2010 Field Day; sponsor Elk County 2010
Youth Field Day.
Fayette County—Provide sponsorship for Fayette Gun Club 2010 Youth Shooting Day
to introduce students to shooting sports and conservation.
Lycoming County—Provide sponsorship for Dick Harner 2010 Kids Trout Derby to
engage students in outdoor recreation and conservation (also affects Sullivan County).
Mercer County—Provide sponsorship for Mercer County 2010 Youth Conservation
Camp to introduce students to outdoor recreation and conservation.
Montgomery County—Provide sponsorship for Lower Pottsgrove Sportsman’s
Association 2010 Youth Program, a monthly education program to introduce students to
outdoor recreation and conservation.
Philadelphia County—Provide sponsorship for the Pennsylvania Master Naturalist
Program.
Potter County—Provide sponsorship for Keith Kelligan Memorial 2010 Kids Fishing
Derby to engage students in outdoor recreation and conservation.
Statewide—Provide sponsorship for “Who Goes There,” a wildlife research student
activity activated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission in southeastern counties;
sponsor Wildlife Leadership Academy and teacher workshops for 2010 in partnership
with the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education; sponsor Pennsylvania 2010
Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus.
Sullivan County—Provide sponsorship for Sullivan and East Lycoming county school
districts’ 2010 Sixth Grade Outdoor Education programs to teach students about wildlife,
shooting sports and Native American culture (also affects Lycoming County); sponsor
North Mountain Sportsmen’s Association 2010 Youth Field Day; sponsor Sullivan
County High School 2010 Shooting Sports program.
Tioga County—Provide sponsorship for Tioga County Sportsmen for Youth 2010 Field
Day to introduce students to outdoor recreation and conservation.
Washington County—Provide sponsorship for Allenport Rod and Gun Club’s
Children’s 2010 Fishing Contest, an event to engage students in outdoor recreation and
conservation; sponsor Roscoe Sportsmen’s Association 2010 Junior Trap League and
2010 Youth Day; sponsor California Hill Gun Club 2010 Scholastic Clay Target Program
(also affects Fayette County); sponsor Pennsylvania Scholastic Clay Target Program
2010 Zone Shoots; sponsor Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors 2010 to provide
hunting and fishing opportunities for veterans (also affects Fayette Count).
Habitat projects are selected for grants using science-based criteria and a committee of
RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and
universities. Conservation education and hunting heritage projects are selected by RMEF
field staff and volunteers.
Partners for 2010 projects in Pennsylvania include the Pennsylvania Department of
Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Game Commission, many local sportsmen associations
and gun clubs, other organizations, corporations, schools and landowners.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country
initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.8 million acres—a land area
equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide
from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for
hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.
5705 Grant Creek Road, Missoula, MT, 59808
Pennsylvanians Launch New Chapter in Elk Conservation
MISSOULA, Mont.—Pennsylvania has broken into a Top 10 list of places to find
monster elk, an historic indicator of successful habitat and management efforts. Keeping
that conservation momentum going, both at home and across the U.S., is the goal of a
newly launched Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation chapter in Bloomsburg/Danville, Pa.
“Elk have roamed the Keystone State since 1913 after a successful restoration effort led
by a young Pennsylvania Game Commission, but this is Pennsylvania’s first-ever Top 10
appearance in Boone and Crockett Club records, and that’s a big deal,” said David Allen,
RMEF president and CEO.
The Boone and Crockett Club has kept trophy records of North American game since
1830. In the 169 years preceding 2000, Pennsylvania produced zero record-class elk.
In 2001, Pennsylvania held its first elk hunt in over seven decades. Between then and
now, the club’s prestigious records book has gained four bulls from the commonwealth,
which ties it with California as America’s 10th most productive trophy elk state in the
new millennium. See full lists of Top 10 Boone and Crockett elk states below.
RMEF has played a key role in the growing success of Pennsylvania’s elk herd, says Carl
Roe, executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
“The Game Commission’s efforts to improve habitat within the elk range in Pennsylvania
has been greatly supported by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its numerous
Commonwealth chapters,” Roe said. “We welcome the newest RMEF chapter and look
forward to working with them as partners for elk habitat.”
Additionally, Roe recently announced that Pennsylvania’s special elk tag will be
auctioned at the RMEF Elk Camp & Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Expo in Reno, Nev.,
March 4-7, 2010. Funds raised will support the agency’s conservation programs.
Since 1991, RMEF has partnered with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to complete
more than 175 different projects to enhance and protect over 14,800 acres, open 8,088
acres for public access, fund research and management initiatives, educate some 33,000
students and promote Pennsylvania’s strong hunting and conservation heritage.
Sample highlights:
Land Acquisitions—RMEF funding helped purchase 1,533 acres now included in State
Game Lands #311 in the heart of Pennsylvania’s elk country. Another acquisition added
217 acres at the confluence of Hicks Run and the Bennett Branch to lands managed by
the Bureau of Forestry. RMEF helped purchase and reclaim mining sites on the 4,100-
acre New Garden property between the Sproul and Moshannon state forests. A 1,378-acre
property, Kettle Creek, was purchased by RMEF and conveyed to the state for inclusion
in the Sproul State Forest. In two separate acquisitions, RMEF helped secure 536 acres of
key habitat in Cameron County between the Driftwood and Sinnemahoning branches of
Sinnemahoning Creek, now part of the 200,000-acre Elk State Forest.
Elk Herd Expansion and Monitoring—RMEF helped fund a 3-year trap-and-transfer
project to relocate elk, expand elk range and reduce conflicts with other land uses in the
Sproul State Forest. RMEF also helps develop and maintain forage openings for elk.
Economic Impact Study—RMEF funded a 4-year study (1997-2001) in partnership with
Penn State to identify economic impact of elk on tourism in north-central Pennsylvania.
Elk Habitat Research—In 2006, RMEF helped fund research on preferred calving sites,
forage and ranges of elk in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Elk Country Visitor Center—RMEF helped facilitate, launch—and fund
$2.4 million for construction of—the largest elk watching and conservation education
center in the eastern United States, located in north-central Pennsylvania.
Conservation Education—RMEF helped establish wildlife viewing sites, purchase and
equip a mobile exhibit to increase public awareness of elk and elk hunting, award
scholarship funding to the Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education, and fund
more than 100 workshops, clinics and programs for Pennsylvania youths and women.
Statewide, RMEF and its partners have spent over $14.4 million on these and other
conservation and education projects in Pennsylvania.
None of these efforts would be possible without fundraising by local RMEF chapters, and
the newly chartered Bloomsburg/Danville chapter is planning its first annual banquet for
Feb. 20, 2010. For more info, call Allen Wetzel at 570-374-2588, or visit www.rmef.org.
Like more than 550 other volunteer-led fundraisers nationwide, the Bloomsburg/Danville
event will help raise awareness as well as funding for future RMEF efforts.
A portion of local proceeds will fund a state grants program for continuing conservation
and education projects in Pennsylvania.
“Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation banquets are always a good time for a great cause,
which is why the organization has grown to over 150,000 members, impacted over 5.7
million acres of habitat nationwide, and become one of America’s premier forces for
conservation. We’re proud that Columbia and Montour counties are now an official part
of the movement,” said Dan Honaberger, volunteer chairman for the new chapter.
Montana based, RMEF focuses on habitat conservation and was a major partner in
restoring wild elk herds to Kentucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Great Smoky Mountains
National Park.
Pennsylvania is the only eastern state or province on the Boone and Crockett Club’s Top
10 lists.
Here are those lists, along with actual entries into Boone and Crockett records (typical
and non-typical combined):
American Elk, 1830-1999
1. Arizona, 135
2. Montana, 128
3. Wyoming, 90
4. Idaho, 69
5. Colorado, 62
6. New Mexico, 52
7. Alberta, 38
8. Utah, 32
9. Nevada, 27
10. Oregon, 21
American Elk, 2000-2009
1. Utah, 120
2. Arizona, 86
3. Montana, 49
4. Nevada, 47
5. Wyoming, 45
6. New Mexico, 38
7. Alberta, 10
8. Idaho, 8
9. Washington, 7
10. (tie) California, 4; Pennsylvania, 4
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country
initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.7 million acres—a land area
equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide
from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for
hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.
