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How
To Help
"The law locks up the man or woman who steals the goose
from off the common; but the greater villain the law lets loose,who steals
the common from the goose."
~ 17th century writer, anonymous
NEWS
ALERT |
ROSE
VALLEY LAKE to everyone who made an effort to help save it. The online petition had 1321 signatures, and there were 1280 on paper for a total of 2601! That is a lot of Friends. However, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission decided in favor of the developer. The developer must now obtain approval for his requests from the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In addition, we have been told that U.S. Department of Interior approval is required due to nearly 73% of the funding for the lake being federal tax dollars through the Land & Water Conservation Fund Act.
We predict this development will be just the beginning of changes
for the lake, and future users will have a different experience
from what the public has known and cherished for the past 40 years.
For All Who Love Pennsylvania's Great Outdoors Project 70 Public Treasures in Peril Save Rose Valley Lake! Fifty years ago, Pennsylvanians agreed it was time to address the Commonwealth’s dwindling outdoor resources and time to enrich the existing fresh air treasures of Penn’s Woods. Due to that foresight, Project 70 was born, where seventy million taxpayer dollars were allocated to purchase lands for recreation, conservation, and historic pursuits, including acquisition by eminent domain. One such reward of Project 70 was land acquired for the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) to create Rose Valley Lake in Lycoming County. The "intent" for Rose Valley Lake, was to "prevent developments . . . and retain the area in generally primitive conditions," according to a 1972 PFBC document. Today our state is graced by a picturesque 626 acres of lake and surrounding public lands hosting an abundant fishery, diversified wildlife habitats, and a great place for everyone who enjoys Pennsylvania. A dark cloud now looms over Rose Valley Lake that could endanger all Project 70 lands. We need your help! THE ISSUE - A developer proposes to trade with the PFBC one acre of land (generally inaccessible to the public) and $15,000 in exchange for an expanded farm lane right-of-way through Rose Valley Lake public lands in order to facilitate private development. This would set damaging local and State-wide precedent which could affect all public parks, lakes, historic sites, and other facilities funded by Project 70. At least 45 State Parks and numerous other conservation, recreation and historic preservation areas were established through Project 70. TAKE ACTION TODAY The petition will be presented to the PFBC at its January 30-31, 2012 meeting.
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