WCO Report for Crawford County 7/23/03: , PA,
Fishing Report Posted: July 22, 2003

Fishing has been pretty much non existent in western Crawford County this week do to the extremely violent storms and high waters. All of the streams and rivers and most of the lakes are at flood stage right now, with Pymatuning being over a foot above normal pool. That may not seem like a lot but when you take that one square foot of water and multiply it by the total acreage of the lake (17,000) you have an awful lot of water that we have gotten in a very short time. One area of concern that has been frequently happening is motorist traveling the flooded roadways and not being able to see where they are going. Multiple people have had to be rescued because the force of the water has been so great. Boaters should also be wary of high water and be extra cautious, the following is a press release from Harrisburg.

FLOODED WATERWAYS ARE HAZARDOUS - BOATERS URGED TO USE CAUTION
In the wake of strong storms that swept across the Commonwealth yesterday and forecasts of more rain on the way, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is reminding boaters to avoid flooded areas and exercise extra caution in other locales. Recreational boating on high, storm-swollen waterways, which are often choked debris, can be extremely hazardous

A series of storms July 21 dumped heavy rains across much of the state, swelling streams and causing localized flooding. Heavy winds - reportedly in excess of 80 mph in some areas and possibly tornadic - accompanied the rain, felling trees and scattering debris.Northwestern Pennsylvania was hardest hit with the National Weather Service issuing a flood watch for the region. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency has declared a state of emergency for parts of Crawford, Venango and Mercer counties. In McKean County, the Kinzua Viaduct, a historic railroad bridge over Kinzua Creek near the Allegheny National Forest, toppled in storm.Conneaut Lake in Crawford County is over the banks. The Allegheny River in Warren County, downstream past the Forest County Line and French Creek, in Venango County are among the larger waterways currently experiencing flooding. The PFBC is beginning to receive reports of drifting boats in various waterways, apparently torn loose from their moorings by the force of the storms.All of this can spell trouble for boaters. High, fast moving water is a challenge for even the most experienced operators. Inexperienced boaters or those using small, unstable craft like jon-boats, canoes or kayaks need to be especially mindful of basic boating safety considerations given high-water conditions. Even a moderate current can exert a force of several tons, pinning watercraft it against rocks, downed tree or storm-related debris. Boaters venturing out in strong current must stay within their abilities and skill levels, especially in unpowered boats. Capsizing and falls overboard may seem like relatively simple mishaps, but in fact, they are the most common type of fatal boating accidents on Pennsylvania waters. The risks and dangers of capsizing are further increased in flooding conditions.

The PFBC strongly urges all boaters to wear a properly fitting lifejacket when on board a boat, even in good conditions. The importance of wearing a lifejacket is much greater in high water situations. In Pennsylvania, all children 12 years of age or younger are required to wear a life jacket when underway on a boat that is 20 feet in length or less and all canoes and kayaks.Hopefully by next week the water will have gone down and we can report on fish being caught here but for now you will have to settle for local pictures of the flooding.