 POLLUTION or DISTURBANCE of any waterway or watershed is a serious violation of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Code that must be recognized and reported to a PFBC Regional Law Enforcement Office. The law provides for criminal penalties for pollution or disturbances.
POLLUTION is an introduction into any waterway of anything that “might” harm or kill fish. Examples of “pollutants” are: Electricity, explosives, sediment runoff, sewage, insecticides, poisons, high volumes of extremely hot water, liquid concrete or cement, paint, chemicals, petroleum products like gasoline or oil, brine runoff from gas or water well drilling and manufacturing waste.
Common pollution indicators are:
- Dead fish including crayfish, frogs and any other types of aquatic life;
- strange odors like manure, sewage or chemicals;
- muddy, cloudy or discolored water;
- shiny, oily sheen on water’s surface;
- foamy material floating on the surface; and
- extremely muddy water.
DISTURBANCE of waterways or watersheds includes any alteration of a waterway, its banks, bed or fish habitat that “might” cause damage to or kill fish. Common disturbance indicators are: Removal of gravel from stream beds; earth-moving in or along a waterway; dragging logs across stream banks and through stream beds; installing pipes or culverts; building or installing bridges; making roadways through or along a stream; draining a waterway, wetland or watershed; or changing the channel flow of a waterway. Various types of permits are required for any such work. |
