Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission executive director John Arway is seeking help from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help identify the factors contributing to the poor health of the Susquehanna River and begin taking steps to improve the river's condition "before it becomes too late to repair the damage."

Arway's request came in the form of formal communication to EPA administrator Shawn Garvin and stated the PFBC supports the EPA in its decision to increase oversight of pollutants from the agricultural sector in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay, but said more needs to be done."While large strides have been made in other sectors, the agricultural sector has been more complicated to understand and subsequently account for in regulatory improvements," Arway said. "Further investigation into the agricultural contribution will be challenging but one that is much needed and long overdue."While target parameters such as total nitrogen and total phosphorus are important in estuarine management, I strongly recommend that EPA's upcoming focus include targets specifically for the Susquehanna River, a river environment that's the bay's largest tributary. These would include the dissolved components of phosphorus which are fueling algal blooms and increased productivity in the Susquehanna River and its tributaries creating the primary stressor that cause young bass immune systems to be stressed, the fish to become weakened, then become infected with bacteria and die."*******Sunday's edition of "Experience The Outdoors," winner of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association's best outdoors radio program award hosted by award-winning POWA member Doyle Dietz, at 7 a.m. on 1410-AM WLSH, at 9:30 a.m. on Magic 105.5-FM and on the Web at

www.wmgh.com by clicking the link to the program, features Carlisle Outdoors Show promoter Scott Amig.*******Monday, Sept. 8, is the deadline to register for the Pennsylvania Game Commission approved Basic Trapping Course, Saturday, Sept. 13, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Auburn Game and Fish Association Clubhouse, located on River Road, one-half mile off Route 895, off Fort Lebanon Road, Auburn.Presented by members of Pennsylvania Trappers Association District 11, this free course is open to all ages and includes lunch, but youth must have parental consent and all participants must preregister by calling Brian Mohn at (610) 562-1790 or emailing

papatrees@aol.com.*******A 30-target, 3-D hunting course is open daily from dawn to dusk, except Sundays from 1-4 p.m. for trap, at Bear's Head Archery, located off Exit 134, I-81, Delano. For information call the club at 570-467-0331.*******Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, is the second Mentored Youth Fishing Day of the year by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission on select Panfish Enhancement lakes. To encourage participation on this day, the PFBC has reduced the price of a 1-day adult resident and 1-day adult non-resident license to just $1 to be used only on Labor Day, with issuing agent and transaction fees making the total price for the 1-day adult license $2.70.To participate in the mentored youth program, anglers 16 years of age and older must have a valid fishing license and be accompanied by a youth. Youth anglers must obtain a free PFBC-issued permit or a voluntary youth fishing license, and both are available on the PFBC website and at licensing agents across the state.Anglers may keep 20 fish of each species or a combined creel of 50 at the following regional lakes: Berks: Blue Marsh Reservoir, Montour: Lake Chillisquaque, Monroe: Brady's Lake and Gouldsboro Lake, Pike: Lower and Upper Promised Land Lakes.*******A free Pennsylvania Game Commission trapping course is being presented by members of the Pennsylvania Trappers Association District 11, Saturday, Sept. 13, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Auburn Game and Fish Association Clubhouse, located on River Road, one-half mile off Route 895, off Fort Lebanon Road, Auburn.This free course is open to all ages and includes lunch, but youth must have parental consent and all participants must preregister by Monday, Sept. 8, by calling Brian Mohn at 610-562-1790 or emailing

papatrees@aol.com. This is a hands-on course, so participants are advised to wear old clothing and bring hip or knee boots.*******Schuylkill Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meets Thursday, Sept. 4, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at West Penn Rod and Gun Club, 1047 Clamtown Road, Tamaqua. For information, call Jeff Thomas at 570-622-6179, Jeff Post at 570-366-7783 or Mike Corbin at 570-929-1622.*******A Hunter Education Course will be held at the Palmerton Rod and Gun Club on Sept. 12 and 13. The course will run from 6-9 p.m. both nights.All students should pre-register online at

www.pgc.state.us. Once on the website go to the hunter education link and follow instructions to sign up for the class.For more information contact Mike Loftus at 610-824-2045.