In 1991, an avid angler named Ted Miller and a handful of his fishing buddies set their sights on a lofty goal - they would stock trout in spots along 28 miles of the Lehigh River, between Glen Onoko State Park and Northampton. They formed the nonprofit Lehigh River Stocking Association (see

www.LRSA.org), and since then have released more than 500,000 trout into the Lehigh.Over the years, they began to include another, even more challenging lofty goal - they would improve the water quality in the Lehigh River and its tributaries."It started as a stocking operation and the scope expanded from there," said Steve Chuckra, LRSA member. "We have about 600 members, but we hope to increase our membership to help support costs.The LRSA has had help from groups like Trout Unlimited, Sierra Club and the Pennsylvania Wildlands Conservancy. With support from those organizations, the LRSA has been able to purchase equipment that enables them to conduct water quality surveys and take on the task of trying to combat abandoned mine drainage (AMD).Matt MacConnell, the LRSA president who's an environmental engineer, has been a huge help with his leadership and knowledge, Chuckra said."He's more into improving water quality than fishing," Chuckra said. "He has the background that helped us build our credibility with other conservation organizations.The success and longevity of the LRSA is due to the dedication of its board of directors and the active involvement of their membership.

L.R.S.A. works untiringly to raise funds so they can clean and stock the Lehigh; one of their biggest efforts is the annual Lunkerfest, held Saturday.Chuckra said that although the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) does not currently stock the same sections of the Lehigh as LRSA, the PFBC is planning a trial fish release on the Lehigh near Jim Thorpe in 2016. They intend to conduct angler utilization studies afterwards to determine if there is sufficient interest to continue stocking this area.LRSA stocks approximately $25,000 worth of rainbow and brown trout annually, using funds they raise through membership dues and fundraising activities. In an effort to increase trout numbers in the Lehigh, the LRSA board of directors is searching for locations to start a cooperative trout nursery."Donate your time or become a member," Chuckra said. "Economically, having a better-quality fishery would do a lot for the local area."Some of the Lehigh River Stocking Association's lesser-known activities include:Collecting environmental metrics such as water temperature and oxygen levelsMeasuring pH, specific conductance, and nitrogen levels in the Lehigh RiverConducting a bi-annual tributary surveySubmitting grant requests for projects such as installing fish ladders on damsAttending the Army Corps of Engineers annual water-planning meeting to advocate for anglers' interests and responsible water release policiesOperating and maintaining a bioremediation site (water aeration system) that improves water quality near the confluence of Nesquehoning Creek and the Lehigh River, to help filter mine drainage that flows through the Lausanne Tunnel.Leasing its water quality measurement equipment to environmental venues, to conduct water quality studies and establish baseline water quality figures.