Department of the Interior

Office of the Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 21, 2006
Contact: Ken Burton, FWS
202-208-5657
Kathi Bangert, FWS
413-253-8325

Acting Secretary Scarlett To Announce 2006 Fish Passage Projects For 26 States On April 22

(MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA) -- Acting Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett will celebrate Earth Day - Saturday, April 22 -- at Pennypack Creek in southeastern Montgomery County, where she will announce the 2006 projects for the National Fish Passage Program. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Fisheries Program, the popular Fish Passage Program enlists municipal, state, tribal and other federal agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations, to reopen historic habitat in the nation's streams and rivers by removing or bypassing abandoned dams or other obstructions as well as improving or replacing culverts under roads or railroad tracks. Partner participation is voluntary. One of the projects is the removal of Huntingdon Pike Dam on the creek, part of a larger on-going restoration effort. When the restoration effort is completed, part or all of four small, long-abandoned dams and a bridge will be removed. Three fishways will be built, reopening 20 miles of habitat.

Who: Acting Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett
What: Announcement of more than $8 million worth of National Fish Passage Program projects in 26 states, including Pennsylvania and Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. There will be a tour of the dam and a media availability following the announcement.
When: Saturday, April 22, at 11 a.m.
Where: Pennypack Creek, Lorimar Park, Montgomery County (Moredon Road, off Huntingdon Pike, Rt.232, Abington Township)

Directions from Rt 1, City Line Ave:

  • take Rt. 1 north (Roosevelt Blvd.)
  • turn left on Grant Ave.
  • follow Grant to Krewstown Rd. (Racquet Club on corner)
  • turn left on Krewstown
  • go past a couple of shopping centers
  • turn right on Bloomfield (Wawa on corner)
  • At the second light cross Pine Rd.
  • Bloomfield ends and becomes Moredun
  • Go down Moredun about ½ mile
  • Park driveway is on right, parking lot on left

  •