YELLOW BREECHES WATERSHED ASSOCIATION
TROUT RUN INITIATIVE

ASSOCIATION MISSION
 The Yellow Breeches Watershed Association (YBWA) is committed to cooperatively foster public understanding and sound management of environmental resources in the Yellow Breeches Watershed. The YBWA advances environmental stewardship through partnership with individuals and organizations involved with the management of watershed resources for the protection and enhancement of environmental quality.

THE TROUT RUN INITIATIVE 
 One of the Association’s most important endeavors is referred to at the Trout Run Initiative. The intent of this initiative is to promote planning and education efforts on a smaller scale in order to develop public interest in watershed management issues. Key stakeholders and partners include:

  • Yellow Breeches Watershed Association

  • Upper Allen Township

  • Messiah College

  • Mechanicsburg Area School District

  • The Appalachian Audubon Society

  • Trout Unlimited Cumberland Valley Chapter

  • Monroe Township

  • Local residents and landowners

Our goal is to provide a forum for interested stakeholders to identify resource use opportunities and assist in managing important natural and cultural resources within the watershed. 

Trout Run is a small spring fed tributary of the Yellow Breeches Creek. It averages between five and twenty feet in width. Located in Upper Allen and Monroe Townships, the Trout Run Watershed is estimated to be an area between four and five square miles. The main stream extends approximately 1.6 miles beginning at a relatively large historic spring on Lisburn Road and extending south under U.S. Route 15 and then east to its confluence with the Yellow Breeches at Messiah College in the historic village of Grantham. An intermittent portion of the stream begins near the border with Monroe Township and extends south approximately 2,000 feet through the Appalachian Audubon Society’s Trout Run Preserve adjacent to Stumpstown Road, and then proceeds to several springs located adjacent to Lisburn Road. Another intermittent tributary extends some 4,000 feet on the east side of the watershed through lands primarily owned by Messiah College.

Historically the watershed was dominated by agriculture and included several large dairy farms such as the Ashcombe Farms / Dairy located in Monroe Township. In the late sixties, typical suburban-type residential development began to appear in the watershed. Today, a number of large-scale residential developments lay within the watershed, with several directly adjacent to the stream. 

Recently, Upper Allen Township completed a new Comprehensive Plan and a new Open Space and Recreation Plan. During the process the public expressed concern for the preservation of open space as well as other environmental and quality of life issues. The Trout Run Watershed provides a unique opportunity for the township to achieve tangible results in terms of environmentally sensitive watershed management on a small scale in a relatively short period of time. Important watershed issues include:

  • Residential growth impacts related to stormwater and riparian encroachment

  • Agricultural practices

  • Recreational uses

  • Educational values (environmental, cultural)

  • Wild trout fishery

  • History and heritage of water use in this limestone spring area

  • Aesthetic values and open space

  • Greenway potentials

  • Pedestrian needs including biking, hiking, and walking

  • Wildlife habitat

  • Wetlands

  • Community quality of life, public safety and security

This initiative offers an opportunity to highlight successes related to the Pennsylvania’s “Growing Greener” Program because of some unique circumstances:

  • Upper Allen Township just completed a comprehensive plan process in which the public supported environmental concerns including support for open space.

  • Upper Allen Township has completed a Comprehensive Recreation and Open Space Plan that establishes the importance of greenways and trails along stream corridors including Trout Run.

  • Upper Allen Township currently owns approximately 2,500 linear feet of riparian lands adjacent to Trout Run.

  • Messiah College, an institution of higher education recognized for is programs in biology and ecology, is located at the mouth of Trout Run on the Yellow Breeches. The college owns approximately 800 linear feet of the riparian lands adjacent to the perennial portion of Trout Run and additional riparian lands adjacent to an intermittent tributary of Trout Run.

  • The Appalachian Audubon Society owns acreage of upland and wetlands within the Trout Run Preserve. This amounts to approximately 2,000 linear feet of riparian habitat along the intermittent portion of Trout Run above Lisburn Road.

  • Upper Allen Township owns two parks/playgrounds directly adjacent to Trout Run. One is located in Grantham and one is located in the Center Square Development.

  • There are numerous historic structures located along the creek, many with limestone springs emanating from springhouses near the main structure. One of the most notable is the Ashcombe Mansion, which is a locally recognized landmark and is now a bed and breakfast.

  • Mechanicsburg High School and Middle School is located less than 3 miles from Trout Run, thus, providing a convenient opportunity for secondary environmental education within the watershed.

  • Shepardstown Elementary School is located in the historic village of Shepardstown within the Trout Run Watershed and 1.5 miles from Trout Run, thus providing opportunities for environmental education at the primary level.

  • The Cumberland Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited is a very active chapter and is recognized for energetic work to improve the habitat of important Heritage Trout Streams including the Letort Spring Run and Big Spring. 

  • The watershed is relatively small and compact allowing for very manageable projects that clearly demonstrate the interrelationship of land uses including residential, agriculture, wetlands, habitat preserves, institutional etc.

  • The Trout Run Initiative provides the opportunity for many partners to get involved in ensuring future benefits to the community.

Yellow Breeches Watershed Association
PO Box 5
Grantham, PA 17027
www.ybwa.org