Little Juniata River Association -a 501 c3 non-profit organization
Our mission is to: “Monitor, Preserve and Improve the Little Juniata River and its tributaries as cold water resources”.
2022 River Bank Clean-up will be held Saturday April 9th. Meet at the Spruce Creek Methodist Church by 8:45AM. All bags, gloves, vests and bottled water furnished. Dress for the weather. We need a few people with waders to clean a few areas, conditions permitting. The event is on rain, snow or shine. Refreshments served before and afterwards.
Contact: Bill Anderson 814-569 8843, bjuniata@verizon.net
The next LJRA Meeting will be Thursday, Mar. 24th. 7 pm. at Marzoni’s Restaurant, Pleasant Valley Blvd. Altoona or by Zoom (To be determined). Come early for the excellent Marzoni food and beer! Agenda items include:
Public Fishing Easements status.
Spring Riverbank Clean-up planned for Saturday, April 9th. We need volunteer group leaders.
Update on Rutters development on the upper J
LJRA Directors’ info now on website.
Meet our New WCO
Election of officers for 2022.
A meeting was held Thursday, October 14th, 7 pm at Marzoni’s Restaurant Pleasant Valley Blvd. Altoona.
A summary of the discussion can be found here
All LJRA members are entitled to a personal 1/2 day river tour with LJRA President, Bill Anderson. The tour includes a visit to LJRA project sites, access points (boating and fishing), cold water sources and headwaters. You will also have an opportunity to discuss threats and opportunities regarding the Little j and its watershed. Contact Bill bjuniata@verizon.net to set a date.
The LJRA has always spoken for our river. Most recently the LJRA responded to the potential for a large truck stop/convenience store to be constructed in the Sandy Run watershed. Sandy Run is the largest source of cold water in the upper river. It is listed as a Class A Wild Brown Trout Stream by PFBC. It has a Designated use of High Quality Cold Water by PADEP. Based on a LJRA review and letters of concern from other stakeholder groups, the storm water management plan for this project has been challenged by PADEP. They have now been given until October 12th to resubmit their plans, which must now consider that the drainage will be into the Exceptional Value Wetlands surrounding Sandy Run.
Monthly LJRA meetings will resume in June. The sale of the Edgewater Inn necessitated a change in the day and venue. The meeting will be held Monday June 17th at 7PM at Marzoni’s near Greenwood (1830 E Pleasant Valley Blvd, Altoona, PA 16602). Hope to see you there.
The LJRA will hold its 16th Annual Riverbank clean-up on Saturday April 10th 2021 at 9:00AM-12:00PM. Please meet at the Spruce Creek United Methodist Church parking lot prior to 8:45AM. Groups (church, office, clubs, etc.) are welcome. Bags, gloves, safety vests will be provided. The event will be held rain, snow or shine. A few people with waders are needed. Conditions permitting, wading may be done near the town of Spruce Creek.
Social distancing will be observed. Bring masks.
For more information email: bjuniata@verizon.net
One sweepstake is for a Hardy rod/reel outfit donated by Flyfisher’s Paradise. And the second is for a handmade bamboo rod to raise money for the Sparrow Run Project.
The chapter is also holding an online auction. If you are interested in Guided fishing trips, fishing on Spruce Creek, bird hunting, home energy savings, exercising more, trout flies, spring birds, and much more, we have something for you. Please check it out and try the online bidding platform. It’s easy to use and all proceeds support Chapter activities.
Visit the chapter’s website for more information
The LJRA was prevented from performing our annual 20 mile streambank clean-up in spring of 2020. Instead we have done several mini-clean-ups including a recent event conducted by employees of Veeder Root of Duncansville along River Road near the New Pig Corporation. This stretch is privately owned but is kept open for public fishing by the landowners, Andrew and Jessica Walker. The group picked up more than 600 lbs of trash including a number of tires. 
Photos show the trout habitat structures installed in August 2020. Over 300 tons of stone and 25 hemlock logs were placed strategically to improve this shallow, unproductive stretch upstream from Tyrone. You can see work completed by PFBC workers and LJRA volunteers and partially funded by your donations. The structures handled a couple of high water events and the positioned boulders are starting to carve out good trout holding water.