ABOUT US
The Sportsmen Alliance for Marcellus Conservation (Sportsmen Alliance) is a coalition of over 265,000 sportsmen and women working together to identify and propose solutions to mitigate the impacts caused by gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale on hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor sporting activities. The coalition is not opposed to gas drilling and recognizes the potential economic and social benefits. Rather, the Sportsmen Alliance is concerned that the current state and local policies governing gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale do not adequately protect valuable and irreplaceable natural resources, including clean water and critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Together, we can have a strong voice in protecting our valued fish and wildlife habitat as Marcellus Shale gas is developed.
Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF) is a national fly fishing, conservation and education organization with more than 10,000 members. FFF members, clubs and councils across the Marcellus Shale region are actively engaged in protecting the fisheries of this region from harmful gas exploitation. This includes advocating for governmental regulations to prevent drilling operations from putting at risk existing clean drinking water, the health of our aquatic and riparian habitat resources and the strength of our angling traditions. FFF has recently named the Delaware River Basin as an Endangered Fishery due to the risks inherent with hydrofracking Marcellus Shale gas deposits. The North East Council, Twin Tiers Five Rivers Chapter and the Wild Trout Flyrodders Chapter Club of FFF are members of the Sportsmen Alliance.
Friends of the Upper Delaware (FUDR) works with other organizations, area businesses and interested parties to enhance the ecosystem of the Upper Delaware System and its cold water fisheries. In carrying out their mission to protect, preserve and enhance the ecosystem and cold-water fishery of the Upper Delaware River System, FUDR addresses environmental threats to the region—including Marcellus Shale—by educating local communities, residents and visitors to the region.
Izaak
Walton League of America is a national conservation organization
with more than 38,000 members
and 250 community-based chapters. League members and chapters across
the Marcellus region are actively working to protect natural resources.
This includes monitoring water quality in local streams and advocating
for state policies that balance drilling with other important values,
including clean water, healthy habitat, and hunting and angling traditions.
New York State
Trappers Association tracks legislation related to sportmen's interests,
as well as Marcellus Shale and hydraulic fracturing, and provides information
and education to its members regarding the potential impacts of Marcellus
Shale gas development on trapping and other outdoors experiences.
Quality Deer Management Association provides comments on Marcellus Shale regulations and legislation, educates its members on the impacts of drilling and assists landowners and gas companies with reclaiming drilling sites.
Pennsylvania Forest Coalition is a unique alliance of hunters, anglers, hikers, landowners, wildlife-watchers, paddlers, bikers, churches and conservation groups who are united in their concern for the good stewardship of our public lands. The Pennsylvania Forest Coalition provides a link between these groups in all issues, including the Marcellus Shale gas play.
The Wildlife Society (TWS) is a non-profit scientific and educational association representing over 10,000 professional wildlife biologists and managers, dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education. The mission of TWS is to represent and serve the professional community of scientists, managers, educators, technicians, planners and others who work actively to study, manage and conserve wildlife and its habitats worldwide. TWS members, chapters and sections across the Marcellus Shale region are actively working to engage and educate wildlife professionals about the critical need of using strong science and management to conserve critical natural resources in the region.
Theodore Gordon Flyfishers (TGF) has assisted communities throughout the Catskill region for decades handling various issues, including, but not limited to environmental conservation. Regarding the potential proliferation of Marcellus Shale development, TGF’s members have spoken at public hearings held by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as well as before the Delaware River Basin Commission. Further, TGF provides comments on gas development/drilling regulations and legislation to elected representatives and environmental government agencies.
Trout Unlimited (TU) is dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon fisheries. With more than 140,000 members nationwide, TU and its state councils are actively engaged in Marcellus Shale gas development issues, from advocating for state and federal laws to reduce gas drilling impacts on fishing resources to implementing volunteer water quality monitoring that identifies potential gas development impacts to working with companies to implement BMPs. The following TU councils and chapters are members of the Sportsmen Alliance: Mid-Atlantic, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia councils and Forks of the Delaware (PA) chapter.
