On July 14 this past summer, Mount Joy borough received more than seven inches of rain in less than five hours. Some homeowners in the west end of the borough reported more than five feet of water in their houses, and emergency responders conducted 16 water rescues while also fielding more than 30 requests for flooded basement assistance.

The storm also impacted the Donegal Fish & Conservation Association (DFCA), which has a trout nursery along Pinkerton Road in East Donegal Township, resulting in a severely eroded entrance to the nursery and leading to a wall collapse. The week of the flood, DFCA was scheduled to receive its allotment of fingerling trout from the PA Fish & Boat Commission, Cooperative Trout Division, but members of the association worried delivery would not be possible under the damaged conditions.

"With the rental of a skid loader with bucket and several ton of stone delivered, members of the DFCA worked feverishly to repair the entrance as well as the concrete block raceway wall that had collapsed during the flood so that fingerling trout could be delivered," shared Dave Eichler, assisting nursery manager, who noted that the cost to rent the skid loader and purchase the stone was $1,000. "Thankfully, fingerling trout were delivered the next week, are currently being fed, are growing in size and will be ready to be stocked this coming spring."

Initially, the DFCA had to use proceeds it acquired from the March 2025 Spring Sports Show to repair the flood damage. Then, the team behind the Taste of Mount Joy Cruisin' Cuisine stepped in to help, donating $1,500 in proceeds from the July community event to the DFCA in late November.

"Funds of the DFCA are reserved initially to assist in paying for trout feed, insurance, electric fees and lease of the property," Eichler said. "So, the $1,500 donation assisted in replenishing these funds."

Ferne Silberman, representing the Taste of Mount Joy committee, noted that a recipient of the car show funds had not been identified before the event.

"When the flooding occurred and we knew Donegal Fish & Conservation would need funds, the decision was made," she said, noting that the other recipients of the funds from the car show were Friends of Donegal, The Mount Joy Rotary Club, The Lions Club and the Kiwanis Club of Norlanco-Rheems.

"I was pleasantly shocked and grateful, grateful in that relief was going to come in and help us recover," Eichler said of learning the group wanted to support DFCA this way. "This is so nice of them to want to do this."

The DFCA was established in 1965 by Ken Depoe, who passed away in May of 2025. He was a 40-year teacher for the Donegal School District.

"Aside from his industrial arts teaching and basketball coaching duties at Donegal High School, he began a fly-tying club in which his students tried their newly created flies in catching trout in nearby Donegal Creek," Eichler remarked. "Today, the DFCA continues the legacy and perpetuity of Ken Depoe in raising and stocking more than 3,500 trout annually in the Donegal Creek and surrounding watersheds."

Along with Eichler, DFCA officers include president Chris Brandt, vice president Charlie Hower, secretary Andy Gladfelter, treasurer Halley (Lexie) Tierney and nursery manager Jeremy Henry.

The DFCA's annual budget includes $4,000 in fish food alone.

"The $1,500 donation from the Taste of Mount Joy car show to the DFCA is definitely appreciated," Eichler said. "As a nonprofit, the DFCA relies on donations, memberships and proceeds from its annual Spring Sports Show to continue its purpose. As a PA Fish & Boat Commission Cooperative Trout Nursery, the mission of the DFCA aids in the preservation and care of the Donegal Creek and raises, rears and stocks trout in the Donegal Creek and other local creeks where the angling public has access."

The Spring Sports Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, at the Maytown Fire Company. It will feature vendors of fishing, hunting, trapping and outdoor equipment, as well as presentations from Critter Connections, helping children and adults understand and appreciate reptiles, amphibians, insects and small mammals. Tickets will also be sold for meals provided by Harvey's BBQ.

For more information on DFCA, visit https://donegalcreek.wordpress.com.