West Branch Susquehanna River Annual Watershed Summit 2018 Kathleen Lavelle Field Coordinator Pennsylvania Coldwater Habitat Restoration Program www.tu.org
Trout Unlimited Mission: To conserve, protect, and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. Take care of the fish, and the fishing takes care of itself.
West Branch Susquehanna River Recovery Benchmark II Repeat of 2009 TU study - Full Report at: http://www.wbsrc.org/benchmar k-recovery.html Determine the success of AMD remediation efforts Identify subwatersheds and streams that may be a priority for future remediation efforts. Ensure that a trajectory towards restoration success is maintained at the watershed scale www.tu.org 3
West Branch Susquehanna River Recovery Benchmark II Replicate all sites sampled in 2009 (same protocols) Expansion from 83 sample sites to 109 sample sites to include control sites Class A brook trout Exceptional Value Establish a long-term monitoring strategy for the West Branch Susquehanna River watershed Develop citizen science AMD monitoring guide Impaired Site Control Site www.tu.org 4
PFBC Unassessed Waters Initiative Streams that contain a wild trout population qualify for more stringent environmental protection under several chapters of DEP s regulations. All Commonwealth waters have a designated use, which determines the protection standards that DEP uses to permit development activities within watersheds. (FishandBoat.com) TU has assessed 760 streams for this initiative since becoming involved with the program in 2011. 42 streams assessed for initiative in the upper West Branch Susquehanna River Basin in 2017 19 streams were found to hold trout 17 streams contained brook trout Two streams contained brook and brown trout
Assessing and Addressing Barriers to Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) Assessments completed following the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) TU has assessed over 1,100 culverts in Pennsylvania Data used to help groups and managers identify and prioritize culverts for replacement to allow AOP, reconnect habitat, and improve flood resiliency www.tu.org 6
www.tu.org Little Lyman Run, Kettle Creek (2015)
Little Bear Creek, Lycoming County 100% DCNR State Forest land Stocked annually with brook trout and brown trout by PFBC 3 crossings were rated with reduced AOP Movement study to interpret extent of reduced AOP scores Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduate student ~ Karli Rogers PIT tags were used to document movement RFID equipment monitors trout movement 24/7 547 Wild trout predominantly brook trout 414 Stocked trout Mixed brook and brown Annual population estimates Angler surveys Water level logger and flow measurements
TU Habitat Projects TU provides habitat restoration assistance to groups in the form of: Site identification Initial survey Design Permitting Construction oversight Biological monitoring 2017 Instream Projects: Thompson Run, Spring Creek Beaverdam Run, Kettle Creek Ramola Branch, Bald Eagle Creek
Ongoing and Upcoming Projects Free Technical Assistance Program for design, permit, and construction oversight of bank stabilization and other assistance to reduce nonpoint source pollution, as well as AMD impaired streams Conservation Portfolio and Range Wide Analysis (https://www.tu.org/ebt-portfolio-rwa) Installation of wader wash stations and invasive species educational materials in Kettle Creek Potts Run AMD passive treatment system (Clearfield Creek Watershed) 2018 Instream Habitat Projects: Culvert replacement and instream work Gravel Lick, Kettle Creek Bank stabilization and stream restoration work on mainstem Kettle Creek Ramola Branch, Bald Eagle Creek Anderson Creek, West Branch Susquehanna River Little Killbuck, Clearfield Creek Multiple project sites in Rothrock State Forest And more www.tu.org 10
Amy Wolfe, Director Shawn Rummel, Field and Research Manager Jake Tomlinson, Habitat Manager Phil Thomas Habitat Coordinator Shaun McAdams, Habitat Coordinator Rachel Kester, Project Coordinator Kathleen Lavelle, Field Coordinator Thank you