Big Spring Creek Habitat Enhancement and Fishery Management Plans November 5, 2012 Big Spring Events and Activities Center Newville, PA Charlie McGarrell Regional Habitat Biologist Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Division of Habitat Management
Topics Discussed in this Presentation Overview of 2010 Habitat Enhancement Project Results of Physical Habitat, Fish Cover, and Electrofishing Surveys 2010 Project Model and Treatment Reaches Proposed Phase 2 Project (Willow Tree) Reach Overview of How PFBC Intends to Move Forward with the Phase 2 Project Summary of How PFBC Proposes to Manage the Big Spring Trout Fishery
Overall Goal of Big Spring Creek Habitat Enhancement Efforts and the 2010 Project: Goal and objectives developed jointly by CVTU, BSWA, and PFBC in December 2006 To improve the instream habitat conditions of Big Spring Creek so that the creek supports a thriving, healthy, wild trout fishery throughout its entire length, targeting brook trout if feasible.
2010 Project Objectives To improve instream habitat and riparian vegetative conditions for a variety of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species To remove the remains of the Piper Mill and Thomas Hatchery Dams, and implement habitat enhancement activities that will result in a more natural-looking stream channel with appropriate dimensions (width and depth) To increase habitat diversity and provide adequate habitat for all lifestages of trout, ultimately resulting in a sustainable, wild trout destination fishery To monitor pre- and post-implementation physical habitat and biological conditions, and use this monitoring information to guide additional habitat enhancement activities on Big Spring Creek and other limestone spring creeks
2010 Project Habitat Enhancement Approach Use a productive segment of Big Spring Creek as a model for enhancing unproductive segments Model reach criteria: Un-impounded Relatively high abundance of brook trout Relatively low abundance of rainbow and brown trout Physical habitat conditions similar to those described in the literature as optimal for brook trout Initial project area from the boards at the Ditch to ~150 ft downstream of the remains of the Thomas Hatchery Dam Divided the project area into eight distinct Assessment Reaches
2010 Project Habitat Enhancement Approach Conducted field surveys of physical habitat, fish cover, and trout fishery conditions (Summer 2007) Identified potential model and treatment reaches based on: Existing fishery and habitat conditions, and Published brook trout habitat suitability information
80 Brook and Rainbow Trout CPUE Biomass September 2007 (Kg/Ha) Model Habitat Enhancement Target Areas 70 66.8 65.3 60 50 59.2 Piper Mill Pool Thomas Hatchery Pool 54.0 40 30 24.1 20 10 0 7.1 5.0 3.2 1.9 2.2 0.0 0.0 1.1 1.6 0.0 0.0 UpS Iron Br DnS Iron Br UpS of Riffle Riffle Piper Pool DnS of Barrier TH Pool DnS TH Dam Brook Trout Rainbow Trout
Model Reach
Treatment Reach Piper Mill Dam Thomas Hatchery Dam
Piper Mill Pool Treatment Reach
2010 Project Timeframe Design and permitting work completed by Rivers Unlimited in August 2010 Project was constructed by Gleim Environmental in September 2010
Before and After Monitoring Results of 2010 Project and Existing Conditions in the Proposed Phase 2 (Willow Tree) Reach Before 2010 Project Immediately After 2010 Project Private Bridge Private Bridge
Before and After Monitoring Results of 2010 Project and Existing Conditions in the Proposed Phase 2 (Willow Tree) Reach Before 2010 Project October 31, 2012 Private Bridge Private Bridge
Narrowing and Deepening of the Channel Constructed ~0.7 Acres of Riparian Shelves Planted Over 5,000 Native Wetland Herbaceous Plugs (28 Species) Planted 100 Native Wetland Shrubs (8 Species) Photo: B. Ferris
Narrowing and Deepening of the Channel Constructed six log water staging devices, each consisting of 5 to 8 Logs Work in conjunction with riparian shelves to increase water depth Control water surface elevation & velocity Influence soil moisture conditions of riparian shelves Designed and constructed to allow for passage of fish
Width & Depth Parameter Life Stage (Optimal) Model Before Model After Treatment Before Treatment After Willow Tree 2011 Mean Width (ft) 48.3 48.6 57.1 45.8 77.7 Mean Thalweg Depth (ft) 1.76 1.77 1.22 2.01 1.55 Brook Trout Condition Rainbow Trout Condition Adult (1.38 Min.) Adult (1.48 Min.) Optimal Optimal Sub-Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Sub-Optimal Optimal Optimal Mean Depth (ft) 1.13 1.10 0.74 1.27 0.89 Brook Trout Condition Rainbow Trout Condition Adult (0.89-2.63) Adult (2.20 Min.) Optimal Optimal Sub-Optimal Optimal Optimal Sub- Optimal Sub- Optimal Sub-Optimal Sub-Optimal Sub-Optimal
Velocity & Substrate Parameter Life Stage (Optimal) Model Before Model After Treatment Before Treatment After Willow Tree 2011 Mean Velocity (ft/sec) 0.67 0.82 0.86 0.75 0.46 Brook Trout Condition Rainbow Trout Condition Spawning (0.12 1.11) Spawning (0.60 2.30) Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Sub-Optimal % Fine + Coarse Gravel (2 64 mm) % Coarse Gravel (16 64 mm) Spawning (Brook Trout) Spawning (Rainbow Trout) 47 49 44 41 41 21 22 26 23 10 % Cobble or Larger (>64 mm) Brook Trout Condition Rainbow Trout Condition Juvenile Cover (10% Min.) Juvenile Cover (12% Min.) 14 16 10 16 14 Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Sub-Optimal Optimal Optimal
Increased Fish Cover Constructed Ten 20 -Long Modified Mud Sills Added 19 Habitat Logs Placed 101 Habitat Boulders Constructed 6 Rock Clusters
Fish Cover Parameter % Adult Fish Cover (fish > or = 8 inches in length) Brook and Rainbow Trout Condition % Adult Fish Cover Provided by Aquatic Plants % Adult Fish Cover Other than Aquatic Plants Life Stage (Optimal) Adult (12% Min.) Model Before Model After Treatment Before Treatment After Willow Tree 2011 14 9 3 20 14 Optimal Sub- Optimal Sub-Optimal Optimal Optimal Adult 10 4 2 12 12 Adult 4 5 1 8 2 Mean Distance to Closest Adult Fish Cover (ft) Adult 5 8 18 6 13 % Total Fish Cover 29 32 30 34 53 Brook and Rainbow Trout Condition Juvenile (14% Min.) Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal Optimal
Water Temperature (Summer 2011) 19.0 18.0 17.0 Temperature from Afternoon 6/30/11 to Morning 7/1/11 Rainbow Trout Upper Limit of Optimal 16.9 16.9 16.0 Brook Trout Upper Limit of Optimal 15.6 Temperature (C) 15.0 14.0 13.0 13.3 12.0 11.0 10.0 11.0 10.9 10.8 10.8 11.0 9.0 Control Thomas Hatchery Willow Tree Lot Nealy Road Lot Stone Arch Bridge Lot Afternoon 6/30/11 (Sunny) Morning 7/1/2011 (Clear)
Dissolved Oxygen (Summer 2011) 12 Dissolved Oxygen Concentration from Afternoon 7/28/11 to Morning 7/29/11 11 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) 10 9 8 8.8 8.5 9.6 8.7 10.0 8.1 10.2 10.5 Minimum for Optimal Protection of Salmonids 7.6 7 7.0 6 Control Thomas Hatchery Willow Tree Lot Nealy Road Lot Stone Arch Bridge Lot Afternoon 7/28/11 (Light Rain) Morning 7/29/2011 (Heavy Fog)
Response of Fishery Photo Taken on September 19, 2010 Photo: N. McGarrell
Response of Fishery Trout Fry Photo Taken on January 24, 2011
3000 Control Reach (RM 4.77) Trout Abundance (2008-2012) Before 2010 Project After 2010 Project 2669 2500 2351 2000 Number/Km 1500 1642 1000 769 654 959 500 588 171 0 2008 2009 2011 2012 Brook Trout Rainbow Trout
3000 Piper Mill Pool Reach (RM 4.47) Trout Abundance (2008-2012) Before 2010 Project 2909 After 2010 Project 2500 2000 1963 Number / Km 1500 1287 1000 824 500 0 373 244 231 325 2008 2009 2011 2012 Rainbow Trout Brook Trout
3000 Thomas Hatchery (RM 4.29) Trout Abundance (2008-2010) Before 2010 Project After 2010 Project 2769 2500 2309 2000 Number/Km 1500 1000 702 798 500 0 143 106 10 27 2008 2009 2011 2012 Brook Trout Rainbow Trout
3000 Thomas Hatchery (RM 4.29) and Willow Tree (RM 3.88) Trout Abundance Before 2010 Project After 2010 Project 2769 2500 2309 2000 Number/Km 1500 1000 702 798 1034 500 0 10 27 427 143 106 79 49 2008 2009 2011 2012 Willow Tree TH Brook Trout TH Rainbow Trout WT Brook Trout WT Rainbow Trout
Current Status of Fishery Short-term response of fishery to 2010 Project Long-term response minimum of seven years total (September 2017) Piper Mill Pool (RM 4.47) Trout Abundance (2008-2012) Piper Mill Pool (RM 4.47) Trout Biomass (2008-2012) 3500 3000 Before 2010 Project After 2010 Project 210 180 Before 2010 Project After 2010 Project Number / Km 2500 2000 1500 1000 Biomass (Kg/Ha) 150 120 90 60 500 30 Class A Brook Trout 30 Kg/Ha 0 2008 2009 2011 2012 0 2008 2009 2011 2012 Rainbow Trout Brook Trout Brook Trout Rainbow Trout
Fishery Management Strategy for Big Spring Creek Goal : To optimize brook trout Trout Species Composition Objective for Sections 01 and 02: Minimum of 70% brook trout abundance Maximum of 30% other trout species combined By September 2017 Total Trout Biomass Objective for Sections 01 and 02: 90 Kg/Ha (all trout species combined) By September 2017
Phase 2 Project Approach Water Quality Improve the water temperature and dissolved oxygen conditions Narrow the channel to reduce: Water temperature Aquatic plant photosynthesis levels Variability in D.O. and water temperature Increase air-water interface turbulence Photo: N. McGarrell
Phase 2 Project Approach Spawning Substrate Limit coarse gravel Incorporate fine gravel
Phase 2 Project Approach Depth & Velocity Log water staging devices: optimal spawning habitat for brook, but not rainbow Increase mean depth to conditions of the model reach, but not greater than Reduce thalweg depth conditions to just below the optimal range of rainbow Maintain existing mean velocity conditions
Phase 2 Project Approach Fish Cover Increase adult fish cover other than aquatic plants to model reach conditions Reduce mean distance to closest adult fish cover to the model reach conditions
Fish Migration Barrier Consideration Consideration was given to constructing a fish migration barrier on Big Spring Creek and relocating rainbow and brown trout downstream of barrier Barriers considered: Log barrier Gabion barrier with log spillway Rolling weir barrier Electronic fish screen (Hydrolox) Concrete barrier Log Fish Migration Barrier Gabion barrier with Log Spillway
Fish Migration Barrier Consideration Barrier construction is not practical at this time Permitting issues Cost Maintenance and liability issues Relocating fish to downstream of Laughlin Mill Dam not an acceptable alternative due to inadequate angler access (posted property) Concrete Fish Barrier Rolling Weir Barrier
Fishing Regulation Proposal Fishery management goal and objectives may not be obtained by habitat enhancement alone Competition with other trout species may prevent attainment of the goal and 70% brook trout objective Removal of rainbow and brown trout may be required in order to attain the goal and 70% brook trout objective
Fishing Regulation Proposal Current (2012) Trout Species Composition Section 01 (Boards at the Ditch to the former Piper Mill Dam) Brown Trout 0.1% Section 02 (Former Piper Mill Dam to Nealy Road) Brown Trout 0.7% Brook Trout 4.5% Rainbow Trout 39.2% Brook Trout 60.7% Rainbow Trout 94.8%
Fishery Management Strategy for Big Spring Creek Recommend regulation change for Sections 01 and 02 beginning in 2014: Fly-fishing tackle only Catch-and-release of brook trout Harvest of a total of five rainbow and brown trout per day greater than or equal to seven inches in length If species composition objective is not attained in both Sections 01 and 02 by September 2017, rainbow and brown trout removal by electrofishing will be considered
Fishing Regulation Proposal If rainbow and brown trout are removed they will be stocked in local, limestone spring-influenced, Approved Trout Waters, with no or low densities of wild trout
Questions Photo: N. McGarrell