Importance of Un-named tributaries to Brook Trout populations. Dr. Jonathan M. Niles

Importance of Un-named tributaries to Brook Trout populations. Dr. Jonathan M. Niles

PA Streams All streams of PA have a designated use - huge resource - 7,357 named streams: 33,687 total miles - 54,552 unnamed streams: 45,808 total miles Use determined by DEP -Wild trout waters receive greater protection under PA Code Coldwater Fishes (CWF) 25 Pa. Code Chapter 93. - Wetlands located in or along floodplain of wild trout streams protected as Exceptional Value Wetlands.

PA Streams Lack of assessment of streams Inadequate water quality protection - unassessed waters likely contain trout Potential for expansion of wild trout waters

PFBC Unassessed Waters Initiative

PA Streams Extent of Unassessed Waters beginning of 2013-4,157 Named Streams - 54,205 Unnamed Streams

Un-Named tributaries What is an Un-Named Tributary - Geographic Names Information System - USGS - Related to National Hydrology Data Set - Pennsylvania slightly modifies this - Goal to include geographic features and submit new stream names

Un-Named tributaries Un-named tributaries Named by PA using Geographic Feature

Methodology Standards for Fish and Boat Commission Site selection Physical data Water chemistry data Fisheries data

Methodology Additional Data Trout length (mm) and mass (g) Trout density Elevation Stream order

Goals For 2013 Un-Assessed Waters Initiative Susquehanna University focused on Un-Named tributaries

Goals Determine across a wide geographic area of likely brook trout habitat what percentage of Un-named tributaries would have brook trout (Adult and YOY) What populations might exist in these streams? What factors might influence/predict finding brook trout?

Results - Sampled June 10 to August 1, 2013 - Sampled 168 Un-Named tributaries according to NHD listing - 8 of these 168 tributaries had a geological feature like gap or hollow which PFBC considers a named tributary - Data presented will consider all 168 Un-named tributaries according to USGS guidelines.

Results - Sampled 168 Un-Named tributaries according to NHD listing - 8 of these 168 tributaries had a geological feature like gap or hollow which PFBC considers a named tributary 5 total watersheds Loyalsock Creek Lycoming Creek Muncy Creek White Deer Creek Buffalo Creek

Results 19 streams 11% n = 168 streams sampled 85 streams 51% 64 streams 38% Dry Flowing water, no brook trout Flowing water, with brook trout

Results 3 streams 4% 12 streams 14% n = 85 streams with brook trout 70 streams 82% Only YOY brook trout Only adult brook trout Both adult and YOY brook trout

Results Loyalsock + Muncy Creek watershed 10 streams 11% n = 92 streams 42 streams 47% 39 streams 42% Dry Flowing water, no brook trout Flowing water, with brook trout

Results Lycoming Creek watershed n = 23 streams 6 streams 26% 4 streams 17% 13 streams 57% Dry Flowing water, no brook trout Flowing water, with brook trout

Results White Deer Creek watershed 4 streams 13% n = 30 streams 19 streams 64% 7 streams 23% Dry Flowing water, no brook trout Flowing water, with brook trout

Results Buffalo Creek watershed 1 stream 4% n = 23 streams 17 streams 74% 5 streams 22% Dry Flowing water, no brook trout Flowing water, with brook trout

Results Width Widest width 4.24m UN Tributary to 20047 Loyalsock Creek Smallest width with brook trout 0.26m UN Tributary 20687 to Rock Springs Run Widest width with brook trout 4.10m UN Tributary 20040 to Dry Run Average Streams with trout 1.56 Streams without trout- 0.75 p= 0.0001

Highest elevation with brook trout 551m UN Tributary 20698 to Pleasant Stream Results Elevation Lowest elevation 216m UN Tributary 18983 to Spruce Run Highest elevation 615m UN Tributary 20737 to Doe Run Lowest elevation with brook trout 216m UN Tributary 18983 to Spruce Run Average Streams with trout - 392m Streams without trout- 369m p= 0.1142

Highest ph with brook trout 7.64 UN Tributary 18983 to Spruce Run Results ph Lowest ph 3.88 UN Tributary 20338 to Shanerburg Run Highest ph 7.64 UN Tributary 18983 to Spruce Run Highest ph with brook trout 4.84 UN Tributary 19970 to Grandad Run Average Streams with trout 6.39 Streams without trout- 5.91 p= 0.0008

Highest alkalinity with brook trout 36.0 mg/l UN Tributary 19211 to White Deer Creek Lowest alkalinity 0.0 mg/l 8 locations Results Alkalinity Highest alkalinity 40.0 mg/l UN Tributary 20695 to Pleasant Stream Lowest alkalinity with brook trout 0.9 mg/l UN Tributary 20040 to Dry Run Average Streams with trout 8.03 Streams without trout- 7.67 p= 0.7756

Highest conductivity with brook trout 93.4 umhos UN Tributary 19211 to White Deer Creek Results Conductivity Lowest conductivity 11.2 umhos UN Tributary 20040 to Dry Run Highest conductivity 94.1 umhos UN Tributary 20064 to Loyalsock Creek Lowest conductivity with brook trout 11.2 umhos UN Tributary 20040 to Dry Run Average Streams with trout 30.0 Streams without trout- 33.3 p= 0.2529

Results Temperature Lowest temperature 9.8 o C UN Tributary 19942.5 to Hessler Branch July 17 Highest temperature 19.2 o C UN Tributary 19952 to Loyalsock Creek July 12 Highest temperature with brook trout 18.6 o C UN Tributary 20138 to Elk Creek July 10 Average Streams with trout 14.0 Streams without trout- 14.4 p= 0.1993

Brook trout population estimate All Streams 250 Temperature 200 150 100 50 R² = 0.002 0 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Temperature o C

Brook trout density (#/m2) All Streams 1.4 Temperature 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 R² = 0.0028 0.2 0 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Temperature o C

Brook trout population estimate Streams with brook trout 250 Temperature 200 150 100 50 R² = 0.0007 0 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Temperature o C

Brook trout density (#/m2) Streams with brook trout 1.4 Temperature 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 R² = 0.0002 0.2 0 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Temperature o C

PA Wild Brook Trout Classifications Class A B C D E Criteria Total wild brook trout biomass of at least 30 kg/ha Total wild brook trout biomass of at least 20 kg/ha and less than 30 kg/ha Total wild trout biomass of at least 10 kg/ha and less than 20 kg/ha Total wild trout biomass greater than 0 kg/ha and less than 10 kg/ha Total wild trout biomass of 0 kg/ha

Un-named tributaries classification Class Total number of streams A 23 streams to be considered for listing (13.6%) B 15 streams to be considered for listing (8.9%) C 13 streams to be considered for listing (7.0%) D 34 streams to be considered for listing (20.2%) E 83 streams do not meet criteria for listing (49.4%)

Conclusions Un-named tributaries are important habitat for brook trout. Significant differences for ph and width between streams with and without trout No relationship between observed temperatures (below 20 o C) and trout presence, population or density. Class A trout streams may exist at high levels in Un-named tributaries.

Multivariable analysis Modeling/ Tool for prediction of brook trout in Un-named tributaries Future Work Include other aspects using GIS - Geology - Forest Cover - Slope - Aspect - Watershed Size - Length of Un-named tributaries

Acknowledgments Field Help: John Panas Sam Silknetter Dan Isenberg Andrew Anthony Desmond Edwards Steve Szoke Funding + support provided by: PA Fish and Boat Commission National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds Degenstein Foundation Loyalsock Creek Watershed Association Dwight Lewis Lumber Company Landowners

Questions