Pennsylvania s Unassessed Waters Initiative (2010-2013) Robert Weber PA Fish and Boat Commission Division of Fisheries Management Fisheries Biologist Renae Hodorowicz Western PA Conservancy Watershed Conservation Program Fisheries Biologist
Unassessed Waters Initiative Introduce the Issue Share the approach Strategies and implementation Progress so far Processing the results Future initiatives
Pennsylvania s Flowing Water Resource PA contains 86,000 miles of flowing water (61,909 individual streams) Before the unassessed waters project: 21,654 miles had been sampled (3,175 streams) and 12,677 miles were designated as wild trout waters
Defining the Issue To date, approximately 58,000 waters in Pennsylvania have not been surveyed Most are small first and second order streams Proper classification through biological surveys is necessary to adequately protect these streams from accelerations in development Human development, coal extraction and Marcellus Shale drilling activities are primary threats
Primary Impact Erosion & Sedimentation Control
Access Road Construction
Pipeline Construction
Water Withdrawals
Strategic Trout Plan Priority Issue #1 The PFBC has not assessed all of the streams throughout the Commonwealth. As a result, the total number of streams that support wild trout populations in Pennsylvania is unknown, which leads to inadequate protection for these streams. The PFBC does not currently have the ability to assess the most at-risk streams at a rate that would outpace the rate of degradation.
Unassessed Waters Initiative Goal: Proactively identify and properly classify the most at-risk streams which support naturally reproducing trout populations in order to protect, conserve and enhance those waters as wild trout streams.
What are unassessed waters? Streams that have no data or documentation about which fish species live in that stream
Wild Trout List - Benefits Increased knowledge about wild trout distribution Supports a minimum PA-DEP designation of Cold Water Fishes. Many qualify for Special Protection. Wetlands associated with the floodplain are classified as Exceptional Value
Strategies: (since PFBC does not have the manpower to assess streams at a rate that outpaces degradation) Develop a means to involve interested partners in identifying wild trout populations in unassessed waters. Developed and implemented pilot program with two colleges. Expanded to nine partners in 2011, fifteen in 2012.
Unassessed Waters Initiative 2013 Partners
Strategies (con t): Send sampling crews to high priority watersheds and on waters determined to be most at risk Develop a prioritized list of unassessed streams. Use GIS technology to identify potential wild trout streams (watersheds) most 3. Develop Scientific Collectors/Unassessed Waters database and data entry procedures.
Scope of the Issue
Pennsylvania Marcellus Wells as of January 2013 Marcellus Permits (14,683) Marcellus Wells (6,342)
Unassessed Waters Initiative 2013 Priority Watersheds
Number of Streams Sampled 2010 2011 2012 2013* Partners 88 438 626 730 PFBC 217 304 261 334 Total 305 742 (516 mi) (1,762 mi) 887 (2,057 mi) 1,064 (2,350 mi) % Wild Trout 55% 55% 57% 50% 3+ Year Total 2,998 Streams Sampled 6,685 Miles of Streams Since 2010, 310 new streams added to the wild trout list (1,320 miles) * Data still being collected and summarized for 2013.
Pennsylvania s Flowing Water Resources - 2008 Surveyed Sections Unassessed Sections
Pennsylvania s Flowing Water Resources - 2013 Surveyed Sections Unassessed Sections
New York Times Green Blog Fly Fisherman Magazine
Current and Future Initiatives Expand the Program (potential for up to 20 partners) Obtain long-term funding source(s) Work with Sportsmen s groups to develop additional partnerships.
Local knowledge to the Unassessed Waters Initiative Involve the public s feedback into our prioritization process Goal is to increase our efficiency and productivity in finding wild trout in unassessed waters Pilot study involving two PA TU chapters (April Dec 2013) Allegheny Mountain Susquehanna Division of Fisheries Management
On our end Make unassessed waters maps and accompanying lists for the local region Provide a data form for participants that will be submitted to the unassessed waters coordinators Post everything on Coldwater Heritage Partnership website: http://www.coldwaterheritage.org/ Division of Fisheries Management
Division of Fisheries Management
Division of Fisheries Management
Division of Fisheries Management
Maps are clickable and printable Division of Fisheries Management
Data sheet is also clickable and printable Division of Fisheries Management
Division of Fisheries Management
What s involved for participants Fishermen, please go fishing for us! (and take a data sheet along with you ) We ask for one volunteer coordinator (a TU Chapter member) to act as the coordinator for the group, and the point of contact for Renae/Bob. Responsibilities for this individual include: - organizing the effort among the TU Chapter participants - in charge of collecting data forms from participants - type the filled out data sheets into the online survey by the end of the year Division of Fisheries Management
Pilot program results April - Dec 2013 34 surveys completed and turned in from the 2 TU Chapters Clearfield, Jefferson, Lycoming, and Sullivan Counties 76% of surveys were productive in providing a recommendation either for or against a partner survey on an unassessed water 59% of surveys found trout in waters presently not surveyed 17% of surveys found NO trout in waters presently not surveyed Division of Fisheries Management
The Future of the public participation program 14 more TU chapters across PA signed up to participate this year Presentations at local group meetings Other groups that have showed interest in participating in the Public Participation Program: Western PA Conservancy DCNR Bureau of Forestry other local non-profit watershed groups Division of Fisheries Management
The listing process (this is the online survey) Division of Fisheries Management
Division of Fisheries Management
The listing process (Part 2) OR (PFBC crew or contracted partner standardized protocol survey) (60 days) + Division of Fisheries Management
List of PA Stream Sections that Support Natural Reproduction of Trout DEP consideration for Chapter 93 upgrade Division of Fisheries Management
Questions?