trout presentation
TRANSCRIPT
RESTORING TROUT HABITAT IN THE PIEDMONT
Nic Wells and Michael Carter
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
▸ Prior study conducted by PEC and Trout Unlimited to collect data on crossings in the three counties
▸ Crossings classified as:▹ No Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP)▹ No Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) except
adult Salmonids▹ Reduced Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP)▹ Full Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP)
PRACTICUM GOALS
▸ Measure rivers and streams that serve as trout habitat in Rappahannock, Madison, and Greene counties
▸ Prioritize which crossings need to be removed from streams to optimize habitat area
WHAT TYPE OF CROSSING IS IT?
WHAT TYPE OF CROSSING IS IT?
WHAT TYPE OF CROSSING IS IT?
WHAT TYPE OF CROSSING IS IT?
BROOK TROUT HISTORY
▸ Virginia’s only native trout species▸ Populations greatly reduced by habitat
destruction and water quality reduction▸ Stream habitats fractured by roads and other
crossings
BROOK TROUT BIOLOGY
▸ Require cold water (Optimal below 20℃/68℉)▸ Indicators of water quality▸ Lay eggs in clean gravel▸ Found often in mountain headwaters
WHAT IS SUITABLE HABITAT?
PRACTICUM STEPS
Use GIS to measure stream length
Analyze surrounding area
Prioritize crossing removals
MEASURING STREAM LENGTH
▸ 19 streamsheds and 133 crossings measured▸ Only suitable trout habitat included in
measurements▸ Recorded locations of all crossings▸ Braids, tributaries made data less precise
PRACTICUM STEPS
Use GIS to measure stream length
Analyze surrounding area
Prioritize crossing removals
ANALYZING SURROUNDING AREA
▸ Data used to determine quality of the stream (present and future)
▸ Data layers used:▹ Forest Cover (Virginia Department of
Forestry)▹ Land Use (Virginia Department of Forestry)▹ Easements/ Public Land (Virginia
Department of Conservation and Recreation)
PRACTICUM STEPS
Use GIS to measure stream length
Analyze surrounding area
Prioritize crossing removals
PRIORITIZING STREAMS
▸ Factors:▹ Stream length (distance reconnected)▹ Presumed stream quality▹ Number of barriers
▸ Prioritize which crossings need to be removed from streams to optimize habitat area
STREAM DATA
Total Length (Trout Habitat)
Number of Inhibited Crossings
Longest Continuous
Stretch*
Conway 13.979 miles 3 4.015 miles
Piney 6.363 miles 1 5.195 miles
South 8.874 miles 5 3.602 miles
Rapidan 9.313 miles1 on main stretch 1
on tributary8.224 miles
*This does not include tributaries, which add substantial distance for these rivers, especially Conway
1.Conway River
2.Piney River
3.South River
4.Rapidan River
9%of Virginia’s historic brook trout habitat still intact
75,000$USDA average cost of crossing replacement
65 crossingsinhibiting aquatic organism passage in Greene, Madison, and Rappahannock
ANY QUESTIONS?
WORKS CITED
▸ “Brook Trout.” National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/nature/brook-trout.htm
▸ “Eastern Brook Trout: Status and Threats.” Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture
▸ Hendrickson, Shane, Kate Walker, Shelia Jacobson, and Fred Bower. “Assessment of Aquatic Organism Passage at Road/Stream Crossings for the Northern Region of the USDA Forest Service.” (2008): 9. Print