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%
Dry
Flowing water, no brook trout
64 streams
38%
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%
Dry
Flowing water, no brook trout
39 streams
42%
Flowing water, with brook trout
Results
Lycoming Creek watershed
4 streams
17%
n = 23 streams
6 streams
26%
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
Dry
17 streams
74%
Flowing water, no brook trout
5 streams
22%
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
Average
Widest width with brook trout
Streams with trout – 1.56
4.10m
Streams without trout- 0.75
UN Tributary 20040 to Dry Run
p= 0.0001
Results
Elevation
Lowest elevation
216m
UN Tributary 18983 to Spruce Run
Highest elevation
615m
UN Tributary 20737 to Doe Run
Average
Streams with trout - 392m
Streams without trout- 369m
p= 0.1142
Lowest elevation with brook trout
216m
UN Tributary 18983 to Spruce Run
Highest elevation with brook trout
551m
UN Tributary 20698 to Pleasant Stream
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
Highest pH with brook trout
7.64
UN Tributary 18983 to Spruce Run
Average
Streams with trout – 6.39
Streams without trout- 5.91
p= 0.0008
Results
Lowest alkalinity
0.0 mg/L
8 locations
Alkalinity
Average
Streams with trout – 8.03
Streams without trout- 7.67
p= 0.7756
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
Highest alkalinity with brook trout
36.0 mg/L
UN Tributary 19211 to White Deer Creek
Results
Conductivity
Lowest conductivity
11.2 umhos
UN Tributary 20040 to Dry Run
Average
Streams with trout – 30.0
Streams without trout- 33.3
p= 0.2529
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
Highest conductivity with brook trout
93.4 umhos
UN Tributary 19211 to White Deer Creek
Results
Temperature
Lowest temperature
9.8 oC
UN Tributary 19942.5 to Hessler Branch
Average
July 17
Streams with trout – 14.0
Streams without trout- 14.4
Highest temperature
p= 0.1993
19.2 oC
UN Tributary 19952 to Loyalsock Creek
July 12
Highest temperature with brook trout
18.6 oC
UN Tributary 20138 to Elk Creek
July 10
Brook trout population estimate
All Streams
Temperature
250
200
150
100
R² = 0.002
50
0
8
10
12
14
16
Temperature oC
18
20
All Streams
Temperature
Brook trout density (#/m2)
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
R² = 0.0028
0.4
0.2
0
8
10
12
14
16
Temperature oC
18
20
Brook trout population estimate
Streams with brook trout
Temperature
250
200
150
100
R² = 0.0007
50
0
8
10
12
14
16
Temperature oC
18
20
Streams with brook trout
Temperature
Brook trout density (#/m2)
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
R² = 0.0002
0.4
0.2
0
8
10
12
14
16
Temperature oC
18
20
PA Wild Brook Trout Classifications
Class
Criteria
A
Total wild brook trout biomass of at least 30 kg/ha
B
Total wild brook trout biomass of at least 20 kg/ha and less than 30 kg/ha
C
Total wild trout biomass of at least 10 kg/ha and less than 20 kg/ha
D
Total wild trout biomass greater than 0 kg/ha and less than 10 kg/ha
E
Total wild trout biomass of 0 kg/ha
Un-named tributaries classification
Class
A
Total number of streams
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 oC) and
trout presence, population or
density.
Class A trout streams may exist at
high levels in Un-named
tributaries.
Future Work
Multivariable analysis
Modeling/ Tool for prediction of
brook trout in Un-named
tributaries
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
Funding + support provided by:
PA Fish and Boat Commission
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds
• Andrew Anthony
• Desmond Edwards
• Steve Szoke
Degenstein Foundation
Loyalsock Creek Watershed Association
Dwight Lewis Lumber Company
Landowners
Questions