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