February 2000 State Projects Summary

 

  • Duke Power Company
    Contact: Dave Coughlan (704) 875-5236
     
    • Hydroacoustics - Hydroacoustic surveys of five reservoir forage fish populations were conducted during Fall 1999 for the generation of fish densities and population estimates. This data will be processed and summarized. Purse seine hauls were made concurrent with the hydroacoustic surveys to determine species composition and verify the target strength information.
       
    • Woody Debris Study - We are in the second year of a two-year woody debris study that is being conducted in cooperation with NCWRC and SCDNR. We are evaluating fish populations along shoreline with woody debris, development, and no development. Eight 100-m segments of each shoreline type are being electrofished in each of three reservoirs during the spring, summer, and fall.
       
    • Fish Friendly Piers - Piers represent sources of structure and cover for reservoir fish populations. The importance of these structures appears to be increasing as some reservoirs experience rapid development and 'cleansing' of the shoreline. We have formed partnerships with NC BASS and SCDNR (and are working on agreements with SC BASS and NCWRC) to promote the development or retrofitting of fish friendly piers. These are piers with increased structural complexity attached to the submerged parts of the pier or added beneath the pier (e.g., Berkeley Fish Habs or brush) to provide cover.
       
    • Reservoir Fish Assemblage Index - We will finish the second year of a cooperative study to evaluate the Reservoir Fish Assemblage Index. This study will occur on four Catawba River reservoirs in conjunction with our traditional spring electrofishing program on all 11 reservoirs. Some preliminary presentations have been made at EPRI and EEI meetings. Some of the metrics may need tweaking (i.e., how to incorporate productivity, what to do with hybrids, and the use of a predator condition factor).
       
    • Fish Health Assessments - Past fish health assessments on the Catawba River (1993, 1994, 1996, and 1998) have shown relatively poorer health of largemouth bass (high FHAI scores) in areas of poor water quality. We will conduct fish health assessments during Fall 2000 on the entire Catawba River to monitor trends.

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  • North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
    Doug Besler, District 8 Fisheries Biologist
    Phone: 828-659-8684; Fax: 828-652-3279;
    e-mail: beslerda@wnclink.com
     

    • Exotic species introductions are a major concern of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC). Flathead and blue catfish ranges have increased dramatically in the past year and are now found in every major river basin in the state. Impacts on the native fish communities are currently being investigated by the NCWRC and North Carolina State University. In addition, blueback herring and alewife populations continue to expand across the state. The spread of alewife into reservoirs containing walleye populations is of special concern to the NCWRC. A new regulation limiting the sale, possession, and transportation of river herring will go into effect on July 1, 2000.

      Many threadfin shad populations in North Carolina are restocked after winterkills. The source populations, however, now contain blueback herring. Alternative methods such as pond-rearing threadfin shad will be attempted in 2000 by the NCWRC. Reservoirs that experience a winterkill in 2000 will be not be automatically restocked, but will be evaluated through one growing season first to see if the shad repopulate themselves. Alternative methods for determining the extent of winterkills, such as gill nets, trawls, and hydroacoustics will also be attempted in 2000.

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