Warmwater Streams Committee

Roundtable Discussion - September 16-17, 2008 Cumberland Falls State Park, Kentucky

Alabama Stream Research and Management Issues
September 12, 2008

1. Research is being conducted on the decline of the shoal bass in Alabama tributaries to the Chattahoochee River.  A project has been in progress for several years documenting population levels with historic data.  The streams being investigated  include Wacoochee, Little Uchee, Uchee, and Halawakee.  Spotted bass have displaced shoal bass in most of these streams, although Little Uchee still has an area of good shoal bass abundance.  Ptt tagging is being conducted to get a better estimate of population abundance and movement.  Shoal bass fingerlings are being stocked in selected areas in an effort to restore the population.  Halawakee Creek is where the state record shoal bass was caught in 1996, 6 lbs 11 0z, but now it is difficult to find a shoal bass because of the spotted bass abundance. Harvest of shoal bass in tributary waters of the Chattahoochee River drainage is prohibited.  Dr. Mike Maceina and some of his grad students have been involved in this research.
   
2. The Alabama spotted bass, previously known as a subspecies of Micropterus punctulatus, has been designated as a new species known as Micropterus  henshalli.  I have included notes from our Aquatic Resources Coordinator, Steve Rider as follows:
    
    “The Alabama Bass (Micropterus henshalli) has been described and just recognized as a separate species.  Take a look at the distribution map for this newly described species as it is found in the Mobile River basin.  The spotted bass (M. punctulatus) is found in the coastal drainages of AL.  In Georgia, M. henshalli has been introduced into Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee drainage.  Talking with Carol and from our shoal bass project, we basically have genetic trash in the Chattahoochee since we have spotted bass and AL bass and they are hybridizing with shoal bass.
    
   So how does this affect your work?  If you are sampling for bass in the Mobile Basin (Coosa River, Tallapoosa River, Alabama River…) you will be collecting AL bass, not spotted bass.  On the Chattahoochee it’s a toss up, so Ken and Mike will need to be aware of this.  In the Tennessee drainage, its spotted bass.  The easiest way to tell the difference between and AL bass and spotted bass is based on the location of the dorsolateral blotches (see the pic in the pub for reference).  For AL bass, the dorsolateral blotches do not extend to the dorsal fin.  On the spotted bass, the dorsolateral blotches do extend (or touch) to the dorsal fin.  Carol said this characteristic is obvious for all the specimens she observed.  
    
   Since this is a new species, our regulations and fishing digest will need to be changed accordingly”.
    
   I will try to attach a copy of the publication by Winston H. Baker and Carol E. Johnston
   
3. Dr. Mike Maceina and crew has a project to develop IBI’s for tailwaters in large rivers.  He has begun work on this, but unfortunately I cannot give you much detail on this.
   
4. Steve Rider and crew have been working to restore the southern strain of the walleye in Hatchett Creek, located in Coosa County.  They have been involved in an intense effort to secure brood fish and produce fingerlings for restocking into Hatchett Creek.  The population of walleye has greatly declined over the last 10 years or so in Hatchett Creek, primarily resulting from siltation and sediment build up due to heavy logging activities in the watershed.
   
5. A catfish regulation was passed which states that it is illegal to posses more than one catfish over 34 inches in tatal length taken from Alabama public waters.  No blue or flathead catfish over 34 inches in total length may be transported live beyond the boundaries of this sate unless permitted in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and  Natural Resources.  This is a result of many large catfish being caught from the Tenn. River and hauled back to fee fishing lakes in Ohio and surrounding states.

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Arkansas Warmwater Streams Committee Roundtable Notes
Kentucky – 2008 summer meeting
 
A major recent environmental threat to warmwater streams in Arkansas has been the drilling of natural gas wells in the Fayetteville shale formation of central Arkansas.  The environmental impacts of this drilling include, use of high volumes of water to fracture the shale, and sedimentation from road and pipeline construction.  The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently leased two wildlife management areas for gas drilling, and they received a $29 million lump sum payment and will receive 20% royalties on any gas drilled.  This has been highly controversial with the Governor’s office and the Arkansas Legislature.  The Gulf Mountain WMA borders the South Fork of the Little Red River, which is habitat for the endangered speckled pocketbook and ESA candidate species the yellowcheek darter. 
 
A lower Mississippi River basin commercial paddlefish plan has been drafted and is awaiting approval by the directors of agencies in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. 
 
A pallid sturgeon telemetry project is underway and is contracted to Mississippi State University, but this project has been going slow due to flooding of the lower Mississippi River. 
 
AGFC is starting a statewide catfish exploitation study that will look at exploitation of stocked catfish in Corps lakes, AGFC lakes > 125 acres, and streams. 
 
The USFWS appears to be on the verge of listing shovelnose sturgeon as an endangered species based on similarity of appearance with the endangered pallid sturgeon. 
 
The Northern Snakehead has been found in the delta of Arkansas in the Piney Creek basin, which drains into Big Creek, and then the White River in the White River National Wildlife Refuge.  AGFC wants to attempt eradication, but Hurricane Gustov will likely delay this effort.  Changing of the rotenone label could impact this effort.  It is unknown if Hurricane Ike will also impact this effort. 
 
The Arkansas Natural Resources Conservation Commission would like to revise the state water plan and will be requesting funds to do so for the next biennium.  Several agencies are advocating revision of the plan, which was originally done ~ 1985.  AGFC would like to see this plan look at environmental flows for fisheries and ecosystems.

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Louisiana
 
I would like to give a brief statement regarding our coastal streams and swamps in south Louisiana following the recent hurricanes Gustav and Ike.  Fish kills resulting from these storms are our major issues at this time:
 
After hurricanes Gustav & Ike, Louisiana is in the fish kill/water quality monitoring phase at this time.  Preliminary reports are another catastrophic kill in the Atchafalaya basin similar to hurricane Andrew in the early 1990’s.  In my district in southwest Louisiana we are currently monitoring the situation in the Calcasieu, Mermentau and Sabine rivers.  Dissolved oxygen values are running from .25 mg/l to about 1.50 mg/l with some minor kills so far.  Lots of piping fish have been noted at the sampling sites, but we may still be early as areas that were inundated have not fully drained, and we know that the last remnants of runoff generally contain the most concentrated amounts of decaying organics.  More detailed reports are expected in the coming weeks.
 
Bobby Reed
 
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Roundtable Discussion Report - Mississippi
By Dennis Riecke, MDWFP Fisheries Coordinator
dennisr@mdwfp.state.ms.us

1. Working with FERC, USFWS, Miss. Dept. of Environmental Quality and  instream flow consultants to design and implement an IFIM for the Leaf River. Proposed surface water intake  for solution mining of a salt dome to bore out caverns for oil storage for expansion of Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
2. Working with FERC, USFWS, Miss. Dept. of Environmental Quality to minimize environmental damage to streams and wetlands associated with 4-5 large natural gas pipeline construction projects.
3. National Sea Grant Law Center at Univ. of Mississippi is authoring an “Opportunities to Protect Instream Flow in Mississippi” document to summarize legal tools, state laws, agency regulations, court cases and Attorney General’s opinion regarding instream flow. Document will also critique the use of 7Q10 as an instream flow methodology.
4. Attended Southeast Instream Flow Network Workshop in Atlanta, GA in June 2008
5. Attended International Instream Flow Project Workshop sponsored by the Instream Flow Council in Denver, CO in October 2008
6. Authored  AFS Parent Society Resolution on Instream Flow Program Development.  Resolution passed by AFS membership at 2008 Annual Meeting in Ottawa. Resolution was similar to the 2007 SDAFS resolution on instream flow.
7. Opening up a paddlefish egg harvest season on the Mississippi River border waters with Arkansas from Dec. 1, 2008  – March 31, 2009.
8. Considering placing a 34 inch maximum length limit (allow 1 fish over to be harvested) on blue catfish and flathead catfish.  People are concerned that big fish are being harvested and shipped out of state to fee fishing lakes.

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Mississippi State University - Recovery of Mississippi’s coastal river fisheries following Hurricane Katrina - J. Brian Alford, Donald C. Jackson, Daniel M. O’Keefe, and Russell M. Barabe
 
Experimental stocking of adult largemouth bass to enhance fisheries recovery in Pascagoula River oxbows impacted by Hurricane Katrina

• Supplemental stocking (stocking density of 37 adult fish/ha) of adult Florida-strain largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) in Pascagoula River oxbows had no effect on CPUE (fish/electrofishing-hour) of stock-size largemouth bass or bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus).  Stock enhancement had no effect on size-structure (length-frequency distributions, proportional stock density [PSD], or mean total length) of largemouth bass or bluegill.  Stock enhancement had no effect on community structure of fish assemblages in the oxbows.
• Regardless of stocking treatment, largemouth bass and bluegill grew rapidly from 2006 to 2007.  Size-structure of both species improved from mostly sub-stock size and young-of-year (YOY) individuals to predominately stock- and quality-size individuals.  Additionally, CPUE of stock-size black bass (M. salmoides and M. punctulatus) increased by 350%.  Stock-size bream (L. macrochirus and L. microlophus) CPUE increased by 64%, and stock-size crappie (Pomoxis spp.) CPUE increased by 667% during 2006-2007.
• Although mean CPUE of the pre-hurricane year-class of largemouth bass (spring 2005) did not change from 2006 to 2007, mean CPUE of the post-hurricane year-class of largemouth bass (spring 2006) declined by 87% from 2006 to 2007, indicating a natural mortality event for largemouth bass hatched the year after Hurricane Katrina.  Mean CPUE of the pre- and post-hurricane bluegill year-classes did not change during 2006-2007.
• Fish assemblages in oxbows during 2006 were comprised mainly of shads (Dorosoma spp.) and minnows (Notropis spp.), whereas the 2007 fish assemblages were structured primarily by largemouth bass and crappie.  This shift in community structure indicates that larger-bodied predators such as largemouth bass and crappie took advantage of abundant soft-finned planktivores that were dominant during the year after Hurricane Katrina.

Stock enhancement of largemouth bass in the Pascagoula River main stem following Hurricane Katrina

• During October-November 2007, 17,760 hatchery-reared Florida-strain largemouth bass were tagged with Floy© t-bar external anchor tags (model FD-94, 25.4 cm long) and stocked into the Pascagoula River main channel.  Of these fish, 8,914 subadult (TL 150-199 mm) and adult bass (TL > 200 mm) were tagged and stocked as well as 8,746 advanced fingerlings (TL 125-149 mm) that were not tagged.
• Five stocked bass were recaptured and reported by anglers during December 2007-January 2008, equating to 0.01% of all tagged bass stocked in the river.
• During December 2007 and May-July 2008, only one tagged fish was recaptured out of 119 largemouth bass sampled by electrofishing in the Pascagoula River main channel.
•  Overall, there is minimal evidence that stocked largemouth bass enhanced the post-hurricane Katrina Pascagoula River population during fall 2007 and spring 2008.  However, two additional years of stocking, using visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags may lead to more encouraging results.

Age and growth characteristics of channel catfish and blue catfish in coastal rivers of Mississippi

• Approximately 80,788 fingerling- to adult-size channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (TL 152-436 mm) were tagged (adipose fin clip) and stocked into coastal rivers during November 2006.  From our electrofishing, trotline and hook-and-line sampling during summer 2007 (N = 417 channel catfish), no stocked channel catfish were recaptured from any of the four stocked rivers.  No stocked channel catfish were recaptured by winter hoop netting in the Pascagoula River.  Although stock enhancement does not appear to be beneficial to wild populations, psychological benefits to anglers appear to be evident in the recreational harvest of some of the stocked fish. 
• Blue catfish I. furcatus in the coastal rivers are growing at rates comparable to those from other river systems in the Southeastern and Mid-western U.S.  Based on back-calculated mean lengths at age and growth rate estimates from von Bertalanffy equations, blue catfish grew fastest in the Pascagoula River compared to other coastal rivers.
• Growth rate estimates of channel catfish from most of the coastal Mississippi rivers indicate that these stocks are growing faster than the average channel catfish from rivers throughout the species’ North American range. Furthermore, our mean back-calculated lengths at age for post-hurricane Katrina channel catfish in the Pascagoula River are nearly two times the estimates reported by Shephard and Jackson (2006) for pre-hurricane Katrina channel catfish sampled in spring-summer 2001 and 2002.  This suggests that the fish kill resulting from Hurricane Katrina may have reduced intraspecific interactions for resources, leading to substantially faster growth of channel catfish after the storm compared to that before the storm.

Monitoring post-hurricane recovery of catfish fisheries in the main channel of the Pascagoula River

• Overall, total catfish weight and relative abundance (CPUE: kg/net-night) increased in hoop net samples from 2007 to 2008 (N = 110 and 120 net-nights, respectively) (Table 4.1).  Total catfish weight increased by 74%, and total catfish CPUE increased 43% during this period.  Almost all of the observed increase in catfish relative abundance was attributed to flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris.  Total weight (kg) of flathead catfish increased by approximately 135%, while flathead catfish CPUE increased by 111%.  Only two channel catfish were caught in hoop nets during 2007 and during 2008.  Therefore, no reasonable assessment of change can be given for channel catfish from these samples.  Likewise, we captured only two blue catfish in the 2007 sample and one in the 2008 sample.

Comparison of angler attitudes and catch characteristics in the Pascagoula River before and after Hurricane Katrina

• During May-October 2007, 149 boats and 387 boaters were encountered on the Pascagoula River. Of the 41 boats engaged in fishing, 39 consented to a creel interview.  Of these boats, 90 people were fishing.  Anglers were predominately caucasian males (82% male, 98% caucasian), and they were mostly local residents from Green, George and Jackson counties (74%).
• 41% of the anglers interviewed said they knew that fish had been stocked into the river. 70% agreed that stocking was an appropriate management action for improving the resource.
• Compared to pre-hurricane creel survey data on Pascagoula River anglers (1998 and 1999; Jackson et al. 2000), mean CPUE (fish/angler-hour) of anglers targeting “catfish”, “bass” and “anything” did not change after Hurricane Katrina.  However, mean CPUE of anglers targeting “bream” during May-October 2007 declined by nearly half compared to that from 1998 and 1999.  We do not yet know if the size of the angler catches changed.  Creels for May-October 2008 are currently ongoing, and size data from angler catches before and after the storm will be evaluated. 

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Oklahoma Roundtable Notes

1. Paddlefish Caviar Program:  ODWC began an initiative in 2008 geared toward improving management of paddlefish in Oklahoma.  The effort involved building and operating a paddlefish Research and Processing Center (RPC) near the Grand, Neosho and Spring rivers.  These systems are used heavily by spawning paddlefish and the anglers that seek them.  Anglers were offered free cleaning and packaging of their legally taken paddlefish in exchange for collected data and the carcass.  It was hoped that the RPC would greatly increase information about this paddlefish population such that future management efforts would be better founded.  Funds from the sale of harvested paddlefish eggs would also be used to support subsequent paddlefish research and management efforts.
   
   The RPC went into full swing on 20 February 2008 in anticipation of the annual spawning run.  A total of 112 ODWC employees put in 500 man-days at the RPC.  The first full season of operations resulted in the processing of 4,221 paddlefish.  Much data, including jaws and gonad fat, were collected from all processed paddlefish.  About 45 tons of paddlefish carcasses were also recycled into heating oil instead of being dumped around the area as historically occurred.  The RPC also processed 8,000 pounds of caviar which were sold on the world market.
   
   The data collected at the RPC is providing information ODWC has never had before.  This will benefit development of a pending paddlefish management plan.  Income from the initiative is already funding two additional research projects including one with a local tribe and one with a graduate student at the University of Kansas.  ODWC also received a much positive publicity through operations at the RPC.  Search “Oklahoma caviar” to see more results.
   
   ODWC will continue the paddlefish caviar program during spring 2009.  After this second pilot year, the program might be expanded to tributaries where paddlefish spawning occurs.
   
2.  The State of Oklahoma is still involved in landmark litigation with the poultry industry.  It has been reported that the amount of untreated waste applied to the upper Illinois River watershed annually is equal to that produced by 10.7-million humans.  Oklahoma contends that the overland application of this poultry waste is degrading stream and reservoir water quality in Oklahoma.  The case is ongoing.
   
   
3. The ODWC is still working with other sister agencies to restore degraded channels in Oklahoma.  Our streams management staff have expertise in restoration while other agencies have funding for these efforts and landowners that need stream enhancement assistance.  The resulting cooperative partnerships are improving stream resources and generating program income.  This income is being used to purchase equipment necessary to perform stream restoration tasks.

Paul Balkenbush
Southeast Region Supervisor - Fisheries Division
 
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I heard an informative and  troubling report by Bob Edwards, formerly of NPR, about the effects of mountain top removal on streams.  Also, I recently was made aware of a letter written to AFS by a citizen from WV about this issue.  I know the WWSC has addressed this issue in the past, but I don’t think it should come off the table until this form of mining is halted forever.  This topic seems particularly relevant because your are meeting in KY, and Bob Edwards, who is from Kentucky, based his report on how mountain top removals have affected not only physical systems but the lives of people living in Kentucky.
 
Have a good meeting.
 
Bill Fisher
 
 
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South Carolina
SDAFS- Warmwater Streams Committee
Roundtable Discussion Report- Sept 2008
Chris Thomason- SCDNR

1. South Carolina Stream Assessment Project conducted by SCDNR is ongoing. Stream Team was formed in 2006 and began the random selected sampling of streams throughout all Ecobasins of state. Goal is to have 450 sampled by 2011. Regional biologists are conducting an annual sampling of 80 selected reference streams to further track temporal changes in streams throughout state.  Masters Thesis  by Cathy Marion (Clemson Univ.) being produced in conjunction with data collected in Coastal Plain to assess Land Use effects on fish assemblages. Additional studies assessing toxicology issues and Genetic  differences in certain species.
   
   Crayfish and mussel species are also being assessed along with fisheries during this project. This has been a gap in survey data in the past.
   
2. State and federal agencies along TNC and other private nongovernmental  entities meeting with USACOE, industry, and municipalities in Middle and Lower Savannah River Basin in determining monitoring needs and ongoing efforts in the basin. Goal is to create an adaptive management strategy for the Savannah River.  Response is to ongoing drought issues which could see USACOE go to Level 4 Drought response. This is basically outflow equals inflow to Corps lakes. Would produce dramatic changes to Savannah River and its constituents and natural biota if implemented.
   
3. New study and strategy for American shad in the Edisto River is to begin this coming year. SCDNR and USFWS are coordinating in attempt to quantify American shad population and implement program of using native stock to reproduce and stock young back into river system. This is in response to long term decline in the population of this historic “shad” river. Has not previously  been attempted in South Carolina.
   
4. Robust Redhorse population establishment is ongoing in the Broad River of SC. This has been attempt to establish populations in areas within historic range to prevent the Federal listing of this recently rediscovered species. This unusual undertaking is within the framework of an MOU between SC, GA, NC the USFWS and Power companies. After several years of stocking the original fish could begin reaching maturity and hopefully establish viable population.
   5.      Native Redeye bass study is reaching phase where hybridization is becoming real issue in maintaining this species in SC. Non-native Spotted bass and smallmouth bass are hybridizing with redeye bass to the point that in some areas no pure redeyes can be found.

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Items of Interest in Tennessee

• TVA started a new discharge schedule for Tims Ford Dam in June, 2008
  In order to try to warm the water temperatures in the Elk River downstream of Fayetteville, TN. This was in an effort to expand suitable habitat for Boulder darter, and several threatened and endangered species of mussels.
  
• In March 2008, TWRA instituted a 13-17 inch PLR for smallmouth bass on 6 rivers last year and look to add this regulation to 4 more streams in March 2009.
  
• Began work on a statewide muskellunge management plan for both reservoirs and streams.
  
• Reopened part of the TVA hatchery at Gallatin Steam plant for mussel propagation and grow out operation for lake sturgeon reintroductions into the Cumberland River. Growth has increased in sturgeon 3-4 inches per month.
  
• Sturgeon reintroductions into the Tennessee River are continuing to be successful. With sturgeon being reported to be caught as far downstream as Nickajack Dam. Approximately 250 miles downstream of their release site. Continue to monitor movement with 7 submersible ultrasonic receivers.
  
• We did not see any major changes in fish populations from the drought last year. A couple streams experienced a shift in size structure, with a reduction of larger fish. However the lower and more stable flows provided good nursery habitat and young of year numbers increased.

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Roundtable items – Texas

• Texas Instream Flow Program
  The overall program objective is to determine instream flows necessary to maintain a sound ecological environment in rivers and streams with initial focus on the middle Brazos, lower Sabine, and lower San Antonio rivers.  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Water Development Board, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Brazos River Authority, Sabine River Authority, and San Antonio River Authority have been collaborating on these assessments.  Baseline fish assemblage data has been collected within the three river basins with the goal of updating biological information and filling in spatial and temporal information gaps with an eye toward scoping instream flow studies in those basins. The data are particularly important for understanding trends in species occurrence within the study areas and allowing preparation of a conceptual model of fish assemblage dynamics.  Workshops are underway to solicit input from stakeholders and aid in identifying issues and developing detailed study plans for the instream flow assessments. In the case of the Sabine, input has also been sought from Louisiana stakeholders.  Texas Instream Flow Studies: Technical Overview, a guide for how instream flow studies will be conducted, was printed in May 2008. See http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/InstreamFlows/index.html for more information and documents.
  
• Two major FERC licenses are on the horizon in Texas, including a new license at an existing reservoir, Lake Livingston, on the Trinity River and relicensing of Toledo Bend Reservoir Hydropower Project on the Sabine River.
  
• Flow 2008
  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is the local host for The Instream Flow Council’s FLOW 2008 October 7-9 in San Antonio, Texas.  The conference includes world-renowned collaborative trainer, Larry Susskind of Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation, who will lead facets of our conference as well as "Achieving Excellence: New Approaches to Collaborative Instream Flow Problem-Solving," a skill-building session on collaborative decision-making; exploration of several instream flow case studies from across the U.S. and Canada; a "state of the art" panel on instream flow science, policy, and public dialogue. Three concurrent pre-conference workshops will be held on October 6:  Environmental flow requirements for high flow functions on streams and rivers; The Nature Conservancy's Tools and Methods for Developing Environmental Flow Recommendations; and Use of the Mesohabitat Simulation Model (mesoHABSIM) for Instream Habitat Assessments. Information is available at http://www.instreamflowcouncil.org/flow2008/index.htm.
  
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are participating collaboratively in the National River and Stream Assessment, which is funded through USEPA.  Data will be included in a national assessment of the status of streams and rivers.  The probability-based sampling design for this survey includes a total of 1,800 sample sites nationwide, 900 in each of the two categories of waters (wadeable and boatable).  Indicators include water chemistry, sediment enzymes, enterococci, fish tissue, physical habitat, periphyton, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish assemblages.
  
• The Texas Paddling Trails develops public inland and coastal paddling trails throughout the state and supports these trails with maps, signage and other information. These trails provide well-mapped accessible day trips in a variety of settings and for all levels of paddling experience. There are currently seven coastal paddling trails and five inland paddling trails, with several communities in the process of applying for participation in this program.

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Roundtable Discussion – Virginia Report

• Continued Fish Kills
  Unexplained spring-time fish kills continued to occur in the Shenandoah and James river basins in Apr-May 2008.  As in previous years (kills have occurred annually in the Shenandoah system since 2004), fish exhibited external lesions and systemic bacterial infections.  Multiple agencies/organizations (incl.: VDGIF, VDEQ, USGS, Virginia Tech, others) are working on determining causal agents for these kills.  As in previous years, kills begin after water temperatures consistently exceed 15 C, and continue into early June.  Preliminary data suggest a possible link to the bacteria Aeromonas salmonicida (the pathogen that causes furunculosis in salmonids), but nothing concrete.  Also, as in the past, fish kills appear to be confined to mainstem rivers and large tributaries, as no evidence of problems has been observed in smaller tributaries.  Work on this issue continues.
  
• PHABSIM Studies
  A PHABSIM study was recently completed on the Staunton (Roanoke) River below Leesville Dam as part of the Smith Mt./Leesville FERC relicensing.  Results suggested a modification of the previous flow regime below the project.  This has sparked an ongoing “water war” between reservoir interests (who want to keep the reservoir as full as possible) and downstream interests (who want more water in the river).  The issue is currently waiting on a decision from VDEQ regarding the 401 certification for the project.  The proposed flow regime should be an improvement for aquatic resources in the river, but will not maintain the reservoir at full pond.
   
  PHABSIM studies are also underway on the New River (Claytor Dam FERC relicensing) and the North Anna River (North Anna Dam FERC relicensing).  Both studies are in the early stages.
  
• Population Estimates
  Fish population estimates (depletion-removal sampling with multiple boats) were collected on the Nottoway River in spring 2008.  This river had a low density smallmouth bass population, but all the longnose gar that anyone could want.  This is the 8th river in Virginia in which we’ve obtained these estimates.  A preliminary summary of smallmouth bass densities (no/ha and no/km) from these 8 rivers is available should anyone need this information (contact: scott.smith@dgif.virginia.gov).  We are currently working on methods to refine these estimates using radiotelemetry data.  Preliminary results from these analyses suggest that strict depletion numbers (Microfish or Leslie) tend to underestimate these populations, while mark/recapture data tend to overestimate these populations.  We hope to be able to find a consistent “correction factor” to use to adjust our population estimates.
  
• Impacts of Flow Alteration
  Comparisons were made between the fish communities of the North Anna (regulated) and South Anna (unregulated) rivers.  Abundance estimates of both smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish were similar between the two rivers.  Biomass estimates were generally higher in the South Anna River.  The North Anna River had fewer year classes present of both smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish, suggesting higher annual recruitment variability in this river.  Species richness was considerably higher in the South Anna River, as was the value for Margalef’s Index of diversity.  The data suggested that regulated flows on the North Anna River had impacted the fish community.  For additional information, contact John Odenkirk (john.odenkirk@dgif.virginia.gov).
   
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  WEST VIRGINIA DNR
  Roundtable Discussion Items for SDAFS-WSC
  Chris O’Bara                                                                                                 September 2008
• Restoration Projects: Several species endemic to West Virginia are currently being restored to the state’s rivers.
  
  • Paddlefish: Efforts to restore paddlefish to many of the large tributaries of the Ohio River as well as the Ohio River proper are ongoing. Tributaries include the Kanawha River, Little Kanawha River, and Middle Island Creek. In 2008, over 8,000 fingerling paddlefish were reared in WVDNR hatchery facilities and released into these systems.
    
  • Shovelnose Sturgeon: Shovelnose sturgeon are being restored in to the Kanawha and Little Kanawha rivers. Broodstock have been collected from the Wabash River (Indiana) and successfully spawned at the Palestine State Fish Hatchery. Rearing of the shovelnose sturgeon has been problematic but since 2005, approximately 20,000 fingerlings (102 inches) have been released.
    
  • Walleye: A native haplotype of walleye are being re-introduced into the Ohio, Kanawha, New, and Cheat Rivers. The project is a cooperative effort by WVDNR, VADGIF, Virginia Tech University, and Ohio University.
    
• Population Survey Projects:  Information on population chacteristics of several riverine species is lacking for several species.  Currently, surveys are being conducted on smallmouth bass, catfish, muskellunge, and walleye.
  
  • Smallmouth Bass: pDC boat-mounted electrofishing based surveys are being conducted on the South Branch of the Potomac River and the New River during the fall.  Information on age and size structure and recruitment is being acquired. In addition, angler exploitation and fish movement has been acquired through a multi-year tagging study on both systems.
    
  • Catfish: Population information are being acquired on the Little Kanawha River and the Ohio River on primarily channel and flathead catfish.   Low frequency electrofishing techniques are being employed on both systems, and baited hoop nets on the Little Kanawha River. In 2009, plans are to use trot lines on the Ohio River.
    
  • Muskellunge: pDC boat-mounted electrofishing based surveys are being conducted on the Elk River.  Information on size structure and movement are being acquired. All encountered are being inserted with PIT Tags.
    
  • Walleye: pDC boat-mounted electrofishing based surveys are being conducted the New River during the late-fall and winter.  Information on age, size, and genetic structure, as well as recruitment are being acquired. In addition, angler exploitation and fish movement has been acquired through a multi-year tagging study. Fish are being inserted with both anchor T-bar and PIT Tags.
    
• Fish Health Issues: Fish health is becoming more of a focused area. Currently, a fish health assessment is ongoing on the South Branch of the Potomac River following several years of chronic fish kills. A survey of VHS is being conducted in several rivers. Currently, VHS has not been diagnosed in West Virginia. WVDNR has become very active other Northeast states in developing fish health guidelines for the transporting of fish between states. It is hoped that this issue be upgraded within the Southeast states.