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USGS2011

Evaluation of angler effort and harvest of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Lake Scanewa, Washington, 2010

A creel evaluation was conducted in Lake Scanewa, a reservoir on the Cowlitz River, to monitor catch rates of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and determine if the trout fishery was having negative impacts on juvenile anadromous salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) in the system. The trout fishery, which is supported by releases of 20,000 fish (2 fish per pound) per year from June to August, was developed to mitigate for the construction of the Cowlitz Falls Dam in 1994. The trout fishery has a target catch rate of at least 0.50 fish per hour. Interviews with 1,214 anglers during the creel evaluation found that most anglers targeted rainbow trout (52 percent) or Chinook and coho salmon (48 percent). The interviewed anglers caught a total of 1,866 fish, most of which were rainbow trout (1,213 fish; 78 percent) or coho salmon (311 fish; 20 percent). We estimated that anglers spent 17,365 hours fishing in Lake Scanewa from June to November 2010. Catch rates for boat anglers (1.39 fish per hour) exceeded the 0.50 fish per hour target, whereas catch rates for shore anglers (0.35 fish per hour) fell short of the goal. The combined catch rates for all trout anglers in the reservoir were 0.96 fish per hour. We estimated that anglers harvested 7,584 (95 percent confidence interval = 2,795-12,372 fish) rainbow trout during the study period and boat anglers caught more fish than shore anglers (5,975 and 1,609 fish, respectively). This estimate suggests that more than 12,000 of the 20,000 rainbow trout released into Lake Scanewa during 2010 were not harvested, and could negatively impact juvenile salmon in the reservoir through predation or competition. We examined 1,236 stomach samples from rainbow trout and found that 2.1 percent (26 fish) of these samples contained juvenile fish. Large trout (greater than 300 millimeters) had a higher incidence of predation than small trout (less than 300 millimeters; 8.50 and 0.06 percent, respectively). A total of 39 fish were found in rainbow trout stomachs and 13 (33 percent) of these were juvenile salmon. These data and uncertainties associated with movement patterns and survival rates of rainbow trout in Lake Scanewa suggest that future evaluations would be helpful to better understand the potential effects of the mitigation trout fishery on juvenile salmon in the reservoir.

Washington↗

USGS2004

Streamflow and Water-Quality Characteristics for Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, 2002-03

A 2-year study of streamflow and water-quality characteristics in Wind Cave National Park was performed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the National Park Service. During this study, streamflow and water-quality data were collected for three of the park's perennial streams (Cold Spring, Beaver, and Highland Creeks) from January 2002 through November 2003. The potential influence of parking lot runoff on cave drip within Wind Cave also was investigated by collecting and analyzing several time-dependent samples from a drainage culvert downstream from the parking lot and from Upper Minnehaha Falls inside the cave following a series of simulated runoff events. The primary focus of the report is on data collected during the 2-year study from January 2002 to November 2003; however, data collected previously also are summarized. Losing reaches occur on both Beaver and Highland Creeks as these streams flow across outcrops of bedrock aquifers within the park. No streamflow losses occur along Cold Spring Creek because its confluence with Beaver Creek is located upstream from the outcrop of the Madison aquifer, where most streamflow losses occur. Physical properties, major ions, trace elements, nutrients, bacteria, benthic macroinvertebrates, organic (wastewater) compounds, bottom sediment, and suspended sediment are summarized for samples collected from 2 sites on Cold Spring Creek, 2 sites on Beaver Creek, and 1 site on Highland Creek. None of the constituent concentrations for any of the samples collected during 2002-03 exceeded any of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standards, with the exception of the Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level for pH, which was exceeded in numerous samples from Beaver Creek and Highland Creek. Additionally, the pH values in several of these same samples also exceeded beneficial-use criteria for coldwater permanent fisheries and coldwater marginal fisheries. Water temperature exceeded the coldwater permanent fisheries criterion in numerous samples from all three streams. Two samples from Highland Creek also exceeded the coldwater marginal fisheries criterion for water temperature. Mean concentrations of ammonia, orthophosphate, and phosphorous were higher for the upstream site on Beaver Creek than for other water-quality sampling sites. Concentrations of E. coli, fecal coliform, and total coliform bacteria also were higher at the upstream site on Beaver Creek than for any other site. Samples for the analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates were collected from one site on each of the three streams during July 2002 and May 2003. The benthic macroinvertebrate data showed that Beaver Creek had lower species diversity and a higher percentage of tolerant species than the other two streams during 2002, but just the opposite was found during 2003. However, examination of the complete data set indicates that the quality of water at the upstream site was generally poorer than the quality of water at the downstream site. Furthermore, the quality of water at the upstream site on Beaver Creek is somewhat degraded when compared to the quality of water from Highland and Cold Spring Creeks, indicating that anthropogenic activities outside the park probably are affecting the quality of water in Beaver Creek. Samples for the analysis of wastewater compounds were collected at least twice from four of the five water-quality sampling sites. Bromoform, phenol, caffeine, and cholesterol were detected in samples from Cold Spring Creek, but only phenol was detected at concentrations greater than the minimum reporting level. Concentrations of several wastewater compounds were estimated in samples collected from sites on Beaver Creek, including phenol, para-cresol, and para-nonylphenol-total. Phenol was detected at both sites on Beaver Creek at concentrations greater than the minimum reporting level. Bromoform; para-cresol; ethanol,2-butoxy-phosphate; and cholesterol were detected

Scientific Investigations Report↗

USGS2013

Real-time piscicide tracking using Rhodamine WT dye for support of application, transport, and deactivation strategies in riverine environments

Piscicide applications in riverine environments are complicated by the advection and dispersion of the piscicide by the flowing water. Proper deactivation of the fish toxin is required outside of the treatment reach to ensure that there is minimal collateral damage to fisheries downstream or in connecting and adjacent water bodies. In urban settings and highly managed waterways, further complications arise from the influence of industrial intakes and outfalls, stormwater outfalls, lock and dam operations, and general unsteady flow conditions. These complications affect the local hydrodynamics and ultimately the transport and fate of the piscicide. This report presents two techniques using Rhodamine WT dye for real-time tracking of a piscicide plume—or any passive contaminant—in rivers and waterways in natural and urban settings. Passive contaminants are those that are present in such low concentration that there is no effect (such as buoyancy) on the fluid dynamics of the receiving water body. These methods, when combined with data logging and archiving, allow for visualization and documentation of the application and deactivation process. Real-time tracking and documentation of rotenone applications in rivers and urban waterways was accomplished by encasing the rotenone plume in a plume of Rhodamine WT dye and using vessel-mounted submersible fluorometers together with acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) and global positioning system (GPS) receivers to track the dye and map the water currents responsible for advection and dispersion. In this study, two methods were used to track rotenone plumes: (1) simultaneous injection of dye with rotenone and (2) delineation of the upstream and downstream boundaries of the treatment zone with dye. All data were logged and displayed on a shipboard laptop computer, so that survey personnel provided real-time feedback about the extent of the rotenone plume to rotenone application and deactivation personnel. Further, these strategies facilitate adjustment of rotenone application and deactivation strategies in real time if necessary based on the observed advection and dispersion of the rotenone plume. Two large-scale and complex applications of rotenone in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS) in 2009 and 2010 to combat invasive Asian carp are documented in this report. The application in Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) in December 2009 involved more than 1,800 gallons of rotenone injected at multiple stations through a 6.2-mile reach of the canal near Lockport, Illinois. The rotenone plume was encased in Rhodamine WT dye so that two survey boats provided real-time feedback to shore personnel regarding the plume extent as it advected downstream. Real-time tracking of the rotenone was essential in this large-scale application because of the multistage injection strategy and the numerous deactivation points required to minimize collateral damage to fisheries in surrounding and receiving water bodies. All timing of application and deactivation operations relied on dye tracking. A second application of rotenone in May 2010 to the Little Calumet River near O’Brien Lock and Dam (Illinois) provided another opportunity for dye-tracking support operations; however, application and deactivation strategies were designed considering zero-flow conditions within the reach of interest. Therefore, dye was injected at the upstream and downstream boundaries of the rotenone application reach and was used to track movement of water in and out of a treatment reach, allowing proper deactivation to occur and avoiding unnecessary damage to fisheries downstream. The data collected during the real-time tracking operations for both applications allowed full documentation of the rotenone treatment for archival purposes and provided information for future applications. The methods presented in this report for real-time tracking and documentation of piscicide applications in riverine environments worked exceptionally well and allowed the multiagency Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup to carry out large-scale rotenone applications in urban waterways in an environmentally responsible manner with minimal collateral damage to fisheries outside the treatment reach. Traveltime information extracted from the boat-mounted and fixed-position fluorometers agrees well with empirical predictions from a preliminary dye study (mock rotenone injection) on this system completed in November 2009 on the CSSC and with previously published methods for estimating traveltimes of the peak, leading edge, and trailing edge of the plume. Although the rotenone application strategy called for zero-flow conditions on the Little Calumet River in 2010, downstream advection of treated water did occur, and dye tracing combined with velocity mapping allowed this advection to be documented and exposed the unique hydrodynamics and mixing within this reach. The large volumes of data collected during the operations allow documentation and visualization of the rotenone applications, thus providing feedback to planners and archival of the treatments for future reference. The methods developed in this report are directly transferrable to piscicide applications in water bodies in other locations, including rivers, ponds, or lakes, and can be used for real-time tracking of any passive contaminant that may enter a water body.

Illinois↗

USGS2009

Converting nonstandard fish sampling data to standardized data

Fishery biologists spend considerable effort over multiple years collecting data on fish population and community status using a particular sampling method or set of methods. However, new (and often more effective) sampling methods and technologies are continuously being developed. To incorporate these new sampling techniques, fishery biologists need a means for converting sample data collected using old methods so they can be compared with data collected using new methods. Similarly, fishery biologists often need a means to compare fish sample data collected using the same method over time (e.g., from year to year) and space (e.g., between sample sites). If fish abundance, species presence, or richness are estimated using an unbiased statistical estimator, the estimates can be validly compared, even if the fish sample data were collected with different methods. However, if unbiased statistical estimators were not used, biologists need methods for adjusting fish sampling data collected using different methods or using the same method collected under different sampling conditions. In this chapter, we describe and provide examples of statistical techniques for converting nonstandard fish sampling data to standardized data and for making comparisons of fish sampling data collected at different times or at different locations. We define standard fish sampling data as data collected using the standardized fish sampling methods described throughout this book. Any other sampling methods and associated data are thus defined as nonstandard. Before delving into the details of the statistical modeling techniques, we describe the nature of fish sample data, their uses, and their limitations. Catch-effort measures, such as relative abundance and catch per unit effort (CPUE), are more formally described as indices. Here, we define an index as any measure or count of a species or community (e.g., species richness) based on direct observation without an estimate of the ability to count individuals or species. Indices have some very desirable characteristics for use in fisheries research and management. In general (but not always), indices require less effort to collect and are usually more precise than unbiased population estimators (e.g., CPUE versus capture–recapture estimates of abundance). The proper use of indices for assessment of fish populations or communities, however, requires that the relationship between an index and the true value (e.g., fish density, species richness) is relatively constant (1) across the observable range of true values, (2) through time when evaluating trends at a single location, and (3) across space when making comparisons among locations.

Book chapter↗

USGS2024

Converting non-standard data to standardized data

Book chapter↗

USGS1985

Population dynamics and interagency management of the bloater (Coregonus hoyi) in Lake Michigan, 1967-1982

This paper examines the population dynamics of the bloater (Coregonus hoyi) in Lake Michigan during a progressive decline in abundance from about the mid1960s through the mid1970s, and during a subsequent recovery that is still underway. The study focused on developing a data base and methodology for projecting fishable surpluses, in cooperation with a chub technical committee sponsored by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. The Technical Committee was formed in 1974 because of depletion of bloaters and other deepwater ciscoes or 'chubs,' as they are known by Great Lakes fishermen. Subsequently the Technical Committee recommended a lakewide ban on chub fishing that was fully enacted by the states of Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin in 1976. With the Committee's help, commercial fishery statistics and stock assessment data were obtained from state and federal research files and used with various indirect analytical techniques to estimate relevant population parameters. The lakewide fishable stock in fall 1973, before the fishery was affected by several incomplete closures and then by the lakewide ban, was estimated as 48 to 73 million bloaters weighing 20 to 29 million pounds. Exploitation of the estimated stock varied considerably among 11 statistical districts in the several jurisdictions. Yield to the fishery exceeded production by the stock in some districts. Theoretical yields of bloaters totaling 3.59 to 3.72 million pounds were projected from 1979 for all waters combined. These projected yields were intended as guidelines for experimental quotas that the states might establish, because the population had stabilized and the potential for recruitment had improved in most areas.

Technical Report↗

USGS1994

The state of Lake Superior in 1992

The Lake Superior fish community in 1992 is substantially different than it was a half century ago and is far from a state desired by management agencies. Fish-community objectives were established for Lake Superior in response to A Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries (Great Lakes Fishery Commission 1980) and are the template for this report on the state of the lake. Reporting on progress toward meeting stated goals and objectives will focus attention on critical fishery issues and enhance understanding among fishery- and environmental-management agencies, political bodies, and the public.

Special Publication↗

USGS1975

The determination, assessment, and design of "in-stream value" studies for the northern Great Plains region

An extensive literature review was conducted to determine the discharge requirements of various components of a warm water fishery. Where exact hydrologic parameters were not measured directly in individual studies, they were estimated from inferred statements and knowledge of hydrologic variables leading to certain instream conditions. From this information it was possible to determine which components of the stream community would be most seriously affected by reduced discharges. In addition, a number of different methods used in the recommendation of minimum streamflows was reviewed. These methods were evaluated for their reliability and ease of use. It was concluded that a method for recommending minimum discharges should not sacrifice reliability for expediency. A methodology is proposed for the recommendation of minimum discharges for a warm water fishery. This method utilizes field measurements of critical stream areas and biological criteria determined from the used of indicator species. For large rivers, migration and spawning requirements are analyzed using the paddlefish ( Polyodon spathula ) as the indicator species. For smaller rivers, the suggested indicator species is the sauger ( Stizostedion canadense ). Rearing flows are determined on the basis of stream productivity by analyzing macroinvertebrate habits, and on the basis of fish habitat typing. The indicator species for determining adequate fish habitat is the stonecat ( Notorus flavus ). A number of variables were identified which might require a greater amount of in-stream flow than the fishery, per se. These variables included streamflow needs for riparian and other sub-irrigated vegetation, water quality parameters, anchor ice formation, and the relationship between discharge and sediment yield. Information concerning these variables is insufficient at this time to determine whether a variable will "over-ride" the streamflow requirement for the fishery itself. Further research is needed in these areas, and several investigative methods for conducting such research are proposed.

Great Plains↗

USGS1963

The movement, heterogeneity, and rate of exploitation of walleyes in northern Green Bay, Lake Michigan, as determined by tagging

The Michigan waters of northern Green Bay are an important center for commercial and sport fishing. This 400-square-mile area has supported a commercial fishery for many years but the development of the intensive sport fishery is more recent, mostly since World War II. The commercial fishery is based on several species, whereas anglers are particularly interested in the walleye, Stizostedion v. vitreum . Broad objectives of tagging studies initiated in September 1957 were to obtain information on the heterogeneity, movement, and exploitation of the walleye population of northern Green Bay. The statistical data on the commercial fishery are very sound but other information on the Green Bay walleye has been sketchy.

Conference Paper↗

USGS2007

Weirs: Counting and sampling adult salmonids in streams and rivers

Weirs—which function as porous barriers built across stream—have long been used to capture migrating fish in flowing waters. For example, the Netsilik peoples of northern Canada used V-shaped weirs constructed of river rocks gathered onsite to capture migrating Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus (Balikci 1970). Similarly, fences constructed of stakes and a latticework of willow branches or staves were used by Native Americans to capture migrating salmon in streams along the West Coast of North America (Stewart 1994). In modern times, weirs have also been used in terminal fisheries and to capture brood fish for use in fish culture. Weirs have been used to gather data on age structure, condition, sex ratio, spawning escapement, abundance, and migratory patterns of fish in streams. One of the critical elements of fisheries management and stock assessment of salmonids is a count of adult fish returning to spawn. Weirs are frequently used to capture or count fish to determine status and trends of populations or direct inseason management of fisheries; generally, weirs are the standard against which other techniques are measured. To evaluate fishery management actions, the number of fish escaping to spawn is often compared to river-specific target spawning requirements (O’Connell and Dempson 1995). A critical factor in these analyses is the determination of total run size (O’Connell 2003). O’Connell compared methods of run-size estimation against absolute counts from a rigid weir and concluded that, given the uncertainty of estimators, the absolute counts obtained at the weir wer significantly better than modeled estimates, which deviated as much as 50–60% from actual counts. The use of weirs is generally restricted to streams and small rivers because of construction expense, formation of navigation barriers, and the tendency of weirs to clog with debris, which can cause flooding and collapse of the structure (Hubert 1996). When feasible, however, weirs are generally regarded as the most accurate technique available to quantify escapement as the result is supposedly an absolute count (Cousens et al. 1982). Weirs also provide the opportunity to capture fish for observation and sampling of biological characteristics and tissues; they may also serve as recapture sites for basin-wide, mark–recapture population estimates. Temporary weirs are useful in monitoring wild populations of salmonids as well as for capturing broodstock for artificial propagation.

Book chapter↗

USGS2016

The Mississippi River: A place for fish

The Mississippi River flows 3,734 km from its source at Lake Itasca, Minnesota to its outlet at the Gulf of Mexico. Along its course, it collects water from portions of two Canadian provinces and 41 % of the conterminous United States. Although greatly altered for navigation and flood control throughout much of its length, the Mississippi River remains an important fishery resource that provides habitat for 188 species of fishes and recreational and commercial fishing opportunities. The objectives of this chapter are to describe the contemporary fisheries habitat throughout the Mississippi River, identify how management to achieve human benefits influences the fishes and their habitats, and summarize efforts to conserve and enhance fish habitat. The 826-km headwater reach is entirely in Minnesota and remains largely unaltered. The reaches that extend 1,059 km from St. Anthony Falls, Minnesota to above the confluence with the Missouri River near St. Louis, Missouri have been altered by impoundment that has affected floodplain function, increased sedimentation of backwaters, and homogenized the formerly diverse aquatic habitats. After the confluence with the Missouri River, the Mississippi River flows freely for 1,849 km to the Gulf of Mexico. The alterations of the free-flowing reaches of greatest significance to the fisheries resource are reducing the duration and height of the flood pulse as a consequence of shortening the river channel, disconnection of the river from its historic and present floodplain, and loss of secondary channel-island complexes. Engineering features to improve commercial navigation have also added habitat and, when wisely manipulated, can be used to rehabilitate habitat. Some aspects of water quality have improved, but legacy chemicals and nutrient-laden inflows and sediments remain problems. Although true restoration in the sense of restoring all environmental conditions to an unaltered state is unlikely, the future value of the Mississippi River as a fisheries resource will depend on actively maintaining diverse and accessible aquatic habitats to support food webs and water quality suitable for fishes.

Book chapter↗

USGS2019

Restoration of Lake Trout in Lake Superior through Interagency Cooperative Management

The lake trout is a keystone species in the Laurentian Great Lakes that supported valuable fisheries throughout the basin. However, lake trout populations declined to near extirpation in nearly all of the lakes because of the combined effects of over-fishing, sea lamprey predation, and habitat degradation. To restore self-sustaining lake trout populations in Lake Superior, state, provincial, federal, and tribal agencies agreed to an interjurisdictional management framework that allowed them to articulate and institute: (1) clear and common goals and actions for recovery; (2) early and intensive lake-wide stocking of hatchery-reared lake trout to enhance failing stocks; (3) early and effective lake-wide controls on mortality caused by sea lampreys and fisheries; and (4) standardized lake-wide evaluations of population trajectories and performance. Stocking was initiated in Lake Superior in 1950 and expanded after 1953, prior to effecting sea lamprey or fishery controls, thereby introducing large numbers of hatchery-origin fish that grew to maturity shortly after mortality was reduced. Abundant suitable nearshore spawning habitat was widely available for naïve lean hatchery-origin lake trout, and native lean lake trout persisted in some areas. The sea-lamprey-selective pesticide TFM (3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol) was applied first in Lake Superior in 1958, because of the presence of remnant native lake trout populations, which set the stage for closure of fisheries and good survival of newly stocked and remnant wild fish. As a consequence of these four factors, stocked fish exceeded historical density of wild fish by the 1980s in many areas, and thereby generated enhanced reproductive potential when combined with remnant wild fish. Lake trout recovery in Lake Superior is an extraordinary example of agency cooperation toward a common goal for managing recovery of an ecologically important shared resource.

Lake Superior↗

USGS2017

Nutrients, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macrobenthos

Lower trophic levels support the prey fish on which most sport fish depend. Therefore, understanding the production potential of lower trophic levels is integral to the management of Lake Ontario’s fishery resources. Lower trophic-level productivity differs among offshore and nearshore waters. In the offshore, there is concern about the ability of the lake to support Alewife (Table 1) production due to a perceived decline in productivity of phytoplankton and zooplankton whereas, in the nearshore, there is a concern about excessive attached algal production (e.g., Cladophora) associated with higher nutrient concentrations—the oligotrophication of the offshore and the eutrophication of the nearshore (Mills et al. 2003; Holeck et al. 2008; Dove 2009; Koops et al. 2015; Stewart et al. 2016). Even though the collapse of the Alewife population in Lake Huron in 2003 (and the associated decline in the Chinook Salmon fishery) may have been precipitated by a cold winter (Dunlop and Riley 2013), Alewife had not returned to high abundances in Lake Huron as of 2014 (Roseman et al. 2015). Failure of the Alewife population to recover from collapse has been attributed to declines in lower trophic-level production (Barbiero et al. 2011; Bunnell et al. 2014; but see He et al. 2015). In Lake Michigan, concerns of a similar Alewife collapse led to a decrease in the number of Chinook Salmon stocked. If lower trophic-level production declines in Lake Ontario, a similar management action could be considered. On the other hand, in Lake Erie, which supplies most of the water in Lake Ontario, eutrophication is increasing and so are harmful algal blooms. Thus, there is also a concern that nutrient levels and algal blooms could increase in Lake Ontario, especially in the nearshore. Solutions to the two processes of concern—eutrophication in the nearshore and oligotrophication in the offshore—may be mutually exclusive. In either circumstance, fisheries management needs information on the productivity of lower trophic levels in Lake Ontario. In this chapter, we review the status of lower trophic levels in Lake Ontario with special attention to the current (2008-2013) and previous (2003-2007) reporting periods. During the two reporting periods, three whole-lake surveys of lower trophic levels were conducted: the Lower Trophic Level Assessment (LOLA) in 2003 and 2008 (Makarewicz and Howell 2012; Munawar et al. 2015b) and the Cooperative Science and Management Initiative (CSMI) in 2013. Analyses of the CSMI data are ongoing. In addition to the three one-year sources of information on lower trophic levels, several multi-year sources of information are available, including data from the surveillance program conducted since 1965 by Environment Canada (EC) (Dove 2009), monitoring conducted since 1980 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) (Barbiero et al. 2014; Reavie et al. 2014), sampling for a Bioindex Program at two stations, one offshore and one in the Eastern Basin, assessments of Mysis diluviana (formerly Mysis relicta) conducted since 1980 by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Johannsson et al. 1998, 2011) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF), and monitoring conducted since 1995 by the Biomonitoring Program (BMP) on the New York side of the lake (Holeck et al. 2015b). The BMP is a collaboration of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and Cornell University.

Special Publication↗

USGS2018

Assessing wild juvenile trout ecology in the lower Mountain Fork

Reservoir tailwaters can be valuable fisheries for Rainbow Trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), which is commonly stocked as mitigation for the altered habitat because it performs well as a put-and-take species in these thermally depressed systems. These fisheries are usually sustained by stocking due to flow fluctuations and lack of suitable spawning habitat that may limit natural reproduction. The Lower Mountain Fork River (LMFR) below Broken Bow Dam in southeastern Oklahoma is one of two year-round trout fisheries in the state and wild, juvenile Rainbow Trout were documented beginning in 2006, prompting speculation about the potential for a self-sustaining population. To determine this potential, we searched several sites over two years throughout the LMFR for wild, juvenile Rainbow Trout to estimate several parameters related to their population status (e.g., age, growth, time of spawning and hatching, and prey use). We also assessed the availability of macroinvertebrate prey to determine how food resources may affect trout sustainability. We found wild, juvenile Rainbow Trout each year, but only at sites within the first 4.5 km of the 19-km tailwater. Juvenile trout were the result of spawning that took place from late January through mid-April. Growth and body condition were variable between years, but similar to other systems. Weekly survival estimates using catch curves were low (<80%), suggesting limited potential for recruitment; however, declining catchability of larger juvenile fish likely biased these estimates. Wild, juvenile Rainbow Trout ate a variety of food items, but selected for Amphipoda and Diplostraca and against Trichoptera. Overlap in diet with adult Rainbow Trout was low (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity = 0.70). Macroinvertebrate prey resources available to trout varied among management zones, being most abundant in Zone 1 and Zone 3. Potential for a wild fishery may exist in the upper portion of the LMFR but additional research on recruitment to adulthood would be required to provide a more definitive answer.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2026

Review of Grasse River Lake Sturgeon habitat use and possible post-Superfund remediation agency actions

The Grass River (hereafter Grasse River) historically served as a major source of fisheries production for the Saint Lawrence River (hereafter St. Lawrence River) basin, providing critical spawning habitat and support for other life history stages of numerous species including the culturally and ecologically significant Lake Sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ). Decades of environmental degradation resulted in designation of the lower Grasse River as the Grasse River Superfund site and part of the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern (AOC) at Massena/Akwesasne. The primary problems were severe contamination of sediments and fish, with numerous environmental beneficial use impairments (BUIs) including losses and degradation of habitat and diminished animal populations that limited fisheries production and reduced ecosystem services provided by the Grasse River. Efforts to restore the lower Grasse River within the AOC were initiated in 2019 to remove or isolate contaminants, repair damaged habitats, and rebuild fish and wildlife populations. The purpose of this report is to 1) summarize the history and contemporary status of environmental conditions and fisheries in the Grasse River, with an emphasis on Lake Sturgeon; 2) summarize remediation and restoration activities and how they may affect fisheries habitat and populations; and 3) discuss potential options for continued habitat remediation in addition to currently proposed restoration actions.

New York↗

USGS2019

Economic activity generated by angling at small South Dakota lakes

Many agencies overlook the values affiliated with relatively small fisheries throughout their jurisdictions. The economic activity associated with angling visits to seven small fisheries in South Dakota was estimated using IMPLAN software. The average economic activity associated with fishing at individual lakes in 2016 was US\$35,369/lake, which was estimated to support an average of 0.48 jobs and create \$5,572 in tax revenues. We observed that lakes with the highest proportions of ice fishing pressure also had the greatest associated economic activity, even though several of these had the lowest overall fishing pressure throughout the year. In addition to economic activity, the zone of influence for each lake was estimated and compared with the proximity to urban centers. The inclusion of economic information from small fisheries may play an important role in influencing key strategic planning efforts by management agencies and in estimating the overall economic importance of angling on broader scales.

South Dakota↗

USGS2022

A review of empirical evidence that examines the effectiveness of harvest regulation evaluations in freshwater systems: A systematic, standardized collaborative approach

Harvest regulations are important tools that fisheries professionals use to impact fish abundance, alter population size structure, and improve fishing opportunities. Fisheries professionals often assume that specialized harvest regulations will have specific effects on target fish populations, but these predictions are not always realized because theory and practice do not always match (literature indicates that predictions are not met in about half of the cases). To identify trends that can improve the future success of harvest regulations, we reviewed a representative sample of harvest regulation evaluations for inland sport fish (i.e., 62 evaluations from 41 studies). Our review revealed gaps related to quantitative predictions, evaluation duration, statistical design, researcher–manager collaboration, and data standardization. Fisheries professionals can benefit from shared and thoughtful data collection designs and protocol standardizations. These designs can transform assessment sampling into empirical regulation evaluations that provide generality across locations and time periods with similar effort and cost.

Fisheries Magazine↗

USGS2023

Predatory impacts of invasive Blue Catfish in an Atlantic coast estuary

Objective Predatory invasive fishes may consume species of management interest and alter food webs. Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus is a large-bodied, salinity-tolerant species that exhibits broad diet breadth and preys on species of both conservation concern and fisheries management interest. To better understand the ecological consequences of the establishment of Blue Catfish fisheries, estimates of predatory impacts are needed. Methods Using a Monte Carlo simulation, we integrated abundance estimates, diet information, and consumption-to-biomass ratios to estimate population-level Blue Catfish predation for a large Chesapeake Bay tributary along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States, the James River. Result Population-level annual predation estimates by Blue Catfish exceeded 100 metric tons for several species or taxa of interest, including an estimated 400.7 metric tons (95% CI = 272.6–613.2) of blue crab Callinectes sapidus . Prey species abundances were unknown and thus limited opportunities to evaluate prey population responses. For instance, effects of Blue Catfish on blue crab populations remain unknown without tributary-specific estimates of blue crab abundance, but comparisons to landings data suggests that Blue Catfish predation on blue crab in the James River may be low compared with harvest. Conclusion Estimation of Blue Catfish predatory effects may inform development of management goals and objectives that balance diverse stakeholder interests. This work provides beneficial information to assess trade-offs of Blue Catfish fisheries and their effects on coastal aquatic resources.

Virginia↗