Fish Inventories of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (Draft)

Horwitz, Richard; Overbeck, Paul; Moser, Shane

In 2004-2008, the Academy of Natural Sciences (ANS) conducted an inventory of fishes in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE) and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA). The inventory used a stratified random design supplemented by targeted and opportunistic sampling to determine distribution and abundance of all fish species, with an emphasis on 21 priority species. A total of 11,573 individual fish was captured or observed and identified to species in UPDE and 17,222 in DEWA by ANS. There are recent records of 52 species in UPDE (48 caught by ANS) and 53 species in DEWA (52 caught by ANS). In total, reports of 59 species were found for UPDE; the source of one of these was not located. Reports of 68 species and one hybrid were found for DEWA. However, documentation for eight of those was not found or was erroneous. Fifteen priority species were documented. Many of these are locally common or widespread in low numbers. A few of the other reported species may occur in the parks as strays. Others records probably refer to misidentifications, data errors, or undocumented, failed introductions. The bridle shiner (Notropis bifrenatus), which is on the Pennsylvania endangered species list, was found at several sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Permanent backwaters and beaver ponds are an important habitat for this and other uncommon species in the park. Presence of small brook trout indicates reproductive populations in three of the sampled streams. Historical changes in the fish fauna of the parks are discussed in the report.

Fish Inventories of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (Draft)

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