GPS-based snorkel videomapping as an innovative survey technique for monitoring and mapping wild Brook Trout populations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Ayers, Paul; Shpik, Alexandra; Hill, Hunter; Kulp, Matt

Conducting snorkel surveys for wild trout population monitoring can vary with success depending on the stream condition, survey technique and snorkeler. Training, reliability and consistency are critical for accurate wild trout population monitoring. A GPS-based snorkel videomapping system (GSVMS) was developed to provide video documented georeferenced snorkel surveys of wild trout population, size, species, location, and habitat. The GSVMS consists of a dive mask with embedded video camera capturing underwater video and a GPS receiver mounted to the mask back strap creating a concurrent track log. Snorkel videomapping surveys for wild Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were conducted at 3 study sites on Lynn Camp Prong in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Using the GSVMS, Brook Trout numbers, size, and habitat were observed and video recorded. The underwater video attributes and GPS data collected were incorporated into ArcGIS providing a georeferenced video survey. The archived geo-referenced (historical) video database provides a visual confirmation for the sampled river reach, and virtual site revisit opportunities in remote survey locations. Data for the snorkeling effort - time in water, activity, distance covered, and locations snorkeled with ArcGIS reference points were also documented, so population density could be easily and accurately determined. The total population comparison between GSVMS surveys and electrofishing for wild Brook Trout is showed reasonable results.