Response to Technical Assistance Request #2473: Collect Baseline Information to Document Current Condition of Fish Populations within ALPO in September 2016 (FY17).
Medley CN. 2016. Response to Technical Assistance Request #2473: Collect Baseline Information to Document Current Condition of Fish Populations within ALPO in September 2016 (FY17).. Water Resources Division, Fish Program. Water Resources Division, Fort Collins, Colorado
Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (ALPO) has initiated a project to monitor the fish community within ALPO in Blair Gap Run (BGR) and Millstone Run. Three-pass, removal methods using backpack electrofishers were used to obtain fish population estimates at four sites within ALPO, on September 27 and 28, 2016. The surveys indicated that all sites contained healthy fish communities typical of western Pennsylvania streams of their respective elevations, stream order, and size. The highest elevation, first order stream contained only native brook trout. Native fish abundance and diversity increased downstream. The downstream sites also contained reproducing populations of non-native brown trout. Species-specific population estimates derived from data collected in this study may be used as the pre-impact baseline data in a spatially and temporally replicated Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) analysis. Continued sampling (all sites annually for two years prior to potential impacts) will provide information that can better demonstrate cause and effect relationships. Additionally, at least one other control site should be chosen for sampling, e.g. outside the BGR catchment area and unassociated with any known potential impacts.
- Type
- Technical Assistance Report
- Authors
- Medley, Carl
- Date of Issue
- 2016-12-20
- Publisher
- Water Resources Division, Fish Program
- Units
- ALPO
- Keywords
- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, BACI, Cresson AMD Abatement Project, Fish, Survey
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Fishes