Stream Habitat Projects Set for July Construction

Things are moving ahead for construction of fish habitat structures at over 20 project sites this summer. Thanks to funding from the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, landowners throughout northcentral Pennsylvania will receive help in getting projects “in the stream.”

These grants are helping to increase the number of projects getting done (and the workload of the specialists at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission) in this region. The project has also provided the opportunity to educate some of the newer watershed specialists about the techniques.

The techniques and structures being used have been used by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) for over 40 years all across Pennsylvania. Using logs, rock, rebar, and some sweat equity, volunteers under the supervision of PFBC staff install the structures over a one to three day time period. Improvements are seen within weeks.

Mark Sausser (PFBC) drills holes in a sill log for rebar, while Lycoming College interns keep another log from moving out of place.

Another component of the project is documenting the pre and post construction condition of the stream’s physical characteristics and biological condition. The Bradford County Conservation District will be assessing the stream reaches’ physical condition before the work is done. They’ll take a variety of measurements along the banks and across the stream. Then, they’ll repeat the process after construction to compare the changes.

Jason Petlock (Bradford County Conservation District) and Tyler Thompson (volunteer) measure the stream’s thalweg at the Wallis Run site. Thalweg is the deepest point in the stream channel in a given cross-section.

Biologists with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will conduct the biological research pre and post construction at the same site. This will help scientists look at the links between physical stream condition and biological stream health.

NPC was asked to manage the project and oversee the grants. It’s been a great opportunity for NPC to work with the watershed specialists and learn more about the various habitat improvement projects undertaken by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Here’s what the Mill Creek project looked like the day construction ended. The Rose Valley-Mill Creek Watershed Association secured funding for the materials, and provided volunteers, while NPC’s grants provided funds for the equipment operators.

For more information on the types of in-stream work being done, you can visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website at, http://www.fish.state.pa.us/
habitat.htm. If you then scroll down to “Flowing Waters” and click on “Habitat Improvement for Trout Streams” you’ll find a great (3.2MB) booklet on the Commission’s program. If you’re looking for a shorter read (and smaller file size), there is also a brief overview on this webpage, under “PA Angler and Boater Magazine Articles” click on “Great Fishing Needs Great Habitat.”

If you are interested in volunteering on a project (swinging a sledgehammer, doing duty as “fetch-and carry”, helping spread grass seed and mulch, etc.) or if you are interested in learning whether or not your property may be suitable for a project, contact your County Conservation District and speak to the watershed specialist.