U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center Newsletter
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New York Water Science Center Director Ward Freeman Visit the New York Water Science Center Web site at: http://ny.water.usgs.gov Or contact (518) 285-5658 New York Water Science Center News Volume 20, April 2015 [email protected] U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center Newsletter Trends in Fish Status of American Flood Inundation Ice Jam Hydrologic Assemblages Eel Populations Mapping Prattsville Monitoring Conditions Spatiotemporal Trends in Fish A Message From the Director Assemblages of the Mohawk “We are now past the halfway point in Fiscal Year River 2015 and, I know I may be jinxing us but, while The mainstem of the Mohawk River extends funding allocations were slow to arrive this year, it from Lake Delta Dam near Rome, NY has been a fairly quiet year in terms of funding downstream to its confluence with the Hudson challenges. Similarly, it has also been fairly quiet in River near Cohoes, NY. It supports a diverse terms of weather challenges. To make us better fishery that is used extensively by recreational able to face the challenges should our current anglers. Smallmouth bass (Micropterus weather pattern change, we have flood hardened, to dolomieu) and walleye (Sander vitreus) are a much higher level, a number of streamgages among the most popular game species with throughout the State and implemented several anglers but past biological surveys have network operational enhancements. As I mentioned documented at least 56 fish species that inhabit in the last newsletter, in cooperation with New York the river. An extensive fish survey of the Lower State Canals, the USGS has added 18 new Mohawk River was last conducted by the New streamgages and reactivated or enhanced York State Department of Environmental operations at 4 others. These 22 sites are part of Conservation (NYSDEC) from 1979-1983. the Governor’s upstate New York flood warning Some key findings of this research included: system and are all now in and operational. Several (1) The river supported an abundant and fast of these new streamgages are in the Mohawk growing smallmouth bass population, (2) basin. Which is appropriate since the Mohawk Anadromous blueback herring (Alosa basin is the primary focus of this issue of the aestivalis) were a critical forage species for the newsletter. In this issue, you will learn about ecosystem, (3) Fish communities were notably several programs including how fish populations in Photos showing (A) a native Pumpkinseed different in permanent versus seasonally the Mohawk have changed over the last 30 years; (Lepomis gibbosus) and (B) USGS Scientists impounded reaches, and (4) The river received electroshocking fish in the Mohawk River. ice-jam monitoring in the Mohawk near heavy angling pressure. Schenectady; and flood inundation mapping for the assemblages in the mainstem of the The river has apparently undergone many Schoharie Creek at Prattsville NY. I am also happy Mohawk River. changes in the 30 years since this survey. The to announce that new detailed elevation data nonnative and invasive zebra mussel The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) and (LiDAR Quality level 2) will be available for all of (Dreissena polymorpha), which was first the NYSDEC will conduct fish community Schoharie County and part of Montgomery County in observed in 1991, spread throughout the lower surveys at a minimum of 24 locations during May, 2015, providing complete LiDAR coverage for river by 1993. Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus 2014 and 2015. The surveys will be the Schoharie Creek basin. These data will provide grunniens) became established around 1990 completed using boat electrofishing of information needed to develop additional and northern pike (Esox lucius) have increased near-shore habitats. The resulting data will flood-inundation maps for other communities in the in abundance as well. Meanwhile, the runs of be analyzed to a) assess the condition of Schoharie basin. We hope to identify funding anadromous blueback herring are becoming current fish assemblages, b) identify the partners to help make these new flood-inundation weaker and preliminary data suggest relative abundance of common species, c) maps a reality. smallmouth bass are becoming less abundant. identify spatial differences associated with As always, I am interested in hearing from you. Finally, upgrades of the flashboards at several seasonal or permanent impoundments, and Please feel free to contact me about these or any of the seasonal dams may allow for the d) assess temporal changes in the fish other issues or program opportunities you may wish repeated raising and lowering of these devices community over the past 30 years. Field to discuss. I can be reached at (518) 285-5658 or during the warm weather season to mitigate efforts will also focus on collections of [email protected].” flood impacts. The extensive changes that have American eel, blueback herring, and occurred in this ecosystem over the past 30 smallmouth bass where practical in order to years warrant a comprehensive fish-community obtain data and tissues needed to support inventory to assess the current status of fish collaborative research and monitoring efforts. U.S. Department of the Interior AprilA il 2015 U.S. Geological Survey Trends in Fish Status of American loodF Innundation Ice Jam Hydrologic Assemblages Eel Populations Mapping Pratsville Monitoring Conditions PROPOSAL -- Status of juvenile Eel monitoring program on Hudson River tributaries suggests that this program American Eel populations in could be utilized in the Mohawk basin if the Mohawk River Basin tributaries supporting robust Eel populations could be identified. The waters of the Mohawk River basin are inhabited by one of the richest fish communi- The primary objective of this proposal is to ties on the East Coast. The American Eel, determine if American Eel are present or Anguilla rostrata, is a unique member of this absent in waters near the mouths of community, exhibiting a catadramous tributaries to the Mohawk River. Related (maturing in fresh water and spawning in salt goals are to qualify their relative abundance water) life history. Like many migratory fish, and potential distribution throughout the the American Eel has suffered a general decline watershed. across the East Coast largely attributed to barriers to migration, habitat degradation, and The objectives of this proposal will be met other anthropogenic disturbances. A recent by conducting surveys for American Eels at study by Machut et al. (2007) and the imple- 15 or more sites on Mohawk River mentation of a NYSDEC-initiated citizen tributaries (multiple sites may be located on science juvenile Eel monitoring program some large tributaries) during the summer of (Bowser and others, 2012) have greatly 2015. Field crews of 3-4 researchers or improved our understanding of Eel distribution volunteers will conduct single pass and behavior in the Hudson River and electrofishing surveys (using a backpack tributaries. However, little work has addressed electrofisher). Best efforts will be made to the distribution of American Eel in the sample during low flow periods to Mohawk River basin or the factors that drive maximize capture efficiency. The tributaries this distribution. The presence of Eels in this and exact study reaches will be selected to basin has been confirmed only by a handful of maximize the probably of encountering Eels DEC fish surveys (aimed at sampling other based on habitat assessments and locations species) over the past 30 years and their of past Eel captures. densities and distributions in this watershed are largely unknown. The specific tasks for this effort and approximate timeline are: The 2012-2016 Mohawk River Basin Action • Select sites using map resources and Agenda has identified conserving fish, wildlife, reconnaissance surveys as needed (April- and their habitats as a top priority. A Fisheries May, 2015) Management Plan for the Lower Mohawk • Conduct electrofishing surveys at 15 or River (McBride, 1994) is the most comprehen- more sites (June-September, 2015) sive document concerning the status of and • Compile and analyze data (October- challenges facing the Mohawk River fishery. December, 2015) One of McBride’s management recommenda- • Provide draft report (January, 2016) tions is to “initiate fish studies based on • Publish report (February-March, 2017) specific needs as they may arise.” Machut’s recent Hudson River Eel study and the 2009 The USGS will publish a report with site installation of a downstream fish passage at the locations and presence/absence and relative Photos showing (A) American Eel, shown here, have School Street Hydroelectric Project around abundance (catch per unit effort) data experienced populations declines across the East Coast, (B) It is unclear if the system of impoundments on the Cohoes Falls now provide a pressing need to summarized in tabular form. This publica- Mohawk River (dam at Lock 7 shown here) has limited the extend our understanding of American Eel tion will have little or no interpretation but will be citable. abundance of American Eel in this watershed, (C) One of distributions in the Mohawk River. Addition- many tributaries to the Mohawk River that will be ally, the recent success of the citizen science screened for the presence of American Eel. Page 2 Trends in Fish Status of American Flood Inundation Ice Jam Hydrologic Assemblages Eel Populations Mapping Prattsville Monitoring Conditions UPDATE -- Flood-Inundation Maps for the Schoharie Creek at Prattsville, New York Digitalgp flood-inundation maps for a 2.6 mile reach of the Schoharie Creek at Prattsville, New York, have been created byyg the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)(USGS) in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Flood profiles were computed for the streamstrea reach by meansmeans of a one-dimensional step-backwater model; this model is based on existing models, and updated to reflect current ground conditionsconditi following thethe August 2011 flood. This hydraulic model was used to compute 17 water-surface profiles for flood stages at 1-foot intervals referencedreferenced to the USGS streamgage Schoharie Creek at Prattsville, N.Y.