Joint Annual Meeting of the Chapter of the American Fisheries Society & Virginia Chapter of The Wildlife Society

February 3 – 5, 2010

W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center, Wirtz, VA

Joint Annual Meeting of the Virginia Chapter AFS & Virginia Chapter TWS The Virginia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society The American Fisheries Society (AFS), founded in 1870, is the oldest and largest professional society dedicated to strengthening the fisheries profession, advancing fisheries science, and conserving fisheries resources.

The Virginia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society is a subunit of the American Fisheries Society. The chapter was established in 1990 to provide fisheries professionals in Virginia with increased access to AFS; encourage the exchange of information among fisheries and other aquatic resource professionals; provide a forum for the discussion, debate, and resolution of aquatic resource issues within Virginia; and serve the Commonwealth by providing expert scientific knowledge to allow for informed decisions concerning the use and development of the state's natural resources. Check us out our website: http://faculty.virginia.edu/vcafs

Executive Committee

Eric Brittle, President Adrienne Averett, President-Elect Bob Greenlee, Past-President Bill Kittrell, Secretary Steve Owens, Treasurer

The Virginia Chapter of The Wildlife Society The Wildlife Society (TWS), founded in 1937, is an international non-profit association dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education. Our mission is to represent and serve wildlife professionals—the scientists, technicians, and practitioners actively working to study, manage, and conserve native and desired non-native wildlife and their habitats worldwide.

The Virginia Chapter of The Wildlife Society was established to maintain the highest possible professional standards; promote the development of all types of wildlife management along sound biological lines; and provide opportunities for better liaison among individual members, their Southeastern Section, and The Society. To achieve these objectives, the Chapter evaluates and responds to the principles involved in proposed or enacted societal actions that could affect wildlife or its habitat; recognizes and commends outstanding achievements for wildlife; focuses the aims and objectives of The Society and the Southeastern Section upon professional wildlife needs, problems, and events in local situations; and encourages communication between members and non-members to facilitate understanding and effectiveness of research and management of wildlife resources. Check us out at our website: http://joomla.wildlife.org/Virginia/

Executive Committee

Scott Klopfer, President Jim Parkhurst, President-Elect Bill Haglan, Past-President Karen Francl, Secretary Jennifer Cromwell, Treasurer Andrew Rosenberger, Member-at-Large Jeff Trollinger, Member-at-Large Chris Latimer, Student Representative Joint Annual Meeting of the Virginia Chapter AFS & Virginia Chapter TWS

A special thank you to those organizations whose generous donations provided support for this annual meeting:

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative

THANK YOU, also, to those who donated raffle items to benefit the Virginia AFS Student Scholarships Fund.

Joint Annual Meeting of the Virginia Chapter AFS & Virginia Chapter TWS

Table of Contents Page

Skelton 4-H Center Map ii

Meeting Agenda 1

Abstracts by Session 5

Special Issues in Fisheries & Wildlife Management 5

Contributed Posters 10

Fisheries Management 16

Wildlife Management 27

i N James A. Meador Meador A. James I Nature Education Building Education Nature A H E T T K Tower I Climbing N B 40 B A Marker Marker Channel Channel M U L S O Course Challenge M Circle Dock & Gazebo & Dock Campfire Advance Auto Parts Auto Advance Willard Picnic Shelter Picnic Reynolds W.E. Skelton 4-HSkelton W.E. Center Educational Conference 775 Hermitage Road VirginiaWirtz, 24184 (540) 721-2759 www.skelton4Hcenter.org Horse Center Horse Boat House N I A H E

T T K L

Golf Wiss

I I N

Miniature

A A M

U 18 R L

S T

Field

O

Recreational

M

John G. Rocovich Rocovich G. John E

N I

Regional Shooting Sports Complex Sports Shooting Regional Archery L

E R Basketball & Basketball

Tennis Courts Tennis

O

H S Lionberger Bath House Bath Pool Ceramics & Country Store Country Pavilion Open Air Staff Staff Lodge Willard Amphitheatre Skelton Lodge Hancock LodgeHancock Friendship Friendship Wellness Center Retirement Community Retirement Rifle Range Flora Lodge Barn Small Animal Reid Jones Jr. Reid Jones Lodge & ConferenceCenter Smith Central Activities Building Activities Lodge JOCO Svoboda Computer Lab Computer

Learning Center/ Learning

L

H

T I

- A Center

Taubman

R Conference T

Center

Welcome

Lodge

E

Hepler-Jamison

N

I

L

E

R O

H d S

e Roa Entrance to itag

erm H W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference CenterEducational Conference W.E. Skelton 4 Skelton W.E. Educational Conference Center Conference Educational Lake Mountain Smith at Rockbridge Vespers Area Vespers Joint Annual Meeting of the Virginia Chapter AFS & Virginia Chapter TWS

AGENDA

Wednesday, February 3

Noon – 5:00 pm Registration

CONTINUING EDUCATION – Reid Jones Jr. Lower Conference Room

1:00 – 3:00 pm Baseline Analysis of Virginia’s Landscapes Chris Burkett and Jim Husband, Instructors

3:30 – 5:00 pm Stream Access Issues Leon Szeptycki, John Kauffman, and Larry Mohn, Instructors

6:00 – 10:00 pm DINNER & SOCIAL

Thursday, February 4

7:00 – 8:00 am BREAKFAST 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Registration

OPENING SESSION – Auditorium

8:15 – 8:30 am Welcome & Opening Remarks Eric Brittle & Scott Klopfer

8:30 – 10:00 am Managing Virginia’s Fisheries & Wildlife Resources in Tough Economic Times Dr. Jim Parkhurst, Moderator

10:00 – 10:20 am BREAK

10:20 – Noon Balancing Local Land Use Planning & Natural Resources Management: Challenges & Opportunities Chris Burkett, Paul Lancaster, Tom Martin, & Tammy Stephenson, Panelists Adrienne Averett, Moderator

Noon – 1:00 pm LUNCH

1:00 – 2:15 pm Facilitated Work Session: Balancing Local Land Use Planning & Natural Resources Management

2:15 – 2:30 pm BREAK

1

Joint Annual Meeting of the Virginia Chapter AFS & Virginia Chapter TWS AGENDA

Thursday, February 4 (continued)

SPECIAL ISSUES IN FISHERIES & WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT – Auditorium (P. Bugas, Moderator)

2:30 – 2:50 pm The Ecology and Status of the State Endangered Canebrake Rattlesnake in Virginia John (J.D.) Kleopfer, Alan Savitzky, Chris Petersen, and Scott Goetz

2:50 – 3:10 pm The South River Science Team Calvin Jordan

3:10 – 3:30 pm Grassroots Working to Protect Biodiversity Amber Bellamy and Nicole Tucker

3:30 – 3:50 pm Diet Assessment of Fish-Eating Birds in Chesapeake Bay Nesting Colonies Dave Hopler, Bryan Watts, Adam Duerr, and Cathy Viverette

3:50 – 4:10 pm Impacts of Coordinate System Selection on the Interpretation of Telemetry Data Daniel Stich and Brian Murphy

4:30 – 6:30 pm VC AFS BUSINESS MEETING – Reid Jones Jr. Lower Conference Room

VC TWS BUSINESS MEETING – Taubman Conference Room

6:30 – 10:00 pm DINNER, SOCIAL & POSTER SESSION

CONTRIBUTED POSTER SESSION

Nutrient and Sediment Loading in Lake Shenandoah, Rockingham County, Virginia Anne Battaglia and Daniel Downey

The South River Science Team Calvin Jordan

Virginia’s Landowner Incentive Program Justin Laughlin

Water Quality in Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage), 2009 Mitchell Norman

Update of Long Term Results for Liming a “Sinking” Steam Versus a Perennial Surface Stream Jennifer Phillips, Holly Tuck, Carla Landes, and Daniel Downey

The Effect of Adding Simulated Woody Debris on Immediate Fish Density and Species Composition in Smith Creek, Virginia Scott Riley, Chas Kyger, and Mark Hudy

Solution Mode Laser Ablation ICP-MS for Small Volume Liquid Samples and Fish Tissue Analysis Jacob Smith and Daniel Downey

2

Joint Annual Meeting of the Virginia Chapter AFS & Virginia Chapter TWS AGENDA

Friday, February 5

7:00 – 8:00 am BREAKFAST & REGISTRATION

8:00 – 10:00 am CONCURRENT SESSION

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT – Reid Jones Jr. Lower Conference Room (J. Laughlin, Moderator)

8:00 – 8:20 am Pilot Study on the Use of Passive Gears to Capture Northern Snakehead Patrick Kroboth, Nicolas Lapointe, and Paul Angermeier

8:20 – 8:40 am Recolonization of Blacknose Dace after Restoration of an Acidified Stream Alexandra Fitzgerald, Mark Hudy, Chas Kyger, and C. Andrew Dolloff

8:40 – 9:00 am Ranking Virginia Brook Trout Populations for Resiliency to Climate Change Brad Trumbo and Mark Hudy

9:00 – 9:20 am Fish Community Responses to the Addition of Wood in Smith Creek, VA Chas Kyger and Mark Hudy

9:20 – 9:40 am Demographic Responses of Trout Populations Two Decades After Habitat Manipulation in Five Colorado Streams Shannon White, Josh Harris, Charles Gowan, and Kurt Fausch

9:40 – 10:00 am Classifying Flow Regimes in Seven States in the Southeast: Implications for Regional Environmental Flow Standards and Management Ryan McManamay, Donald Orth, and Andrew Dolloff

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT – Taubman Conference Room (J. Parkhurst, Moderator)

8:00 – 8:20 am Comparison of Surveying Techniques in Documenting Summer Bat Communities Robert Bland, Karen Francl, and Jessica Lucas

8:20 – 8:40 am Tracking White-Nose Syndrome in Summer Bat Communities: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in the Eastern Karen Francl, John Timpone, and Dale Sparks

8:40 – 9:00 am Assessment of Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) Presence and Habitat Quality in Carroll County, Virginia Amy Roberts, Michael Pinder, and M. T. Baisey

9:00 – 9:20 am Mammalian Predator Removal Reduces Predation Rate on Artificial Beach- Nests on the Virginia Barrier Islands (U.S.A.) Nancy Moncrief, Raymond Dueser, Joel Martin, and John Porter

9:20 – 9:40 am Short-Term Effects of Prescribed Fire on Small Mammal Communities at Caldwell Fields, Jefferson National Forest Dwight Meikle, Karen Francl, and Christine Small

9:40 – 10:00 am White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Fawn Survival in the Northeastern Virginia Piedmont Kurtis Moseley, John Rohm, Tim Stamps, and Ben Fulton

3

Joint Annual Meeting of the Virginia Chapter AFS & Virginia Chapter TWS

AGENDA

Friday, February 5 (continued)

10:00 – 10:10 am BREAK

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT – Reid Jones Jr. Lower Conference Room (J. Odenkirk, Moderator)

10:10 – 10:30 am If We Destroy Them, They Will Come: Dam Removal in Virginia Alan Weaver

10:30 – 10:50 am Partnerships: Retrofitting Dams for Hydroelectric Power Generation and Fish Passage Ernie Aschenbach

10:50 – 11:10 am Evaluation of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Introductions and Re-Introductions into Four Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain Streams Mike Isel

11:10 – 11:30 am Northern Snakehead Update John Odenkirk

11:30 – 11:50 am Design and Preliminary Results for the James River Muskellunge Study of Population Dynamics Cory Kovacs and Scott Smith

11:50 am ADJOURN

4

Session – Special Issues in Fisheries and Wildlife Management

Grassroots Working to Protect Biodiversity

Amber Bellamy* and Nicole Tucker

Friends of the Russell Fork, PO Box 116 Haysi, VA 24256; [email protected], [email protected], (276) 865-4918

Friends of the Russell Fork (FoRF) is a young watershed group located in Haysi, VA. The mission of the organization is to improve and protect the Upper Big Sandy River Watershed especially around the Russell Fork River through volunteers, partnerships, and education while promoting the economic development of the local community. We work to close straight pipes, promote environmental education in the schools, clean up the river, and conduct water quality tests on the local waterways. We work under the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team, which is an initiative between the Office of Surface Mining and AmeriCorps VISTA. The goal of the ACCWT is to restore and maintain environmental integrity of impoverished coal-mining communities across the Appalachian region and they do so by placing OSM/VISTA volunteers with watershed groups in Appalachia. FoRF has faced many challenges due to the rural and mountainous nature of the area, but FoRF serves as an example of how the ACCWT works to achieve its goals.

The Russell Fork is most used by kayakers and other whitewater enthusiasts which is good for the local economy. Thus, it is important to keep the waterways clean and safe. Straight-piping is the leading cause of contamination but sedimentation is also a problem in the watershed. A lack of biodiversity also suggests other issues in the area. There seems to very little data on the Russell Fork River related to the health and function of aquatic ecosystems that are prevalent.

FoRF is working this year to reach out to community members and increase volunteer support in order to start a volunteer water monitoring program. We are also looking to examine sources of water contamination other than wastewater, such as acid mine drainage and organic contaminants. Our goal is to use volunteers to get a general idea of the health of the Russell Fork and surrounding streams by benthic macroinvertebrate sampling. In doing this, we can get a general idea of where we need to start looking for issues and what to do about them. FoRF will actively seek support and resources from state and government agencies in order to accomplish its goal.

5

Session – Special Issues in Fisheries and Wildlife Management

Diet Assessment of Fish-Eating Birds in Chesapeake Bay Nesting Colonies

Dave Hopler*1, Bryan Watts2, Adam Duerr2, and Cathy Viverette1

1 Center for Environmental Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University; [email protected], (804) 827-0236

2 Center for Conservation Biology, College of William and Mary and VCU Rice Center

Predator-prey interactions among commercially important fish species have been intensely studied in Chesapeake Bay for many years. In contrast, little research has been done to evaluate the potential effects of fish-eating birds on fisheries and fish stocks in the region. Chesapeake Bay populations of several fish-eating bird species have increased exponentially in recent decades. For example, Double-crested Cormorants and Brown Pelicans were absent from Chesapeake Bay as recently as 1975, but each species now claim more than 3,000 breeding pairs. The explosive population growth of these avian predators coincides with an increased demand on forage species such as Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus). Atlantic menhaden are a critical prey species for a restored population of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and support a large commercial fishery in the Bay. Double-crested Cormorants and Brown Pelicans are colonial nesters and deliver regurgitated fish to their young. We surveyed regurgitated prey left in nests at a cormorant colony on Poplar Island, and mixed colonies of cormorants and pelicans on Smith Island, Virginia. Surveys were conducted over a 6 week period coinciding with the presence of young nestlings in the colonies. During this period, nestlings remain in their nests and are fed regurgitated fish by the parents, allowing us to attribute nest contents to the appropriate bird species. We made four trips to each colony and identified 7,859 individual fish remains. Double-crested Cormorants had a more diverse diet, representing 23 different fish species compared to 13 fish species attributed to Brown Pelicans. At Smith Island, spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) and Atlantic menhaden were the most common species consumed by Double-crested Cormorants while bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli) and Atlantic menhaden were the most common prey found in Brown Pelican nests. At Poplar Island, Atlantic menhaden and hogchoker (Trinectes maculatus) were the most numerous prey species found in Double-crested Cormorant nests. Atlantic menhaden was the most important fish species by weight at Smith Island and Poplar Island for both species of birds. Energetics-based consumption models based on these and related data may allow fisheries mangers to estimate the impact of avian predators on Chesapeake Bay fish stocks.

6

Session – Special Issues in Fisheries and Wildlife Management

The South River Science Team‡

Calvin Jordan

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; [email protected]

Since the 1980’s, The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has been monitoring mercury levels in fish of the South River, South Fork and mainstem Shenandoah Rivers. Mercury contamination was caused by the use of mercury at the DuPont Plant in Waynesboro, VA from 1929-1950. Currently there is a consumption advisory for all species of fish except trout on the South River recommending that no fish be eaten, and a 2 meal per month advisory on the South Fork. There is no mercury advisory on the Shenandoah because there is a more restrictive PCB advisory currently in place. Initially it was thought that mercury levels would decline over time; however data collected in the 1990’s indicated that levels were not declining. As a result DEQ, DuPont and other stakeholders came together and created the South River Science Team with the objectives to make fish consumption safer, communicate current risks to river users, and to protect public health. Since the creation of the Science Team, research has branched out of the river and into the floodplain. Research has shown contamination in terrestrial animals such as songbirds and bats. The science team has also been looking into the possible human health risk associated with the consumption of flora and fauna from the South River and its floodplain. A garden study was conducted and found that mercury levels were low in vegetables grown in floodplain soil. Duck hunting is popular on South River and a study was completed in 2008 to look at mercury levels in waterfowl. Canada geese were found to have low levels of mercury, whereas mallards had mercury levels approaching those found in South River fish. There was not enough data collected on wood ducks in 2008 and the study was continued into 2009 to increase our wood duck data set.

‡Oral & poster presentation

7

Session – Special Issues in Fisheries and Wildlife Management

The Ecology and Status of the State Endangered Canebrake Rattlesnake in Virginia

John (J.D.) Kleopfer*1, Alan Savitzky2, Chris Petersen3, and Scott Goetz4

1 Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; [email protected]

2 Department of Biology, Old Dominion University; [email protected]

3 Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Norfolk, Virginia; [email protected]

4 United States Geological Survey; [email protected]

The Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is listed as State Endangered in Virginia. The primary reasons for listing are habitat loss and human persecution. Although the Canebrake Rattlesnake is no longer recognized as a subspecies of the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), it is recognized by the State as a unique population segment. The uniqueness is based on ecological and morphological differences between the Coastal Plain populations and the Mountain populations. In 1999, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries began a cooperative research initiative with Old Dominion University into the ecology of the Canebrake Rattlesnake. The study site was the Northwest Support Activity, Norfolk, Northwest Annex in Chesapeake, Virginia. Prior to this research, little was known on the ecology of this species in this segment of its range. The primary method of research was the use of radio- telemetry, which resulted in the accumulation and analysis of data based on 40 individual snakes and 14,000 observations.

Snakes emerged between 25 March and 14 April and ingression occurred between 31 October and 5 December. Snakes were active an average of 211 days. Males moved approximately twice as far as nongravid females. Annual movements averaged 7.96 km/yr for males, 4.43 km/yr for females and 4.28 km/yr for gravid females. The distance moved per day 40.8 m/day for males, 22.9 m/day for females and 22.1 m/day for gravid females. Minimum convex polygon (MCV) activity areas for males was 90.7 ha, 35.4 ha for females and 22.5 ha for gravid females. However, the canopy loss as a result of Hurricane Isabel resulted in 5-25% reduction in their activity areas. It is believed the increase in canopy openings allowed gravid, pre- shedding, gestating or digesting snakes to find areas for thermal regulation more readily. During this study, information was also gathered on diet, predation, hibernation and reproduction.

8

Session – Special Issues in Fisheries and Wildlife Management

Impacts of Coordinate System Selection on the Interpretation of Telemetry Data

Daniel S. Stich^ and Brian R. Murphy

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, 106 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24136; [email protected], (518) 860-4107; [email protected], (540) 231-6959

Impacts of coordinate system on interpretation of movement data from radio-tagged animals are poorly documented. Average Daily Movement (ADM) is the minimum distance traveled by radio-tagged animals between consecutive trips divided by the number of days elapsed. Movements of radio-tagged grass carp were used to compare linear distance and ADM calculated from geographic (WGS84) and projected coordinate-systems (NAD83). Differences between coordinate systems were calculated by subtracting the distance estimated by WGS84 from that estimated by NAD83. Magnitude of difference was the absolute value of the difference. Direction of differences described whether distances from WGS84 were larger (+) or smaller (-) than those from NAD83. Magnitude and direction of difference between distance estimates from WGS84 and NAD83 depended on the actual distance measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the effects of season and stocking location on linear distance and ADM calculated from each coordinate system. Projecting coordinates from WGS84 to NAD83 increased the significance and power of ANOVA tests using linear distances, and decreased these parameters using ADM. These results have broad implications for interpretation of movement data from radio-tagged animals. By using projected coordinate systems for distance measurements, researchers can reduce uncertainty in estimates from telemetry data.

^ Student presenter 9

Session – Poster

Nutrient and Sediment Loading in Lake Shenandoah, Rockingham County, Virginia

Anne C. Battaglia^ and Daniel M. Downey

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Lake Shenandoah, a VDGIF recreational reservoir that supports a sport fishery for warm water fish species, is located in Rockingham County, Virginia near the city of Harrisonburg. The lake experiences chronic fishery and aesthetic management problems due to macrophyte growth, sedimentation and eutrophication. In 1996-97, a study was conducted that measured nutrient loading and found that sedimentation and eutrophication problem had occurred due to agricultural practices and recent land development in the watershed. The purpose of this study was to determine if sediment and nutrient loading have changed since the watershed land use has changed from agriculture to suburban development in the last ten years. Water quality parameters include pH, ANC, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, ammonia (NH3/NH4+), turbidity, conductivity and total phosphorus (PT) were measured for each of the two streams entering the reservoir. The average values for nutrient and turbidity (sediment) loading from Massanetta Spring Run (north) were 51.6 ppb PT, 1.94 ppm NO¬3-N, 0.82 ppm NH3/NH4+-N and 12.1 NTU. The average values for nutrient and turbidity (sediment) loading from Congers Creek (west) were 67.9 ppb PT, 4.09 ppm NO¬3-N, 0.43 ppm NH3/NH4+-N and 10.1 NTU. Phosphorus values exceeded the federal criterion of 50 ppb for streams entering lakes. We found that nutrient and turbidity increased during runoff from episodic events. Sediment samples collected from the west and north reaches of the lake contained average values of 33 mg/kg PT, 9.5 mg/kg NO¬3-N and 9.3 mg/kg NH3/NH4+-N. These data should provide information useful for management directives for mitigation and restoration of Lake Shenandoah.

^ Student presenter

10

Session – Poster

Virginia’s Landowner Incentive Program (LIP)

Justin Laughlin

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 1796 Highway 16, Marion, VA 24354; [email protected], (276) 783 – 4860

The Landowner Incentive Program is a grant program funded by US Fish and Wildlife Service and administered by state wildlife agencies. The program is intended to support the implementation of specific landowner incentive projects for at risk wildlife species on private property. Four project areas have been identified and strategies have been developed to achieve habitat restoration in the Upper Tennessee, Upper James including Rivanna, and Upper Roanoke watersheds, as well as the Delmarva Peninsula. The objective of the watershed projects is to manage, enhance, and protect Virginia’s rare aquatic resources through the improvement of water quality and protection of in-stream and riparian habitat through the restoration of degraded stream reaches. Project activities will include livestock exclusion, providing alternative watering systems, stream crossings, riverbank cleanup, and riparian buffer establishment. Severely degraded stream banks will be stabilized with a combination of bank shaping, in-stream structure instillation, and bioengineering techniques such as willow tree fascines, root wad installation, and cedar tree revetments. Revegetation, erosion control, sinkhole cleanout and fencing will be used to restore sensitive karst habitats that contain listed or candidate species. Landowners will contribute 25% cost share, which may in part consist of in-kind services or contribution of materials. Signed water quality and habitat improvement agreements between landowners and the department will have a minimum length of 10 years and require a vegetated riparian buffer zone of 35 feet on both sides of the stream. Landowners will be responsible for long-term maintenance of the completed projects. In 2003, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries received a Landowner Incentive Program grant and has been focusing on stream restoration within selected watersheds on the western side of the state. After five years the agency has completed over 40 individual Landowner Incentive Program projects that have restored or protected over 17 miles of streams and hundreds of acres of riparian habitat.

11

Session – Poster

Water Quality in Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage), 2009

Mitchell D. Norman

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 3909 Airline Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23321; [email protected], (757) 465-6811

Water quality was monitored monthly in 2009 in the Blackwater River and three of its tributaries. All sites were located in Isle of Wight County with specific locations as follows: Blackwater River, Rte 603; Great Swamp, Rte 258; Pope Swamp, Rte 649; and Burnt Mills Swamp, Rte. 638. Parameters monitored were: temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, specific conductance, pH, total alkalinity, and total hardness. Water temperature in the Blackwater River was significantly higher than the other sites from May through October. This can be attributed to a reduction in forest canopy. Dissolved oxygen at each site was highest in January, remained relatively high through March before plummeting in April and remained relatively low until December. Comparing the four sites, Great Swamp had the lowest dissolved oxygen every month except July through September when that ‘honor’ fell to Burnt Mills Swamp. This can be attributed to summer low flow in Burnt Mills Swamp. Dissolved oxygen was generally the highest in Pope Swamp. Dissolved oxygen (ppm) at each site averaged as follows: Great Swamp, 2.88; Burnt Mills Swamp, 3.55; Pope Swamp, 4.12; and Blackwater River, 4.47. Specific conductance at each site varied considerably between months. An explanation for this is unknown. Specific conductance (µSiemens) at each site averaged as follows: Great Swamp, 104.2; Blackwater River, 119.0; Pope Swamp, 129.0; and Burnt Mills Swamp, 182.4. Total alkalinity and hardness at each site were relatively stable between months except for notably increases in May (Blackwater River and Pope Swamp). An explanation for this is unknown. Total alkalinity was consistently the lowest in Great Swamp. Total alkalinity (ppm) at each site averaged as follows: Great Swamp, 25.0; Blackwater River, 51.5; Pope Swamp, 54.3; and Burnt Mills Swamp, 64.9. Total hardness (ppm) at each site averaged as follows: Blackwater River, 70.4; Great Swamp, 76.5; Pope Swamp, 79.5; and Burnt Mills Swamp, 88.9. pH showed little variation between months and was consistently the lowest in Great Swamp. pH ranged by site as follows: Great Swamp, 5.5 – 6.6; Pope Swamp, 6.25 – 6.75; Burnt Mills Swamp and Blackwater River, 6.5 – 6.75 each.

12

Session – Poster

Update of Long Term Results for Liming a “Sinking” Steam Versus a Perennial Surface Stream

Jennifer Phillips^, Holly M. Tuck, Carla R. Landes, and Daniel M. Downey

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Mountain Run (Fridley Gap Run) is located in the Range of Virginia in the George Washington National Forest. Brook trout and other fish species historically found in this stream suffered severe losses due to the decrease in pH caused by atmospheric acid injection (acid rain). To improve water quality and enable fish survival Mountain Run has been treated with limestone at various times from 1993 to 2008. Initial treatments in 1993 and 1997 were done at a location in a lower reach that flows perennially. This site was only accessible by helicopter. To save costs, later liming (1999, 2002, 2005, and 2008) was done by front end loader in an upper reach at a trail/road. Under normal flow conditions the upper reach of the stream sinks into the channel substrate several times before the stream is remains surficial. Water quality parameters (WQP) have been assessed for samples collected monthly at six (or more) locations from 1992 to 2010. Key WQP values were catalogued as follows for four locations: upstream of the perennial site, 1.25 km downstream of the perennial site, upstream of the sinking site and 1.25 km downstream of the sinking site. Average values found were pH = 4.64, 5.73, 4.59, 5.05; ANC = -22.2, 20.1, -28.2, -6.9 (µeq/L); Ca:H = 1.3, 265.1, 0.87, 9.0; AlT = 303, 108, 409, 184 (ppb) for these four locations, respectively. This study compared the effectiveness of liming Mountain Run in the two locations, and showed that the response to liming the upper reach is less effective due to the sinks in the stream and the acidic nature of the soil. A model has been developed for the upper reach that predicts soil saturation should occur 19 years from the initial liming.

^ Student presenter

13

Session – Poster

The Effect of Adding Simulated Woody Debris on Immediate Fish Density and Species Composition in Smith Creek, Virginia

Scott M. Riley^1, Chas D. Kyger2, and Mark Hudy2

1 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060; [email protected], (804) 239-8124

2 U.S. Forest Service, Fish and Aquatic Ecology Unit, James Madison University, Mail Stop Code 7801, Harrisonburg, VA 22807; [email protected], (540) 568-2704; [email protected], (540) 568-5049

Large woody debris (LWD) is an important component of healthy stream ecosystems. Restoration of in-stream LWD by adding natural or artificial wood can increase the amount and complexity of fish habitat and influence stream fish communities. We examined the association of several non-game fish species with artificial LWD placed in Smith Creek, a small stream in Northwest Virginia with a history of habitat degradation due to intense agricultural activity throughout the watershed. We used wooden pallets to simulate natural LWD. Pallets were randomly placed in nine 30m stream sections at equal loading densities. We used block nets to isolate randomly chosen pallet and non-pallet habitats and used backpack electrofishing to sample fish abundance in each section. Pallet habitats had significantly greater fish abundance than non-pallet habitats. No significant differences in individual species abundance between habitats were observed. Examination of difference in mean length of individual species between pallet and non-pallet habitats revealed significant differences for Potomac sculpin, Cottus girardi, and Blacknose dace, Rhinichthys atratulus.

^ Student presenter 14

Session – Poster

Solution Mode Laser Ablation ICP-MS for Small Volume Liquid Samples and Fish Tissue Analysis

Jacob Smith^ and Daniel M. Downey

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) is a tool for elemental analysis of liquid or gaseous samples with sensitivity in the ppb to ppt range. Solution mode ICP-MS allows for effective sample introduction but is not time efficient. The standard method for solution analysis by ICP-MS involves sample uptake time of 30 seconds and stabilization time of 300 seconds prior to a 2-second analysis with a volume consumption of several milliliters. Previous research by our group involved that use of laser ablation to aerosolize solid samples from fish otoliths for analysis by ICP-MS. Current research has focused on the use of laser ablation to vaporize liquid samples for introduction into the ICP-MS. LA-ICP-MS does not require the uptake or stabilization periods needed in solution mode ICP-MS, so it should be possible to directly analyze microliter volumes of aqueous samples or water-rich biological tissue. To date we have studied the analysis of liquids in wells in a plate and capillary tubes. Standard solutions of 0.500, 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00 ppm Mg, Mn, and Ca were produced with 1.0 ppm Ba as an internal standard. Ablation of solutions in capillary tubes yielded very low signal even from solutions with concentrations in the ppm range. Solution ablation rates of samples in wells were found to be orders of magnitude higher but inconsistent. However, ratioing the analyte signal to the Ba internal standard yielded consistent results. This method has allowed for production of calibration curves with regression values typically exceeding r=0.9800 from the standard solutions. Direct ablation of fresh and dried samples of fish tissue has indicated that trace elemental signals are low but detectable. However, significant signal gradients have been observed between different regions of tissue samples. Homogenizing samples to reduce gradient error is currently being studied.

^ Student presenter

15

Session – Fisheries Management

Partnerships: Retrofitting Dams for Hydroelectric Power Generation and Fish Passage

Ernie Aschenbach

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4010 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230; [email protected], (804) 367-2733

Environmentally conscientious citizens concerned that carbon-based energy sources may contribute to global climate change, and utility companies seeking opportunities to purchase electric power generated from “green energy” sources and develop diverse renewable energy portfolios have created renewed interest in retrofitting existing hydro-power dams for hydroelectric power generation. Hydroelectric power facilities range in size from large- hydropower facilities with a capacity to generate more than 30 megawatts and supply many end-users; small-hydropower facilities with a capacity to generate from 100 kilowatts to 30 megawatts; and micro-hydropower facilities with a capacity of up to 100 kilowatts for private energy needs with surplus being stored in batteries or sold to the electric utility company. Small- and micro-hydroelectric power systems generate sufficient electricity to power a home, farm, ranch, or village (1). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has various types of licensing processes for commercial scale, long-term projects, as well as a modified licensing process for pilot scale hydrokinetic projects, which provides for short-term testing of small scale projects that are removable or easily decommissioned (2). Creation of fish passage is often a condition of compliance with FERC licensure. Environmental resource agencies within the Atlantic-slope drainage dedicate resources toward management programs that place emphasis on the removal of fish impediments such as obsolete hydropower dams to restore historic fish habitat and enhance aquatic species populations. The stored water impounded by an existing hydropower dam represents potential energy. Dam removal would not be consistent with an upstart hydroelectric utility’s model business-plan. Small hydropower ventures dedicate their financial resources into real estate purchase, permit administration, renovations and retrofits required for hydroelectric power generation. While resource agencies historically have provided technical-design support to small-hydropower ventures developing fish passage, further consideration of partnerships between small- hydropower businesses and environmental resource agencies may help ensure shared success among stakeholders.

(1) Department of Energy: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/hydro_plant_types.html

(2) FERC: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/pdfs/siting_handbook_2009.pdf; page 17.

16

Session – Fisheries Management

Recolonization of Blacknose Dace after Restoration of an Acidified Stream

Alexandra Fitzgerald^1, Mark Hudy2, Chas Kyger2and C. Andrew Dolloff3

1 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060; [email protected]

2 U.S. Forest Service, Fish and Aquatic Ecology Unit, James Madison University, Mail Stop Code 7801, Harrisonburg, VA 22807; [email protected], (540) 568-2704; [email protected], (540) 568-5049

3 USDA Forest Service, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 350 Latham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061; [email protected], (540) 231-4864

Restoration of acidified streams from acid deposition has focused on recovery of trout species with little attention to native non-salmonid species. Recovery of the entire fish assemblage is an important metric for success. I documented survival, dispersal and reproductive success of multiple attempts (1993-2009) to reintroduce blacknose dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) in an acidified headwater stream that had been restored through addition of limestone sand. Although brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) recolonize quickly after liming, blacknose dace have taken over fifteen years to produce an age-class. The re-establishment of blacknose dace in restored acidified streams may be very difficult and require frequent large stockings over multiple years to reestablish a reproducing population. My results provide insight into the difficulty and long-term recovery efforts that may be needed to restore the entire native fish assemblage to acidified streams.

^ Student presenter 17

Session – Fisheries Management

Evaluation of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Introductions and Re-Introductions into Four Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain Streams

Mike Isel

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; [email protected]

A five day rainfall event in the Graves Mill area of Madison County, VA in late June 1995 produced as much as 60 cm of rain leading to severe flooding, debris slides, and drastic changes in fish community assemblages and stream habitat of Garth and Kinsey Run. Surveys of these two streams in 2000 and 2007 by VDGIF resulted in the collection of no brook trout. Wildcat Hollow (GR Thompson WMA) in Fauquier County and Sweet Run (Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship) in Loudon County had never previously been documented to have brook trout. Both streams were deemed suitable for trout to inhabit as a result of monitoring in 2008. Approximately 100 brook trout were transplanted into Garth Run and Kinsey Run each as re-introductions, and Wildcat Hollow and Sweet Run each as introductions in September 2008 (total n = 435). Three 100-m sample reaches were chosen, marked with tags, and GPS coordinates recorded for each stream. A habitat assessment using BVET (Basinwide Visual Estimation Technique) was conducted for each stream. Single pass electrofishing (EF) surveys will be conducted with a backpack electrofisher four times (twice per year for two years) during the study. Selected trout >70 mm had a Biomark® 134.2 kHz passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag (model # TX1400 BE – 11.5 mm) surgically implanted into the body cavity to help identify them upon recapture to obtain growth data. Trout greater than 100 mm will be considered adults.

Results through the first two samples documented brook trout presence in all four streams and at 11 of 12 sample sites displaying survival through the first year. Trout sizes ranged from 52 – 260 mm allowing us to conclude that reproduction occurred just one month after being transplanted. The June EF sample yielded in the collection of 140 brook trout (63 > 100 mm, 77 < 100 mm) while the September sample resulted in 81 brook trout (23 > 100 mm, 58 < 100 mm), a decrease in catch. Additional monitoring is needed and will be conducted through summer 2010.

18

Session – Fisheries Management

Design and Preliminary Results for the James River Muskellunge Study of Population Dynamics

Cory K. Kovacs* and Scott M. Smith

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; [email protected], [email protected]

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) has stocked the James River with muskellunge, Esox masquinongy, at an average annual rate of 2,200 fish since the early 1970’s. Since 2003, we have observed a steady increase in relative abundance (based on annual electrofishing samples), which suggests an increase in population size. We are attempting to identify the source(s) of this potential increase, either from stocking or natural reproduction using coded wire tags (CWT’s) on all stocked fish. Using 4 net pens, the July 2009 stocking showed a 24 hour mortality rate of 17%, and a 48 hour tag retention rate of 97%. In addition, starting in fall of 2008, VDGIF has inserted >130 passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags into muskellunge collected during fall and winter. Both tag types are part of a continuing effort to determine stocking efficacy, growth rates, survival rates, population size, and longitudinal distribution. Recapture efforts have obtained 2 PIT-tagged fish and 3 CWT-tagged fish, respectively, to date (1/1/2010). Sampling efficiency (catch/boat- hr) was also compared among three sampling strategies. Targeted sampling in winter was the most efficient at 3.07 fish/boat hour; with single boat and multiple boat (7-14 boats) community sampling at 1.43 and 1.25 fish/ boat hour, respectively. Future plans include PIT tagging an additional 70+ fish, inserting CWT’s into all fish stocked in 2010, and collection of untagged fish for cleithrum removal.

19

Session – Fisheries Management

Pilot Study on the Use of Passive Gears to Capture Northern Snakehead

C. Patrick Kroboth^1, Nicolas W. R. Lapointe1, and Paul L. Angermeier2

1 Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, 100 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0321; [email protected], (703) 595-6405; [email protected], (540) 558-8739

2 USGS Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061- 0321; [email protected], (540) 231-4501

With the discovery of invasive northern snakehead, Channa argus, in the Potomac River in 2004, it became important to evaluate potential methods for controlling and sampling the population. This study compares the effectiveness of hoop, fyke, and gill nets for capturing northern snakehead (NSH) and contrasts these gears with the standard method of boat electrofishing. We sampled Pohick Bay, a tidal tributary of the Potomac River that supports high densities of NSH. We sampled during 20-24 May 2009, when NSH were known to be active. Sites were selected based on anticipated northern snakehead movement paths (e.g. points and channels draining wetlands). Most sites were located in shallow (<1 m) water. We sampled 17 sites with 49 total net sets, including 21 hoop net, 18 fyke net, and 10 gill net sets. Sampling duration varied by gear, with hoop nets and fyke nets averaging 18-hour sets and gill nets averaging 7-hour sets. Gill nets were most effective, capturing six NSH; hoop nets captured five NSH. Fyke nets captured no NSH but did capture the most fish, with banded killifish Fundulus diaphanous being the most abundant. The catch per unit effort for NSH was 0.08 (gill nets) and 0.01 (hoop nets) fish/hour. These rates are low relative to the estimated population and rates seen in boat-electrofishing data, and do not indicate that passive gears can be effective in depleting the NSH population. However, adaptations in sampling techniques may increase NSH catch rates in passive gears. Examples include longer leads and wings on hoop or fyke nets to decrease avoidance by fish, variations in mesh size and trap type to target different NSH age classes, and matching methods to seasonal movements of fish.

^ Student presenter 20

Session – Fisheries Management

Fish Community Responses to the Addition of Wood in Smith Creek, VA

Chas Kyger^ and Mark Hudy

USDA Forest Service Fish and Aquatic Ecology Unit, James Madison University, 021 Burruss Hall, Mail Stop Code 7801, Harrisonburg, VA 22807; [email protected], (540) 250-3939; [email protected], (540) 568-2704

Large woody debris (LWD) is an important component of healthy stream ecosystems. LWD shapes stream physical habitat features, captures and stores organic matter, and serves as shelter, feeding sites, and reproductive substrate for fish and other aquatic organisms. Loss of in-stream LWD and sources of LWD as a result of human activities has negatively impacted many streams. Recently, restoration of in-stream LWD and riparian sources of LWD have become important facets of stream restoration, though many projects involving LWD restoration lack monitoring and evaluation. We evaluated the effects of adding LWD on the fish community in Smith Creek, a small warmwater stream located in Northwest Virginia with a history of habitat degradation due to intense agricultural activity throughout the watershed. We added wooden pallets to previously established fish monitoring stream sections and employed a repeated measures design to examine changes in fish community metrics one year after wood addition. Analyses revealed no differences in total fish density, but proportions of two dominant benthic species decreased in sections that received wood additions. These results suggest possible interactions between increases in habitat complexity and species diversity in degraded streams. This research can provide valuable information about expected fish community responses to the restoration or addition of LWD in streams and could have implications for future management decisions involving riparian forest management and stream habitat restoration.

^ Student presenter 21

Session – Fisheries Management

Classifying Flow Regimes in Seven States in the Southeast: Implications for Regional Environmental Flow Standards and Management

Ryan A. McManamay ^1, Donald J. Orth1, and C. Andrew Dolloff2

1 Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech University, 106 Cheatham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061; [email protected], (540) 808-8695; [email protected], (540) 231-5919

2 USDA Forest Service, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Tech University, 350 Latham Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061; [email protected], (540) 231-4864

River regulation has resulted in substantial losses in habitat integrity and consequently, losses in species diversity. Much of the degradation of regulated river systems has been caused by the lack of natural flow variability, which many aquatic organisms rely on for survival. River managers are faced with a growing need to protect the key aspects of the natural flow regime (magnitude, timing, duration, frequency, and rate of change); however, providing environmental flow standards that satisfy the needs of aquatic biota is easier said than done. Current ecologists suggest that the first step in providing environmental flow standards is to classify streams into groups of similar hydrologic properties across regions. The purpose of this study was to classify streams within a seven-state region into groups in order to provide environmental flow standards for managers with regard to relicensing agreements and withdrawal permitting. Using USGS daily stream gauge information, we calculated 171 hydrologic statistics of 310 natural (unregulated) and over 100 (regulated/impounded) streams using the program HIT (Hydrologic Index Tool). We used a subset of the hydrologic statistics (13) to classify streams using a k-means clustering method. Nine flow classes were isolated that ranged from extremely stable to highly-variable to intermittent. We provide summary statistics for each flow class, which can be used as a basis for setting environmental flow standards. We also compared the statistics of regulated and natural rivers to determine how regulation influences natural flow variability in each flow class. To provide an example of the utility of this data set in providing environmental flow standards, we use the flow classifications in a case study for the Cheoah River, a regulated river in western NC.

^ Student presenter 22

Session – Fisheries Management

Potomac River Northern Snakehead Update

John Odenkirk

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; [email protected]

Northern snakehead (NSH), Channa argus, were first documented in the tidal Potomac River in 2004. Since then, efforts were made to monitor relative abundance and gain understanding of NSH biology and ecology. Annual electrofishing surveys suggested an increasing population, and NSH boat electrofishing catch rate in three core tributary creeks in 2009 was 5.2 fish/hr. Angler catch rate also increased based on reported catches and creel surveys (which also indicated most anglers do not report NSH). Gut content evaluation revealed consumption of 17 species of fish plus frogs and crayfish, but only banded killifish were considered a major food item based on frequency of occurrence. Pumpkinseed, bluegill and white perch were second tier food items. Otolith interpretation remained difficult, and the need for known-age fish to verify otolith annuli led to the apparently unsuccessful OTC marking of a cohort of YOY in a floodplain pond adjacent to . Recapture measurements of radio-tagged fish (n=7) and floy-tagged fish (n=4) resulted in daily growth increments of 0.3 and 0.7 mm/d; however, the latter were at-large for a mean of 28 days during the growing season while radio-tagged fish were at-large for a mean 393 days. Of the 206 NSH floy tagged in VA during 2009, 12 were recaptured including 8 by anglers. Most were recaptured in the embayment of release, but three fish had significant movement (all during spring) including one that migrated from Dogue Creek to Chain Bridge.

23

Session – Fisheries Management

Ranking Virginia Brook Trout Populations for Resiliency to Climate Change

Brad Trumbo^ and Mark Hudy

1 USDA Forest Service Fish and Aquatic Ecology Unit, James Madison University, 800 South Main Street, Burruss Hall, MSC 7801, Harrisonburg, VA 22807; [email protected], (540) 246-2598; [email protected], (540) 568-2704

Climate change is predicted to extirpate many of the existing brook trout throughout their native range and eliminate brook trout in Virginia. Previous large-scale assessments of the effects of climate change on cold-water fishes have models that assumed a steady relationship between air and water temperature. While these models were appropriate for large-scale assessments they may not be accurate at the smaller scales where brook trout management occurs. Many small patches of brook trout habitat may persist in Virginia even under the most pessimistic projections due to localized conditions (i.e. springs, aspect). Our pilot study showed that the relationship between air and water temperature is 1) highly variable at the catchment scale (average size = 237 ha), 2) potentially influenced by local conditions (i.e. elevation, aspect, riparian cover, latitude, and ground water sources) and 3) is often best fitted to a sigmoid curve. These relationships can be quantified and modeled to rank the existing brook trout populations for their resiliency to climate change. We identified all Virginia catchments containing brook trout and dissolved contiguous brook trout occupied catchments into patches of brook trout habitat (n = 272; average size 2856 ha). Paired air and water thermographs have been placed at the centroid and downstream border of selected brook trout patches and data will be collected at 30 minute intervals for 17 months to include two critical summer periods (July 1-September 15). Brook trout patches were selected from cluster analysis groupings using land-use and topographic metrics. Results from sampled patches will be used to model and rank the remainder of the un-sampled patches for resiliency to climate change. The resiliency rankings of patches of brook trout habitat will be useful for priority setting of monitoring and restoration work.

^ Student presenter 24

Session – Fisheries Management

If We Destroy Them, They Will Come: Dam Removal in Virginia

L. Alan Weaver

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4010 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230; [email protected], (804) 367-6795

As a signatory of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement and subsequent iterations, Virginia provides fish passage for diadromous fishes by removing impediments or constructing fishways. There are over 76,000 dams exceeding 6’ in the United States. Approximately 1,300 dams exist in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed alone. When feasible, dam removal is the preferred fish passage option because of the additional benefits of stream habitat restoration and recreational boating safety improvements. Owner and community cooperation, funding and historical mitigation issues are the main challenges associated with completing dam removal projects. The rate of dam removal has accelerated both nationally and regionally over the last decade. In Virginia to date, nine dams have been removed and several others breached or notched. Dam removal projects are monitored to determine effectiveness. For example, several alosine species have been documented utilizing the Rappahannock River as many as 28 miles upstream of the former Embrey Dam. More dam removals are planned for the near future. Dam removal, notching and breaching has reopened 261 of over 826 miles that have been reopened to diadromous fishes in Virginia’s portion of the Bay watershed. Of the 826 miles, 650 are accessible by anadromous species. Virginia’s fish passage effort has played a major role in reaching the larger Chesapeake Bay goal. From 1988 through 2005, Bay Program partners restored access to 1,838 miles, surpassing the original 1,357-mile restoration goal. The fish passage restoration goal has since been increased to 2,807 miles by 2014. Since 2005, 519 miles have been reopened Baywide, bringing the total to 2,335, or 83% of the 2014 goal.

25

Session – Fisheries Management

Demographic Responses of Trout Populations Two Decades After Habitat Manipulation in Five Colorado Streams

Shannon White^1, Josh Harris^1, Charles Gowan1, and Kurt Fausch2

1 Environmental Studies Program, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005; [email protected], (804) 387-3498; [email protected], (540) 397-1800; [email protected], (804) 752-7293

2 Department of Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523; [email protected], (970) 491-6457

Habitat manipulation is used in management of trout streams, despite conflicting evidence as to its long-term efficacy for increasing fish populations. We evaluated efficacy of one type of habitat enhancement, log-drop structures, more than 20 years after initial installation. We quantified longevity of unmaintained structures, effects of structures on physical habitat, and effects of structures on juvenile and adult trout abundance. Log drops were installed in a randomly-selected half of a 500-m study reach in six Colorado streams in 1987 and 1988, and habitat and fish abundance were measured annually through 1994. In 2009, we resampled five of the streams. Results from 2009 match closely with those obtained between 1988 and 1994. All 53 logs installed in the study streams in 1988 were relocated in 2009, and all but two were functioning normally. Moreover, their effects on habitat in 2009 were consistent with results found in 1988-1994: mean and total pool volume were higher in treatment sections than adjacent controls, but mean depth, mean width, and percentage of fine substrate were not. Similarly, abundance of adult (but not juvenile) trout remained higher in treatment sections. Our research shows that log drops can continue to increase trout abundance decades after installation and may not be as dependent on maintenance as previously thought.

^ Student presenters 26

Session – Wildlife Management

Comparison of Surveying Techniques in Documenting Summer Bat Communities

Robert C. Bland^1, Karen E. Francl1, and Jessica S. Lucas2

1 Biology Department, Radford University, Radford, VA 24142; [email protected]; [email protected], (540) 831-6537

2 Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634; [email protected]

In order to maximize efficiency in assessing the composition and relative activity of summer bat communities, we statistically examined differences in the amount and quality of data collected using recordings from the Anabat echolocation detection system and double- or triple-stacked mist-netting efforts over the period of one or two nights. In the summer of 2009, we surveyed 27 sites in and New Jersey, monitoring from sunset until 5-h post- sunset for two nights. We recorded 5,594 echolocation call sequences in which we identified seven species (Eptesicus fuscus, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Lasiurus borealis, Lasiurus cinereus, Myotis lucifugus, M. septentrionalis, and M. sodalis). All species except for Myotis sodalis (Indiana bat) were captured in mist-nets. Our results showed no difference between the total number of echolocation call sequences on the first night versus the average number of calls across both nights, indicating that relative activity of bats could be attained in just one night of Anabat recordings. However, if the goal is to assess species richness or detection of a particular species, we found that two nights of surveys were necessary for both sampling techniques. More importantly, Anabat recordings showed that detection of the endangered Indiana bat is significantly more likely when two nights are sampled. Overall, the Anabat echolocation detection system is more likely to give one a better idea of what bat species may be present in the community (assuming species identification techniques are reliable). However, only mist-netting efforts can provide vital information about individual health (especially important in light of White-nose Syndrome) and life history traits and can absolutely verify the presence of a target species. Our research serves as a guide to effectively plan surveying efforts in determining the species richness and relative activity across sites for bat communities.

^ Student presenter

27

Session – Wildlife Management

Tracking White-Nose Syndrome in Summer Bat Communities: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in the Eastern United States

Karen E. Francl*1, John Timpone2, and Dale W. Sparks2

1 Biology Department, Radford University, Radford, VA 24142; [email protected], (540) 831-6537

2 Environmental Solutions and Innovations, Inc., Cincinnati, OH 45233; [email protected]; [email protected]

White-nose Syndrome (WNS), discovered in 2006 in New York, is a condition affecting millions of cave bats in the eastern United States. Although the histopathological knowledge of this syndrome is increasing, the ecological effects are not fully understood. Beginning in 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supported the utilization of a wing index scoring system to assess wing damage (scale of 0 [no damage] to 3 [severe damage]) in summer months. In completing mistnetting surveys at 459 sites (22 counties) in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey, we questioned if index scores varied by species, by date, and by distance to the closest known infected hibernaculum. Of the 3476 bats (9 species) scored, just four individuals (0.1%; little brown bat, northern myotis) were scored as a 3 and 47 (1.4%; big brown bat, little brown bat, northern myotis) as a 2. All tree bats (red bat, hoary bat, silver-haired bat) scored a 0 or 1, suggesting that no individuals were affected by WNS. Although we found that the average index score decreased as the summer progressed, these trends were relatively weak (r = -0.181, p = 0.090), and even weaker when we limited analyses to cave bats (r = -0.142, p = 0.185). Although the average index score (by county) did not differ according to distance to a known WNS-positive hibernaculum (r = -0.119, p = 0.597), the number of WNS-positive bats was greater at sites closer to these infected hibernacula (r = - 0.406, p = 0.061). In asking these questions, we seek to further our knowledge of short-term WNS impacts on summer bat communities, and suggest methods to improve data collection pertaining to bat health in the summer months.

28

Session – Wildlife Management

Short-Term Effects of Prescribed Fire on Small Mammal Communities at Caldwell Fields, Jefferson National Forest

Dwight E. Meikle^, Karen E. Francl, and Christine J. Small

Biology Department, Box 6931, Radford University, Radford, VA, 24141; [email protected], (703) 830-8520; [email protected], (540) 831-6537; [email protected], (540) 831-5641

We examined the short-term impact of prescribed fire on small mammal and vegetation communities at Caldwell Fields, Montgomery Co. We surveyed three paired sites: field, creek, and forest slope. The field sites were burned in the March 2009, with the creek acting as a natural barrier to the burn. We surveyed small mammals for eight nights in May (4 nights) and July (4nights) in both 2008 and 2009 for a total of 13,592 trap-nights. Across these two years, we captured 488 individuals and 12 species (trap success = 3.1%). Peromyscus leucopus (27.0% of all captures) and P. maniculatus (20.3%) dominated captures across both years. Post-burn, three of the 12 species were absent as compared to 2008, and trap success in the fields was markedly lower (8.8% in 2008, 1.2% in 2009). Trap success did not differ between months or years at the creek and forest sites. In examining 17 vegetation metrics, 16 did not differ between months and years. Only percent soil moisture was significantly higher across all sites in 2008 as compared to 2009. Despite our small sample size, it is clear that fire’s short- term effects on a field community are considerable. Furthermore, the year-to-year differences in the small mammal species richness and capture success emphasize the importance of sampling across multiple years in order to assess the health of the community. We will continue to monitor these sites in coming years to examine longer-term fire effects on the mammal and vegetation communities.

^ Student presenter 29

Session – Wildlife Management

Mammalian Predator Removal Reduces Predation Rate on Artificial Beach-Nests on the Virginia Barrier Islands (U.S.A.)

Nancy D. Moncrief*1, Raymond D. Dueser1,2, Joel D. Martin2, and John H. Porter3

1Virginia Museum of Natural History, 21 Starling Ave., Martinsville, VA 24112; [email protected], (276) 634-4177

2 Dept. of Wildland Resources, Utah State Univ., Logan, UT 84322; [email protected], [email protected]

3 Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903; [email protected]

Does mammalian predation management reduce “predation intensity” on the eggs of beach- nesting birds? We compared predation rates on eggs in artificial scrapes on (1) predator- removal (Metompkin) and control (Parramore) islands in August 2003 and on (2) Parramore Island before (2003) and after (June-July 2004) an intensive predator removal campaign. On each island, we established 100 scrapes at randomly-selected points along a 4-km transect oriented parallel to the beach, above the high tide line. Each scrape was stocked with a “clutch” of 2 eggs, including 1 Japanese quail egg and 1 clay (Plasticene) egg. Each nest was monitored and restocked daily for 4 days. Metompkin was thought to be raccoon- and red fox- free in 2003, while Parramore harbored large numbers of both species. Mammalian predation rates were higher on Parramore (~99% per day) than on Metompkin (~0%). Nevertheless, gulls and ghost crabs depredated ~19% of the nests per day on Metompkin. We repeated this trial in June and July 2004, using the same nest stations. Metompkin harbored 1-2 raccoons at this time, while Parramore still harbored both species even after a large number of raccoons and red foxes had been removed in autumn 2003. Mammalian predation rates on Parramore (18% per day) were still higher than on Metompkin (~0% per day), but were reduced dramatically from 2003. Once again, gulls and ghost crabs depredated ~6% of the nest per day on Metompkin. These results suggest that mammalian predation management has significant potential for reducing nest predation on islands.

30

Session – Wildlife Management

White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Fawn Survival in the Northeastern Virginia Piedmont

Kurtis R. Moseley*1, John Rohm2, R. Tim Stamps3, and Ben Fulton4

1 Fish, Wildlife and Agronomy Section, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Branch, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA 22134; [email protected], (703) 432-6776

2 Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Merrimac Farm, Nokesville, VA 20185; [email protected], (540) 295-5826

3 Fish, Wildlife and Agronomy Section, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Branch, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA 22134; [email protected], (703) 432-6774

4 Fish and Wildlife Section, Environmental Natural Resources Division, US Army Garrison, Fort A.P. Hill, VA 22427; [email protected]; (804) 633-8984

Increasing coyote observations in many parts of the eastern US have raised concerns regarding possible negative impacts on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations. Accordingly, we initiated a study to investigate white-tailed deer fawn cause-specific mortality, survival, and habitat associations in the northeastern Virginia Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions. During 2008-2009, we captured and radio collared 31 fawns at Quantico Marine Corps Base (QMCB), Virginia. We located and captured fawns using a variety of techniques including ground searches, thermal imaging, and implantation of vaginal integrated transmitters in does. Estimated 12-week survival probability for 2008 and 2009 combined was 0.52 (± 0.10 SE). Specific mortality causes included natural (29.03%) and predation (9.68%). Survival probabilities did not differ between years and sex or among Gaudal Canal, Mainside, and FBI locations (P > 0.05). However, 67% of natural mortality occurred at FBI. Mean fawn 50% and 95% minimum convex polygon home range sizes were 19.10 (± 7.38 SE) and 116.22 (± 39.70 SE), respectively. Percent conifer forest > 15 years old was greater within mortality than survival areas. Our preliminary results suggest coyote predation on white-tailed deer fawns on QMCB is negligible. However, increased fawn abandonment rates within FBI, relative to other study locations, warrants further investigation.

31

Session – Wildlife Management

Assessment of Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) Presence and Habitat Quality in Carroll County, Virginia

Amy A. Roberts*, Michael J. Pinder, and M. T. Baisey

Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, 2206 S. Main St., Suite C, Blacksburg, VA 24060; [email protected], [email protected], (540) 961-8387

The bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) is a federally threatened species inhabiting spring-fed wetlands of the eastern United States. In Virginia, the species occurs in the southern Blue Ridge Province in Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Patrick, and Roanoke counties. Bog turtle wetlands are small and vulnerable to degradation and destruction. The loss of a bog turtle wetland near Hillsville, Carroll County prompted the Virginia Department of Transportation to fund a county-wide survey for this species from April to September 2009. In addition, we determined habitat characteristics associated with these wetlands and compared three habitat assessment methods.

One hundred privately owned wetlands were identified through road surveys. Ninety-one landowners were approached, with 89 granting permission to survey their property. On-site visual surveys and stick probing were used to locate bog turtles. Additionally, non-baited wire traps were placed at 19 sites. Twenty-five bog turtles were found on 14 sites. These newly- identified sites represent 58% of known bog turtle sites in Carroll County and 20% of known sites in Virginia.

Bog turtle-inhabited sites were characterized by standing water with soft dark substrate, maximum mud depth of 45+ cm, and wetland size approximately 9,000 m2. Scirpus sp., Juncus sp., skunk cabbage, alder shrubs, and Carex sp. were all found on each of these sites, as well as roads, residential property, pasture w/grazing, ditching, and bare ground.

Three wetland assessment methods analyzed were visual inspection from the nearest road, in- wetland Site Description, and Site Quality Analysis (SQA). We found that ranking sites with and without turtles using SQA is effective at determining wetland habitat quality. Drought tolerance, substrate, and movement barriers differentiated “poor” sites from “good” sites. Comparisons among assessment methods showed that 50% of sites were ranked highest using the Site Description method. Generally, the Site Description method was the most “generous,” though each method was effective at identifying wetlands and ranking site quality for bog turtles.

32