ANNUAL (2005) AND FINAL (2001-2005) PERFORMANCE REPORT SURVEY AND MANAGEMENT OF MARYLAND’S FISHERY RESOURCES Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service Inland Fisheries Management Program Tawes State Office Building B-2 580 Taylor Avenue Annapolis, Maryland 21401 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Federal Aid Grant: F-48-R-15 This grant was supported by funds from the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Acts (Dingell-Johnson & Wallop-Breaux) and the State of Maryland Fisheries Management and Protection Fund TABLE OF CONTENTS Fisheries Information Resources........................................................A1 Environmental Review Angler Preference Survey Supplementary Information Impoundment Fisheries......................................................................B1 Survey and Inventory Administer Rodeo Pond Program Monitor Trends in Fish Populations Coldwater Streams.............................................................................C1 Summary of Trout Population Statistics Survey and Inventory of Fish Species and Habitat Major Rivers and Streams..................................................................D1 Monitor Trends in Fish Population Dynamics Tidal Freshwater Streams ..................................................................E1 Adult Population Assessment Juvenile Recruitment Surveys Hatchery Contribution Tagging Studies Scale/Otolith Comparison Studies Angler Creel Surveys Tournament Surveys ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT 2005 Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service Inland Fisheries Management Program SURVEY AND MANAGEMENT OF FRESHWATER FISHERIES RESOURCES Management of Fisheries Information Resources USFWS Federal Aid Grant F-48-R-15 Study I By: Susan Rivers A1 Table of Contents Fisheries Information Resources Environmental Review......................................................................................................A3 Angler Preference Survey.................................................................................................A7 Supplementary Information: (not charged to project) Formulation & Evaluation of Conservation Regulations...........................................A24 A2 State: Maryland Project Number: F-48-R-15 Study No.: I Job No.: 1 Project Title: Survey and Management of Freshwater Fisheries Resources Study Title: Management of Fisheries Information Resources Job Title: Environmental Review Introduction The objective of this job was to conduct environmental reviews of any projects that might impact fish populations and their habitat. Methods The Environmental Review Section within the Department of Natural Resources or another lead agency for the given project contacted the Inland Fisheries Division of Maryland Fisheries Service to gain input and advice from staff. The local resource manager reviewed the project, checked historical data on the area in question, and conducted site visits to determine potential impacts on fish populations. All information collected during this procedure was evaluated and used to develop a position statement. In cases where no relevant data was available, a literature search of similar types of projects was conducted to aid in the development of a best course of action. For some projects, action included on-site sampling of the fish populations and existing habitat to gain additional information. If it was determined that impact from the proposed activity could not be avoided, mitigation alternatives were developed. Projects subject to environmental review by the staff of Fisheries Service include: wetlands alteration, bridge and roadway planning and construction, forestry practices, acid mine mitigation, property acquisition, comprehensive plans, water allocation, and mining projects, research projects by other entities, and proposed discharge sources. Results and Discussion Major environmental review activities involved new and continuing projects in 2005. The continuing activities involved the review of forestry practices, strip mining, water allocation, waterway habitat issues and mitigation activities. Environmental review continued on the proposed Inter-County Connector (ICC) roadway for Montgomery County as government officials have increased interest in the project. The proposed path of the roadway will be constructed over the headwaters of Paint Branch, in the Good Hope Tributary where naturally reproducing brown trout spawning has been documented. A3 Problems developed in the spring and early summer of 2005 on the Youghiogheny River as a result of warm thermal discharges from Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County. Staff learned that the management company for the Deep Creek Lake Hydro-electric Plant had changed and that the new managers were not aware of past agreements. Western Region staff negotiated with the new managers to insure that the negotiated thermal flow and discharge regimes from the lake to the river would be followed in the future. Strip mining remediation activities continued to be an issue in Western Maryland. Staff gathered information on streams where proposed liming projects were scheduled and monitored existing sites. One site on George’s Creek in Allegany County experienced a catastrophic event when acid levels increased in the stream causing a total fish kill. Experts believe that an underground cell collapsed and flushed additional acidic water into the area and exceeded the capacity of the existing lime dosing unit. Staff is working with the Bureau of Mines and the Department of the Environment in an attempt to rectify the situation, but this will be an on-going project to gain back the resources in George’s Creek. Land acquisition activities continued in Western Maryland to provide increased and safer access to fishing areas in Garrett and Allegany Counties. Most of these access opportunities are being pursued on the North Branch of the Potomac River. A new environmental review activity was the review of collection permits for research proposals. Most of the collection permit proposals involved studies of pelecypod (mussels) or decapod (crayfish) species and accumulated contaminants. Staff reviewed the areas and activities proposed with each study to ensure that they would not interfere with on-going studies and that they would not adversely impact rare, threatened or endangered species of mussels and crayfish. The information on environmental reviews for 2005 for Inland Fisheries is contained in Table 1. Environmental review activities for the past five years have shown an increase in projects and impacts resulting from increased development (Table 2). Increases were observed in water allocation, road and bridge projects and wetland alteration. With the review of these projects also came the review of projects intended to mitigate the impacts of these activities. Stream restoration and fish passage activities are examples of mitigation processes dealing with population growth and development. An internal reorganization in Fisheries Service resulted in more permit reviews for academic collection and aquaculture. Since these activities can impact both managed species and rare threatened and endangered species, it is important to evaluate the impact of proposals on the fishery resources of the State. A4 Conclusions The following conclusions apply to the past year, the concluding 5-year study and future needs for environmental review. • Environmental reviews must continue to protect the inland fishery resources of the State. • Staff must continue to pursue existing projects on the North Branch of the Potomac River, Youghiogheny River and Deep Creek Lake, Gunpowder Falls, George’s Creek, and Paint Branch. • Work with strip-mined areas in Western Maryland needs to continue to rehabilitate extirpated or threatened fish populations. • Staff needs to respond to new projects in a timely manner to protect fish populations. • Development in Maryland is increasing and staff will need to be prepared to respond to more environmental review projects that deal with urban expansion. • As more research groups work with species and environmental conditions, Inland Fisheries staff will be reviewing more collection permits and will need to closely monitor those studies that may conflict with Inland Fisheries studies. Table 1. Environmental review activities for Inland Fisheries Division of Maryland Fisheries Service during 2005. Management section Environmental Review Western Central Southern Eastern Planning Nontidal wetlands alteration 1 17 1 Tidal water/wetlands alteration 1 Comprehensive plans 4 Strip mining 5 Strip mining mitigation 3 Timber sales 9 Reservoirs/water allocation 7 8 Land acquisition 1 Bridge projects 4 6 Road projects 4 6 Stream restoration 7 5 Aquaculture permit 4 Collection permit 5 6 7 Sewage treatment plant permit 2 review Fish passage 10 Wastewater treatment plant 5 modification Utility impacts / dredging 5 A5 Table 2. Environmental review activities conducted by Maryland Inland Fisheries Division, 2001-2005. Environmental Review 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Nontidal wetlands alteration 52 35 13 19 19 Tidal water/wetlands alteration 4 1 1 Comprehensive plans 16 6 5 6 4 Strip mining 4 3 6 4 5 Strip mining mitigation 10 5 2 15 3 Timber sales 7 9 8 11 9 Reservoirs/water allocation 2 7 13 14 15 Land acquisition 6 4 6 5 1 Bridge projects 1 4 10 10 Road projects 14 8 10 Stream restoration 1 12 Aquaculture permit 4 Collection permit 18 Sewage treatment plant permit 2 review Gravel pit mining 1 1 Fish passage 10 Wastewater treatment plant 5 modification Utility impacts/dredging