Cool Water Stream Management Plan Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 2016 – 2020
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Cool Water Stream Management Plan Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 2016 – 2020 This Page Intentionally Left Blank 2 Contents Acronyms ........................................................................................................................................ 6 List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. 7 List of Tables ................................................................................................................................... 8 List of Photographs ......................................................................................................................... 9 Cool Water Streams Initiative Development Team ...................................................................... 11 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 12 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Vision Statement for Nebraska Cool Water Streams ............................................................... 12 Supporting the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project ..................................................................... 12 Defining Cool Water Streams in Nebraska ................................................................................... 13 Extent of the Resource .............................................................................................................. 13 Stream Classifications ............................................................................................................... 15 Inventory ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Nebraska Cool Water Stream Fish ............................................................................................ 19 At-risk Cool Water Stream Fish Species .................................................................................... 22 Blacknose Dace ..................................................................................................................... 23 Blacknose Shiner ................................................................................................................... 23 Burbot ................................................................................................................................... 25 Common Shiner..................................................................................................................... 25 Finescale Dace ....................................................................................................................... 26 Northern Pearl Dace ............................................................................................................. 26 Northern Redbelly Dace ........................................................................................................ 26 Plains Topminnow ................................................................................................................. 29 Topeka Shiner ....................................................................................................................... 29 At-risk Riparian Species ............................................................................................................. 32 Colorado Butterfly Plant ....................................................................................................... 32 Ute Ladies’-tresses ................................................................................................................ 32 Trout in Nebraska Cool Water Streams .................................................................................... 35 Habitat Requirements ........................................................................................................... 35 Trout Stocking ....................................................................................................................... 37 Available Access ........................................................................................................................ 38 3 Current Regulations .................................................................................................................. 40 Sport Fish .............................................................................................................................. 40 Baitfish Collection ................................................................................................................. 40 Aquatic Invasive Species ....................................................................................................... 40 Clean Water Act .................................................................................................................... 40 Endangered and Threatened Species ................................................................................... 41 NDEQ Assessment of Surface Water ............................................................................................ 41 Reporting Water Quality Conditions ........................................................................................ 41 Impaired Cool Water Streams .................................................................................................. 43 Strategies to Resolve Water Quality Impairments ................................................................... 44 NDEQ Monitoring Programs ......................................................................................................... 44 Ambient Stream Monitoring Program ...................................................................................... 45 Basin Rotation Monitoring Program ......................................................................................... 47 Stream Biological Monitoring Program .................................................................................... 49 Fish Tissue Monitoring Program ............................................................................................... 49 Threats to Cool Water Streams .................................................................................................... 51 Climate Change ......................................................................................................................... 51 Riparian Habitat Loss ................................................................................................................ 52 Invasive Species ........................................................................................................................ 53 Western Mosquitofish .......................................................................................................... 54 Yellow Flag Iris ....................................................................................................................... 54 Eastern Red Cedar ................................................................................................................. 55 Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia .............................................................................................. 55 Didymo .................................................................................................................................. 55 Water Usage in Nebraska ......................................................................................................... 55 Groundwater ......................................................................................................................... 55 Surface water ........................................................................................................................ 56 Alteration of Natural Flows ....................................................................................................... 56 Factors Increasing Streamflow .............................................................................................. 57 Barriers/Connectivity ............................................................................................................ 57 Alterations to Physical Characteristics ...................................................................................... 58 Alterations to Chemical Characteristics .................................................................................... 60 Goals and Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 61 4 Recommendations for Management Strategies ........................................................................... 66 Stream Prioritization ................................................................................................................. 67 Instream Habitat Rehabilitation ............................................................................................... 67 Riparian Corridor Management ................................................................................................ 72 Watershed Management .......................................................................................................... 74 Stream Monitoring and Management Evaluations .................................................................. 74 Fish Stocking 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