Coldwater : Protecting, Enhancing & Regulating a Critical Resource Area Adam Kautza and Misty-Anne Marold – MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Tim Dexter and Annie Bastoni – MA Department of Transportation

Qualities of Coldwater Fisheries Resources (CFR) • High water quality

• Natural flow regimes

• Cold water temperatures (<68F)

• Intact riparian areas

• Highly-oxygenated water

• Complex and diverse physical habitat

• Longitudinal and lateral connectivity What is a CFR • Mass Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW) CMR 321 5.00 – A water body that contains Coldwater that were reproduced in that waterbody or a tributary thereto and use such waters to meet one or more of their life history requirements.

CFR designation • Fisheries biologists capture coldwater fish during standard summer MDFW fisheries survey – July 1 through August 31 • With few exceptions the entire stream is considered a CFR Lake Chub (Couesius plumbeus) Endangered under MESA

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus)

Longnose Sucker (Catastomus catastomus) Special concern Brown Trout (Salmo Trutta)

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) American Brook Lamprey (Lampetra appendix) Threatened under MESA

Landlocked Atlantic (Salmo Salar) (Salvelinus namaycush)

Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax)

Burbot (Lota lota) Species of special concern CFR distribution

- Currently ~1300 CFRs, covering ~4k stream~1300 miles CFRs, 30/32 watersheds - 30/32 major watersheds statewide CFR maps

• CFR data can be downloaded from Mass GIS (Google “Mass GIS”) • Shapefile viewed in ARC GIS

CFR maps • CFR data can be viewed using online interactive mapping tool • Google “Mass coldwater fisheries map”

Impacts to CFRs • Coldwater fish sensitive to elevated temperatures (>68F), degraded water quality, and altered flow and habitat • Negative impacts can result from: – Runoff from impervious or otherwise modified surfaces – Removal of vegetation/canopy from riparian areas – Groundwater withdrawal – Loss of connectivity – Habitat alteration/loss – Climate change

DFW Working with DEP

• MA Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10.00) & Water Quality Certifications (314 CMR 9.00)

“Cold-water means waters in which the mean of the maximum daily temperature over a seven day period generally does not exceed 68ºF (20ºC) and, when other ecological factors are favorable (such as habitat), are capable of supporting a year-round population of cold-water stenothermal aquatic life such as trout. Waters designated as cold-water fisheries by the Department in 314 CMR 4.00: Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards and waters designated as cold-water fishery resources by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife are coldwater fisheries. Waters where there is evidence based on a fish survey that a cold- water fish population and habitat exist are also coldwater fisheries. Cold-water fish include but are not limited to brook trout (Salvelinus fontanilis), (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brown trout (Salmo trutta), creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus) and fallfish (semotilus corporalis).”

• MA Water Resources Management Program (310 CMR 36.00; Water Management Act, ) “Coldwater Fish Resources means waters that the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has identified to support cold water fish.” MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, CFR questions BIOLOGY REGULATORY Adam Kautza Aquatic Biologist Richard Hartley Aquatic Biologist 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westboro, MA 01581 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westboro, MA 01581 [email protected] [email protected] • (508) 389-6302 • (508) 389-6330 Lauren Glorioso 85 508-389-6361