June 2019 Volume 29 Number 4 Biologists fear catfish spread after last year’s record deluge ≈ Decades after introduction, the species is a boon for some anglers, but worries about impact on other species remain. BY KARL BLANKENSHIP Last year’s record-setting rainfall brought more into the Chesapeake Bay than pollution and debris. Biologists say the freshwater deluge helped the non- native blue catfish, which was already invading the estuary, to spread farther in the region’s rivers. “The gate is open,” said Martin Gary, executive director of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. “They have left and dispersed everywhere.” Blue catfish, which can grow to lengths of 5 feet, were released into Virginia’s Bay tributaries in the 1970s A 252-acre property on the edge of Fones Cliffs will be preserved from development and transferred to the U.S. Fish and as part of an effort to build a sport Wildlife Service this month. The dramatic cliffs along the Rappahannock River are referenced in explorer Capt. John fishery. Smith’s journals from 1608 and were the site of Smith’ interactions with local tribes. (Dave Harp) Since then, they have reached num- bers beyond what anyone imagined in rivers from the James to the Potomac, and they had begun spreading to other Fones Cliffs property to be preserved places in recent years. Biologists and ≈ Conservation efforts hit a the first priorities. Refuge, protecting habitat for one state fishery managers had hoped to milestone for Virginia site, In its place, a different story of the largest concentrations of bald stem further expansion, fearing harm about the generations of people and eagles in the country while adding to native species such as blue crabs, ecologically valuable and sacred wildlife who have lived around these to the refuge’s 9,000 protected acres yellow perch and white catfish. to the Rappahannock Tribe. 100-foot cliffs has already begun to along the Northern Neck. Those hopes were washed away emerge. Conservationists hope that But not every acre is created with 2018’s persistent rain. Blue catfish BY WHITNEY PIPKIN narrative will persuade neighboring equal, and the few that cozy up prefer fresh or slightly salty water, For more than a decade, an empty landowners — one of whom filed to the edge of those breathtaking which somewhat constrains their blue house perched on the edge of for bankruptcy on its development cliffs — offering panoramas of the movement into lower reaches of tidal an otherwise houseless sweep of project in May — to consider river’s curves below — are the ones rivers and the Bay itself. The heavy cliffs along the Rappahannock River conservation, too. conservationists are most eager to rain dramatically reduced salinities in loomed as a symbol of its future — Since purchasing the property at protect. rivers and most of the Bay, allowing the which included plans for two housing the end of 2018 from longtime owner “The fact that other people are catfish to spread almost everywhere. developments in an ecologically Terrell Bowers, The Conservation going to be able to come out here and On the Potomac, blue catfish are and historically significant area of Fund has been preparing to transfer see and understand this landscape is generally found north of the Route Virginia’s Northern Neck. But, when it to federal hands this month. If so important,” said Heather Richards, 301 bridge. But last year, they spread the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service all goes as planned, its 252 acres of The Conservation Fund’s Virginia throughout the lower river and beyond. completes its purchase of that forests, fields and deep ravines will state director and program manager, A Baywide fish survey, which had Fones Cliffs property this month, become part of the Rappahannock never before found catfish in the main- dismantling that house will be among River Valley National Wildlife Fones continues on page 20 Catfish continues on page 23 Bay Journal June 2019 2 • is published by Bay Journal Media to inform Editor’s Note BAY JOURNAL the public about ecological, scientific, historic and cultural issues and events related to the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay Journal, Bay Journal, staff receive awards from peers, Jug Bay circulation 35,000, is published monthly except in midsummer and midwinter. It is distributed free of charge. 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Our work was judged in a category for large nondaily newspapers, For mailing list additions/changes, please use the form on this and our writers were recognized for the page or contact: Bay Journal, P.O. Box 222, Jacobus, PA 17407-0222 following work that they produced in 2018: E-mail: [email protected] ≈ Tim Wheeler: 1st place in the general BAY JOURNAL MEDIA news category for his reporting on Ellicott City, where stormwater-related flooding is Bay Journal Media is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with becoming more severe and frequent. a mission to further public education and awareness of issues ≈ Jeremy Cox: 2nd place in the general affecting the Chesapeake Bay and the mid-Atlantic environment news category for his reporting on Smith by creating and distributing journalistic products. 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Friends of Jug Bay when their organization environmental issues to more than 400 newspapers in the region, ≈ Tim Wheeler: 2nd place in the recognized our work with an award at reaching several million readers each month. investigative news category for his their annual meeting in April. reporting on the dramatic falloff in the The Jug Bay Award, fittingly, is an Karl Blankenship, Executive Director planting of streamside forest buffers — one actual — and really cool — hand-crafted Andrew Nolan, CPA, Chief Financial Officer of the most effective runoff controls — ceramic jug, given in recognition of the Bay STAFF across the Chesapeake watershed. Journal’s work since 1991 in informing the ≈ Jeremy Cox: 1st place in the public public about issues facing the Chesapeake. 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