Featured Stream: Upper Gunpowder River

he upper Gunpowder River watershed covers 31.68 km2 data throughout the watershed to better inform future habitat (7,827.80 acres) in northern Carroll County and north- restoration projects. For more information about the upper T western Baltimore County. The watershed contains the Gunpowder River Brook Trout Partnership, please contact Scott upper Gunpowder River as well as numerous named and un- Scarfone ([email protected]) or visit their web- named tributaries, totaling 74.82 stream kilometers (46.49 site here. miles). Brook Trout Life History Information: Management Recommendations: Brook trout populations are considered to be allopatric through- Although the upper Gunpowder River watershed provides quali- out the upper Gunpowder River watershed. Thirty-six brook ty angling, there are still water quality issues within the water- trout surveys have been conducted within the watershed since shed that need addressed. Extensive temperature monitoring 1992 with an average density of 762 adult brook trout per kilo- throughout the watershed by the upper Gunpowder Brook meter (473 trout per mile) across Trout Partnership has shown that all sites. Streams in the lower half temperatures in the mainstem river of the watershed are protected by and many tributaries often exceed the Prettyboy watershed (which the thermal thresholds for brook also provides public fishing access) trout. In light of this information and have the strongest popula- and coupled with the provided land tions, although brook trout can be use data, we recommend focusing found scattered throughout the restoration efforts on areas with watershed. However, streams in limited/no canopy cover within a the upper reaches of the water- 50 meter buffer and working with shed are impacted by more land landowners to restore the riparian use disturbances and generally zone and ultimately decrease water have lower numbers of trout. Ra- temperatures. In addition to buffer dio telemetry and survey infor- restoration, inline ponds are abun- mation suggest that this watershed dant and scattered throughout the is fully connected and brook trout watershed. Runoff from inline have the ability to move freely between the mainstem river and ponds following rain events in the summer can cause acute fish its tributaries. Therefore, the mainstem river is a great place to kills and extirpate brook trout from entire reaches of a stream. target quality size brook trout during the cooler months Working with landowners to bypass or remove these ponds (October through April). Genetic information has been collected would provide additional water temperature benefits. at two locations within the watershed with a maximum effective The Upper Gunpowder River watershed presents a rare oppor- population size of 59.8 suggesting adequate genetic diversity to tunity to restore and protect an interconnected brook trout sys- prevent inbreeding depression and/or genetic drift. tem and could be one of the greatest success stories of brook Buffer Assessment: trout conservation in Maryland and nationally! Within a 50 meter buffer, the stream corridors are predominant- ly forested (57%) although agriculture and mowed turf are dom- For more information about the upper Gunpowder River water- inant disturbances. Many habitat improvement efforts within shed, please contact: the 50 meter buffer would be beneficial for coldwater resources, Alan Heft but we would encourage a focus on riparian zone restoration Brook Trout Program Manager through tree plantings and livestock exclusion fencing in the [email protected] upper Gunpowder River watershed. 301-689-7107 Additional Information: or The upper Gunpowder River watershed has been the focus of Mark Staley brook trout conservation since the Upper Gunpowder Brook Central Region Manager Trout Partnership was founded in 2014. Through this group, a [email protected] significant effort has been made to collect biological and habitat 410-442-2080