This project was financed in part by a grant from the Coldwater Heritage Partnership on behalf of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the PA Fish and Boat Commission, the Western PA Watershed Program and the PA Council of Trout UnlimiUnlimitedtedtedted.... Coldwater Heritage Partners: The Clinton County Conservation District would like to thank: Lock Haven University Dr. Md. Khalequzzaman Dr. John Way John Woodward Lycoming College Clean Water Institute Lloyd Wilson Chapter of Trout UnliUnlimitedmited Allegheny Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited PA State Council of Trout Unlimited Clinton County Conservation District 2008 Summer Interns PA Fish & Boat Commission USDA ––– Natural Resource Conservation Service Lamar National Fish Hatchery and NortheaNortheastst Fishery Center Special thanks to Josh Furl who was one of the Conservation District’s 2007 and 2008 Interns. Josh played a major role in field work, data collection, and preparing this Conservation Plan. TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary . 6 Fishing Creek/Cedar Run Watershed Characteristics. 6 Watershed Overview . 6 Fishing Creek Watershed’s Ecoregional Framework . 8 Physiography, Topography, and Geology. 9 Hydrology. 11 Trout . 11 Land Use . .12 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Ch. 93 Designations . .16 Previous Studies/Analysis of Watershed. .18 Methods and Materials. 20 Water Chemistry . .20 Chemical Parameter Explanations . 22 Habitat Assessments . .24 Macroinvertebrates . .24 Electrofishing . .26 Fishing Creek Assessment . 28 Water Chemistry . .28 Habitat Assessments . .38 Macroinvertebrates . .40 Electrofishing . .45 Cedar Run Assessment . .47 Water Chemistry . 47 Habitat Assessments . 51 Macroinvertebrates . .54 Electrofishing . .58 Recommendations . 60 Agricultural Conservation Plans . 61 Riparian Vegetation/Canopy Cover . .61 No-Till/Conservation Tillage . .62 Fish Habitat Improvement/Bank Stabilization Structures . .62 Cover Crops . .63 Nutrient Management Plan . 63 Public Meeting Recommendations . 63 Possible Future Studies . .64 Habitat Assessment Field Data Sheets . .65 Literature Cited . 67 2 Tables Table 1: Class A Stream Segments of the Fishing Creek Watershed . 13 Table 2: The Land Use Percentages for Clinton County, Fishing Creek Watershed (including subwatersheds), Cedar Run Watershed, and Little Fishing Creek Watershed . .13 Table 3: Lengths of Impaired Segments and the Corresponding Causes/Sources of Impairment in the Fishing Creek/Cedar Run Watershed . .18 Table 4: LHU Chemistry Site Descriptions, Coordinates, Duration, and Corresponding CCCD Biological/Habitat Assessment Sites. 20 Table 5: Maximum Temperature Criteria for Coldwater Fisheries . 22 Table 6: Temperature Ranges for Adult Trout Species . .23 Table 7: All Macroinvertebrate Sampling Sites . 25 Table 8: Summary of the Macroinvertebrate Metrics . .26 Table 9. Water Quality and Degree of Organic Pollution Based on Biotic Index . .26 Table 10: Electrofishing Sites . .27 Table 11: Water Quality Criteria for Various Chemical Parameters and the Corresponding Critical Uses . .28 Table 12: Individual Parameter Scores of Fishing Creek Habitat Assessments . .39 Table 13: Summary of Macroinvertebrates and the Corresponding Metrics for Fishing Creek . 41 Table 14: Trout Biomass of Three Sites in the Fishing Creek Watershed in 2008 . .46 Table 15: Species Present at Three Sites Within the Fishing Creek Watershed in 2008 . 46 Table 16: Temperature ( °Celsius) of Cedar Run Sites for June-September 2008. 48 Table 17: DO Concentrations (mg/L) of Cedar Run Sites for June-September 2008. 48 Table 18: pH Measurements of Cedar Run Sites for June-September 2008. 49 Table 19: TDS Concentrations (mg/L) of Cedar Run Sites in June and July of 2008 . 50 Table 20: TSS Concentrations (mg/L) of Cedar Run Sites for June-September 2008. 50 Table 21: Nitrate Concentrations (mg/L) of Cedar Run Sites for June-September 2008 . 50 Table 22: Reactive Phosphate Concentrations (mg/L) of Cedar Run Sites for June- September 2008. 51 Table 23: Alkalinity Concentrations (mg/L) of Cedar Run Sites for June 2008 . .51 Table 24: Individual Parameter Scores of Cedar Run Habitat Assessment . 53 Table 25: Summary of Macroinvertebrates and the Corresponding Metrics for Cedar Run . 55 Table 26: Brown Trout Biomass of Cedar Run Electrofishing Sites . 59 Table 27: Class Requirements for a Brown Trout Fishery . .59 Table 28: Species Present at Cedar Run Electrofishing Sites . .60 3 Figures Figure 1: Counties Within the Fishing Creek Watershed . 7 Figure 2: Municipalities of Fishing Creek Watershed . .8 Figure 3: Level III Ecoregions of Pennsylvania and the Fishing Creek Watershed . 9 Figure 4: Level IV Ecoregions of Fishing Creek Watershed . .10 Figure 5: Trout in the Fishing Creek/Cedar Run Watershed . 12 Figure 6: Fishing Creek Watershed Land Use . .14 Figure 7: Clinton County Land Use . .15 Figure 8: Cedar Run Watershed Land Use . 16 Figure 9: DEP Designations of the Fishing Creek/Cedar Run Watershed . 17 Figure 10: Impaired Stream Segments in the Fishing Creek/Cedar Run Watershed . 18 Figure 11: Fishing Creek Assessment Chemistry Sites . .29 Figure 12: HQ-CWF Standard and Temporal Variations in Temperature for Cherry Run, FC@ Heltman, CR @ Rt. 64, and FC @ Mill Hall from April 2002- July 2008 . 30 Figure 13: Maximum, Minimum, and Average Temperatures of Fishing Creek Sites . 31 Figure 14: Temporal Variations of Temperature for Cedar Run @ Rt. 64 from April 2002- July 2008 . ..