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Thorn Creek Aquatic Passage Project, Pendelton County, West Virginia
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This project will remove the 9 identified fish passage barriers in a 50 square mile wild brook trout watershed in Thorn Creek of the South Branch of the Potomac. These impediments block passage in one or both directions, and serve to sustain an outward migration of brook trout into waters which, currently, are lethally warm for brook trout in typical summer conditions. Removal of the blockages will open over 25 miles of perennial stream to brook trout, improving the long term security of the population. Thorn Creek serves as a brook trout nursery for the upper South Branch of the Potomac.
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Projects
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2006 - 2018 Projects
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2010 Projects
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Whitethorn Creek Restoration, West Virginia
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Whitethorn Creek, the most significant tributary in the Thorn Creek drainage of the South Branch of the Potomac, is historically recognized as supporting one of the best brook trout populations in West Virginia. This population has been significantly reduced in recent years as a result of land use impacts and two devastating flood events. The purpose of this project is to remove threats from agricultural impacts and in-stream habitat loss caused by the flood related activities by restoring approximately 1.5 miles of stream habitat and reestablishing 24 acres of riparian vegetation.
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Projects
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2006 - 2018 Projects
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2008 Projects
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Whitethorn Creek Restoration, West Virginia
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Whitethorn Creek, which is the most significant tributary in the Thorn Creek drainage of
the South Branch of the Potomac, is historically recognized as supporting one of the
best brook trout populations in West Virginia. This population has been significantly
reduced in recent years as a result of land use impacts and two devastating flood
events. The flood events altered instream habitat quality and washed away a large
portion of riparian cover in the watershed. Following the loss of the relatively stable
vegetated riparian corridor, livestock grazing has prevented re-growth and has caused
widespread bank instability as a result of unregulated stream access. will result in the restoration and protection of approximately one mile of
degraded brook trout habitat. This project will result in the reconnection of upstream
spawning and rearing habitat to the mainstem of Thorn Creek. Reestablishment of the
riparian corridor will provide lower overall water temperatures in addition to refuge areas
during lower flows. The instream restoration will create habitat zones and a more stable
hydrology through this reach and downstream.
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Projects
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2006 - 2018 Projects
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2007 Projects
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Big Run Restoration, West Virginia
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The Big Run project is part of Trout Unlimited’s Home Rivers Initiative Potomac Headwaters Restoration Project. The stream has suffered habitat degradation in the riparian zone, stream banks and instream due to long-term livestock grazing. There currently exists a lifetime grazing allotment on that portion of the Monongahela National Forest that supports Big Run. The Forest Service, Trout Unlimited and others have teamed up to work with the allotment holder to fence the riparian zone, create crossings and alternative water sources to completely remove the cattle from the stream. Over time, riparian reforestation will stabilize banks and provide vital shade during warm summer months. This is the initial project on Big Run. Resources have already been secured to move down stream on the Forest and on to private property. The project will include informational and educational kiosks and trails that will improve access for anglers and hikers. The project will restore 45 acres of riparian forest and enhance 1.5 miles of stream habitat.
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Projects
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2006 - 2018 Projects
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2006 Projects
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West Virginia Brook Trout Distribution Assessment
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The EBTJV range wide assessment of brook trout identified a distinct gap in our knowledge of the status and distribution of brook trout in West Virginia. This project will compile existing data on brook trout in southeastern West Virginia, conduct field surveys to fill in gaps, and collect samples for micro-satellite DNA analysis. The results will be used to produce a quality assured GIS based data set for the entire state of West Virginia that includes spatially explicit information on brook trout reproduction, population status, habitat and water quality.
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Projects
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2006 - 2018 Projects
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2006 Projects
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Mill Creek “Chop and Drop”, WV_FY14 Project
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Mostly dead and/or down hemlock trees were utilized to create large woody material inspired habitat structures to increase pool habit, increase thalweg meander length, decrease bankfull width, and introduce overhead fish cover. Cross-vanes, j-hooks, wing-deflectors, toe wood, digger logs, and engineered log jams were constructed. The strategic part of this chop and drop effort was to place and anchor logs to minimize movement in bankfull or high events.
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Projects
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Project Completion Reports
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A Map of West Virginia Wild Brook Trout Patches
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The map provides a visual depiction of the distribution of West Virginia's wild Brook Trout patches.
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Science and Data
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EBTJV State Maps and Resources
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State Maps of Wild Brook Trout Patch Distribution
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Can brook trout survive climate change in large rivers? If it rains - Merriam et al. 2017
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Brook trout habitat vulnerability was assessed within an Appalachian watershed.
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Increased discharge largely offset effects of increased air temperature.
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No consistent loss of suitable brook trout habitat by end of 21st century
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However, periods of low flow resulted in a loss of habitat at the network-scale.
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Persistence of refugia below tributaries should enable metapopulation persistence.
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Science and Data
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Brook Trout Related Publications
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Climate change influence on brook trout populations in the Central Appalachians - Andrew et al. 2022
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We used a 18-year brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) data set with samples across a ~4800 km2 spatial area in the Central Appalachian Mountains, combined with PRISM climate data at the HUC-12 subwatershed level to investigate temporal trends of each. his work provides long-term evidence to help understand the dynamics of these sentinel headwater fish populations as they experience a changing climate.
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Science and Data
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Brook Trout Related Publications
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USDA Conservation Stewardship Program
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The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance—the higher the performance, the higher the payment.
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The Story of Wild Brook Trout
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Landowner Resources