Proposed Changes to List of Class A Wild Trout Waters; January 2016 [45 Pa.B. 6647]
[Saturday, November 14, 2015]The Fish and Boat Commission (Commission) is considering changes to its list of Class A Wild Trout Streams. Under 58 Pa. Code § 57.8a (relating to Class A wild trout streams), it is the Commission's policy to manage self-sustaining Class A wild trout populations as a renewable natural resource to conserve that resource and the angling it provides. Class A wild trout populations represent the best of this Commonwealth's naturally reproducing trout fisheries. With rare exceptions, the Commission manages these stream sections solely for the perpetuation of the wild trout fishery with no stocking.
Criteria developed for Class A Wild Trout fisheries are species specific. Wild Trout Biomass Class Criteria include provisions for:
(i) Wild Brook Trout Fisheries
(A) Total brook trout biomass of at least 30 kg/ha (26.7 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Brook trout biomass must comprise at least 75% of the total trout biomass.
(ii) Wild Brown Trout Fisheries
(A) Total brown trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Brown trout biomass must comprise at least 75% of the total trout biomass.
(iii) Mixed Wild Brook and Brown Trout Fisheries
(A) Combined brook and brown trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(D) Brook trout biomass must comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(E) Brown trout biomass must comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(iv) Wild Rainbow Trout Fisheries
Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 2.0 kg/ha (1.78 lbs/acre).
(v) Mixed Wild Brook and Rainbow Trout Fisheries
(A) Combined brook and rainbow trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(D) Brook trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(E) Rainbow trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(vi) Mixed Wild Brown and Rainbow Trout Fisheries
(A) Combined brown and rainbow trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(D) Brown trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(E) Rainbow trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
During recent surveys, Commission staff documented the following stream sections to have Class A wild trout populations. The Commission intends to consider adding these waters to its list of Class A Wild Trout Streams at its meeting on January 20 and 21, 2016.
County Stream Section Limits Tributary To Mouth
Lat/LonBrook Trout
(kg/ha)Brown Trout
(kg/ha)Rainbow Trout
(kg/ha)Length
(miles)Survey
YearBerks Laurel Run 3 UNT approx. 20 meters upstream SR 3059 to Mouth Schuylkill River 40.379722
75.9511111.30 58.61 — 0.32 2013 Cambria UNT to North Branch Little Conemaugh River (RM 7.92) 1 Headwaters to Mouth North Branch Little Conemaugh River 40.464771
78.67664537.62 — — 1.52 2015 Cambria UNT to Trout Run (RM 2.59) 1 Headwaters to Mouth Trout Run 40.371589
78.65958141.58 — — 1.99 2014 Centre Barner Run 1 Headwaters to Mouth Pine Creek 40.934104
77.32370454.78 — — 1.01 2015 Centre Haines Gap Run 1 Headwaters to Mouth Pine Creek 40.895006
77.36899836.14 0.06 — 0.84 2014 Centre UNT to Gingerich Gap Run (RM 1.43) 1 Headwaters to Sink at RM 0.99 Gingerich Gap Run 40.920992
77.50439146.63 — — 1.20 2015 Centre UNT to Penns Creek (RM 53.77) 1 Headwaters to Mouth Penns Creek 40.853353
77.497301159.84 — — 3.25 2015 Centre UNT to Pine Creek (RM 16.77) 1 Headwaters to Mouth Pine Creek 40.954459
77.24411441.18 — — 1.18 2015 Centre/Clinton Bull Run 1 Headwaters to Sink at RM 1.62 Fishing Creek 41.014422
77.35800764.11 — — 2.10 2015 Centre/ Huntingdon Shingletown Branch 1 Headwaters to Mouth Laurel Run 40.718700
77.83319141.13 5.49 — 2.63 2015 Centre/Union Bear Run 1 Headwaters to Mouth Laurel Run 40.899251
77.26391437.89 5.18 — 4.10 2015 Centre/Union Laurel Run 1 Headwaters to Bear Run Penns Creek 40.870278
77.18888918.22 30.10 — 1.71 2015 Chester UNT to Valley Creek (Cedar Hollow) 1 Headwaters to Mouth Valley Creek 40.067417
75.517273— 239.88 — 0.50 2012 Clearfield Laurel Run 1 Headwaters to Simeling Run Moshannon Creek 40.906667
78.22666734.02 — — 2.80 2015 Clearfield UNT to West Branch Susquehanna River (RM 193.26) 1 Headwaters to Mouth West Branch Susquehanna River 40.922324
78.62093432.50 — — 0.60 2015 Clearfield/Elk UNT to Jack Dent Branch (RM 1.76) 1 Headwaters to Mouth Jack Dent Branch 41.229370
78.36465051.77 — — 1.77 2014 Clinton Fishing Creek 14 Axe Factory Hollow to SR 2015 Bridge Bald Eagle Creek 41.122222
77.4830560.07 124.85 — 1.60 2013 Clinton Green Gap Run 1 Headwaters to Mouth Fishing Creek 41.048181
77.17974945.34 — — 1.60 2015 Clinton Jamison Run 1 Headwaters to Mouth McElhattan Reservoir 41.067780
77.31639156.12 — — 1.88 2015 Clinton Schreckengast Gap Run 1 Headwaters to Sink at RM 0.42 Fishing Creek 41.002494
77.39562051.56 — — 1.12 2015 Clinton Schwenks Gap Run 1 Headwaters to Sink at RM 1.21 Fishing Creek 41.037436
77.26070634.56 — — 2.13 2014 Clinton UNT to Fishing Creek (RM 5.89) 1 Headwaters to Sink at RM 1.68 Fishing Creek 41.067884
77.46369345.25 — — 2.01 2014 Clinton UNT to Fishing Creek (RM 6.25) 1 Headwaters to Mouth Fishing Creek 41.064384
77.4652460.38 43.30 — 2.10 2014 Clinton UNT to Fishing Creek (RM 7.94) 1 Headwaters to Sink at RM 0.44 Fishing Creek 41.048355
77.46574362.53 — — 1.49 2014 Clinton UNT to Fishing Creek (RM 17.73) 1 Headwaters to Mouth Fishing Creek 40.983079
77.48840138.95 27.03 — 2.00 2015 Clinton UNT to Fishing Creek (RM 40.83) 1 Headwaters to Mouth Fishing Creek 41.048318
77.16983552.36 — — 1.13 2015 Elk Water Tank Run 1 Headwaters to Mouth Elk Creek 41.422330
78.61774057.27 — — 3.07 2014 Erie Benson Run 1 Headwaters to Mouth LeBoeuf Creek 41.959812
79.967889— 41.20 — 3.17 2015 Erie Spencer Creek 1 Headwaters to Mouth South Branch French Creek 41.919265
79.68408249.49 — — 3.87 2015 Juniata Lick Run 1 Headwaters to Mouth Lost Creek 40.677580
77.28442847.57 15.72 — 1.37 2015 Juniata Tennis Run 1 Headwaters to Mouth Lost Creek 40.647839
77.29466526.51 18.61 — 3.38 2015 Mifflin Kishacoquillas Creek 5 1.5 miles upstream Tea Creek to Penn Central RR Bridge Juniata River 40.593611
77.576389— 103.25 — 3.71 2012 Mifflin Shanks Run 2 Spring at RM 0.23 to Mouth Juniata River 40.438452
77.75814932.80 0.65 — 0.23 2014 Mifflin Town Run 2 Spring at RM 2.01 to Mouth Juniata River 40.500086
77.738233— 60.32 — 2.01 2015 Montgomery Hosensack Creek 2 UNT 640 meters downstream SR 2031 to UNT 180 meters upstream T-387 Perkiomen Creek 40.425000
75.526944— 108.13 — 2.96 2014 Schuylkill Wash Creek 1 Headwaters to Mouth Mahoning Creek 40.763056
75.89333327.51 17.91 — 2.65 2015 Sullivan UNT to Double Run (RM 0.28) 1 Headwaters to Mouth Double Run 41.463509
76.57975851.18 — — 2.04 2014 Union Laurel Run 2 Bear Run to SR 235 Bridge Penns Creek 40.870278
77.18888912.26 30.77 — 3.59 2015 Persons with comments, objections or suggestions concerning the additions are invited to submit comments in writing to the Executive Director, Fish and Boat Commission, P. O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, within 30 days after publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Comments also may be submitted electronically by completing the form at www.fishandboat.com/regcomments. If an acknowledgment of electronic comments is not received by the sender within 2 working days, the comments should be retransmitted to ensure receipt. Electronic comments submitted in any other manner will not be accepted.
JOHN A. ARWAY,
Executive Director[Pa.B. Doc. No. 15-2023. Filed for public inspection November 13, 2015, 9:00 a.m.]
