Proposed Changes to List of Class A Wild Trout Waters [44 Pa.B. 7306]
[Saturday, November 15, 2014]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. The Commission historically has managed 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 lb/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 lb/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 lb/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 lb/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 lb/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 lb/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 lb/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 lb/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 21 and 22, 2015. In addition, per a recent change to the Commission's policy at 58 Pa. Code § 57.8a, which goes into effect on January 1, 2015, the Commission will consider whether to allow each of these waters that are currently stocked with trout to continue to be stocked due to their high current angler use levels while also maintaining high biomass Class A wild trout fisheries. Under the revised policy, the Executive Director will obtain the approval of the Commission prior to granting permission to stock a Class A wild trout stream under 58 Pa. Code § 71.4 (relating to stocking of designated waters).
County Stream Section Limits Brook Trout (kg/ha) Brown Trout (kg/ha) Rainbow Trout (kg/ha) Length (miles) Survey Year Clinton Fishing Creek 13 Confluence of Cedar Run downstream to Axe Factory Hollow Run 0.24 88.77 1.50 2013 Lehigh Little Lehigh Creek 04 Confluence of Spring Creek downstream to Wild Cherry Lane (T-476) Bridge 96.99 0.18 4.89 2014 Lehigh Little Lehigh Creek 07 0.4 km upstream Country Club Road (T-473 Bridge) downstream to the upstream face of Fish Hatchery Road (SR 2010) Bridge 97.12 2.06 2014 Northampton Martins Creek 01 Confluence of East and West Branches Martins Creek downstream to the discharge of the Bangor Sewage Treatment Plant near an Unnamed Tributary 0.04 75.20 4.72 2014 Northampton Monocacy Creek 08 Illicks Mill Dam downstream to Schoenersville Road (SR 3017) Bridge 142.17 0.99 2014 Lehigh/ Northampton Monocacy Creek 09 Schoenersville Road (SR 3017) Bridge downstream to the confluence with Lehigh River 113.99 2.11 2014 Centre Penns Creek 02 SR 0045 downstream to the confluence with Elk Creek 0.08 95.08 0.16 7.49 2013 Carbon Pohopoco Creek 04 Outlet of Beltzville Lake downstream to Hideaway H&F Club cable across creek 0.62 75.94 0.45 1.88 2014 Bedford Yellow Creek 04 Beaver Creek Confluence downstream to Red Bank Hill 183.01 1.67 2013 Bedford Yellow Creek 05 Red Bank Hill downstream to the Mouth of Maple Run 145.84 0.93 2013 Persons with comments, objections or suggestions concerning the additions are invited to submit comments in writing to 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. 14-2402. Filed for public inspection November 14, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
