Proposed Changes to List of Class A Wild Trout Waters [43 Pa.B. 2689]
[Saturday, May 11, 2013]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 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 Abundance 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).
For a water to be removed from the Class A Wild Trout Streams designation, total trout biomass must be documented below the set criteria for two consecutive stream examinations.
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 July 15 and 16, 2013.
County Stream Section Limits Brook Trout (kg/ha) Brown Trout (kg/ha) Rainbow Trout (kg/ha) Length (miles) Survey Year Cambria Emeigh Run 02 Confluence with UNT at River Mile 1.1 to mouth 43.72 0.05 — 1.10 2012 Cambria UNT to Bradley Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 40.82 7.81 — 1.86 2012 Centre Council Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 56.34 — — 3.20 2012 Centre Laurel Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 40.83 1.88 — 1.42 2012 Centre Roaring Run 02 2.0 kilometers upstream
of Laurel Run downstream
to the Sink at River Mile 1.3625.16 35.11 — 4.15 2012 Centre Rupp Hollow 01 Headwaters to mouth 5.74 57.72 — 3.29 2012 Centre Salt Lick Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 53.51 — — 1.93 2012 Centre UNT to Pine Creek (Sand Hollow) 01 Headwaters to mouth 43.56 — — 1.93 2012 Clearfield UNT to Gifford Run (502392) 01 Headwaters to mouth 38.74 — — 1.48 2012 Clinton Little Greenlick Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 25.54 34.85 — 2.79 2012 Clinton Mudlick Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 30.57 0.65 — 2.31 2012 Clinton UNT to Fishing Creek (Carroll) 01 Headwaters to mouth 41.24 — — 1.71 2012 Fayette Middle Fork Laurel Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 31.99 0.04 0.22 3.50 2012 Fayette Neals Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 36.41 3.71 — 2.76 2012 Tioga Dyke Creek 01 Headwaters to mouth 47.81 — — 2.07 2012 Warren Bent Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 50.08 — — 1.26 2012 Westmoreland Pike Run 01 Headwaters to mouth 31.11 3.22 — 5.18 2012 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. 13-887. Filed for public inspection May 10, 2013, 9:00 a.m.]
