FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION Proposed Additions to List of Class A Wild Trout Waters [40 Pa.B. 3027]
[Saturday, June 5, 2010]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.
The 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 have 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 12 and 13, 2010.
County Stream Section Limits Trout
Biomass
(kg/ha)
Brook
Length
(miles)
Survey
YearWallenpaupack Creek Basin
Pike Kleinhans Creek 1 Headwaters to Confluence with Lake Wallenpaupack/
Wallenpaupack Creek36.22 1.68 2004 Lehigh River Basin
Lackawanna Sand Spring Creek 1 Headwaters to Confluence with Lehigh River 134.08 2.82 2004 Brown Carbon Hunter Creek 1 Headwaters to Confluence with Buckwha Creek 56.58 6.21 2009 Lehigh Catasauqua Creek 3 Eastwood Street Bridge downstream to the former Lehigh Canal downstream Lehigh Street (SR 1007) Bridge 94.90 0.56 2009 Iron Run 2 Upstream face of the Turning Leaf Trail Bridge downstream to confluence with Spring Creek 64.42 0.48 2009 Spring Creek 1 Headwater (Schaefer and Iron Run confluence) downstream to confluence with Little Lehigh Creek 148.06 1.24 2009 County Stream Section Limits Trout
Biomass
(kg/ha)
Mixed
Brook/Brown
Length
(miles)
Survey
Year
Luzerne Shades Creek 2 Downstream face of the SR 0115 Bridge downstream Pipeline Crossing 70.49
1.75
2004
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. 10-1051. Filed for public inspection June 4, 2010, 9:00 a.m.]
