Proposed Change to the List of Class A Wild Trout Waters; Young Womans Creek [34 Pa.B. 4655] The Fish and Boat Commission (Commission) is considering a change to the 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 lb/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).
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. At its meeting on October 4 and 5, 2004, the Commission intends to consider removing the following water from the current list of Class A Wild Trout Streams: Young Womans Creek, Section 02, Clinton County, from Beechwood Trail downstream to 1.2 km upstream of the confluence with the Left Branch of Young Womans Creek, a distance of 5.7 miles. This stream is currently listed as a Class A wild brown trout water. The Commission is considering removing Young Womans Creek from the list because the Commission has documented the total brown trout biomass to be below the criterion of at least 40 kg/hg for two consecutive stream examinations.
The Commission surveyed the stream in September 2000 and July 2003. In September 2000, the total brown trout biomass was 24.6 kg/ha. The total brown trout biomass in July 2003 was 26.84 kg/ha. By removing this water from the Class A wild trout streams list, the Commission will increase its flexibility in how it manages the stream.
Persons with comments, objections or suggestions concerning the removal 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 submitted by facsimile will not be accepted. Comments also may be submitted to ra-pfbcregs@state.pa.us. A subject heading of the proposal and a return name and address must be included in each transmission. In addition, electronic comments must be contained in the text of the transmission, not in an attachment. If an acknowledgment of electronic comments is not received by the sender within 2 working days, the comments should be retransmitted to ensure receipt.
The Commission also intends to hold a public meeting regarding this issue on August 26, 2004, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Chapman Township Volunteer Fire Company, Park Avenue, North Bend, PA (a short distance off Route 120 at North Bend).
DOUGLAS J. AUSTEN, Ph.D.,
Executive Director[Pa.B. Doc. No. 04-1567. Filed for public inspection August 20, 2004, 9:00 a.m.]
