Pumping alkaline groundwater to restore a put-and-take trout fishery in a stream acidified by atmospheric deposition

Journal Article · · North American Journal of Fisheries Management; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8675(1989)009<0092:PAGTRA>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5763666

Gagen, C J; Sharpe, W E; DeWalle, D R; Kimmel, W G ^[1]

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA)

The purpose of this study was to pump alkaline groundwater into Linn Run in southwestern Pennsylvania to neutralize acidity, reduce dissolved aluminum concentrations, and protect stocked brown trout Salmo trutta and brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis during the springs of 1985-86. A regression model was used to estimate the groundwater volume needed to maintain predetermined stream pH levels for a given streamflow. Groundwater addition increased mean stream pH from 4.9 upstream of the wells to 6.0 in the treatment section and reduced mean dissolved aluminum from 0.36 mg/L to 0.03 mg/L above and below the wells, respectively. A large runoff episode following the 1985 preseason stocking overwhelmed the capacity of the wells to neutralize Linn Run, causing at least 25% mortality and reducing the catch rate of brown trout in the treatment section. No mortality of caged trout occurred in the treatment section except during this large runoff event. However, mortality was rapid for caged trout upstream of the wells; median survival times were 67 and 29 h for brook and brown trout, respectively. Otherwise, angler catch rates and trout harvest were not significant different between the treated and reference sections. Electrofishing surveys revealed greater downstream than upstream movement of stocked trout, which may indicate a response to water chemistry. Alkaline groundwater additions also caused an increase in the density of native brook trout in the treatment section via upstream migration from downstream refuges influenced by groundwater. 33 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 5763666
• Journal Information: North American Journal of Fisheries Management; (USA), Journal Name: North American Journal of Fisheries Management; (USA) Vol. 9:1; ISSN NAJMD; ISSN 0275-5947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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