Fishes of Deckers Creek

AMD Patterns: pH Masontown Richard Kanes Creek Greer SRG Stewart et al.

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy!

Fishes of Deckers Creek Petromyzontidae (Lampreys) Least Brook Lamprey (1) Ictaluridae (Catfishes) Brown Bullhead (2) Yellow Bullhead (9) Margined Madtom (1) Cyprinidae (Minnows, Carps) Blacknose Dace (4) Central Stoneroller (3) Common Carp (1) Golden Shiner (1) Creek Chub (11) Rosyface Shiner (2) Spotfin Shiner (2) Centrarchidae (Sunfishes) Bluegill (8) Green Sunfish (5) Largemouth Bass (3) Pumpkinseed (6) Redbreast Sunfish (1) Smallmouth Bass (3) Spotted Bass (2) Catastomidae (Suckers) Northern Hognose Sucker (3) White Sucker (3) Percidae (Perches, Darters) Fantail Darter (2) Johnny Darter (1) Huge problem of destroying thermal regime in small streams that possess hydrologic and physical characteristics that are only suitable for coldwater species. It is rare for a warmwater system to be converted to a coldwater system (but see reservoir tailwaters). Distinction between a coldwater system and a warmwater system is not clear cut, especially in WV. You can have cold and warm water streams within the same drainage network. Or you can have seasonal cold and warmwater systems (extremely common). In these systems, fish must move around to be functional. Example: lower cheat and upper shavers and greenbriar and north branch of potomac and on and on. * 22 Species Total

Brook Lamprey Creek Chub Assorted Minnows Blacknose Dace Huge problem of destroying thermal regime in small streams that possess hydrologic and physical characteristics that are only suitable for coldwater species. It is rare for a warmwater system to be converted to a coldwater system (but see reservoir tailwaters). Distinction between a coldwater system and a warmwater system is not clear cut, especially in WV. You can have cold and warm water streams within the same drainage network. Or you can have seasonal cold and warmwater systems (extremely common). In these systems, fish must move around to be functional. Example: lower cheat and upper shavers and greenbriar and north branch of potomac and on and on.

Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Largemouth Bass Smallmouth bass Bluegill Green Sunfish

Northern Hogsucker White Sucker

Yellow Bullhead Brown Bullhead

Fantail Darter (E. flaballare) Johnny Darter (E. nigrum)

Notable Absences Mottled Sculpin Rock Bass River Chub Huge problem of destroying thermal regime in small streams that possess hydrologic and physical characteristics that are only suitable for coldwater species. It is rare for a warmwater system to be converted to a coldwater system (but see reservoir tailwaters). Distinction between a coldwater system and a warmwater system is not clear cut, especially in WV. You can have cold and warm water streams within the same drainage network. Or you can have seasonal cold and warmwater systems (extremely common). In these systems, fish must move around to be functional. Example: lower cheat and upper shavers and greenbriar and north branch of potomac and on and on. Rock Bass River Chub

Fishes of Deckers Creek Creek

Fishes Lost in 2003 from Aarons Creek Green Sunfish Pumpkinseed Spotted Bass White Sucker Johnny Darter Yellow Bullhead Brook Lamprey Species dependent on systems larger than Aarons Creek

Fishes of Deckers Creek: Conclusions Sites in the ws, 1 The Deckers Creek fish community is strongly dependent on upstream dispersal from the Mon River and downstream dispersal from impoundments Most ubiquitous species are LENTIC rather than LOTIC species: bluegill, green sunfish, pumkinseed, and yellow bullhead. Key “stream-dependent” species are largely absent (river chubs, rock bass, sculpin, darters, and minnows) Even relatively “good” areas (lower gorge) get zapped regularly. Reason for reserved optimism.

Fish Management Plan Upper “Gorge” Lower Deckers Lower “Gorge” Upper Deckers

Upper Deckers Objectives Wild, Mixed Species, Sunfish Fishery 10-15 species, mostly warmwater / eurythermal Mix of lentic and lotic species Recreational Fishing and “Comfort of Life” 5-10 year outlook Key Limitations: upper mines, channelization

Upper Gorge Objectives Put and Take Fishery Wild Species? Recreational Fishing 5-10 year outlook Key Limitations: upper mines, no natural source of limestone

Lower Gorge Monitoring programs Objectives Put and Take / Put and Grow Trout Fishery Recreational Fishing 3-10 year outlook Key Limitations: upper Deckers mines

Lower Deckers Sites in the ws, 2 Objectives Wild Smallmouth Bass / Rock Bass Fishery 10-20 species Mix of stream and large river species Potentially important recreational fishery 10-25 year outlook Key Limitation: Richard’s Mine and Regional tribs (West Run, Dents Creek)

Fishes of Deckers Creek: A Regional Perspective

Fishes of Deckers Creek: A Regional Perspective Fishable waters must be restored as drainage networks. Extend efforts and arguments to the regional scale.