1. Summary of Aquatic Programs Administered by the WV Division of Natural Resources Dan Cincotta WVDNR P. O. Box 67 Elkins, WV 26241

2. Department of Natural Resources Currently consists of three Agencies –Wildlife Resources –Law Enforcement –Parks and Recreation Only Law Enforcement has significant regulatory authority

3. Summary of Mission Statement Wildlife Resources Section …. to conserve, protect, and manage the states wildlife …… to manage the publics recreational opportunities, derived from the states wildlife resources

4. Warmwater Fish Management Coldwater Fish Management Game Management Technical Support Wildlife Diversity

5. Fish Management Develops programs to provide a variety of opportunities and experiences to anglers Conducts research on sport fishes of the state Stock sport species to enhance opportunities

6. Develop access to public waterways Recommend regulations that benefit fish populations and the associated resources Conduct educational outreach Make recommendations for habitat protection, improvement, and restoration Fish Management

7. Fish Management Strategies Fish Population Assessments Monitor fish populations, particularly in lakes Determine fish species interactions Manage fish populations so that they sustain angler harvest objectives

8. Fish Tagging Studies Monitor fish movement Estimate fish harvest Evaluate fish growth and health Fish Management Strategies

9. Health Evaluations Evaluate and monitor fish disease concerns Determine potential causes and solutions to fish disease issues Tissue contaminate analyses Manage fish populations for anglers Fish Management Strategies

10. WRS Wetlands Program Technical Support Unit of WRS administers program Clean Water Act 1972 US Army Corps of Engineers defined channeled and non-channeled resources other than navigable in 1977 Importance of wetlands acknowledged Recognized that > 53% of 89.4 million ha. had been lost by mid 1970s Made it illegal to dredge and place fill in wetlands Required permits and mitigation (Section 404)

11. WRS Wetlands Program Currently conducting surveys, assessments, classifications and research at three levels –Landscape level-making determinations and assessments useful at the state and regional level using GIS –Rapid Assessment - visiting a small number of sites each year to refine and validate our landscape level determinations –Intensive studies - significant commitment of resources to provide a scientific basis for decision making relative to: Conservation Enhancement and restoration Mitigation decisions Regulation

12. Wildlife Resources Wetland Program Currently developing and expanding our level of partnering with –WV DEP –WVU –US EPA, –working toward cooperating with US FWS, NRCS, US Forest Service, WV State Conservation Agency

13. Major focus is to expand and refine our knowledge base relative to: –Ecological integrity –Wetland Classification Hydrogeomorphic classification Jurisdictional classification as it relates to state and federal law –Provision of ecological services and wetland functions WRS Wetlands Program

14. GOAL - To complete a statewide strategies for wetland conservation and management before 2011 that addresses –Monitoring and assessment –Restoration and enhancement –Regulation –Water quality –Outreach WRS Wetlands Program

15. Wildlife Diversity Responsible for species in greatest need of conservation as identified in Action Plan Classify and document habitats Award research grants Inventory tracked species Perform and support outreach Diamond Darter

16. Make recommendations for protection and management of imperiled species Ultimately will monitor, and restore habitats and their associated species Wildlife Diversity Little Coal River Horseshoe Run Little Coal River Redside Dace

17. Wildlife Diversity Strategies State Wildlife Grants (2004) Mussel Assessment Program Aquatic Community, Assessment, and Restoration Program So. Redbelly Dace Rainbow darter Unionid Mussel

18. Wildlife Diversity Aquatic Community, Assessment, and Restoration Program Statewide fish surveys (since 2004) Physical habitat data collected on wadeable streams (2004) Temperature loggers deployed (2007) Macroinvertebrate samples (2008) Collaborate with DEP and US EPA Calculate IBIs on wadeable streams

19. Aquatic Community Assessment and Restoration Program - 2004

20. Aquatic Community Assessment and Restoration Program - 2005

21. Aquatic Community Assessment and Restoration Program - 2006

22. Aquatic Community Assessment and Restoration Program - 2007

23. Aquatic Community Assessment and Restoration Program - 2008

24. Aquatic Community Assessment and Restoration Program – 2004-2008 ACARP Sites