Preserving Streams on a Personal Level

[flyfishgb]

What are a few things you can do while walking, or fishing your local streams in order to increase flow, and create better habitat for fish? Or to generalize things, What can be done by yourself (By Hand) to help your local streams/rivers?

I have alot of streams in the areas where i live which used to hold very good populations of trout, but in the last few years i have noticed this stream has not had any maintanence at all, and it looks like it needs some. Just some reccomendations would help.

[Mark Patenaude]

Here are some things that a number of TU Chapters in Wisconsin have done. (I am referencing Wisconsin, because alot of you may not know that I live in Northern Illinois and fish the Southern areas of Wisconsin for trout).

Riparian Zone Improvement:
-posting of signs that say "if you bring trash with you take it when you leave". I always carry a garbage bag in my vest for cleaning along the banks as I fish.
-planting of native species which help to prevent bank erosion and will hang out over the banks to cool the water and create cover.
-elimination of invasive species (i.e. Canadian Thistle) which crowds out the natural species which provide the areas where mayflies and caddis will make their temp homes after a hatch.
-bank stabilization using timbers, boulders, etc... in areas prone to erosion during heavy rains.

In Water Improvement:
-look for areas where the river has silted in and divert the flows with timbers or boulders to move the flow through the silted area to clean it out.
-observe the water during seasonal low water conditions and decide where to place "diverters" (boulders, etc...) in the stream bed to create deeper (and cooler) runs. The idea is to improve a section that during low water is 6" deep from bank to bank and to create channels that put more volume into specific areas that will protect the fish during peak heat days.
-creation of "lunker structures" along the banks to provide cover and concealment for larger fish (the spawners).

Just a few ideas and my $.02.

Mark

[bob]

All great ideas. In regards to silt, make sure that your stream's mouth leading into your lake is especially free and clear.

Also, you may want to keep any of your improvements on the QT, esp. if your property runs thru county, state or any govt./municipality - no need to get stuck dealing with them in regards to permits, paperwork, DEP, etc. Your good deeds might end up costing you.

[JoeOverlock]

The best way to do this is to get involved in your local Trout Unlimited chapter. For Southern Berkshire County the Taconic Chapter is King.

I'm sure that if you approach the local TU chapter and tell them you have found some areas of a favorite stream that you would like to do a little improvements on then they would not only give you their blessing, but also help you determine the best ways to make the improvements to create optimal trout conditions.

When it comes to planting some foliage next to the stream they can also help you with that. You should be careful that you don't introduce a non-native invasive species into the area. I know absolutely NOTHING about plants or trees, so I can't tell the difference between what's good and what's bad. But TU chapters work hand in hand with the State and other local agencies so they can tell you what works best.

One project I'm hoping to do with the Hoosic TU if it takes off is an "Adopt A Stream" program with the Hoosic River Watershed Assc. The way it works is a member would adopt a section of one of our rivers and basically become a River Keeper for that section, keeping an eye on it for any problems. I've heard of other TU chapters doing the same, that might be something you might like also.

To sum it up, TU has lots of great opportunities for energetic anglers that want to help save our dying resources and they give you all the tools you need to best succeed with your projects. All TU chapters are always looking for leaders, don't be afraid to grab the bull by the horns. They can help you do anything from a small project like creating better migrating paths for brookies in a small stream to creating a new Catch & Release area.

[crabbybob]

It's not really what you asked about but since changing the river would probably require something beyond what the average citizen could do on their own what about things people could do to improve the area along the river. The only thing that comes to mind is picking up trash but where I fish some of the things I come across are too disgusting to look at let alone pick up. But I still feel guilty for not cleaning up someone else's mess. Most of the time it's discarded Styrofoam worm containers or empty bottles and I really should pick it up but it always runs through my mind that this is just rewarding bad behavior. I found an empty tippet spool one time and picked that up because the idea that fly fishing would get a bad reputation bothered me.

Does anyone ever pick up liter?

[douglyons]

Interesting topic. I think we can all do more than we think without a lot of effort. Picking up trash is a good idea - I keep a green trash bag in the back of the car for such a purpose both for my own personal junk and any random stuff I find when leaving the stream.

Planting willow shoots or dogwood shoots is easy and effective - fall and spring are the times of year to do it. Both types of plants love water and will take root pretty quickly - they do a great job holding the soil along a streambank.

I wouldn't suggest placing structures in streams on an individual leve - either woody debris or boulders. While a thoughtful suggestion there is an ever evolving science that goes with this - fluvial geomorphology (and bioengineering). Incorrectly placed structures or the wrong type of structures will fail and may very possibly create more problems than they solve.

Work through TU and various state and federal agencies for that sort of thing. Unqestionably a worthwhile endeavor but it is something that does require expert guidance.

One other thing - two words will help go a long way towards preserving access (OK this is a little off topic) .. they are "thank you". Let the folks whose property you are walking across know that you appreciate it - and if they see you carrying out trash ... that doesnt hurt either!

Is it spring yet??

[Mark Patenaude]

Getting a little off topic here but having read the latest info on the stocking of the Battenkill, which appears to be going away, the primary reason that was given for the decline in the Brown Trout population was the absence of "wood" in the river.

Hmmm. That proposed stocking sterile rainbows in lieu of cutting down some timber and placing it strategically in the river. Seems interesting that Masters and PhD level fisheries biologist and hydrologists didn't table the easier solve to cut a bunch of trees along the back and create "sweepers".

Maybe they should have researched what the Michigan DNR did on the Big Manistee River, which for those who don't know get seasonal runs of King, Coho, Lake Run Browns, Steelhead and have indigenous populations of native trout (no stocking) and huge Smallies. This is exactly what they did so sustain the already excellent population of fish in the river and now are considering increasing the bag limit due to the explosion in population.

Sorry, just a little venting. It appears that the same mindset that keeps the Berkshires from becoming a true destination fishery would also apply to the rationale used in decision making with regard to the Battenkill.

Mark

[flyfishgb]

markpatenaude said:

It appears that the same mindset that keeps the Berkshires from becoming a true destination fishery would also apply to the rationale used in decision making with regard to the Battenkill.

Mark

It seems like we all recognize the problems with our personal fisheries, and the ones we share. Being that the berkshires seems to be so pristine everytime i visit, How can we work together to make the Berkshires a True destination fishery?.

I grew up going to the berkshires almost every weekend of my life as a kid. But something I always took notice of was the environment. It always seems like there is no cash being directed towards our fisheries. I mean yeah there are stocking programs, and restoration projects but nothing like what goes on to protect rivers/streams elsewhere. In states like Connecticut, they have program after program after program, for wildlife management. They've got it goin on it seems like. It is possible to restore alot of these rivers, it just takes time and money.

It would just be nice to see a change for the better. Rivers like the Housatonic, Farmington in connecticut are the same rivers in Massachussetts, but what is binding our state to not work on the state of the rivers. This needs to change.

[FishinCane]

Just throwing out a question.... Why does the Berkshires need to become a "destination fishery"? To me the term "destination" invokes visions of over crowding and over fishing. Maybe that was the reason for the the demise of the Battenkill. I'm all for protecting and managing our waters but... lets be careful what we wish for.

As an example... For the past few years the popular mags have been highlighting the Lake O tribs as a steelhead "destination" fishery. In those years I've definitely seen a lot more pressure there. Good or bad it makes you think twice about making the trip to contend with the crowds....

[Mark Patenaude]

Why not a destination fishery?

Let me explain why I think it’s a good idea, albeit some of my ideas are a bit selfish. I’m going to bounce around a bit and bullet point my thoughts:

-I grew up on Grove Street in Adams with the Hoosic literally right out the back door of the house. My uncle Bill Hakes who lived a couple of houses down the street from me was a big time trout fisher and had fished the Hoosic all of his life. He told me stories and showed me pictures of some Browns that were in excess of 5 lbs. that he would catch on a regular basis through the 60’s and into the 70’s. Have we seen any improvement in the numbers and quality of fish in the time since. Absolutely not. In fact it hasn’t stayed the same, it has declined.

-Pick any election time in the State of Massachusetts and review the importance of the Berkshires in determining the outcome. It appears that the rest of the state has forgotten about the county and subsequently has not placed emphasis on any type of improvements other than roads and infrastructure.

No recognition= no funding.

Even if you go in with a request for a grant, you are “back burner’d”.

-The county (especially North County) needs a shot in the arm from a financial perspective. I moved away from the area in 1978 due to the depressed economic condition and lack of jobs. I have been blessed with having done very well in my life, but would not have even realized a fraction of this, should I have stayed. The mindset I refer to is the “lets keep things status quo”. The Berkshires is stuck in time. Nobody wants to see any advancement or expansion of any kind (i.e. The Glen). Remember, all things in moderation. I’m not talking about massive development, I’m talking about creating an environment that people will want to come and visit for more reasons than wanting to stroll through Mass MOCA. Take a look around. Even if you don’t have 20/20 vision you can see the situation. Substandard housing, businesses that start and are closed within a year or two, major litigation to bring businesses into the area that are larger than an antiques store, the list goes on. Adams couldn’t even maintain a fly shop.

-If you have ever read any of my previous posts regarding this, you will know that I am a proponent of designated C&R and “fly fishing only” areas. This is not an elitist position, it is a practical position that will help create and sustain a top notch fishery. I have personal experience with this. I regularly fish these two types of designated areas in Wisconsin. I can’t tell you the amount of success the small towns along the 1000s of miles of trout streams in the state have realized because they advertise/market the “destination fishery” aspect of the area and haven’t had any degradation to the streams as a result. The influx of cash from fishers is what sustains the areas and monies taken in from the local businesses with the resulting taxes are used to maintain the fishery.

-Its time for a change. Being a member of a fly fishing club does come with its responsibilities with one of them being “improvement of what we consider important”.

Mark

[FishinCane]

Mark,

In response to your comment:

Being a member of a fly fishing club does come with its responsibilities with one of them being “improvement of what we consider important”.

I couldn't agree more. As a C&R flyfisherman for some 25 years I've come to cherish the trout streams of the Berkshires. I just don't see what stream preservation and "destination fishery" have in common. I'm all for improving and preserving our streams. Maybe I'm the one being a bit selfish.... but given the choice of catching small browns in solitude or 5 pound browns with crowds I would choose the the first. (I bet your Uncle would have agreed).

[Mark Patenaude]

You may have missed the opening comment in my initial post. I got off topic regarding stream preservation and showed my frustration about the proposed solve for what was termed as a declining fishery when a simple solve was right under their noses.

I evaluated both the propsed option of stocking vs. the reason why the fishery has declined and deduced that the "mindset" of those proposing the stocking was the same mindset that is ever present in the Berkshires. Like I said, take a look around.

Let me further explain. To stock the Battenkill does not improve the fishery it simply addresses the solve for increasing the fish population. What is the motivation for the "band aid" approach? They want to keep the Battenkill, which is as we all know, considered a "destination fishery" a declining fishery to keep it from becoming what it once was. I believe that the people of Vermont who are very liberal in their approach(s) also have the same anti-growth/anti-improvement mindset as is ever present in the Berkshires and by taking the approach that they did, they felt that they keep the numbers of "visitors" down and/or away altogether.

Also, you cannot possibly compare the Salmon River scenario during the seasonal runs to a possible scenario in making the Berkshires a "destination fishery". I can speak from great experience on this. Your Salmon River is my Root, Pike, Milwaukee and Sheboygan Rivers in Wisconsin and the Big Manistee in Michigan. Even if you get off the Big Manistee into Bear Creek, which is an excellent tributary of the river with huges run, you will still find the yahoos.

Every year during the Fall and Spring runs, people, (I won't even refer to them as fishers) come from far and wide to snag, primarily during the King run. I have seen plates from as far away as Kentucky. A great number of these guys are from Eastern Europe and from the Southern states who drive a long way and stay for a week at a time to catch fish to eat. Fights break out, guns get drawn, knives get pulled, its a zoo. But, when it comes to the technical fly fishing for trout in a destination fishery, there is no reasonable parallel to be drawn. Guys won't drive more than a few hours to catch trout.

Yes, we all like to tie into the big ones on an 8 wt. but the fiberglass surf rods with a 3/0 treble and a piece of pink yarn tied to it to make it legal far out number the fly rods during the seasonal runs.

As for stream improvement having a relationship with a desitination fishery. This answers itself. You create a destination fishery by perpetually improving the stream(s) and hence the fishery through a number of means (direct, indirect, governmental, et. al.)

As for what my uncle would think. For him as with myself, it not about catching or the size or numbers caught or how many people are with you on the water for that matter. Its all about what we value within our individual experiences every time we get out. I could care less about what someone else is doing up or down stream from me.
If I get upset about the number of guys on the water or what or how they are fishing, will it change things? No. They have just as much right to be there as I do. If someone walks into my drift, will I say something? Probably not. There are plenty of fish in the river and I'll move.

I prefer to take the high road.

I fish for me.

[Uplander]

fishincane said:

Just throwing out a question.... Why does the Berkshires need to become a "destination fishery"? To me the term "destination" invokes visions of over crowding and over fishing. Maybe that was the reason for the the demise of the Battenkill. I'm all for protecting and managing our waters but... lets be careful what we wish for.

As an example... For the past few years the popular mags have been highlighting the Lake O tribs as a steelhead "destination" fishery. In those years I've definitely seen a lot more pressure there. Good or bad it makes you think twice about making the trip to contend with the crowds....

Agree wholeheartedly! The Berkshires as a “destination fishery” is as bad an idea as I’ve ever heard….

[Uplander]

markpatenaude said:

-Pick any election time in the State of Massachusetts and review the importance of the Berkshires in determining the outcome. It appears that the rest of the state has forgotten about the county and subsequently has not placed emphasis on any type of improvements other than roads and infrastructure.

No recognition= no funding.

Even if you go in with a request for a grant, you are “back burner’d”.

-The county (especially North County) needs a shot in the arm from a financial perspective. I moved away from the area in 1978 due to the depressed economic condition and lack of jobs. I have been blessed with having done very well in my life, but would not have even realized a fraction of this, should I have stayed. The mindset I refer to is the “lets keep things status quo”. The Berkshires is stuck in time. Nobody wants to see any advancement or expansion of any kind (i.e. The Glen). Remember, all things in moderation. I’m not talking about massive development, I’m talking about creating an environment that people will want to come and visit for more reasons than wanting to stroll through Mass MOCA. Take a look around. Even if you don’t have 20/20 vision you can see the situation. Substandard housing, businesses that start and are closed within a year or two, major litigation to bring businesses into the area that are larger than an antiques store, the list goes on. Adams couldn’t even maintain a fly shop.

-If you have ever read any of my previous posts regarding this, you will know that I am a proponent of designated C&R and “fly fishing only” areas. This is not an elitist position, it is a practical position that will help create and sustain a top notch fishery. I have personal experience with this. I regularly fish these two types of designated areas in Wisconsin. I can’t tell you the amount of success the small towns along the 1000s of miles of trout streams in the state have realized because they advertise/market the “destination fishery” aspect of the area and haven’t had any degradation to the streams as a result. The influx of cash from fishers is what sustains the areas and monies taken in from the local businesses with the resulting taxes are used to maintain the fishery.

Mark, some things are worth the price to be paid by a lack of economic “development.” For example, solitude, Nature, peacefulness, no population growth, etc. Believe it or not, some people in the Berkshires don’t feel these are negatives, and they don't want more stores, more people, more infrastructure, etc….

[JoeOverlock]

I'm 50/50 when it comes to the Berkshire as a "Destination Fishery". Personally I would like to see the business come to the Berkshires. I would like for us to have a fly shop or two again.

I like helping tourists fish the Berkshire. My personal fishing holes I never keep secret and I'm always willing to share them with others.

But, on the other hand, I have seen first hand what happens to a fishery when it's a top destination. FishinCane and I went to the Catskills this spring and and fished the Beaverkill. It was as crowded as Disneyland. Now granted the Beaverkill is probably the worst case scenario, but the thought of a crowd like that on the Hoosic just kills me.

Here's a picture of the Salmon River that I took a few years ago. When we fished the Beaverkill the crowds where identical.



So, I'm 50/50 on this idea...

[ctroy36]

Nice picture, Joe. However, that's not my idea of fishing. And I don't care how many or how big the fish are I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot-pole -- especially my ten-foot, six weight.

[weathermanmike]

I'd reccommend using a large net, like a gillnet, just upstream from that location!

LET'S HOPE THAT PICTURE NEVER HAPPENS IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY!

I could deal with a few more fly fisherman though. Great Barrington just lost its fly-fishing shop . And it would be nice for us to have a FLY SHOP in the Berkshires!