Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 11:30 AM
421

Changes in substrate, macroinvertebrate, and fish assemblages following road-stream crossing improvements on Pine Creek, Manistee County, MI

Kristofor N. Nault1, Jason A. DeBoer1, J. Marty Holtgren2, Stephanie Ogren2, and Eric B. Snyder1. (1) Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI 49401, (2) Conservation, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Manistee, MI 49660

Accumulation of sediments can degrade aquatic habitat, resulting in reduced biodiversity and fitness of aquatic organisms.  Management actions have been taken on Pine Creek (2nd order) to reduce sediment loading and provide a more natural flow regime by replacing faulty road-stream crossings.  Sediment, macroinvertebrate, and fish populations were sampled and compared pre and post restoration.  At Huff Road, results indicated that downstream, gravel has increased while medium and fine sand has decreased.  Fish species diversity (Shannon’s index) remained stable (range 1.25-1.49).  CPUE values for rainbow trout (range 1-3.7), brown trout (range 2.2-4.5), and mottled sculpin (range 1.2-3.2) increased overall, while CPUE values for Chinook (range 0.2-0.7) and Coho salmon (0.2-0.6) decreased overall.  Macroinvertebrate species diversity (Shannon’s Index) has remained stable (2.2-2.5).   Macroinvertebrate abundance (#/m²) increased upstream (174-222) and downstream (228-328).  Overall, positive effects from restoration have been observed.


Web Page: PIne Creek, habitat, management