MA NFC helps MA Fish & Wildlife Survey Small Stream
The Massachusetts chapter of NFC recently spent the day with staff from the Connecticut Valley District office of MassWildlife.
The group sampled a small central MA stream above and below a manmade impoundment. The impoundment slows and widens the stream resulting in notable warming. The water temperature immediately above the impoundment 62.4 degrees, versus 71.2 degrees directly below the dam.
This small manmade impoundment has a profound impact on the stream below the dam.
The negative influence of this small impoundment on the streams fish assemblage was notable. In the cooler water above the impound, the group found native black nosed dace and white suckers. Below the dam they encountered nonnative largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, and golden shiners, as well as native hornpout.
Migratory, or catadromous, American eels were encountered below the impoundment but not above. While more studies would need to be done to confirm this, it raises the question as to whether the dam is blocking the passage of these sea-run fish.
Special thanks to the folks at MassWildlife, and MA NFC Chair Bob Dalton and MA NFC board member Kyle White for making this happen.
