EFFECTS OF WATERSHED FOREST COVER ON STREAM HABITAT CONDITIONS AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF JUVENILE STEELHEAD (ONCHORYNCHUS MYKISS)

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: MCINTIRE-STENNIS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0187353
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2000
• Project End Date: Dec 31, 2003
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
(N/A)
EAST LANSING,MI 48824

Performing Department
FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE

Non Technical Summary
Steelhead trout are an important sport fish species in northern Michigan streams and in the Great Lakes. Natural production of young steelhead is limited in many tributaries because of dams and is further thought to be limited because of changes in stream habitat conditions due to losses of forested land cover in many watersheds. The purpose of this project is to understanding the linkage between landscape-level features and fish population dynamics, enhancing our ability to conduct landscape or ecosystem- level natural resource management.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
135	0399	1070	30%
135	0810	1070	20%
135	0812	1070	50%

Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife;

Subject Of Investigation
0810 - Finfish; 0399 - Watersheds and river basins, general; 0812 - Fish habitats;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

steelhead trout

wild fish

survival

animal growth

streams

forest cover

watersheds

environmental impact

habitat characteristics

fish habitats

fish population

juveniles

fish ecology

comparative analysis

water temperature

environmental factors

regional research

wildlife habitats

Goals / Objectives
Our principal hypothesis is that stream habitat conditions are predictable from land cover patterns. Further, we hypothesize that stream reaches in subwatersheds dominated by forest cover types will be colder, have coarser stream substrates, and have a greater proportion of riffles and pools than stream reaches in subwatersheds dominated by non-forested cover types. Based on these a priori predictions, we further hypothesize that growth and survival of juvenile steelhead trout will be lower in stream reaches where the subwatershed is dominated by non-forested cover types, and that growth and survival will vary with stream temperature as well as stream habitat type (i.e., pool, riffle, or run). The specific objectives of this project are to 1)document land cover patterns in the Pine River watershed, focusing on the amount of forested land cover relative to other land cover types; 2)document stream habitat conditions in the Pine River (Alcona and Iosco Counties, Michigan), focusing on temperature, stream substrate and pool/riffle/run habitat type designations. Determine how these habitat conditions vary among subwatersheds with varying degrees of forested land cover; and 3)determine how the growth and survival of juvenile steelhead trout varies for fish located in different stream conditions, focusing on temperature and habitat type.

Project Methods
The Pine River watershed is located in Iosco and Alcona counties, Michigan and contains a mix of agricultural and forested land cover types. Van Etten Lake Dam is located approximately 2 km upstream of the Pine River's confluence with the Au Sable River and is the only human barrier to fish migration on the Pine River. Because of this, the section of the Pine River upstream of Van Etten Lake is closed to migrating adult steelhead. Because of this, we can conduct the proposed experiments without negatively impacting a naturally reproducing steelhead population. The approach we will take will consist of three principal components. First, we will determine land cover patterns in the Pine River watershed using land cover data available from the U. S. Forest Service or other sources such as the Michigan DNR and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The second major component will be to completely survey the habitat in the four major branches (South, East, West, Van Etten Creek) and the mainstem of the Pine River. To our knowledge, this has never been accomplished in a Michigan watershed. The final component will be to determine the growth and survival of juvenile steelhead trout in different habitat types across the watershed. By combining complete watershed land cover information with stream habitat conditions, we will be able to determine the influence of land cover on habitat conditions for this watershed. The experimental approach we propose for determining growth and survival of juvenile steelhead will then allow us to use the habitat information to develop a landscape-scale model of the productive capacity of this stream.

Progress 10/01/00 to 12/31/03

Outputs
graduate students = 0 It was anticipated that in 2003 we would be refining previously developed models. This would have resulted in a large-scale model of steelhead trout dynamics in the Pine River. Due to lack of funding for 2003, there is nothing to report.

Impacts
We have provided data and shared our insights with fishery biologists with the U.S. Forest Service to help them in their management of the Pine River and its surrounding watershed.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
Graduate Students = 1 Steelhead trout are an important sport fish species in northern Michigan streams and in the Great Lakes. Steelhead ascend tributary streams to spawn in, and remain in the streams as juveniles for 1-2 years. Natural production of young steelhead is limited in many Lake Huron tributaries because of dams and is further thought to be limited because of changes in stream habitat conditions due to losses of forested land cover in many watersheds. The goal of this proposal is to explore how stream habitat conditions in a Lake Huron tributary (Pine River, Alcona and Iosco Counties) vary with the amount of forested land cover, and how the dynamics of juvenile steelhead vary in response to stream habitat conditions. Results of this research will be helpful in understanding the linkage between landscape-level features and fish population dynamics, enhancing our ability to conduct landscape or ecosystem- level natural resource management. In 2001 and 2002, we completed a stream habitat inventory of over 100 stream km, and collected fish habitat utilization data from more than 15 sites. Manipulative experiments using resident steelhead were performed at 20 sites, and models relating their behavior and growth to habitat conditions have been constructed. These models will be refined during 2003, eventually resulting in a large-scale model of steelhead trout dynamics in the Pine River.

Impacts
We are still in the primary data collection and analysis phase of this study, and it is too early to have had substantial impact on decision makers in the Pine River. We have met regularly with the Pine River - Van Etten Lake Watershed Coalition to help develop goals and objectives for their watershed management plan. We have provided data and shared our insights with fishery biologists with the U.S. Forest Service to help them in their management of the Pine River and its surrounding watershed.

Publications

• Taylor, W.W., Hayes, D.B., Ferreri, C.P., Lynch, K.D., Newman, K.R., Roseman, E.F. 2002. Integrating landscape ecology into fisheries management: a rationale and practical considerations. In Integrating landscape ecology into natural resource management, J. Liu and W. W. Taylor, editors. Pages 366-389.

Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01

Outputs
Graduate Students = 1 Steelhead trout are an important sport fish species in northern Michigan streams and in the Great Lakes. Steelhead ascend tributary streams to spawn in, and remain in the streams as juveniles for 1-2 years. Natural production of young steelhead is limited in many Lake Huron tributaries because of dams and is further thought to be limited because of changes in stream habitat conditions due to losses of forested land cover in many watersheds. The goal of this proposal is to explore how stream habitat conditions in a Lake Huron tributary (Pine River, Alcona and Iosco Counties) vary with the amount of forested land cover, and how the dynamics of juvenile steelhead vary in response to stream habitat conditions. Results of this research will be helpful in understanding the linkage between landscape-level features and fish population dynamics, enhancing our ability to conduct landscape or ecosystem- level natural resource management. During the summer of 2001, we completed a stream habitat inventory of 70 stream km, and collected fish habitat utilization data from 10 sites. Manipulative experiments using resident steelhead were performed at 10 sites, and initial models relating their behavior to habitat conditions have been constructed. These models continue to be refined, and will be used to develop a sampling plan for 2002.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

• Thomas, D.A. 2001. Fish and invertebrate community composition: a comparison of headwater and adventitious streams. M.S. thesis. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.