Effects of Stream Crossing Type on Fish Assemblages and Stream Ecosystem Conditions
Project Author
Issue Date
2023-04
Authors
Camarata, Grace
Loading...
Embargo
First Reader
Shaffer, Chris
Additional Readers
Kirk, Mark
Keywords
Distribution
Abstract
Culverts are used as road crossings to connect the upstream and downstream reaches of a stream, but they can severely alter habitat characteristics and species assemblages. Many culvert features impede fish biodiversity, movement, and survival therefore restorations of these crossings can be completed to help address these ecological concerns. Paired upstream-downstream assessments determine the effects of restoration of old/to be replaced culverts and predict the future success of newly replaced culverts. We sampled stream crossing in stream orders 1st – 3rd in the French Creek watershed in northwestern Pennsylvania to evaluate the influence of different road crossing types. Three sites contain old, to be replaced culverts scheduled to be replaced in 2023, four sites contain newly recently replaced culverts, and the last four sites were bridges. We collected fish, abiotic, and stream crossing data at each sample site. We determined NAACC passability scores for each stream crossing. Findings from passability tests show that to be replaced crossings had the lowest passability scores from 0.03 - 0.597 on a scale of zero to one, whereas all bridges and newly replaced culverts had scores > 0.85. These to be replaced culverts were not allowing fish species to move effectively upstream and downstream. Specific species such as suckers and darters were not able to move upstream in these streams of the to be replaced culverts. The Crawford County Conservation District (CCCD) is replacing two of the three to be replaced culverts this year. Our research will set the baseline to see the effects of restoration.
Description
Collections
Chair
Major
Environmental Science
Department
Environmental Science / Studies