Barriers to Aquatic Organism Movement in the LCB Kyle Bradford Ethan McElwain Bradley Stewart

Problem Statement Barriers influence populations of aquatic organisms by restricting or altering their movement through the Lake Champlain Basin.

Purpose Statement Our goal is to determine the effect of barriers to movement of aquatic organisms on the varied habitats represented in the LCB, and in doing so, determine and justify impact filter scores which will be used in the Lake Champlain Regional Relative Eco-Risk Assessment Model.  

Barrier Subcategories Dams Roads Culverts

Dams Wetlands Open Water Dams affect hydrology Altered flood regime Siltation Open Water Dams affecting migratory fish Imperial Dam Salmon Swanton Dam Lake Sturgeon Walleye

Dams Cont. Winooski One Dam Barrier to salmon and steelhead rainbow trout In 1993 fish passage facility built

Roads

Roads Cont. Physical barriers to slow moving animals Open space leads to vulnerability Attract certain species Increased downstream sedimentation Scale

Culverts Used to allow water to pass underneath roads, railways, or embankments. Raised up disrupts stream connectivity Gap is created where water falls Aquatic organisms cannot jump up into culvert Restricts movement to downstream only Gap from raised culverts not the only problem Too long, narrow, or steep

Raised vs. “Natural” Culvert

Culverts cont. Aquatic organisms cannot migrate upstream to spawn or reach food sources Diminishing species Less rich species diversity Less than 2% of 465 culverts assessed in VT classified as “completely passible” Brook trout, salmon, mussels, salamander species, minnows, suckers, smelt, and others (Bates & Kirn 2009)

Impact Link Matrix Stressor Habitat Developed Land Forest Herbaceous Agriculture Wetlands Open Water<6ft Open Water >6ft Streams and Rivers Lakes and Ponds Roads 1 0.5 Dams Culverts

Impact Importance Matrix Sressor Habitat Developed Land Forest Herbaceous Agriculture Wetlands Open Water<6ft Open Water >6ft Streams and Rivers Lakes and Ponds Roads 2 0.5 Dams 1 Culverts

Recommendations/Conclusions Further study to determine the magnitude of effects posed by the barriers within the basin. Swanton Dam and Imperial Dam priority for removal. Increase signage on roads. “Smarter” design of new dams, roads, and culverts.

Image Sources in Order of Occurrence http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/calendaritems/Swanton_Dam.pdf http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1GTE_Mill_Pond_Dam__Quechee_VT http://www.indiana.edu/~inbsarc// http://www.mychamplain.net/forum/winooski-one-fish-lift-started-operation-september-15-2010 http://www.wildlifeandroads.org/decisionguide/2_1_1.cfm http://jeffircink.blogspot.com/2007/06/news-bulletin-another-turtle-saved.htmll http://www.cogulus.com/blog/archives/r/Red-Spotted-Newt-294.phpp http://www.aaroads.com/blog/category/places/north-america/united-states/vermont/ http://www.confenv.com/projectsCaseStudiesJapanese.html

Questions