Funding: Trout Unlimited Embrace-A-Stream Grant, $4,250
Chapter Matching Funds: $3,781
Consultant: Princeton Hydro
Project Partner: Cooks Creek Watershed Association
In December, 2012 the chapter’s culvert survey of the Cooks Creek Watershed was completed. The survey was the first watershed-scale culvert survey to be done in Pennsylvania. With the information gathered by the survey the chapter can begin the process of reconnected those stream reaches in the watershed now blocked by culverts that impede fish passage.
Stream connectivity is important for trout in a number of ways: access to thermal refuge, spawning habitat, and eliminating genetic isolation of populations. However, poor design of culverts and bridges can negatively affect stream connectivity. Culverts can act as barriers to fish passage as follows: the culvert can be perched above the stream bed so fish have to jump large heights, high current velocities in culverts make it impossible for fish to move through, the water depth within the culvert can be too shallow, and they may not provide resting areas for fish that are migrating upstream.