Fisheries

Services Offered:
Fish Population Assessments
Aquatic Habitat Surveys
Fish Habitat Enhancement
Macroinvertebrate Sampling
Endangered Species Issues / Technical Writing
Pond Design, Construction and Monitoring
Limnological Surveys

Fisheries Biologist Mike Koopal points to a spring/summer Chinook redd (the nests that fish make in stream gravels) in Lake Creek, Idaho.

Fish Population Assessments

Watershed Consulting conducts fish population assessments utilizing electrofishing and snorkeling. We analyze electrofishing survey results by employing depletion methods in order to obtain population estimates. Single pass catch-per-effort is also available. Snorkeling surveys can be conducted as an alternative to, or in combination with, electrofishing. In particular, snorkeling provides insight into presence-absence and life history patterns that might not be obtained through electrofishing. Snorkeling is the preferred method for sensitive species. Watershed Consulting also evaluates fish populations and recruitment through spawning activity (redd counts), fry trapping and adult migratory trapping.

Aquatic Habitat Surveys

Watershed Consulting can conduct surveys of various physical components of a stream ecosystem including: spawning gravels, substrate composition, fine sediment levels, in-stream habitat types, pool to riffle ratios, pool formative features, pool residual depth and large woody debris. In order to evaluate these physical components, we can use the USFS R1/R4, Hankin and Reeves, and the General Aquatic Wildlife Study (GAWS), as well as other approaches. In addition, Watershed Consulting has completed many pre and post restoration habitat analysis investigations and believes that post project monitoring is an important component.

Fish Habitat Enhancement

For projects involving restoration recommendations, Watershed Consulting takes the results from both the fish population investigation and the aquatic habitat surveys and combines it with the geomorphic, hydrologic, riparian, soils and uplands data in order to determine which types of fisheries habitat enhancement structures have the best retention potential while also benefiting the fisheries population the most. Watershed Consulting combines in-stream fish habitat enhancement structures with stream bank bioengineering techniques to provide an integral aquatic environment.

A pure strain of west-slope cutthroat trout, a species native to Montana.

Macroinvertebrate Population Sampling

Macroinvertebrate populations can be sampled using qualitative or quantitative methods. Surber, Hess, kicknet, and artificial substrate sampling are some available survey options. Watershed Consulting can complete taxonomic and the results can be used in support of watershed assessments or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) issues.

Endangered Species Issues / Technical Writing

Watershed Consulting’s fisheries biologist has been involved in many projects with issues directly pertaining to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This includes involvement at the project implementation level monitoring the affects to ESA listed species and recommending mitigation measures to reduce impacts. Watershed Consulting’s fisheries biologist has also served as an Inter-disciplinary team member and prepared the fisheries chapters of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and two Environmental Impact Statements (EIS’s). These documents included the description of existing conditions, direct effects, indirect effects and cumulative effects of proposed action alternatives to fisheries.

Pond Design, Construction and monitoring

Watershed Consulting has been involved in all phases of pond design and construction. We work with the client to address the types of fish species that will be in the pond and whether the pond design and/or current conditions will be conducive to those species. Inflow and outflow sources are evaluated and Watershed Consulting can guide clients through the necessary permit process.

Limnological Surveys

As a compliment to our pond design and construction services, Watershed Consulting provides baseline pond and lake monitoring. Biotic and abiotic variables are assessed yielding trend data over time. Our limnological surveys have addressed the spectrum of lentic environments from eutrophic ponds to meso-oligotrophic lakes, including a highly alkaline lake in northwestern Nevada that houses a unique lacustrine population of Lahontan cutthroat trout, an ESA listed species.