NOTICES
FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION
Proposed Changes to List of Class A Wild Trout Waters; October 2023
[53 Pa.B. 5256]
[Saturday, August 19, 2023]
The Fish and Boat Commission (Commission) is considering changes to its list of Class A wild trout streams. Under 58 Pa. Code § 57.8a (relating to Class A wild trout streams), it is the Commission's policy to manage self-sustaining Class A wild trout populations as a renewable natural resource to conserve that resource and the angling it provides. Class A wild trout populations represent the best of this Commonwealth's naturally reproducing trout fisheries. With rare exceptions, the Commission manages these stream sections solely for the perpetuation of the wild trout fishery with no stocking.
(1) Criteria developed for Class A Wild Trout fisheries are species specific.
(2) Wild Trout Biomass Class Criteria include provisions for:
(i) Wild Brook Trout Fisheries
(A) Total brook trout biomass of at least 30 kg/ha (26.7 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Brook trout biomass must comprise at least 75% of the total trout biomass.
(ii) Wild Brown Trout Fisheries
(A) Total brown trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Brown trout biomass must comprise at least 75% of the total trout biomass.
(iii) Mixed Wild Brook and Brown Trout Fisheries
(A) Combined brook and brown trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(D) Brook trout biomass must comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(E) Brown trout biomass must comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(iv) Wild Rainbow Trout Fisheries
Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 2.0 kg/ha (1.78 lbs/acre).
(v) Mixed Wild Brook and Rainbow Trout Fisheries
(A) Combined brook and rainbow trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(D) Brook trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(E) Rainbow trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(vi) Mixed Wild Brown and Rainbow Trout Fisheries
(A) Combined brown and rainbow trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(C) Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(D) Brown trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(E) Rainbow trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
During recent surveys, Commission staff documented the following stream sections to have Class A wild trout populations. The Commission intends to consider adding these waters to its list of Class A wild trout streams at its meeting on October 23, 2023.
| County | Stream | Section | Limits | Tributary to | Mouth
Lat/Lon | Brook
Trout
(kg/ha) | Brown
Trout
(kg/ha) | Rainbow
Trout
(kg/ha) | Length
(miles) | Survey
Year |
|---|
| Clinton | Baker Run | 1 | Headwaters to Mouth | West Branch Susquehanna River | 41.247778
77.606111 | 29.33 | 23.55 | —- | 2.67 | 2020 |
| Clinton | Birch Island Run | 2 | Unnamed tributary at Juneberry Trail to State Route 4002 | West Branch Susquehanna River | 41.195833
77.974444 | 34.96 | —- | —- | 1.20 | 2022 |
| Clinton | Hyner Run | 1 | Headwaters to power line crossing upstream Hyner Run State Park | West Branch Susquehanna River | 41.331007
77.646802 | 36.27 | 52.01 | —- | 1.29 | 2020 |
| Clinton | Little Birch
Island Run | 1 | Headwaters to Mouth | Birch Island Run | 41.202778
77.993333 | 37.22 | —- | —- | 5.90 | 2022 |
| Potter | East Branch
Cowley Run | 1 | Headwaters to Cowley Road Bridge | Cowley Run | 41.596389
78.186389 | 16.65 | 34.95 | —- | 4.51 | 2021 |
| Potter | West Branch
Cowley Run | 1 | Headwaters to Fee Run | Cowley Run | 41.596389
78.186389 | 7.87 | 46.51 | —- | 5.84 | 2021 |
| Union | Spruce Run | 2 | Cooper Mill Road Bridge to State Forest boundary at Spruce Run Reservoir | Buffalo Creek | 40.976944
76.978889 | 32.13 | 13.90 | —- | 6.50 | 2020 |
Persons with comments, objections or suggestions concerning the classification of the streams listed may submit them in writing to the Executive Director, Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000, within 30 days after publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted.
Comments may also be submitted electronically to RA-pfbcregulations@pa.gov. Electronic comments submitted in any other manner will not be accepted.
TIMOTHY D. SCHAEFFER,
Executive Director
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 23-1129. Filed for public inspection August 18, 2023, 9:00 a.m.]
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