NOTICES
FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION
Proposed Changes to List of Class A Wild Trout Waters; January 2024
[53 Pa.B. 7269]
[Saturday, November 18, 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 January 22, 2024.
| 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 |
|---|
| Centre | Benner Run | 2 | Second tributary upstream of the mouth to Mouth | Black Moshannon Creek | 40.956389
78.039722 | 12.11 | 35.30 | —- | 1.70 | 2023 |
| Centre | Little Poe Creek | 1 | Headwaters to Mouth | Big Poe Creek | 40.829556
77.444595 | 50.79 | 8.10 | —- | 4.66 | 2023 |
| Centre | Marsh Creek | 1 | Headwaters to Laurel Run | Bald Eagle Creek | 41.058529
77.596419 | 28.58 | 21.40 | —- | 4.96 | 2023 |
| Clinton | Middle Branch Big Run | 1 | Headwaters to Sproul State Forest boundary | Big Run | 41.150833
77.768611 | 33.73 | —- | —- | 2.78 | 2023 |
| Clinton | Rattlesnake Run | 2 | Wildcat Hollow Run to Mouth | West Branch Susquehanna River | 41.268889
77.593889 | 43.83 | 7.77 | —- | 2.26 | 2023 |
| Huntingdon | Shaver Creek | 1 | Headwaters to Lake Perez | Juniata River | 40.565556
78.047778 | 22.21 | 27.72 | —- | 5.21 | 2023 |
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, objections or suggestions may also be submitted electronically to RA-pfbcregulations@pa.gov.
TIMOTHY D. SCHAEFFER,
Executive Director
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 23-1617. Filed for public inspection November 17, 2023, 9:00 a.m.]
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