Session A7- Assessment of fish passage through stream crossings on southern national forests

Road-stream crossings have the potential to block stream fish movement and fragment habitat. In 2005, we began a multi-year effort to assess fish passage at road-stream crossings on National Forest managed lands in the southeastern US. We collected standardized survey data at over 1200 crossings and applied regional ‘coarse filter’ passage models for strong, moderate, and weak swimming fish groups. Forests are now replacing impassable crossings to re-connect stream corridors, and the need for simple, cost-effective post-replacement monitoring approaches has arisen. In early 2010 we initiated simultaneous mark-recapture and genetic studies to determine movement of non-game fish species, including several darters (Etheostoma sp), cyprinids (Phoxinus sp.; Semotilus sp.) and sculpins (Cottus sp.) through 20 road-stream crossings on the Daniel Boone National Forest. At 3 crossings we also established antenna arrays to continuously monitor movement fish tagged with passive integrated transponders (PITs). Our results will provide managers with information on the passage capabilities of non-game species, and a comparison of techniques used to assess connectivity of stream fish habitat