Seneca Valley Trout Unlimited

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

BUGS AND INVASIVES

a presentation by Susan Rivers

Biologist, Maryland Inland Fisheries

First, there are the “bugs”

As we anglers know, bugs and the time when they hatch, are of great significance to anglers But, bugs also play another important function as they are accurate indicators of the quality of the water and its surrounding habitat. When a pollution event occurs on one of Maryland’s waters, base line data relating to conditions before the pollution event occurred is essential. Essential not only for providing evidence to establish responsibility for the pollution, but also for evaluating and determining the damage in both biological and economic terms to the stream/lake and its surrounding habitat. On this bug issue, Susan will be revealing to us the correct procedures for sampling - how she goes about collecting the bugs and then appropriately cataloging and organizing the collected data so that it will stand up in a court of law.

Then, there are the “Invasives

As many of you already know, all over the Country our fishing waters are being invaded by a wide variety of exotic species. Maryland has not been spared from this invasion and the negative impact these invasives inflict upon our fishing waters. For example, consider these specific events:

- An infection of the Whirling disease parasite at the Mettiki Rearing Station and Jennings Randolph Net Pens in 1996 and again at these facilities and the Bear Creek Trout Rearing Station in 2007.

- Snakeheads invading the Potomac Watershed and other Maryland waters.

In addition to the above cited invasives which have been found in Maryland, in nearby States, e.g., (West Virginia) and further north, e.g., (Vermont) there have been outbreaks of the invasive algae didymosphenia germinate called didymo or “rock snot”.

Susan will cover and expand upon the impact these invasives have on our fisheries, and will provide us with information on what practical measures we anglers can take to halt the spread and detrimental impact of these exotics

Place

Up-County Regional Service Center
First Floor – Room A

12900 Middlebrook Road
Germantown, MD 20874

240-777-8000

7:00-8:00 p.m. — Social Hour

8:00-9:15 p.m. — Program