Production dynamics for management of trout in low-productivity streams

Stream trout (Salmonidae) fisheries provide popular recreational fishing opportunities in the Appalachian Mountains and nationwide.  Use of dynamic population rate functions can serve as a superior approach to quantify trout populations and provide a scientific basis from which to guide management.  To incorporate trout production dynamics into management of intensively utilized, low-productivity southern Appalachian Mountain streams, we studied three streams to (1) quantify critical population parameters of trout in a State Park, (2) develop empirical estimates of trout production rate, and (3) present results in an applied context toward guiding management strategies that can be applied to other coldwater streams.  Among three streams sampled, brook trout were present in two, and brown trout were in three.  Wild trout were short-lived with a maximum age of two years.  Mean annual brook trout density was 195–234 fish/ha and that for brown trout was 170–2,039 fish/ha.  Annual brook trout production rate was 5.91–8.81 kg/ha and that of brown trout was 14.1–64.2 kg/ha.  We applied the ecotrophic coefficient to estimate sustainable levels of trout harvest from these low-productivity streams.  Our findings suggest suitable management options for streams in the southern Appalachian Mountains that can be applied nationwide.