The feasibility of restoring gilt darters (Percina evides) to the lotic benthic community of New York's Allegheny River

The gilt darter (Percina evides) was extirpated from New York reaches of the Allegheny River over seventy years ago due to water quality degradation and loss of habitat. Habitat analysis indicate that there are now suitable areas in New York’s Allegheny watershed to support this species. However, natural restoration of gilt darters in the New York cannot occur because the Kinzua Dam and the extensive Allegheny Reservoir behind it prevents the upstream movement of northern Allegheny River populations.  In 2008, through the combined efforts of US Fish & Wildlife Service, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Museum, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the State University of New York at Cobleskill, the Seneca Nation  and Conservation Fisheries, Inc. a project was initiated to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing hatchery reared fish to restore gilt darters to the New York reaches of the Allegheny River. In the fall of 2008 and 2009, immature gilt darters were collected from the Allegheny River near East Brady, PA as brood-stock. Propagation techniques developed at SUNY Cobleskill and Conservation Fisheries, Inc. make the restoration of gilt darters feasible in areas of New York, Illinois, Iowa and Ohio, where they have become extirpated.