Habitat Utilization and Movements of Rainbow Trout in First Order Streams

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss ) habitat utilization and movements in lotic systems have focused on large streams and rivers. Small tributary streams and the smaller trout that live there have received little attention. Habitat utilization, and diel and seasonal movements of Rainbow Trout were examined in two widely separated spring originating, first order streams in the Mohawk River watershed: Zimmer Creek and Brimstone Creek. Thirty-five Rainbow Trout, (18 in Zimmer Creek, and 17 in Brimstone Creek), ranging in size from 234mm (140gm) to 374mm (551gm), were implanted with radio tags. Radio telemetry was used to locate and plot 2,592 fish positions over 24-hours from early March through the end of November. On average, Rainbow Trout spent over 85% of their time in their home pool. Environmental parameters measured at each fish location, were not correlated with trout movements, in spite of significant fluctuations in temperature, turbidity and discharge. When movements did occur, they usually occurred during high discharge, although flow rate itself was not a predictor of trout movements.  This study demonstrated that the behavior of Rainbow Trout living in small tributary streams is significantly different from habitat utilization and movements of rainbow trout in larger streams and rivers.