December 30, 2013 at 8:25 am
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In the spring of 2010, fisheries biologists used trap nets to help determine the severity of the situation at Wadleigh Pond. These smelts were caught in the nets. (Photo courtesy: Tim Obrey)[/caption]
A little over a year ago fisheries biologists set out to perform the largest reclamation project MDIFW attempted in recent history. Big Wadleigh Pond, located in T8 R15 WELS, is a 157 acre pond in which rainbow smelts were illegally introduced, devastating the native arctic char. The extirpation of the char was in the foreseeable future if swift and absolute action was not taken. For an overview of the reclamation of Wadleigh Pond, please refer to my previous post Reclaiming Wadleigh Pond.
Since the reclamation, fisheries biologists have been monitoring toxicity levels in Wadleigh Pond. This past October, the pond was ready for the prodigal progeny of the original char and brook trout taken from Wadleigh to return. MDIFW fisheries biologists and Gary Picard of Mountain Springs Trout Farm in Frenchville, ME stocked approximately 650 char fingerlings, 3,500 brook trout fingerlings, and 2 adult char back into Big Wadleigh. Mountain Springs Trout Farm kept some of the mature brook trout and char to provide more offspring to be stocked at a later date. So far Wadleigh Pond restoration is right on schedule.
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Fisheries biologist Steve Seeback walks along the shore of Wadleigh Pond while waiting for the brook trout and char to acclimate to water temperature differences prior to re-stocking. (Photo courtesy: Tim Obrey)[/caption]
Two years before the Wadleigh project, MDIFW fisheries division reclaimed 90-acre Big Reed Pond (BRP), in T8 R10 WELS. The situation at Big Reed, while similar to Wadleigh, was significantly more dire, with only 12 adult char captured over a four year period prior to reclamation to provide a brood source. While the reclamation of Wadleigh faced challenges largely related to weather and delays, Big Reed faced challenges relating to the remote setting. It is situated in the middle of forested lands owned and maintained by The Nature Conservancy and the only access is via float plane, making the task of reclamation distinctly more difficult. However, in October 2010 fisheries biologists with assistance from the Army National Guard and a slew of volunteers including Igor Sikorsky, a pilot with Bradford Camps, managed to complete the job. The char and brook trout caught prior to reclamation were kept at Mountain Springs Trout Farm and spawned in the fall to restock BRP with the progeny of the original fish removed from the pond.
In 2011, fisheries biologists and Gary Picard went back with 1,400 young char (1,100
[caption id="attachment_243" align="alignleft" width="240"]
Young brook trout are re-stocked into Wadleigh Pond in October 2013. (Photo courtesy: Tim Obrey)[/caption]
seven to nine inches long stocked in the spring and 300 stocked later that fall). In 2012 fisheries biologists returned to monitor health and growth rates of the char and brook trout. They captured and collected measurements from many brook trout 5-13 inches long and several char approaching 15 inches long and exceeding one pound each.
Although nearly all of the char caught were sexually mature, biologists have not yet discovered where the char are spawning in BRP. In November 2013, however, biologists found brook trout spawning redds (impressions in gravelly areas created by spawning trout)-an encouraging discovery. A radio telemetry study, planned for 2014, will provide more information on char spawning locations and behavior.
Limited fishing activity is now permitted at BRP and anglers have confirmed fisheries biologists’ observations of good growth and good survival of brook trout and char. Liberal numbers of rotund fish is exactly the outcome expected after a reclamation and
although years of continued monitoring is still necessary, fish and fisheries biologists alike seem to be content with the current status and success of Big Reed Pond.
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An adult female char caught at Big Reed Pond post reclamation. (Photo courtesy: Frank Frost)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_242" align="alignleft" width="240"]
An adult male char is returned to Wadleigh Pond. (Photo courtesy: Tim Obrey)[/caption]
In the spring of 2010, fisheries biologists used trap nets to help determine the severity of the situation at Wadleigh Pond. These smelts were caught in the nets. (Photo courtesy: Tim Obrey)[/caption]
A little over a year ago fisheries biologists set out to perform the largest reclamation project MDIFW attempted in recent history. Big Wadleigh Pond, located in T8 R15 WELS, is a 157 acre pond in which rainbow smelts were illegally introduced, devastating the native arctic char. The extirpation of the char was in the foreseeable future if swift and absolute action was not taken. For an overview of the reclamation of Wadleigh Pond, please refer to my previous post Reclaiming Wadleigh Pond.
Since the reclamation, fisheries biologists have been monitoring toxicity levels in Wadleigh Pond. This past October, the pond was ready for the prodigal progeny of the original char and brook trout taken from Wadleigh to return. MDIFW fisheries biologists and Gary Picard of Mountain Springs Trout Farm in Frenchville, ME stocked approximately 650 char fingerlings, 3,500 brook trout fingerlings, and 2 adult char back into Big Wadleigh. Mountain Springs Trout Farm kept some of the mature brook trout and char to provide more offspring to be stocked at a later date. So far Wadleigh Pond restoration is right on schedule.
[caption id="attachment_244" align="alignleft" width="240"]
Fisheries biologist Steve Seeback walks along the shore of Wadleigh Pond while waiting for the brook trout and char to acclimate to water temperature differences prior to re-stocking. (Photo courtesy: Tim Obrey)[/caption]
Two years before the Wadleigh project, MDIFW fisheries division reclaimed 90-acre Big Reed Pond (BRP), in T8 R10 WELS. The situation at Big Reed, while similar to Wadleigh, was significantly more dire, with only 12 adult char captured over a four year period prior to reclamation to provide a brood source. While the reclamation of Wadleigh faced challenges largely related to weather and delays, Big Reed faced challenges relating to the remote setting. It is situated in the middle of forested lands owned and maintained by The Nature Conservancy and the only access is via float plane, making the task of reclamation distinctly more difficult. However, in October 2010 fisheries biologists with assistance from the Army National Guard and a slew of volunteers including Igor Sikorsky, a pilot with Bradford Camps, managed to complete the job. The char and brook trout caught prior to reclamation were kept at Mountain Springs Trout Farm and spawned in the fall to restock BRP with the progeny of the original fish removed from the pond.
In 2011, fisheries biologists and Gary Picard went back with 1,400 young char (1,100
[caption id="attachment_243" align="alignleft" width="240"]
Young brook trout are re-stocked into Wadleigh Pond in October 2013. (Photo courtesy: Tim Obrey)[/caption]
seven to nine inches long stocked in the spring and 300 stocked later that fall). In 2012 fisheries biologists returned to monitor health and growth rates of the char and brook trout. They captured and collected measurements from many brook trout 5-13 inches long and several char approaching 15 inches long and exceeding one pound each.
Although nearly all of the char caught were sexually mature, biologists have not yet discovered where the char are spawning in BRP. In November 2013, however, biologists found brook trout spawning redds (impressions in gravelly areas created by spawning trout)-an encouraging discovery. A radio telemetry study, planned for 2014, will provide more information on char spawning locations and behavior.
Limited fishing activity is now permitted at BRP and anglers have confirmed fisheries biologists’ observations of good growth and good survival of brook trout and char. Liberal numbers of rotund fish is exactly the outcome expected after a reclamation and
although years of continued monitoring is still necessary, fish and fisheries biologists alike seem to be content with the current status and success of Big Reed Pond.
[caption id="attachment_241" align="alignright" width="240"]
An adult female char caught at Big Reed Pond post reclamation. (Photo courtesy: Frank Frost)[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_242" align="alignleft" width="240"]
An adult male char is returned to Wadleigh Pond. (Photo courtesy: Tim Obrey)[/caption]Categories