GREENWAYS & NATURAL LANDS

Fish Monitoring

Fish populations are sensitive to changes in water quality resulting from fluctuations in water level, pesticide/herbicide use, exotic plant introduction, and other factors. They may also be affected by the introduction of non-native fishes and other fauna.

Whenever the occurrences of fish species are identified through the use of visual encounters, they will be noted and added to the base inventory. Otherwise, fish will be monitored using a variety of trapping techniques. Fish populations will be monitored quarterly corresponding with the herptile monitoring. Methods will include dip netting, seining, and the use of minnow traps. Rod-and-reel will occasionally be used to sample fishes too large to be captured using other methods.

Fish will be identified in the field and released. Voucher specimens may be deposited at the University of Central vertebrate collection.

MONITORING PROTOCOL
GENERAL
	All fish surveys will be done with either a seine, dip net, minnow traps, or any combination of the three.
	Fish surveys may be done during any time of the day, but must be conducted for at least one hour (if using a seine or dip net).
	If using traps, the investigator should set traps two hours before sunset- the day before checking them.
	Traps should be set in vegetation or by using green stakes to hold them up.
	When checking minnow traps they should all be checked by eleven a.m.
	The traps should be emptied when finished identifying the fish.
	Replace all traps in the proper set.