Biological Effectiveness of Instream Bank Restoration Structures on Fish Populations

Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room

Agriculture can negatively influence stream ecosystems through a variety of means including increased sedimentation, increased runoff of pesticides and nutrients, and contamination of local groundwater. Loss of water quality can decrease in-stream habitat availability resulting in a shift in fish assemblages. In recent years, farmers have begun to adopt a variety of best management practices including restricting livestock access to the stream, enlarging riparian buffers and constructing stream bank stabilization structures. Efficacy of these management practices is needed to determine ecological benefits to stream species. To determine the biotic response to installation of stream bank restoration structures, we conducted pre and post-restoration sampling at 16 study sites in central Pennsylvania from 2015-2018. Stream assessments consisted of backpack electrofishing a 100m site for fish species enumeration and identification, and collection of standard water chemistry data. We found increases in different fish species abundance post-restoration, likely due to decreases in sedimentation, and increases in habitat availability. Our results suggest that simple streambank restoration projects and best management practice plans could improve the health of not only local watersheds in central Pennsylvania, but also the Susquehanna River watershed and even the Chesapeake Bay.