of silt s: Ingredient nd gravel bottom, free ka • Mix of roc tream channel gs roots from • Meanderin network of am banks, • Stable stre egetation v r for aquatic streamside vides shelte bottom pro riffles and Clean stream nd young fish. Mix of rs. Aquatic sa invertebrate rotection from predato sp Good Riparian Buff runs provide rovide food to fish. er tes p Ingredients: invertebra • Streamside vegeta tion • Stable banks Streamside vegetati on provides shade, keeping water cooler. Root s keep banks from eroding. Overhanging vegeta tion provides shelte r from bird and mammal predat ors. Leaves and ot her woody debris provide food and cover. Decompo sing vegetation provides important nutrient s. bitat Diverse Ha Recipes... for a Healthy Stream Runaway Stream Steep, eroded banks are one sign that the stream is out of its natural state. These streams have little to no vegetation on the banks or riparian buffer. The stream may also be very wide and shallow with the water moving slowly. Silt often covers the bottom of these streams. These streams can be great candidates for habitat improvement. Biologists sample the stream at different places. They collect data on fish, bugs and water quality. Analysis of the stream hydrology occurs. Biologists and other technical staff review the data and develop habitat improvement plans. Most projects work to stabilize banks and create diverse instream habitat. Narrowing the channel increases the water speed. Fast water keeps the bottom clean and creates places for fish to hide. Things 46 PFBC and Greater Latrobe High School students build multilog deflectors. like logs, root wads, rocks and native plants are used to provide places to hide. It may take many years to see the full benefit of stream improvements. Trout are stocked when natural reproduction doesn’t support fishing. Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2013 www.fishandboat.com PFBC Facebook: PaFishandBoathttp://www.fishandboat.com