Flood and Debris-flow Effects on Virginia Brook Trout Populations
Streams and rivers in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia provide an excellent cold water resource and have historically supported exceptional wild trout populations. In June 1995, a flood of greater than 500-year recurrence interval created a unique opportunity to assess the impact on trout populations within 3 rivers of the Shenandoah National Park (SNP). Debris flows impacted the lower one- to two-thirds of the Rapidan, Staunton, and North Fork Moormans rivers, either extirpating or greatly depressing trout populations. The number of trout collected in debris flow areas were...
