Predicting trout population and fish assemblage responses to reduced riparian buffer widths in Northern Georgia, USA. K.L. Jones. Masters Thesis. The University of Georgia, Athens. 2004.
The Georgia State Legislature reduced the mandatory riparian buffer
width along Georgia’s trout streams from 30 to 15 m. This research
evaluated the
responses of trout populations and fish assemblages to this buffer
width reduction. With a 15-m buffer, stream temperatures will increase
by 1.6 to 2.3 °C and fine sediment in riffles will increase by 11%,
resulting in an over 80% reduction in the biomass of young-of-the-year
trout. With a 15-m buffer, 91% of the trout stream network would be too
warm (> 21.5 °C) to support reproducing trout populations. As
stream
temperatures increase, range-restricted and benthic spawning fishes
will decline. Substantial warming of trout streams has occurred along
the trout stream network because of existing riparian deforestation.
Further deforestation of
riparian areas, which is allowed with the 15-m buffer width, will
contribute to the thermal warming of trout streams and, thereby,
jeopardize their capacity to support trout and native Southeastern
fishes.
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