Unassessed waters program, public comment offer key tools for protecting wild trout populations

Riverkeeper note: The following story was written by Northern Tier Regional Director Emily Shosh.

Pennsylvania is home to over 83,000 miles of flowing streams, making it one of the most stream-dense states in the lower 48. Within those waters, 17,529 miles support wild naturally reproducing trout populations which grants them a higher level of environmental protection from state agencies.

While our water and trout resources are vast and may seem endless, the need for protecting it is ever-present. However, the resource can’t be protected until it is located.

In 2009, The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) recognized the need to identify our trout resources in order to provide adequate protections, and the Unassessed Waters Initiative (UWI) was born.

As of 2024, 46,620 miles of streams (a little more than 50 percent) in Pennsylvania still have not been surveyed, but that number used to be much higher. PFBC understood the overwhelming scope of this surveying effort and partnered with universities and professional scientific organizations to help complete this work.

“We get a list of streams from the PFBC that have never been surveyed before. Much of our effort has been focused in the West Branch Susquehanna River and the Delaware River basin. The streams can be small, sometimes barely a meter wide, and still be full of trout," said Kathleen Lavelle, field manager for Trout Unlimited's Coldwater Habitat Restoration Program out of Lock Haven, who has overseen more than 1,600 of these surveys. "On average, we document wild trout populations in 36 percent of the sites we survey. In these newly identified trout streams, we overwhelmingly find Pennsylvania’s only native trout, our brook trout.” 

Trout Unlimited (TU) is one of the original partners of the UWI.

Trout Unlimited's Kathleen Lavelle and a seasonal crew conduct a survey and e-fish study.

Though the streams may be small, their impact downstream can be huge. If the water quality in these headwear streams can support wild trout populations – a bioindicator of stream health – that means the quality of the water is very good.

Formally listing it as a Wild Trout Stream means it will stay that way. If a stream supports wild, naturally reproducing trout populations, it receives a higher level of protection from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), meaning there are standards in place to ensure that resources are not disturbed by activities in the watershed. 

“An added benefit to doing these surveys is getting to find some really high biomass streams. Our team has surveyed dozens of streams that have warranted a Class A survey from PFBC and have then made it to the Class A list and that feels good, to know your data is going to protect some of the best wild and native trout streams in the state," said Lavelle. "However, of TU’s surveys alone, over 50 stream reaches have still not been listed as Class A.”

Class A stream reaches, designated by PFBC based on biomass of trout species and potential for long-term angling opportunities, can also be first identified through UWI surveys. If a stream is listed as Class A, it qualifies for High Quality Coldwater Fisheries (HQ-CWF) use designation by PA DEP, affording the stream the highest level of protections, including not stocking those streams with hatchery-raised trout.

“PFBC relies heavily on public input and support for these listings, and especially Class A upgrades, in order for these streams to get the protections they deserve," said Lavelle, who tracks the listings progress. "Before each quarterly meeting there is a 60-day public comment period to allow the public to show their support for these listings and upgrades.”

As the owner of Appalachian Fishing Guides LLC, it is important for Taylor Hess to monitor how Pennsylvania's waterways are managed.

“Appalachian Fishing Guides values wild trout and wild places, they’re our livelihood and our passion. I’ve been lucky enough to fish extensively in Alaska, Idaho and Montana, but the number of waterways that we have in Pennsylvania is on a different level – especially here in the central region where we are within a 30-minute drive in any direction of countless streams that do or can support wild trout," said Hess. "Nearly 4 percent of the state's flowing waters have been designated as Class A as of November 2024, leaving our guide service a wealth of streams to choose from when taking our guests fishing. Class A waters of the state stand out because wild trout have the comfort to thrive – exceptional food sources, exceptional water quality and suitable habitats to procreate. These aren’t just great wild trout streams, they’re something special and upon inspection of some of these streams you’ll find exemplary ecosystems."

He suggested that it is unfortunate that some of our Class A streams are stocked with hatchery trout, which pose a whole new threat to wild populations in the long run.

"Despite some that may think Class A designations will take away fishing opportunities, they will help solidify a sustainable resource well into the future for healthy streams statewide, effectively decreasing the need for stocking programs over Class A waters. With Class A designation, any and all additions to Class A listings is a new set of protections for these streams and all of its inhabitants," Hess said. "These may feel like small advancements, but in reality, each and every new Class A designation is a very big win for conservation and the angling community. Staying up to date with the quarterly Class A Designation proposals and providing your public comment supporting new additions to Class A listings is key to maintaining these wins and keeping the momentum towards keeping wild trout just that – wild.”

Streams are monitored and surveyed on an ongoing basis by many local, state and national programs. Surveys involve sampling for trout biomass, macroinvertebrates, habitat types, flows, temperature, conductivity and many other parameters depending on potential impacts to the stream or prospective restoration work. 

As outlined by Lavelle and the UWI program, the science behind identifying wild and class A trout streams is transparent and straightforward. Formally listing and upgrading these resources should be the last piece of the puzzle to ensure their protection and you can help. 

Please show your support for wild trout and Class A stream designations and the protection of PA streams. We urge you to stay abreast of the PA Fish and Boat Commission’s comment periods, meeting schedule and meeting agendas, which can be found here.

Within the comment period, comments can be emailed to [email protected]

To view trout stream designations in PA and read the proposed stream designation updates, read more here.