Rescuing Trapped Fish Due To Flooding in the C&O Canal

Type: Nontidal
Region: Western
Location: C&O Canal

When rivers flood fish move to shoreline areas and the floodplain to escape the strong currents. As the river recedes back into the channel, the fish normally recede with it. Unfortunately, if flood levels are high enough the C&O Canal, which parallels the Potomac from Cumberland to Georgetown, prevents many fish from naturally returning to the river. The March 2010 flood was not as severe as the 1996 floods and the river did not crest above the towpath in most areas. As a result, much fewer fish were trapped in the canal. However, the river did crest above the towpath in several areas in Washington and Frederick Counties. Inland Fisheries with the assistance of the National Park Service and concerned anglers kept watch over flooded portions of the canal as the water receded to identify areas that held trapped fish.

Several areas of the canal in Washington County were identified as likely to hold trapped fish. With the assistance of angler volunteers, these areas were checked using electrofishing gear. Fish were captured in dipnets, transferred to buckets and tubs, carryed out of the canal to a fish-hauling truck on the towpath, and returned to the Potomac at the nearest boat ramp. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish, bluegill, rockbass, crappie, fallfish, channel catfish, suckers, and carp have all been recovered. There are a few areas that have yet to be worked and, unfortunately, some pools could not be reached in time.

I would like thank Ben Hynes for organizing the volunteer work force and the volunteers that came out and worked so hard. The canal is muddy, slippery, and full of trees and flood debris. Recovering fish from this environment is hard, dirty work. The National Park Service was instrumental in providing information on towpath travel conditions and identifying unsafe areas. Thanks guys!