Patapsco River Sampling

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Patapsco River

Last Wednesday another Intern and I went out with Jay Kilian to sample two different parts of the Patapsco River. There were around fifteen people helping out with this sampling. The goal of the sampling is to determine the ecological effects of the removal of Union and Simkins dams (two dams upstream of Bloede dam that were removed in recent years). Also, the monitoring of twenty one sites in the Patapsco basin since 2009 will be useful to detect ecological changes in the river if and when Bloede is removed.

The plan for both sites was to block off a 75 meter section of the river with two block nets stretching the width of the river. Then around seven people had electro fishing packs while the rest of us had nets or buckets to hold the fish. Jay�s team made a floating electro raft that had four probes connected to it, while one person would pull it up the river. It was made out of a sturdy floating fishing chair, with a piece of plywood across the middle to hold the electro fishing generator and a gas tank. This was one of the coolest things I have seen while working with the DNR.

The first site was located in the Patapsco Valley State Park. To put up the block nets we had to find big rocks to hold the bottom to the ground, then large sticks were placed holding the top of the net up. This part was tricky because you had to use more rocks to hold the stick in place or the net would fall down, contaminating the sampling area. Two passes were done on each site, making sure everything in the water was caught. Jay records everything that floats up in the water, which ranges from eels to striped bass and a variety of minnows. Also the team looks for salamanders on the sides of the river.

The second site was my favorite because it was located behind an abandoned warehouse and the 75 meters electro fished was all rapids and slippery rocks. This made it difficult to just walk, making the electro fishing pretty intense. One of the block nets was placed directly in the middle of the biggest rapid, crew members were slipping and falling in the water just putting the block net up. Personally I had a great time, I like a challenge and some harder work. Our block nets stayed up for both passes, which Jay said has never happened before, usually they fall down after the first pass. When we did the actual electro fishing I think two people fell in the water including me. I was slipping everywhere, so I just sat down on a rock, this happened to the other guy too, neither of us were shocked. It was safe if you remembered to yell something out while you were falling, that way the crew stops electro fishing.

Once Jay and his team go back to the office and examine the results, they will know how much of an impact the dam removals have had. If you want to know more about the about the Bloede Dam project, visit Bloede Dam. Overall it was a good day on the Patapsco River, and personally the second site we sampled was the most fun I have had electro fishing all summer.