Inspecting Little Gunpowder River Fish Passage

Type: Nontidal
Region: Northern
Location: Gunpowder Falls State Park

In response to a call from a concerned bass angler, on 1 April, Joseph Love (Tidal Bass Manager), Don Cosden (Chief of Inland Fisheries), and Andrew Hangen (Area Manager, Gunpowder Falls State Park) inspected the Little Gunpowder River to determine if there was an obstruction to fish passage. Specifically, they inspected a gravel pit that is confluent with the Little Gundpowder River. Clear water and sandy, firm bottom habitat characterize the gravel pit. Several bass anglers in bass boats or on the bank were fishing throughout the warm, clear day. There was no obstruction to fish passage into and out of the gravel pit. Thus, largemouth bass and other fish species likely move throughout the Little Gunpowder and can spawn in this gravel pit. A small island has developed in the upstream portion of the gravel pit. This island developed because of a change in the flow patterns of the Little Gunpowder. Despite the development of this small island, the water of the gravel pit was relatively clear, with firm substrate, for spawning fish. This gravel pit likely provides habitat for spawning fishes and supports the productive bass fishery of the Gunpowder River.

Photo 1: Andrew Hangen canuing from the gravel pit to downstream Little Gunpowder and inspecting the site for a possible obstruction.

Photo 2: A small island has developed in the upstream sections of the gravel pit, likely because of changes in flow patterns of the Little Gunpowder River.