NEW: Annual Report - George Mason University

Table 2. Sampling period and frequency of effort in each year for eggs and larvae of
anadromous fishes in Pohick, Accotink, and Dogue Creeks
Year Sampling period Pohick Cr. Accotink Cr. Dogue Cr.
2004 Mar 8-May 10 18 0 0
2003 Apr 6-May 31 8 9 0
2002 Mar 30-Jun 1 9 9 0
2001 Mar 3-May 25 12 12 0
2000 Mar 12-May 27 11 11 0
1999 Mar 21-Jun 15 13 13 0
1998 Mar 3-May 26 13 13 9
1997 Mar 10-Jun 1 14 14 14
1996 Apr 19-Jun 5 7 7 7
1995 Apr 14-May 26 6 6 0
1994 Apr 22-May 27 6 6 0
1993 Apr 2-Jun 4 9 9 0
1992 May 2-May 29 5 5 0
The results of the fish egg and larva sampling of the spring of 2003 were reported
in the 2002 Anadromous Fish Survey. Those results are repeated in Tables 3 and 4 for
reference. No ichthyoplankton sample was collected in Pohick Creek on May 16, 2003,
because of very high water flow. Very young alewife larvae were collected on the first
day we sampled and on two succeeding weeks in April in Pohick Creek. Two older yolk
sack larvae tentatively identified as alewife were caught in Pohick in May 23. Larvae of
common carp were caught in Pohick Creek on April 26 and May 3. Numerous newly
hatched gizzard shad larvae were caught on May 10 in Pohick Creek, and five more were
caught on the same date in Accotink Creek. Gizzard shad larvae were also collected on
May 23 and May 31 in Pohick Creek. One sunfish larva (perhaps a pumpkinseed) was
collected in Accotink Creek on May 10. A few fish eggs were collected in most samples
in both creeks, and larger numbers were collected from Pohick Creek on April 6, May 3,
and May 10. The eggs were not identified to a species, because of debris that adheres to
the adhesive eggs and obscures identifying features.
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