FISHES OF THE BLACKWATER RIVER DRAINAGE, TUCKER ...

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River. We speculate that this record likely represents data for the redside dace instead ofthe blue sucker, as both share the abbreviation “C. elongatus”.Our review also revealedconfusing records of data from F.J. Schwartz (in Core et al. 1959), where notations forlocality data in the Cheat and Blackwater rivers were inconsistent. F. J. Schwartz,however, provided original field data to avoid misinterpretation of data from Core et al.(1959).We were unable to detect most long-term changes to the fish fauna of theBlackwater River because extensive baseline records were lacking. Data before and after1978 were compared and indicated population declines and/or losses of six species(brook trout, redside dace, river chub, northern hogsucker, fantail darter, and blacksidedarter). The range of the resident brook trout was reduced to mainly spring fed tributaries.Redside dace were common in Canaan Valley during the 1940s and 1950s but arecurrently rare. River chub, northern hogsucker, fantail darter, and blackside darter weretaken in the upper drainage only once between 1956 and 1967; although their occurrencesmay represent misidentifications or introductions by fishermen, we regard them as nativesince all are found in nearby Monongahela River drainages. The other 16 fishes listedabove are extant and common in streams of good water quality and adequate habitatwithin the upper Blackwater drainage (Table 3).Below Blackwater FallsAcid mine drainage has severely impacted the fauna of the Blackwater River’s mainchannel from the mouth of Beaver Creek to its confluence with the Dry Fork (Fig. 1).Recent acid remediation projects have increased faunal diversity. Although we did notsubstantiate recent records of brook trout below the falls, we consider brook trout to benative in the lower drainage based on historic records (Zurbuch in review, 2002a). Fishespresently found below the falls include: central stoneroller, spotfin shiner, silverjawminnow, striped shiner, river chub, golden shiner, silver shiner, rosyface shiner,bluntnose minnow, blacknose dace, longnose dace, creek chub, white sucker, northernhogsucker, brown bullhead, stonecat, margined madtom, rainbow trout, brown trout,mottled sculpin, rock bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, green sunfish, greensidedarter, bluebreast darter, johnny darter, and variegate darter (Table 3). All are native tothe lower Blackwater and Monongahela rivers, except rainbow and brown trouts, andmargined madtom.Populations of the 27 species listed above are influenced by water quality.Species of small streams, such as eastern blacknose dace, creek chub, and white sucker,are common in tributaries not degraded by mining or natural acidity. Based on recentdata, fish populations have been reestablished in the main stem Blackwater River, buttheir persistence hinges on acid remediation. The following species from nearby waters(Dry Fork, Blackfork, Shavers Fork and Cheat rivers) may be expected to occur in theBlackwater River: rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides), pearl dace, mimic shiner(Notropis volucellus), popeye shiner (Notropis ariommus), cheat minnow(Pararhinichthys bowersi), banded darter (Etheostoma zonale), and sharpnose darter(Percina oxyrhynchus).SummarySince 1899, biologists have conducted 67 fish surveys at 34 sites in the Blackwater Riverdrainage. Thirty-seven species have been collected: 20 native and 10 introduced fishesare known above Blackwater Falls, and 26 and 3 below the falls. We attribute the greater22
ichness in the upper watershed to sportfish and bait bucket introductions. Domesticwater use, excess siltation, and nutrient loading, impoundment construction, historiclumbering and tannery operations, and acid mine drainage have impacted the speciescomposition over time. Populations of brook trout and redside dace have been reduced.Four species (river chub, northern hogsucker, fantail darter, blackside darter) are likelyextirpated from the upper drainage. Recent acid remediation projects improved waterquality, which promoted fish re-colonization; a recent collection from the lowerBlackwater River included seven new species records for the drainage. Reestablishmentof fishes in the lower Blackwater River (from Davis to the mouth) is impressive, giventhat this section was virtually devoid of life prior to1995.AcknowledgementsWe thank all past and present WV Division of Natural Resources employees whocollected and prepared data cited herein, particularly F. Jernejcic, R. Doyle, M. Everhart,J. Cseripko, G. Weaver, and A. Johnson. Dr. F. J. Schwartz graciously provided originalfield data from 1956. Information from Dr. M. Gatch was made available to the authorsthrough the state’s wildlife database, as it was collected via a grant from the WVDNR’sWildlife Diversity Program. Special appreciation is extended to J. Harrison, who gave uselevation and stream length data, and prepared our drainage map. We are indebted to B.Sargent for retrieving much of the historic WVDNR information from the state streamdatabase and to D. Hale for typing the manuscript. West Virginia Division of Highwaysfunded recent Beaver Creek surveys. P. E. Zurbuch and B. McDonald reviewed the draft.Lastly, we dedicate this paper to Chris Clower and Jim Rawson, whose painstakingefforts to protect and manage the natural resources of Canaan Valley gave us the impetusto prepare this paper for Canaan Valley Institute’s “Celebration of the Valley.”ReferencesBowen, W.C., B.D. Faulknier, D.A. Cincotta, K.G. Barnett, and D.C. Tarter.2000. A baseline genetic study of the reside dace in West Virginia.Association of Southeastern Biologists Bulletin 47(2): 151.Christmas, J., R. Eades, D. Cincotta, A. Shiels, R. Miller, J. Siemien, T. Sinnot,and P. Fuller. 1998. History, management, and status of introduced fishesin the Chesapeake Bay region. Pages 97-116, in Therres, G.D., editor.Conservation of biological diversity: a key to restoration of Chesapeake Bayecosystem and beyond. Maryland Department of Natural Resources,Annapolis, MD.Cincotta, D.A., R. L. Miles, M. E. Hoeft, and G. E. Lewis. 1986a. Discovery ofNoturus eleutherus, Noturus stigmosus, and Percina peltata in WestVirginia, with discussions of other additions and records of fishes.Brimleyana 12: 101-121.Cincotta, D.A., K.L. Dull, S.L. Markham, and R.D. Williams. 1986b.Ichthyofaunal checklist and comparison of the two North Branch PotomacRiver tributaries where alleged Ohio-Potomac stream captures occurred.Proc. Pa. Acad. Sci. 60:129-134.Cooper, E. L. 1983. Fishes of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State UniversityPress, University Park. 243 pp.Core, E.L. 1959. Biological investigations of Cheat Lake. West VirginiaUniversity, Morgantown, mimeo 39 pp.23
Page 1 and 2: FISHES OF THE BLACKWATER RIVER DRAI
Page 3 and 4: In 1899, the U. S. Bureau of Fisher
Page 5: particularly in the Cheat and Yough
Page 9 and 10: N. Lea, and J. D. Williams. 2004. C
Page 11 and 12: 23. Yellow Creek - 61 meters above
Page 13 and 14: variegate darterblackside darterD2
Page 15 and 16: Table 2. (cont.)Species Site 15 Sit
Page 17 and 18: Table 2. (cont.)Species Site 30 Sit
Page 19: Figure 1. The Blackwater River drai

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