Assessment of Paddlefish Reintroduction into Allegheny Reservoir

Abstract

Gillnetting and radiotelemetry were used to evaluate the reintroduction of Paddlefish Polyodon spathula into Allegheny Reservoir, New York–Pennsylvania. Gillnetting produced 86 total captures over 6,943 h of effort in the spring and early summer of 2008–2011. Forty‐four of these individuals received implanted radio transmitters and were tracked from May 2008 to August 2011. Paddlefish showed a strong preference for reservoir sections where depths ranged from 6 to 18 m; only one individual was located in water greater than 18 m in depth. One sexually mature Paddlefish was identified, but telemetry data showed no evidence of reproduction, with only one individual making use of available riverine habitat that was predicted to be ideal for spawning. Paddlefish were susceptible to passage through Kinzua Dam: 46% of radio‐tracked individuals left the reservoir during the study period. Continued efforts to evaluate Paddlefish reintroduction in Allegheny Reservoir should now focus on (1) assessing natural reproduction and (2) determining movement and survival through Kinzua Dam. Received November 4, 2013; accepted June 26, 2014

Factors affecting the catch and harvest rates of paddlefish downstream of Gavins Point Dam, South Dakota, 2000–2020

“…Increased age‐0 recruitment to adulthood resulting from warmer Spring temperatures would increase adult abundance, in turn increasing catch rates, as in a previous study that found relationships between water temperature and paddlefish catch rates (Lein & Devries, 1998). Since paddlefish spawning success (Runstrom et al, 2001) and spawning timing in late May early June (Ruelle & Hudson, 1977) is related to discharge, and suitable preferred habitat (i.e., water depth 6–18 m; Budnik et al, 2014) requires moderate flows (Phelps et al, 2009), dam operations providing these flows may benefit the Gavins Point paddlefish population.…”