A Long-Term Evaluation of Trout Habitat Development and Its Relation to Improving Management-Related Research

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Abstract
Responses of a wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) population to instream habitat development in a 0.7 km reach of Lawrence Creek were monitored for 7 years and compared to population data for the 3‐year period prior to development. Mean annual biomass of trout, mean annual number of trout over 15 cm (legal size), and annual production increased significantly during the 3 years following development, but more impressive responses were observed during the second 3 years. Maximum number and biomass and number of legal trout did not occur until 5 years after completion of development. The peak number of brook trout over 20 cm was reached the sixth year after development. Where long‐term studies of aquatic systems are needed to evaluate effects of environmental perturbations, it may be desirable to deliberately delay collection of posttreatment data. Such a start‐pause‐finish sequence of research would provide more valid and less costly evaluations and utilize the time of researchers more efficiently.

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