Tag: Trout

Thousands Of Gallons Of Oil Spill From Storage Tank In Kanawha County

An open valve on a storage tank spilled potentially several thousand gallons of crude oil, the Kanawha County Commission said Monday.

An oil spill Sunday in Kanawha County does not appear to pose any threat to waterways or wildlife, but officials continue to monitor the situation.

An open valve on a storage tank spilled potentially several thousand gallons of crude oil, the Kanawha County Commission said Monday.

After an odor was reported in the upper Blue Creek area, officials from Kanawha County Emergency Management, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department were able to close the valve.

Booms and heavy machinery have been moved in to clean up the spill. Officials have been checking Blue Creek down to the point where it meets the Elk River.

They report no evidence of a sheen or any harm to aquatic life.

The county’s spring trout release was supposed to take place at Clendenin and Blue Creek on Monday, but will now take place on Tuesday as a result of the spill.

40,000 Golden Trout Stocked Across W.Va. This Week

Beginning April 1, the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources is stocking golden rainbow trout in 55 lakes and streams across the state for a special event called the “Gold Rush.”

According to a press release by the DNR, the agency expects to stock about 40,000 golden rainbow trout during this week of special stockings. The biggest release takes place Saturday, April 6th.

West Virginia’s fishing season is already underway and runs through May 31. But before casting their line, anglers must have a 2019 fishing license. 

Some of the stocking locations during the “Gold Rush” are along rivers, including Blackwater River, Cranberry River and Greenbrier River. Twelve state parks will also be stocked, including Babcock,  Pipestem, Stonewall Resort and Watoga.

To see the full list of locations where fish stocking is taking place this week, click here. 

Golden Rainbow Trout Special Stockings Set in West Virginia

Some lakes and streams in West Virginia will receive special stockings of golden rainbow trout next year.

The Division of Natural Resources says the releases will be held in early April to lead off the spring trout stocking season.

The DNR plans to stock only golden rainbow trout in designated lakes and streams, including those in several state parks. Normally, golden rainbow trout are stocked at a one-to-10 ratio with regular rainbow trout.

DNR hatchery program manager Jim Hedrick says about 25,000 golden rainbow trout will be stocked.

The purpose of the special stockings is to get people interested in trout fishing. The stockings will occur while many schools are on spring break.

Golden rainbow trout initially will be stocked at Cacapon, Blackwater Falls, Pipestem Resort, Watoga and North Bend state parks.

Pocahontas County Aims to Help Aquatic Wildlife

Two groups aim to improve conditions for aquatic wildlife in Pocahontas County.

The Monongahela National Forest and Trout Unlimited are working together this summer to improve conditions for aquatic life in the town of Bartow, in Pocahontas County.

According to Greenbrier District Ranger Jack Tribble, aquatic organisms have difficulty traveling through poorly designed or failing culverts – these are pipes that allow water to flow under roads, railroads and trails. When damaged or if these culverts don’t line up with a stream, it can become a barrier for aquatic wildlife.

However, the two groups plan to create barrier-free passage for creatures in the streams by building open-bottomed culverts under forest service roads.

Tribble said in a news release that this will maintain the natural stream bottom and allow stream-dwelling organisms, like native trout and aquatic insects, to travel freely.

Three roads will be closed temporarily in Bartow during installation:

  • Forest Road 369 (Fox Run Road) will be closed where Fox Run crosses under it. This closure will not affect public use because Fox Run Road is not open to public use. This work will begin on or about July 31.
  • Forest Road 17 (Little River Road) will be closed where an unnamed tributary of Little River crosses under it just west of FR 14 (Middle Mountain Road). The road closure will begin on or about August 15. No through traffic will be allowed. A detour will be posted.
  • Later this fall, Forest Road 44 will be closed where Gertrude Run crosses under it between Forest Road 179 (Elklick Run Road) and Forest Road 178 (Gertrude Run Road). No through traffic will be allowed. A detour will be posted.

Each road will be closed for at least a couple weeks.

Officials Trying to Help Anglers Catch Larger Wild Trout

West Virginia officials are working on a plan to help anglers catch larger trout in the wild.

Division of Natural Resources trout biologist Dave Thorne tells the Charleston Gazette-Mail that the agency is examining its management plans for both wild trout and trout that are brought in on stocking trucks.

Thorne doesn’t expect a lot of changes regarding stocked trout, but he says officials want people to be able to catch larger native brook trout.

Officials took the first step toward that goal in January, when catch-and-release regulations went into effect on Mill Creek and all its tributaries within the borders of Randolph County’s Kumbrabow State Forest.

If Mill Creek’s catch-and-release regulations result in larger trout, Thorne says DNR officials might consider placing similar regulations on similar streams.

Trout Stocking to Commence in West Virginia for 2015

Starting this month, hatchery workers will begin stocking trout to 55 West Virginia waters.

The state Division of Natural Resources says trout hatcheries are located in the state’s highest mountains, where weather conditions often are much more severe than they are at lower elevations.

Winter weather conditions could slow the distribution of trout, which weigh in at 40,000 pounds.

Tom Oldham is a biologist with DNR’s cold-water fisheries arm.

He says any stockings that get missed because of weather will be made up before the end of the stocking season.

Most of the stockings will begin Monday.

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