It is the policy of the Commission to manage
self-sustaining Class A wild trout populations as a renewable natural resource
to conserve that resource and the angling it provides. Class A wild trout
populations represent the best of this Commonwealth's naturally reproducing
trout fisheries. With rare exceptions, these stream sections are managed solely
for the perpetuation of the wild trout fishery with no stocking. However, there
may be circumstances that justify stocking a Class A wild trout stream
section.
Prior to granting permission to stock a Class A wild
trout stream section under §
71a.8 (relating to stocking of
designated waters), the Executive Director will consult the stocking criteria
set forth in the current edition of the Operational Guidelines for the
Management of Trout Fisheries in Pennsylvania Waters. If any of the
stocking criteria are met, the Executive Director may grant an exemption to
stock a Class A wild trout stream section. To grant an exemption to stock a
Class A wild trout stream section that does not meet any of the stocking
criteria, the Executive Director shall obtain the approval of the Commission.
The following apply:
(1) Criteria
developed for Class A wild trout fisheries are species specific.
(2) Wild trout biomass class criteria include
provisions for:
(i)
Wild brook trout
fisheries.
(A) Total brook trout
biomass of at least 30 kg/ha (26.7 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15
cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089
lbs/acre).
(C) Brook trout biomass
must comprise at least 75% of the total trout biomass.
(ii)
Wild brown trout
fisheries.
(A) Total brown trout
biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15
cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089
lbs/acre).
(C) Brown trout biomass
shall comprise at least 75% of the total trout biomass.
(iii)
Mixed wild brook and brown
trout fisheries.
(A) Combined brook
and brown trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15
cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089
lbs/acre).
(C) Total biomass of
brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha
(0.089 lbs/acre).
(D) Brook trout
biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(E) Brown trout biomass shall comprise less
than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(iv)
Wild rainbow trout
fisheries. Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches)
in total length of at least 2.0 kg/ha (1.78 lbs/acre).
(v)
Mixed wild brook and rainbow
trout fisheries.
(A) Combined brook
and rainbow trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15
cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089
lbs/acre).
(C) Total biomass of
rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1
kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(D) Brook
trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout
biomass.
(E) Rainbow trout biomass
shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
(vi)
Mixed wild brown and rainbow
trout fisheries.
(A) Combined brown
and rainbow trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
(B) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15
cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089
lbs/acre).
(C) Total biomass of
rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1
kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
(D) Brown
trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout
biomass.
(E) Rainbow trout biomass
shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout
biomass.
(3) A
water will not be removed from the Class A wild trout streams designation
unless the cause leading to the reduction in the wild trout population has been
clearly identified and it has been determined that the water is beyond
remediation to re-establish the Class A wild trout population. Possible reasons
include the following:
(i) Human caused
conditions or sources of pollution prevent the attainment of a Class A wild
trout fishery and cannot be remedied or will cause more environmental damage to
correct than to leave in place.
(ii) Dams, diversions or other types of
hydrologic modifications preclude the attainment of a Class A wild trout
fishery, and it is not feasible to restore the water body to its original
condition or to operate the modification in a way that will result in the
attainment of a Class A wild trout fishery.
Notes
The
provisions of this § 57.8a adopted April 18, 1997, effective
4/19/1997, 27 Pa.B. 1944;
amended March 21, 2014, effective 3/22/2014, 44 Pa.B. 1772; amended December 5,
2014, effective 1/1/2015, 44
Pa.B. 7561; amended April 2, 2021, effective 4/3/2021, 51 Pa.B. 1828.
Amended by
Pennsylvania
Bulletin, Vol 53, No. 38. September 23, 2023, effective
9/23/2023
Amended by
Pennsylvania
Bulletin, Vol 55, No. 10. March 8, 2025, effective
3/8/2025
