Whirling Disease Update - by Ken Pavol

MD DNR Fisheries Service provided the following update on the status of whirling disease management efforts as of October 15.

Facilities

  • Bear Creek, Mettiki and Jennings Randolph Net Pens remain closed
  • Bear Creek raceways have been disinfected, Raceways 1 through 6 have been sealed and re-lined.
  • Contracts are currently being negotiated for removal and disposal of sediments from the Bear Creek settling pond. This will remove the last bit of possible habitat for the intermediate host of the parasite, the Tubifex worm within the facility.  The pond will be redesigned to facilitate periodic removal of sediment and minimize potential for Tubifex colonization.  A deep pit mine site near Sand Spring Run (Georges Cr) has been chosen for disposal of the sediments.  The material will be mixed with flyash containing a high percentage of free lime.  It will be buried under multiple layers of this material as this site is reclaimed.
Public Information
  • Display boxes were constructed to hold informational signs on the Yough, North Branch of the Potomac and the Savage River.
  • Angler/boater information cards were printed and made available to the public (See below)

WHIRLING DISEASE AND INVASIVES HANDOUT CARD

     whirling disease                      whirling disease         

ATTENTION ANGLERS AND BOATERS

To prevent the spread of Whirling Disease and invasive species in Maryland waters, please take the following precautions:

  • Scrub all gear to remove mud and plants; rinse with clean water
  • If possible, dry equipment completely
  • Drain all water from bilges and livewells, don’t move water from one area to another
  • Don’t move fish, fish parts, harvested baitfish or any other live bait from one water body to another
  • Don’t dump live or cut bait
  • Dispose of fish or fish parts in garbage or burn
  • If possible, refrain from using felts on your boots.  If you have felts, allow to dry completely before moving to another water body

 

For further information, contact Maryland Fisheries Service at www.dnr.maryland.gov
or call 1-877-620-8DNRx8265                                                                                                  July 2007

 

  • the above information card language will be modified to cover all diseases and invasive species for tidal and non-tidal waters and will be added to the 2008 Sportfishing Guide.
  • Fisheries Service web page has current advice to anglers to prevent spread of whirling disease and specific advice on precautions regarding felt waders.
  • Maryland Public Television has been filming footage of personnel, facilities, sampling and stocking as part of a future Outdoors Maryland segment that will discuss whirling disease, to be aired in 2008.
  • Presentations were made to Trout Unlimited groups, the DNR Invasive Species Matrix Team and staff meeting regarding whirling disease as an invasive problem
  • Staff shared information with Whirling Disease Initiative at Montana State University and was asked to participant in the national symposium, if it occurs.  (Recent cuts in whirling disease research funding have reduced the possibility of the yearly meeting.)

Adult Fish Sampling

  • Little Bear Creek below Bear Creek hatchery – brook trout – negative
  • Hunting Creek elbow pool and Hemlock Bridge – brown and brook trout – negative
  • Cushwa’s adult brown and rainbow trout – negative
  • Bear Creek – wild brown and brook trout – negative
  • Fike’s Run trib below Bear Creek – negative
  • Gunpowder Falls Dam Falls Station – adult and YOY brown trout – negative
  • Samples pending for Folly Run in Garrett County (brook, brown and rainbow) and North Branch Potomac River lower C&R (brown)

 

Sentinel Testing

            Sentinel testing involves exposure of swim-up fry in cages in stream for at least a two-week period and then tested using PCR technology.

            Past tests – June 2007

  • Youghiogheny River Catch and Return at Hoyes – negative
  • Bear Creek 1.5 miles below hatchery – negative
  • Bear Creek below pond – negative
  • Bear Creek below hatchery intake – negative
  • Bear Creek above intake – negative
  • North Branch Potomac River at Gorman – negative
  • North Branch Potomac River natural propagation area – positive
  • North Branch Potomac River Zero Creel at McCoole – negative
  • North Branch Potomac River upper Catch and Return area – positive
  • North Branch Potomac River – Black Oak – negative

            Pending tests

  • Samplers are currently out in Bear Creek, Cushwa’s Rearing station, Hoyes Run, Deep Creek Lake tailrace, Lower Savage River and North Branch Potomac River lower Catch and Releases area below Blue Hole, and Youghiogheny River DH area
  • Samplers will be pulled from October 17 to October 24 and will be submitted to Lamar Lab for PCR testing

Tubifex study

            A check of Tubifex by personnel from Leetown found that no Tubifex samples from Bear Creek were carrying the parasite.  Eighty percent of the Tubifex samples from Mettiki carried a stage of the parasite.  This testing was conducted using PCR technology.

TAM (Triactinomyxon) Sampling

  • Bear Creek numerous sites – negative
  • Mettiki two sites – one positive, one negative
  • North Branch Potomac River numerous sites – negative
  • Youghiogheny River – negative.