Background and Justification

One of the primary concerns associated with residential and commercial development along the shoreline of reservoirs is the loss of habitat diversity and coarse woody debris coinciding with shoreline alterations. One management alternative is to incorporate knowledge developed in construction of artificial reefs and other fish attractor programs into a concept called "fish-friendly piers." A fish-friendly pier is one where complex horizontal structure is added under existing piers to create additional fish habitat in reservoirs. While scientists have developed design criteria for construction of a fish-friendly pier, the effectiveness of this design to attract and support fish populations that are similar to those currently supported by natural habitat has not been demonstrated. Such an evaluation is needed before this concept can be successfully implemented.

Objectives

The objectives of this ongoing research are

(1) to evaluate the response of fish to habitat enhanced piers in Piedmont North Carolina and South Carolina reservoirs and

(2) to evaluate this technique as a fish management response to the loss of coarse woody debris in reservoirs with riparian development.

The results of this study will provide sufficient information for natural resource agencies and utility companies to evaluate the feasibility of developing a habitat improvement program for residentially developed reservoirs using the fish-friendly pier concept. If fish-friendly piers provide a cost-effective means of adding complex habitat that is utilized by fish in developed reservoirs, then it may be possible to substantially increase habitat diversity in many North Carolina and South Carolina reservoirs using this technique.

For details of results, see

Barwick, R.D. 2002. Fish populations associated with habitat-modified piers and natural woody debris in Piedmont Carolina reservoirs. Master of Science thesis. North Carolina State University, Raleigh. 67 pages.

Barwick, R.D., T.J. Kwak, R.L. Noble, and D.H. Barwick. 2004. Fish populations associated with habitat-modified piers and natural woody debris in Piedmont Carolina reservoirs. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 24: 1120-1133.

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