Exhibit 8 - BVET Proocol FishSurveyMod.docx

FISH SURVEY MODIFICATION TO THE BVET PROTOCOL

This is a modification to the fish survey part of the BVET protocol described on pages 4-7 in Dolloff et al. (1993). The primary difference is that in the current work, only electrofishing will be used to sample fish. No diving will be used for the fish survey. Data analysis is also described below.

Fish Survey Modification Fish surveys would consist of single pass electrofishing within 10% of the habitat units (with a minimum of 10 habitat units surveyed for each habitat type within each selected stream). The specific units to be surveyed for fish would be the same as the units measured for the BVET habitat assessment (i.e. the measured units for development of the correction factors). Fish surveys will continue upstream until the streams no longer provide suitable fish habitat due to stream gradient. The contractor will be responsible for ensuring that a sufficient number of electrofishing units are used to span the wetted stream channel during fish surveys. Additionally, 20% of the fish survey sites will be surveyed using the 3-pass depletion method to calibrate the single pass surveys. In subsequent years, sample sites will be randomly selected based upon the 2010 BVET habitat data.The fish survey would begin at the downstream end of the unit and proceed upstream to the end of the habitat unit. All fish collected within this unit would be enumerated by species, weighed, and the total length measured. Any physical abnormalities in the fish will be noted in the comments for that unit.

Data Analysis Fish data will be summarized by habitat type and by stream. Calculate mean catch of adult and young-of-year (YOY) trout species and nongame species for each stream by habitat type.

Compare mean catch of adult and YOY trout (by species) among similar streams (e.g. by stream order). Compare mean catch of YOY trout (by species) among survey years. Perform statistical tests for significance. Summarize mean catch among similar streams by Rosgen stream type.

Summarize length and weight data using standard protocols (see Murphy and Willis 1996). Provide GIS map of survey units.

Murphy, B.R., and D.W. Willis, editors. 1996. Fisheries techniques, 2nd edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Dolloff, C. A.; Hankin, D. G and Reeves, G. H. 1993. Basinwide estimation of habitat and fish populations in streams. USDA Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, General Technical Report SE-83. Asheville, NC. 25 pp.