Clearwater TU worked on stream improvements on Geyser Creek in the picnic area at Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs, NY. This large project began in 2013 and was completed in the fall of 2014. Greg Cuda volunteered to coordinate the project for the chapter. The City of Saratoga Springs provided $35,000 to Clearwater TU to fund the improvements. Carl Schwartz of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (FWS), designed the structures. TU volunteers from the Clearwater and Adirondack Chapters conducted surveys and other field work. The State Park provided materials and some equipment. Greg coordinated activities with park staff, FWS, design implementation, material procurement, contractor scheduling, and arrangement for pricing and payment for work and materials. John Braico of the Adirondack Chapter was a major contributor to some of these activities. The work on this stream was so successful that additional structures were installed, which resulted in cost overruns. The overrun was covered by the Clearwater and Adirondack Chapters in the amount of $1,250 each.
Each spring, over 1,000 trout are stocked in the Geyser Creek by area youth using fish supplied by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The project’s structures are expected to increase the number of surviving trout and improve the fishing, and will be used as a demonstration to educate professionals and the public about natural stream design restoration. This fish-friendly project is considered a great success, both aesthetically and functionally.
A noteworthy element of this project is the City of Saratoga Springs’s confidence in the reputation and success record of the Clearwater Chapter, and the TU volunteers from several chapters, to handle funds and lead the project.
In 2019, the chapter placed two temperature loggers in the creek and is working with FWS and the Park on planning future projects.
TU CHAPTERS PARTNER IN STATE PARK STREAM PROJECT
December 13, 2014 by Greg Cuda and John Braico, edited by Roy Lamberton and Patricia O’Hanlon
A stream restoration project using natural stream design was completed in 2014 on Geyser Brook in the Saratoga Spa State Park (Park), in Saratoga Springs, New York. Geyser Brook runs through the beautiful picnic area of the Park, and is fed the cold clear water of numerous artesian springs (not really geysers).
Representatives of the Clearwater Chapter of Trout Unlimited (Clearwater TU) were invited to review the potential for stream habitat improvements back in 2013. Following successful discussions with the Park and the City of Saratoga Springs, the City provided Clearwater with $35,000 to fund the proposed stream habitat work. Clearwater volunteers were then responsible for managing the project. The project’s fish friendly outcome has exceeded everyone’s expectations: aesthetically and functionally.
The project was designed for TU by Carl Schwartz of the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Partners for Wildlife Program, without cost. Essential site data was surveyed by TU volunteer members of the Adirondack and Clearwater TU Chapters, under the direction of Dr. John Braico, president of the Adirondack Chapter. John also prepared the plans for the project which were used by the Park to obtain required stream modification permits from the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation.
A noteworthy element of the project was the City of Saratoga Springs level of confidence in the Clearwater Chapter of TU, and the volunteer members from the Clearwater and Adirondack TU Chapters, to hand the money over to Clearwater to manage the project. Clearwater has a history of many years of successful stream projects through partnerships with federal, state and local agencies, other TU chapters, TU State and National, and local grassroots watershed organizations. The Clearwater and Adirondack TU Chapters are fortunate to have volunteer members with expertise in field evaluation, design, and management of projects. The chapters often also participate in funding. This makes TU an effective partner and leader in natural stream design improvements.
The project was managed by volunteer Greg Cuda, member and past president of Clearwater TU, on behalf of his chapter. This included coordination of activities with Park staff, procurement and transportation of materials, contractor scheduling, and arrangement for payment for work and materials. John Braico was a major contributor to some of these activities.
The hard work and dedication of many TU volunteers contributed to the success of this project. Members of the two TU chapters were present each day during construction. John Braico donated much of his time to oversee construction by the contractor. The Park provided material, transportation of material, and a staging location. Carl Schwartz of USF&WS often visited to review implementation of his design. As construction progressed, the enthusiasm of the partners grew and additional habitat structures were installed. This resulted in cost overruns which were funded by the two TU chapters, and with additional equipment and materials provided by the Park without charge.
The completed work has resulted in 1200 feet of improved stream habitat consisting of 5 deep scour pools, 3 under-bank structures, extensive arrays of boulder clusters and 2 turning vanes. What was previously a largely barren and shallow stream now bubbles over boulders and plunges into knee to thigh deep pools. The stream has been nudged into a narrower and deeper shape which results in faster currents and cleaner bed, a much better habitat for trout and other aquatic wildlife. The natural stream design used by Carl Schwartz of the USF&WS not only functions well, providing habitat for trout, but looks natural without evidence of human activity.
Each year, over a thousand trout are stocked in this small brook under a very successful Park program involving hundreds of area youth, each carrying trout in their own bucket from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation stocking truck to release in the stream. Due primarily to lack of suitable habitat, the majority of fish do not survive into the fall. The partners agree that the ultimate goal will be to improve habitat sufficiently to allow a naturally sustained population of trout. More work will be needed in the future, but this year’s effort is expected to improve the fishing next year. The Geyser Brook Project will help Park visitors, adults and children alike understand the importance of aquatic habitat when they again stock the stream next spring. They will be able to fish the rest of the season with a healthier population of surviving trout. Some day, they may even be able to catch trout that were born wild right in Geyser Brook.
Park Naturalist Casey Holzworth sees the restoration as a perfect demonstration project to educate both the public and professionals interested in natural stream design restoration. The Park and TU are excited by the exceptional opportunities for education about healthier trout streams, recreation, environmental stewardship, and newly created fishing opportunities. Next year, TU volunteers have been invited to participate in the spring kids’ trout stocking program and provide information about the project’s design and benefits.
