Crayfish Monitoring

Vermont is suffering from an invasion of the rusty crayfish. Orconectes rusticus, can be identified by their robust claws with black bands on the tips, and dark, rusty spots on each side of their carapace (body). They can out-compete native species, forcing native crayfish from daytime hiding areas and destroying aquatic plant beds. They have likely been spread into numerous waterbodies in Vermont by anglers using them for bait.

In 2005, the White River Partnership and Vermont Institute of Natural Science conducted a survey of rusty crayfish in the White River watershed. Of the 94 crayfish collected, 80 of them were rusty crayfish or rusty-resident hybrids. The vast majority of the rusties and rusty hybrids were found in the mainstem of the river, indicating that a serious invasion was occurring there.

Monitoring crayfish

In 2010, state aquatic biologists partnered with our watershed education specialist, Jenna Guarino, to offer a rusty crayfish workshop to watershed-based teachers who wanted to help track its spread. Six teachers participated in the workshop and implemented at least one day of trapping with their students. Quality-assured data collected by schools was shared with Vermont aquatic biologists: Jim Kellogg is building a database on crayfish species in Vermont; Leslie Matthews is creating a Vermont Crayfish Species Distribution Map.

In July 2011, the WRP repeated the workshop for teachers as well as volunteers interested in tracking the spread of the rusty crayfish within the White River watershed. Adding volunteers allows WRP to reach a new audience and magnifies our outreach efforts. This workshop was free-of-charge for participants.

Teachers and volunteers who attended the workshop will implement at least one trapping event on the White River. The WRP will develop a Quality Assurance Plan for use by workshop participants, which standardizes training, fieldwork, and data management, with input from both data collectors and data users. Quality-assured data collected by schools and community volunteers will be shared with Jim Kellogg and Leslie Matthews.

The resulting crayfish field data sheet is available in electronic format below:

2011_crayfish_field_data_sheet.pdf

Preventing the spread of crayfish

In 2010, the WRP used funding from Vermont’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Grant-In-Aid Program (GIA) to create a rusty crayfish informational poster, titled Crayfish of the White River, which was distributed to workshop participants and main stem towns.

In 2011, the WRP received GIA funds to work with partners and volunteers to research, draft, design, and print a rusty crayfish identification guide based on the poster developed in 2010. The printed guide was completed in June 2011, and will be distributed to workshop participants, towns, and partners.

The Field Guide to White River Crayfish is available in electronic format below:

Field_Guide_to_White_River_Crayfish_table_of_contents.pdf
Field_Guide_to_White_River_Crayfish_pages_1-22.pdf

For more information

Interested in helping monitor crayfish in the White River? Please contact us!