Matthew Dickerson, Addison Independent, July 16, 1998
After three weeks, the water is finally running clear in the New Haven River. But don't get out your rod yet. In rivers hit worst by the June 27 flood (New Haven, Mad, and Baldwin Cr.) it may be a while before we see good fishing. Pete Diminico of the New Haven River Anglers Association (NHRAA) claims that flash floods effect rivers in ways normal floods do not. Heavy scouring of the bottom does the greatest damage; entire sections of the New Haven look as if they were attacked by a giant bulldozer. And areas that escaped scouring suffer from heavy sedimentation. Though mature trout usually survive such an onslaught, juveniles (trout under 2 years old) suffer high mortality rates.
Other long-term damage includes loss of tree cover important for erosion protection and shelter from the sun. In several areas the flood wiped out large stretches of canopy. This exacerbates what was already a problem: a pre-flood NHRAA survey of a 5 mile section of river found less than 10% had significant cover. Sedimentation also flattened stretches of water destroying spawning ground. Shallower water and lost canopy result in higher water temperatures. Brook trout can not survive in water over 65 degrees.
Of course as some habitat is destroyed, some is created. Trout populations have survived in Vermont for thousands of years. Like fires to a forest, floods may be good for rivers. Middlebury College Ecologist Steve Trombulak comments, "There are several types of terrestrial shoreline communities that can only persist where there is regular flooding and ice scour (without those, woody plants that dominate more stable habitats take over). So the flood helped reset the succession clock and gave opportunities for flood adapted species to persist."
However floods may be more damaging now because of man's presence. Aerial views showed that where we had destroyed the canopy, damage was worse. Also, the collapse of roads increases sedimentation. Trombulak added that "flooding in general has gotten more destructive in recent decades because humans alter the landscape to an extent that the waterways cannot easily deal with the extra water. The flooding of the Mississippi River in '93 is a good example: destruction of wetlands, channelization of waterways, and massive construction of dams all guaranteed that when a big storm came that it was going to be devastating."
Nonetheless, though Diminico is certain of some negative impact, he and Trombulak are both confident the river will bounce back in a year or two. State Fisheries Biologist Chet MacKenzie is even more optimistic. He has yet to visit the New Haven, but has found in previous floods that trout invariably find a way to survive. With the help of the NHRAA, he has agreed to perform electro-shock surveys in late summer to measure populations, but will be surprised if there has been a significant decline. As Diminico points out, the flood may even have a silver lining. The water is running much higher and cooler than normal for July. More importantly, it provides an opportunity for reevaluation of several management policies such as a re-establishment of a flood plain, setback regulations, and septic laws.
In the meantime, however, those looking for good fishing may have to look elsewhere. The Middlebury River did not suffer much damage and may be better than average for this time of year. Otter Creek is also running high and cool which could mean excellent fishing even through the dog days of August. This might even be the summer to get into those beaver ponds you've been meaning to explore.