Organisms
One of the streams program’s most important goals is protecting and improving the health of sport fish populations throughout our state. Fish are only one link in a long and complex food web. Just as they support other animal species, many other organisms must be present in streams for fish to survive. Thus, managing stream fish involves protecting all of the different species that support them. Below is an example of how a food web works:
Click to enlarge
As you can see from the food web above, if one link is missing, other animals will suffer. Our streams program staff monitors stream systems to ensure the health of all organisms. One example of our efforts is control of erosion to reduce sediment inputs. When excess soil particles enter streams during rain events the sediment settles to the stream bottom and begins filling spaces between rocks. These spaces are critical to the growth and survival of insects, which feed fish, and the spawning success of fish. Read about how ODWC is reducing erosion in eastern Oklahoma streams.
Each year sport fish population surveys are performed across eastern Oklahoma streams. Resulting data provides information about sport fish population trends over time. From these surveys we are able to monitor fish population health and identify potential problems and the need for regulatory controls.