Mack Creek Fish Study Thirtieth Year 2016

The Aquatic Vertebrate Population Study in Mack Creek (1987 to present) is a long-term study on populations of cutthroat trout and salamanders in two reaches of Mack Creek in the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest. Each year, since 1987, researchers visit the same stretches of the creek to measure the numbers, size, and weight of the fish and salamanders. Researchers use electroshockers to temporarily stun the fish and salamanders so they can be measured and weighed, before being returned back into the stream. Some fish and salamanders are fitted with a PIT tag. The PIT tag allows researchers to track the movement and changes to an individual fish or salamander over time.