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Caption: Jim Parham of Trutta Environmental Solutions surveyed 80 miles of the bi-state Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River by boat and foot using high definition technology.

NARROWSBURG — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) will host a public presentation titled “High-Definition Stream Survey of the Upper Delaware River: Identifying Trout Habitat and Conservation Opportunities” on Thursday, March 7.

The virtual presentation will take place at the 7 p.m. meeting to be held at the UDC office, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY and by Zoom.

James Parham, Ph.D., director of Research & Development for Trutta Environmental Solutions, LLC, will deliver the presentation.

Trutta, in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Trout Unlimited, and Friends of the Upper Delaware River Inc., conducted a comprehensive High-Definition Stream Survey (HDSS) spanning 80 miles of the Upper Delaware River over a period of five days.

The primary objectives of this collaborative project were to identify problematic areas, delineate wild trout habitats, and prioritize conservation initiatives.

The findings of the survey were instrumental in establishing a baseline for future impact assessments and were utilized to support the NY-PA Joint Fisheries Investigation Plan.

The HDSS approach provided a swift and all-encompassing evaluation of stream conditions, furnishing continuous 1-meter longitudinal resolution data to enhance decision-making processes. Overcoming the constraints of traditional survey methods, HDSS ensures a more inclusive, scalable, and integrated approach.

In addition to standard Stream Corridor Assessment and fisheries habitat modeling, a High-Definition Fish Survey (HDFS) was conducted on two tributaries. The combination of HDSS and HDFS yielded an exceptionally thorough assessment, providing precise and continuous habitat insights that were unattainable through conventional methods.

The UDC’s monthly meeting to follow will include status reports from the Delaware River Basin Commission, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, National Park Service, and the UDC Executive Director; discussion of old and new business; and public comment.

All UDC meetings are open to the public. For further information on how to participate via a Zoom option, call (845) 252-3022 or email stephanie@upperdelawarecouncil.org.

Please check www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or UDC social media pages for any meeting updates.