On June 2, 2007, more than 300 fish were captured in upper Northwest Branch and released into Sligo Creek. Biologist Keith Van Ness led a crew of ten adults from the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), and Friends of Sligo Creek, in netting the fish. They were counted and identified, then transported in buckets to Dennis Community Recreation Center. A crowd of about 30 kids and 30 adults was on hand to welcome the fish to their new home. The children held a large “welcome fish” banner they had made; plus most were able to carefully help with the final transfer from the buckets to Sligo Creek. Much thanks is due DEP and WSSC for the enthusiastic effort they put into the transfer and into making the event enjoyable and educational.

A similar event was conducted in May 2004. See Reintroducing Native Fish to Sligo 2004.

This fish transfer is another step in the continuing effort to re-establish fish species in our creek. Before the watershed was developed, Sligo Creek Branch had more than twenty species of fish. But by 1984, only three species were still found in Sligo. Since the water quality of Sligo has been improved through building of retention ponds and by other means, Sligo should be able to support many of the species it once had. So for about twenty years, DEP and COG have periodically captured fish from the relatively clean upper portions of Northwest Branch to re-stock Sligo. There is clear evidence that many of the transferred species are repopulating the creek. At this time, there are now more than ten species that are regularly found. The tally of fish released included:

135 Roseyside dace 25 Tessellated darter
10 Fantail darter 75 Silverjaw minnow
50 Bluntnose minnow 3 Blue-ridge sculpin
3 Swallowtail shiner

The Fishing Group picture with grateful fish. Shown are Jai Cole of MNCPPC; Keith Van Ness, Don Dorsey, Eric Naibert, of DEP; Bobby Martin, Hak Kwon, Rudy Chow, Monroe Pickard, Donnie Barrett of WSSC; and Bruce Sidwell of FOSC. Michael Wilpers of FOSC is not shown.

 

DEP gave out fish friendly “do-rags”

 

Herding fish in Northwest Branch

 

Some of the 301 captives

 

Net use

 

Rudy Chow, Bruce Sidwell, and Erick Naibert transfer fish from net to aerated bucket.

 

Families work on fishy activities.

 

Welcome fish banner

 

Keith Van Ness explains fish habitat.

 

Volunteers release NW Branch fish into Sligo.

Report by Bruce Sidwell, President
Photos by Michael Wilpers, Natural History Committee Chair