Two West Virginia University professors have been awarded a $70,000 grant from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) to continue studying winter habitats of fish species in the Ohio River.

Project coordinators Stuart Welsh and Kyle Hartman, assistant and associate professors respectively in the Division of Forestry at WVU s Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, began the project in the winter of 2001 and will conduct a second field observation in winter 2002-2003.

According to the researchers, less is known about winter habitats of fish because most research on large rivers occurs during spring and summer. Previous studies on other large rivers have found high fish mortality rates during winter.

Their research will examine deep and shallow main channels, habitats associated with islands and tributary mouths. An understanding of habitats that each fish species uses during winter months will assist the WVDNR in developing guidelines to reduce winter mortality by providing or protecting important winter habitats.

“The Ohio River has been chosen as a research site because it provides excellent recreational fishing opportunities due to a large diversity of fish and its proximity to many West Virginia anglers,”Welsh said.

Graduate student Ben Lenz is assisting Welsh and Hartman in conducting the research.