Codes for cover types. There are obvious and significant seasonal changes in the use of cover by trout of all size-classes, above and beyond what can be explained by fluctuations in cover availability between seasons. They did note that the small number of adult rainbow trout in this section of the stream may have allowed greater habitat changes by younger fish than would otherwise be possible, and emphasized the interdependence of many variables in habitat selection. Abundance and biomass stayed higher than at pre-management levels, even during a severe drought that occurred some years later. Total cover in Huff Creek from 1977 to 1988.
Yearly values are drainage-wide averages calculated from all study sites available for each year.
The Binns and Remmick study is one concrete example of where habitat management involving cover has had significant positive effects on the trout population. Other management studies agree with their conclusions. In Shuler et al. Shuler et al. concluded that the structures increased the number of energetically favorable feeding sites for the trout, and hypothesized that an increase in body condition and overall survival would follow. This increased sense of security allows for better foraging and less unnecessary energy expenditure on the part of the trout.