It is the policy of the Commission to manage self-sustaining Class A wild trout populations as a renewable natural resource to conserve that resource and the angling it provides. Class A wild trout populations represent the best of this Commonwealth’s naturally reproducing trout fisheries. With rare exceptions, these stream sections are managed solely for the perpetuation of the wild trout fishery with no stocking. However, there may be circumstances that justify stocking a Class A wild trout stream section.

Prior to granting permission to stock a Class A wild trout stream section under § 71a.8 (relating to stocking of designated waters), the Executive Director will consult the stocking criteria set forth in the current edition of the Operational Guidelines for the Management of Trout Fisheries in Pennsylvania Waters. If any of the stocking criteria are met, the Executive Director may grant an exemption to stock a Class A wild trout stream section. When the Executive Director grants an exemption to stock a Class A wild trout stream section, the Executive Director or designee will notify the members of the commission of the action at the next regular meeting of the commission. To grant an exemption to stock a Class A wild trout stream section that does not meet any of the stocking criteria, the Executive Director shall obtain the approval of the commission. The following apply:

1. (1) Criteria developed for Class A wild trout fisheries are species specific.

2. (2) Wild trout biomass class criteria include provisions for:

   1. (i) Wild brook trout fisheries.

      1. (A) Total brook trout biomass of at least 30 kg/ha (26.7 lbs/acre).
      2. (B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
      3. (C) Brook trout biomass must comprise at least 75% of the total trout biomass.

   2. (ii) Wild brown trout fisheries.

      1. (A) Total brown trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
      2. (B) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
      3. (C) Brown trout biomass shall comprise at least 75% of the total trout biomass.

   3. (iii) Mixed wild brook and brown trout fisheries.

      1. (A) Combined brook and brown trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
      2. (B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
      3. (C) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
      4. (D) Brook trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
      5. (E) Brown trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
   4. (iv) Wild rainbow trout fisheries. Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 2.0 kg/ha (1.78 lbs/acre).

   5. (v) Mixed wild brook and rainbow trout fisheries.

      1. (A) Combined brook and rainbow trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
      2. (B) Total biomass of brook trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
      3. (C) Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
      4. (D) Brook trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
      5. (E) Rainbow trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.

   6. (vi) Mixed wild brown and rainbow trout fisheries.

      1. (A) Combined brown and rainbow trout biomass of at least 40 kg/ha (35.6 lbs/acre).
      2. (B) Total biomass of brown trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
      3. (C) Total biomass of rainbow trout less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) in total length of at least 0.1 kg/ha (0.089 lbs/acre).
      4. (D) Brown trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.
      5. (E) Rainbow trout biomass shall comprise less than 75% of the total trout biomass.

3. (3) A water will not be removed from the Class A wild trout streams designation unless the cause leading to the reduction in the wild trout population has been clearly identified and it has been determined that the water is beyond remediation to re-establish the Class A wild trout population. Possible reasons include the following:

   1. (i) Human caused conditions or sources of pollution prevent the attainment of a Class A wild trout fishery and cannot be remedied or will cause more environmental damage to correct than to leave in place.
   2. (ii) Dams, diversions or other types of hydrologic modifications preclude the attainment of a Class A wild trout fishery, and it is not feasible to restore the water body to its original condition or to operate the modification in a way that will result in the attainment of a Class A wild trout fishery.

Authority

The provisions of this § 57.8a amended under 30 Pa.C.S. § 2102.

Source

The provisions of this § 57.8a adopted April 18, 1997, effective April 19, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 1944; amended March 21, 2014, effective March 22, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 1772; amended December 5, 2014, effective January 1, 2015, 44 Pa.B. 7561; amended April 2, 2021, effective April 3, 2021, 51 Pa.B. 1828; amended September 22, 2023, effective January 1, 2024, 53 Pa.B. 5914; amended August 29, 2025, effective August 30, 2025, 55 Pa.B. 6279. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (415926) to (415928).

Cross References

This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 71a.5 (relating to Notice of Stocking to the Commission).