The eastern brook trout, a prized fish among Garden State anglers, has seen a significant population decline in recent years, threatened by a variety of factors – from rising water temperatures to competition with non-native species.
To combat this, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced Wednesday that it will lead a multi-state effort to help restore eastern brown trout to waterways in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
Through this partnership, NJDEP will administer a $3.5 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which is intended to “improve forested waterway habitats that support these distinctive fish species, and others that rely on clear and cold streams and lakes.”
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“New Jersey is proud to be part of this effort,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “This species holds a special place for fishermen and anyone who cares about the health of our coldwater streams and lakes.”
“We thank the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for this opportunity and look forward to working with our partner states to develop projects that will improve habitat not only for eastern brown trout, but also for other coldwater fish species,” said LaTourette.
Conservation of eastern brown trout
The eastern brook trout, commonly called brookies, was named the state fish of New Jersey by the Legislature in 1991 and is the state’s only native trout species.
The eastern brown trout is often considered an indicator of good water quality and, along with other fish species in the area, has suffered dramatic population declines in recent years. According to the DEP, this can be attributed to habitat fragmentation, warming water temperatures, competition from non-native trout species and more.
Brown trout are released into the Pequannock River.
Brown trout require cold, high-quality habitats. They are usually found in small upland streams, mainly in the northern part of the state. Today, eastern brown trout are found in only a fraction of the waters of their native range, according to the DEP.
Over the years, several protective measures have been introduced to maintain the native brown trout population.
In 1997, the state issued a minimum harvest size of 7 inches for trout, both wild and stocked. This minimum was increased to 9 inches in 2008.
In 2018, the Brook Trout Conservation Zone was established. All brown trout caught in the protected area must be released immediately and unharmed. This zone includes Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Hunterdon, and Somerset counties, where most or all of the remaining brook trout populations reside.
The $3.5 million grant announced by the NJDEP on Wednesday is intended to continue brown trout conservation efforts by funding cold-water conservation projects in priority watersheds. These projects include removing barriers such as dams and culverts, improving riverine habitats, restoring floodplain habitats, and reducing upstream stressors that can lead to higher water temperatures.
The America the Beautiful Challenge grant
This grant is part of $122.5 million in grants announced by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and awarded through the America the Beautiful Challenge, a grant program launched by President Joe Biden in 2021 with the goal of at least 30 % of US land to be retained. and waters in 2030.
The grants will support projects across the country to conserve, restore and protect wildlife habitats and ecosystems, while also improving community resiliency and access to nature, the NJDEP said.
With this grant, the DEP will work with several other agencies to protect the biodiversity of the Appalachian Corridor streams and uplands in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
“We are excited to be part of this multi-state conservation effort that will improve habitat for the region’s only native trout species,” said Dave Golden, NJDEP Deputy Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife. “This collaborative approach will help achieve conservation goals across state lines, which will benefit not only eastern brown trout, but also a wide range of aquatic species.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJDEP grant will help restore eastern brown trout population
