New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and its Division of Fish & Wildlife is leading a multi-state partnership to help restore Eastern brook trout to waterways in parts of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, by administering a $3.5 million National Fish and Wildlife Foundation America the Beautiful Challenge grant. The grant is designed to enhance forested waterway habitats that support this hallmark fish species and others that depend on clear and cold streams and lakes.
Prized by anglers and New Jersey’s only native trout species, the Eastern brook trout, also known as brookies, is the official state fish species for all three states and is considered an indicator of good water quality. It was named the official state fish of New Jersey in 1992. However, the brook trout and other fish species are experiencing population declines due to degradation from habitat fragmentation, warming water temperatures, sedimentation and other threats. Eastern brook trout are now only found in a fraction of the waters of their native range.
The grant will fund cold-water conservation projects in priority watersheds over the next 4 years, including removing barriers such as dams and culverts, enhancing instream habitat, restoring floodplain habitat and mitigating upstream stressors that can lead to higher water temperature.
“New Jersey is proud to be part of this effort,” said NJDEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said. “This species holds a special place for anglers and anyone who cares about the health of our cold-water streams and lakes. We thank the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for this opportunity and look forward to working with our partner states in developing projects that will enhance habitat not only for Eastern brook trout, but for other cold-water fish species as well.”
The grant announced by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is part of $122.5 million in grants awarded through the America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative: America the Beautiful Challenge. The newly funded program administered by NJDEP Fish & Wildlife is a collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Trout Unlimited, the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Wildlife Management Institute, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is focused on safeguarding the biodiversity of the Appalachian Corridor highlands and streams within the three states.
“We are excited to be part of this multi-state conservation effort that will enhance habitat for the region’s only native trout species,” said NJDEP’s Division of Fish & Wildlife Assistant Commissioner Dave Golden. “This collaborative approach will help achieve conservation goals across state lines, which will benefit not only Eastern brook trout but also a diverse array of aquatic species.”
For information about NJDEP and its Division of Fish & Wildlife visit njfishandwildlife.com.
