Brook trout are native to the eastern and the upper midwest region of the US and are the state fish for 9 US states, the most of any fish species. So not only are they wide spread, but they also are loved by the anglers and people who call these area’s home. But unfortunately for some areas within the brook trout’s native range, their populations are declining or just struggling to hold on. Changes of land use over time have caused some once incredible streams to suffer, which hurts not only the specific streams that are suffering but also the entire river system as a whole. Luckily we have some very dedicated people who are doing their best to make sure the struggling streams don’t struggle any more.
In this video I’ve teamed up with @TroutUnlimitedNatl to help show off some of the conservation efforts going on in some areas that are struggling and of course show off a few native brookies along the way. The goal is to start at the headwaters of a brook trout stream, in the case of this video we’re going to show off a few springs, and then work down the stream and show off what effect different land uses have on the brook trout and how Trout Unlimited is using funding from the Farm Bill to help protect the streams.
The Farm Bill is up for renewal this year and congress needs to reauthorize it with full funding for conservation programs. The Farm Bill has been the country's largest source of private lands conservation funding and has allowed TU to work with farmers, ranchers, and landowners to restore trout and salmon habitat for over 50 years. A strong conservation title in the Farm Bill improves not only trout and salmon habitat, but also improves downstream water quality, reduces flood risk, and supports rural economies. Without these folks and this type of funding, a lot of this work isn’t possible.
If you look at the contrast between the sections of stream Trout Unlimited hasn’t done work on, and areas they have, you can see why fish don’t and won’t inhabit these relatively desolate stretches of water. And This is exactly what Trout unlimited aims to fix when it comes funding from the farm bill, especially in the state of WV. The goal is to Connect these waterways by returning the creek banks back to their original condition, or as close as we can get to that, which should, in theory, push the cold water from the springs down throughout the stream. This creates more and better habitat for the fish that call them home. Building fences to keep the cattle out of the creeks allows nature to take back over, while Trout unlimited creates an alternative clean water source for the cattle to drink so nobody loses out and everybody wins.
Hope and her husband Beth were awesome, some of the most genuine people I’ve met. And I found it poetic that her name is Hope, and that this video’s message should be centered around the word hope. Because without people’s desire and passion to ensure these waterways are protected… the fish we all know and love, alone with any animals and people who depend on this water, will struggle to exist. Seeing 76 degree water temperatures on a brook trout stream is horrible, but knowing there are people working hard to make sure that isn’t the case should give everybody hope. So here’s to hoping that these important headwater streams can be helped on their way to recovering what has been lost over time, here’s to hoping that the fish that live in them can last for thousands of years to come, just as they had before we were ever even here, and here’s to people like Hope and her Husband Beth, a perfect example of the people of Appalachia that care so deeply about the mountains that they live in.
Thanks for watching!
#troutfishing #flyfishing #fishing #conservation #outdoors #nature