BROOK trout populations have been wiped, out or their numbers drastically diminished, throughout New York. There are, however, some remaining strongholds for these beautiful fish.
The condition of brook trout is precarious across their entire eastern range, according to a study released by Trout Unlimited and a coalition of state and federal agencies.
“Brook trout are the canary in the coal mine when it comes to water quality,” said Gary Berti, Trout Unlimited’s eastern brook trout campaign coordinator. “The presence of brook trout in a watershed indicates that water quality is excellent. Declining brook trout populations can provide an early warning that the health of an entire stream, lake or river is at risk.”
The report marks the first comprehensive study of the status of brook trout in the eastern U.S. These wily fish historically thrived in rivers and streams stretching from Maine to Georgia, but in many cases land use and other intrusions have relegated the remaining isolated populations to the headwaters of high-elevation streams.
Even with the decline, New York is among the northeastern states with the strongest brook trout populations. The intact populations are found mostly in Adirondack Park, Tug Hill Plateau and the Catskills region. Brook trout have been eliminated from nearly 25 percent of their historical range in New York, and they are greatly reduced in another 27 percent of the formerly friendly watersheds.
“Brookies are quick to respond to positive environmental improvements,” explained John Braico, the brook trout coordinator for Trout Unlimited’s New York Council. “We’ve already seen good results from our state’s pond reclamation efforts in the Adirondacks. As we continue these and other efforts throughout the state and region, we’ll see wild brook trout returning to our streams and ponds.”
Meanwhile, the state Department of Health has issued specific warnings against eating tainted fish in 12 new water bodies in the Adirondack Park. Just two years ago, the DOH issued a blanket fish-consumption warning to women of child-bearing age and children, warning them to avoid all predator species in the Adirondack and Catskills. The department instructed them not to eat walleye, yellow perch, pickerel, northern pike or bass from any Adirondack or Catskill Park lake or pond, due to elevated mercury levels in the fish. The warning now includes adults.