Brook trout restoration: non-native species removal and brook trout reintroduction
Contemporary restoration efforts, projects, and summary
Contemporary restoration is the effort to restore - bring back - native brook trout in a stream where they had been extirpated or greatly reduced. As of 2022, most eastern US states have attempted brook trout restoration, 5 have not. Brook trout restoration is best done after habitat issues have been addressed, after removal of competing non-native species with fish toxicants or electrofishing, and should ideally be informed by genetic studies. At least one restoration has been done following removal of hatchery strain brook trout.
Data Compiled by Matt Kulp with input from state and agency biologists.
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Number (N) of Restoration Projects (% Successful) |
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|
N |
Fish Toxicant – Antimycin |
Fish Toxicant – Rotenone |
Annual Removal Electrofishing |
Multiple Removal Electrofishing |
Translocation |
No Project |
Total |
|
State Agency |
17 |
3 (67%*) |
68 (79%) |
10 (80%) |
8 (50%) |
51 (73%) |
5 |
140 |
|
National Parks |
2 |
4 (100%) |
0 |
12 (42%) |
9 (78%) |
1 (100%) |
0 |
26 |
|
TOTAL |
19 |
7 (86%) |
68 (79%) |
22 (55%) |
17 (65%) |
52 (73%) |
5 |
166 |
See our videos from the recent EBTJV annual meeting!
in April 2022 EBTJV had a membership meeting at NCTC. Videos are now on YouTube.
Sharing from CBF: How restoring West Virginia's native brook trout also restores water quality, and the critical partnerships making this important work happen
Brook Trout work in West Virginia helps the Chesapeake Bay
Pigpen Branch Report
Final report for the Pigpen Branch restoration project by SCDNR
Pigpen Branch SC Restoration, Presentation to EBTJV June 2024
Hailey Goyette, SCDNR, presentation to the EBTJV Steering Commitee on June 18, 2024. The project restored Brook Trout following removal of creek chub by injecting Antimycin at 12 sites.
Matt Kulp talks about restoration projects
Video of Matt Kulp, Supervisory fishery biologist with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and EBTJV steering committee member, presenting a summary of brook trout restoration efforts to date. Presentation was given at the 2022 annual meeting of EBTJV at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV and virtually. "Restoration of Brook Trout across Their Native Range Using Fish Toxicants and Electrofishing: Are We Successful Ecologically and Socially?"
Native Brook Trout Restoration
Video: NCWRC biologists spend the day restoring native Brook Trout to headwaters in Haywood County.
Lynn Camp Prong Brook Trout Restoration, TN_FY11 Project
This project was focused on removing rainbow trout from Lynn Camp Prong and re-stocking this stream with wild southern Appalachian strain Brook Trout,
Anthony Creek & Little Cataloochee Creek Restoration, TN/NC_FY17 Project
In Anthony Creek and Cataloochee Creek, non-native Rainbow Trout were removed from 2.8 km (1.75 mi) and 6.4 km (4.0 mi) stretches of stream, respectively; native Brook Trout were collected from streams within Great Smoky Mountains National Park and release them into both creeks; and, Brook Trout populations were monitored in during subsequent years to determine success of this project.
Eastern Brook Trout restoration summary table
Compilation of brook trout restoration projects and outcomes from across the EBTJV member states and agencies.
Restoration of brook trout across their native range using fish toxicants and electrofishing: are we successful ecologically and socially?
PDF of PowerPoint presentation by Matt Kulp, fishery biologist with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and coauthors, reviewing historic and contemporary restoration efforts to restore brook trout using toxicants and electrofishing. Matt surveyed state and agency biologists about projects to remove invasive species and replace brook trout. This presentation and associated database describe the outcomes and factors in success and failures.
Development of Genetic Baseline Information to Support the Conservation and Management of Wild Brook Trout in North Carolina
Kazyak, D.C., Lubinski, B.A., Rash, J.M., Johnson, T.C., King, T.L. 2021. After centuries of declines, there is growing interest in conserving extant wild populations of Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis and reintroducing Brook Trout populations of native ancestry. A population genetic baseline can enhance conservation outcomes and promote restoration success. Consequently, it is important to document existing patterns of genetic variation across the landscape and translate these data into an approachable format for fisheries managers. We genotyped 9,507 Brook Trout representing 467 wild collections at 12 microsatellite loci to establish a genetic baseline for North Carolina, USA.
Using genetic data to advance stream fish reintroduction science: a case study in brook trout
This study demonstrates the utility of genetic and demographic data for reintroduction efforts, particularly when extant populations are genetically depauperate and maintaining adaptive potential is a primary restoration goal. How- ever, we emphasize the value of continued monitoring at longer temporal and spatial scales to determine the effects of stochastic process on the long-term adaptive capacity and persistence of reintroduced populations. Overall, inclusion of genetic data in reintroduction efforts offers increased ability to meet project goals while simultaneously conserving critical sources of adaptive variation that exist across the landscape.
Restoring Wild Brook Trout to Passage Creek, VA
Video: DGIF biologists team up with Trout Unlimited and the US Forest Service to reintroduce Brook Trout to the headwaters of Passage Creek.
Reintroduction of Native Brook Trout into Indian Flats Prong, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Brook trout, the only salmonid native to the southeast, have lost about 75% of their historic range due to past logging activities and introduction of non-native trout. In 1993, the National Park Service identified 10 streams that can support native southern Appalachian brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). The long term goal is to restore historic range of habitat for this native species.
