TRENTON - New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Fish & Wildlife will lead 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.
Eastern brook trout, however, along with other fish species in these areas, 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 four 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,” NJ DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said in a release. “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 is part of $122.5 million in grants awarded through the America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative: America the Beautiful Challenge launched in 2021. The 10-year, locally led and nationally scaled initiative elevates efforts to conserve, connect and restore lands, waters and wildlife.
The grants support projects that conserve, restore and connect wildlife habitats and ecosystems while improving community resilience and access to nature.
To learn more about the freshwater fish of New Jersey, including Eastern brook trout, visit https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/freshwater/freshwater-fish-of-new-jersey/
For information about NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, visit dep.nj.gov/njfw/
