National Trout Unlimited has begun a nation-wide native brook trout restoration initiative called Priority Waters. Each state with TU chapters has regions identified waterways as having a native brook trout population or historically have had populations. Most of these streams have remnant populations or currently no populations. The goal of the Priority Waters Initiative is to have chapters work on waters within or near their chapter’s region. National TU has identified three regions within the state of Virginia. The Blue Ridge Mountains, Upper Smith River, and the Grayson Highlands area. Also, chapters outside of those regions can work on home waters that fit the criteria of the native brook trout restoration efforts.
The Winchester Chapter has designated two streams that are next to the Blue Ridge Mountains that actually run of the Massanutten mountain range that historically have had populations of native brook trout. These two streams are: Little Passage Creek and Mill Run. Since both of these streams are located within National Forest Service (NFS) boundaries; we are partnering with the NFS to work on these two streams.
We will be gathering historic data, collecting our own water quality data, sampling macroinvertebrates populations, and looking for stream impairments. After gathering data, the chapter will be working hand-in-hand with NFS to develop and implement either a restoration plan of a preservation plan to protect the native trout populations.
If anyone would like to learn more about this initiative you can contact Mike Makufka: mmakufka@gmail.com for more information.