VT to stock rainbows in the Battenkill - a wild brook/brown
Cut to the chase:
VT has proposed stocking rainbow trout in the Battenkill to appease those who are tired of waiting for the efforts of the scientists and conservationists to pay off, just so they can catch and keep some fish in their back yard.
Details:
VT fisheries biologists have recently completed a 5-year study of the Battenkill and determined that the decline in the brown trout population is most directly attributable to the lack of cover (large woody debris, etc.)
The net of it: Lots of good-sized breeders producing lots of fry, but a 'mysterious' gap in the mid-sized slot. Where are all the 8-10-12-14 inchers?
The theory: The lack of cover means there's nowhere for them to go when they outgrow the riffles and shallows since the mid-sized fellows aren't big enough and can't compete with the big boys who already own the limited 'good' cover that does exist.
Logical next steps: Habitat improvement/enhancement projects (installing large woody debris, root wads, tree trunks, etc) and continue monitoring the population to determine whether the number of trout in the mid-sized class, begins to turn and head in the other direction.
Instead of allowing this to happen and allow the wild trout population to recover naturally, VT Fish & WIldlife has proposed adding sterile rainbow trout to the fishery to enhance the 'recreational value' of this Wild Trout Fishery.
How much sense does it make to throw stockies into one of VT's five remaining wild trout fisheries, discarding the scientific findings and in effect abandoning the research that they've just completed, just to appease those who wish to be able to 'catch and keep' some from their back yard?
In our view, not much.
If you find this idea as mis-guided as we do, and you would like to be able to fish the Battenkill as a wild trout stream in the future, you can do something about it to help us prevent the stocking and keep the Battenkill wild:
- Visit our web site and read more about it: [url=http://www.TUSWVT.org:51d60]www.TUSWVT.org[/url:51d60]
- Sign our [url=http://www.tuswvt.org/tinc?key=SvAx7Jq9&formname=BK_Rainbow_Stocking_Pet ition:51d60]on-line petition[/url:51d60] to add your name to the list of those who oppose the stocking
- Tell others to do the same.
- Contact the VT Fish & Wildlife Dept and tell them you oppose the idea of stocking the Battenkill and would like to keep it wild (or you won't bring your out-of-state dollars in the future...)
You can find all of this information on our website ( [url=http://www.TUSWVT.org:51d60]www.TUSWVT.org[/url:51d60] ): including the state's formal plan to manage the BK fishery (including stocking), our position statement opposing the stocking in favor of keeping it wild, our online petition, and the names and contact info for the VT Fish & Wildlife personnel who need to hear your voice of opposition.
Please give it some thought, and if you agree, join us in our petition to help keep the Battenkill wild!
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Southwestern Vermont Chapter of Trout Unlimited
[email:51d60]Secretary@TUSWVT.org[/email:51d60]
[url=http://www.TUSWVT.org:51d60]www.TUSWVT.org[/url:51d60]
[This message has been edited by pkb (edited 23 May 2006).]
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