Charleston, W.Va. (WVDN) — West Virginia has taken a significant step to protect headwater streams by designating over 170 miles of waterways as “trout waters” based on new survey results.
The new trout streams were documented by the WV Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from data collected by the WV Division of Natural Resources (DNR) and non-profit conservation organizations. Results from this effort were presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Mid-Atlantic Aquatic Biologists in March.
This designation applies specifically to streams that support wild trout populations and specifically brook trout – West Virginia’s state fish and the only trout species native to Appalachia. Brook trout require cold, clean streams to survive, and their presence indicates high-quality streams of immense ecological and economic importance.
“This is an important success story,” said Dr. Nathaniel “Than” Hitt, Senior Scientist at the West Virginia Rivers Coalition. “We know that brook trout populations are in decline in many streams across Appalachia, and that makes it even more important to document and conserve brook trout streams wherever we can.”
Initial data on trout distributions were compiled by Trout Unlimited, WV Rivers Coalition, and partner organizations, who collected eDNA and then conducted extensive electrofishing surveys and documented previously unassessed waters. These findings were subsequently confirmed by DNR before being incorporated into the DEP’s official list of trout waters. This effort highlights effective partnerships between governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local stakeholders.
“West Virginia has incredible wild and native trout resources, and this partnership has helped show just that,” said Dustin Wichterman, the Mid-Atlantic Coldwater Habitat Program Associate with Trout Unlimited. “Our anglers, watersheds and communities will benefit from this public-private partnership effort.”
Expanding the state’s trout waters also strengthens water quality standards to help safeguard drinking water sources, support recreation, encourage tourism, and preserve biodiversity across the region.
