In December, 2024, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the implementation of the Brook Trout Reserves program, a new initiative to protect Wisconsin’s native brook trout populations from changing environmental conditions.
Cold water streams provide important habitat for native brook trout. Wisconsin has an estimated 22,000 miles of cold water stream habitat suitable for sustaining brook trout.
However, with warming stream temperatures, it’s projected that in 30 years, two out of every three miles of this habitat will become too warm to support brook trout.
To help combat this problem, DNR fisheries biologists have used survey and environmental data to identify cold water streams in 205 subwatersheds that are the most likely to persist in the face of climate change.
Each subwatershed within the Brook Trout Reserves contains:
Self-sustaining brook trout populations
Above-average brook trout abundance, exceeding that of nonnative trout and salmon
Limited or no brown trout stocking
More than two stream miles of brook trout habitat are projected to remain by 2050
How To Get Involved
There are numerous ways to get involved in the Brook Trout Reserves program. Members of the public can help protect Wisconsin brook trout populations by:
Enrolling property in the DNR’s Streambank Easement Program
Volunteering to help resource managers with forest and fish habitat management projects
Planting trees along stream corridors to restore shade and keep streams cold
Implementing healthy land use practices in these watersheds
Identifying and fixing steam crossing impairments associated with roads
Joining local conservation or watershed groups
Stakeholders that wish to participate in Wisconsin brook trout habitat projects are encouraged to contact a local fisheries biologist by visiting the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website (dnr.wisconsin.gov).
source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
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