EBTJV Habitat News Brief - Thank You Veterans

Thank you to those who have served! A special thanks to the many veterans who are employed by or volunteer with agencies and organizations that protect, enhance, and conserve our coldwater resources.

America the Beautiful Challenge Grants Awarded: Cheat River, WV to benefit

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and partners announced on 11/10 nearly $91 million in grants through the new America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC).West Virginia DNR is among the 55 grantees and was awarded $2.9M to improve connectivity on the Cheat River. The project will restore hydrology and habitat for species like eastern brook trout and hellbender, improve climate and flood resilience, and enhance recreation on nearly 75 miles of river.

EBTJV's 2024 Project Funding NOW OPEN

We announced our RFP in October, and it is open through January 30, 2023.

IMPORTANT: Please note the deadline to coordinate with your state EBTJV representative is December 12, 2022. The state representatives can help you understand if your project is a good fit, and if so, will provide a required letter of support for your application. State and federal biologists in our network are dedicated and extremely knowledgeable in methods to conserve brook trout through habitat improvements, or through restoration following habitat improvement. If you need help connecting to one, or have general questions about the RFP, please contact the EBTJV coordinator.

Now is also a great time to highlight that while the EBTJV operates and provides funding in the 17 states in the brook trout's native eastern range, there are other Fish Habitat Partnerships that may fund brook trout related projects in the Midwest and East. We will highlight those as they open their RFPs. The Fishers & Farmers Partnership for the Upper Mississippi River Basin has project funding open now through February 1, 2023.

News from partners and beyond

Wildlife Watch: Brook Trout

In October, Vermont station WCAX aired a 4 minute segment about brook trout, and interviewed Vermont Fish & Wildlife biologist Bret Ladago.

Recently released: Maintaining Forests in Stream Corridor Restoration: A Best Practices Guide for Projects in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia

This guidance document includes best practices for consideration by agencies overseeing the implementation of stream restoration projects, as well as seasoned professionals, to minimize unintended impacts to riparian forests and ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It was developed collaboratively between the Center for Watershed Protection, Inc. (CWP), Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), and stakeholders based on findings from a recent study, Maintaining Forests in Stream Corridor Restoration and Sharing Lessons Learned.

Trout Unlimited has several positions open now, including conservation and project managers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Upcoming NE CASC Webinar on Brook Trout Dec 14, 4pm:

Matthew O’Donnell Wed Dec 14 4 pm This webinar will provide an update on the NE CASC project, "Understanding Brook Trout Persistence in Warming Streams". This research will be conducted in four small streams located in Western Massachusetts. However, because the work will occur across a large thermal gradient of stream temperatures, the results will be applicable across the entire range of Brook Trout. This project will allow scientists to determine whether Brook Trout are seeking out cold spots in warm streams, adapting to warming conditions, or some combination of the two. Results can help resource managers better understand how Brook Trout populations may persist as stream temperatures continue to rise.

Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast: how land use and geology affect trout streams.

Interview with geology professor Dr. Nelson Ham, who has been studying the effects of both geology and historical land use practices on rivers. Also see his presentation Geologic Controls on NE WI Trout Streams on YouTube.

Understanding brook trout invasions in Idaho high country bull trout streams

Understanding brook trout populations in Idaho is an important research topic for bull trout conservation, and one University of Idaho graduate student aims to do just that.

Wood is Good

The Massachussetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife explores how downed trees and limbs that fall into waterbodies provide countless benefits to fish and the entire aquatic ecosystem.

Upcoming editions

We have more content coming! Please be sure that you add EBTJV emails to your safe sender list so that you can see what's coming next:

Interviews with Brad Fink and Steve Reeser, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and EBTJV Steering Committee members, on what excites them about working on brook trout, EBTJV history, and more.
Brook trout-related publications and news items.
Creator/artist spotlights.
Webinar and learning opportunities.
News items.
Updates on other funding programs.
Helpful information about crafting a successful application for EBTJV brook trout project funding.

Help us keep wild brook trout on the map! The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture accepts monetary donations through our 501c(3) nonprofit sponsor Beyond the Pond. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. When you select EBTJV as the Fish Habitat Partnership to support, all funds go to us and go towards outreach, coordination, and on-the-ground habitat projects that improve cold water habitat so that future generations can enjoy catching this beautiful fish.

Orange donate now button links to Beyond the Pond

The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV) is a geographically focused, locally driven and scientifically based effort to protect, restore and enhance aquatic habitat throughout the brook trout's Eastern US native range. Learn more

We are a member of the National Fish Habitat Partnership

Our 501c(3) sponsor is the Canaan Valley Institute

Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture | Website

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