About this Presentation• Created by Michael Hopper and Geoffrey Day• Many slides came from Steve Hurley, South

East District Manager, Mass Wildlife– Presentation was originally to the Squan-a-Tissit

Chapter of Trout Unlimited in approximately 2010– Michael Hopper, Geof Day, Warren Winders and

Steve Angers began formally working on creating the Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition in 2009 with formal 501-c-3 recognition granted in 2011.

– Learn more about SRBTC at www.searunbrookie.org

Coastal Stream Restoration

Red Brook is a 4.5 mile long salter brook trout stream

The headwaters are owned by cranberry growers, the A.D. Makepeace Co.

The stream then runs through the Red Brook Wildlife Management Unit.

The brook enters Buttermilk Bay at the Lyman Reserve, owned by the Trustees of Reservations.

Red Brook Reserve totals 1,100+ acres, is jointly managed by TTOR, MassWildlife and TU.

Mouth of Red Brook

Tidal section of Red Brook

Tidal pool at dead low water

16 inch Red Brook Salter

Red Brook Salter

“Football” from Red BrookJune 1, 2007. Note the small head and very fat body;

this indicates rapid growth in the marine environment.

Salter June 2008

Reasons for Decline• Dams

• Cranberry Bogs

• Overfishing

• Development

• Introduced Species

Wild Brook Trout Streams of Massachusetts

Dams!

• Trap Sediment• Block Fish

Passage• Warm water• Safety Issues

Massachusetts Dams

Over 2645 Dams

Road culverts may act as mini dams and impact fish passage

Prevent Fish From Seeking Refuge Habitats

Previous Work on Quashnet - Annual census (Hurley, MA DFW)

Total Number of Fish Sampled

0

50

100

150

200

250

1985

1987

1989

1991

1992

1994

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

Brook TroutBrown Trout

end of brown trout stocking

(no data)

ObjectiveIdentify what migration patterns exist today

How many fish move?

What size fish move?

How far do fish move within the river?? ?

Steve Hurley & Andrew Tweel

PIT Tags

Assign unique ID to fish

No battery

Tiny, low impact to fish

Inserted into abdominal cavity

Inserting PIT tag

Stationary Antenna

-Tag #-Date/Time-Travel Directionat head of tide

Quashnet data recorder and batteries in the “Box”

Portable Antenna

• Can be used throughout river– Habitat usage– Non-intrusive

• Will be used in future research

Spawning season – frequent up and down movements, pattern continues throughout day

Observed Brook Trout Behaviors

Commuter - regularly scheduled movements. Out at dusk, in before sunrise.

Migrants – Active, then no records for over a month

Spawning activity- frequent up and down movements pattern continues throughout day

Migrant- Active, then no records for over a monthCommuter- regularly scheduled movements.

Out at dusk, in before sunrise

November December January February

noon

dusk

dawn

2008 Fall Salter

• Small dam removal at Red Brook 2006,2008, 2009

• Work performed by A.D. Makepeace Co., funded by:

Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (Riverways Program), American Rivers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others

Red Brook Habitat

Improvement

Placement of Large Woody Debris

Robbins after dam removal

After Habitat Reconstruction

After Habitat Reconstruction

Waquoit Bay

Childs River Restoration

• September 2006 Electrofishing Surveys

• No brook trout reproduction but occasional wanderers

• Habitat was suitable but trout broodstock was lacking

• 19 trout moved from Quashnet River on June 4 2008

• PIT tagged• Adult fish 145 to 249 mm • Included 3 recaptured

trout

Brook Trout Transplantation

Brook Trout Transplanted into

Childs River June 4 2008

Homing Movement • 7245232 174 mm• Released into Childs River

June 4 2008• No records until Nov. 2008• Headed upstream on

Quashnet River 11/25/08• Several detections in March

at Rt 28• 3.7 miles through salt water

of Waquoit Bay• Relocated in Childs River

Aug. 2009

Brook Trout Reproduction confirmed in March 2009

Report of Frank Weston Benson(1862 - 1951)

• April 2, 1893 -All drove to Fresh Brook, South Wellfleet to try for Trout. Tied the Horse and fished down stream to the Railroad [bridge]. In the pool above the track F.W.B. [Frank W. Benson] caught a half pounder, then another half pounder then a one pounder. The others arrived and we caught from the pool 13 more fine Trout… The 15 fish weighed 17 pounds after they were brought home and washed

Fresh Brook – Wellfleet(AKA Trout Brook)

• 1914 Warden Report E.B. Mercata -Excellent fishing, has been stocked, never dries up

• Mullan, James W. 1957. A fisheries investigation of Cape Cod coastal streams “fishermen report fair trout fishing last year (1955)

Fresh Brook - Wellfleet

• No recent reports of trout• 2008 Electrofishing

Survey • American eel• Largemouth bass

Fresh Brook WellfleetPotential for coldwater restoration

• Blocked culverts under old railroad now Cape Cod Rail Trail

• Tidal restrictions at Route 6

• Primarily on Cape Cod National Seashore

• Early signs of support from CCNS, Mass Audubon, town officials

Future Salter Trout From Fresh Brook in Wellflleet??

Other Diadromous

Acknowledgements• Steve Hurley, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and

Wildlife• USGS Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory: Ben

Letcher, Todd Dubreuil, Matt O’Donnell• Waquoit Bay NERR: Brendan Annett and Morgan Potter• Trout Unlimited