A new federal grant of more than $3 million will help to keep Delaware River streams clean and healthy for native brook trout, writes Zoë Read for WHYY.

Land use, habitat loss, and sediment pollution have taken a toll on trout populations over the years. Conservationists have been striving to protect these vanishing fish and their habitats, and the latest grant offers a significant boost to these efforts.

The funds will enable federal and state agencies, along with local environmental groups, to enhance water quality and restore habitats for at-risk native brook trout in the Delaware River watershed.

The initiative, which covers trout streams in the mountainous areas of New Jersey, Northeast Pennsylvania, and the Catskills of New York is the first such tri-state initiative in the region, according to Amy Wolfe, director of Trout Unlimited’s northeast coldwater habitat program.

“Our goal in this will be to focus on projects that can reconnect fragmented habitat and reduce pollution from sediment runoff and from other land use impacts in these areas,” she said.

Plans for the project may involve replacing deteriorating road stream crossings and removing outdated dams to improve stream flow.

Read more about the river stream protection grant at WHYY.

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