Citizen Science Project to ‘Trek For Trout’ on May 17
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced the release of the draft Adirondack Brook Trout Pond Management Plan. The draft plan, now available for public comment, represents years of contribution from the angler and scientific community and is the first management plan revision for Adirondack pond-dwelling brook trout in nearly 50 years. It reflects the many changes to the trout fishery that have taken place over the past five decades and guide DEC’s Adirondack brook trout pond management for the next 15 years. To continue engaging the public on current and future management, DEC also announced the May 17 “Trek for Trout” initiative to collect citizen-driven observations of these backcountry fisheries.
“Brook trout are an iconic Adirondack species and this new roadmap will guide DEC’s efforts as we work to address challenges and secure a successful future for this valuable ecological and recreational resource,” Acting Commissioner Lefton said. “The proposed plan was collaboratively developed by DEC fisheries experts after collection and analysis of four decades of scientific data and feedback from anglers, local businesses, and a stakeholder focus group.”
The brook trout is New York’s state fish and an iconic symbol of the Adirondacks. In the U.S., pond-dwelling populations of brook trout are extremely rare outside the states of Maine and New York. Brook trout ponds are an important component of the natural heritage of the Adirondacks, providing a unique angling opportunity in an often-secluded location.
Once ubiquitous on New York’s northern landscape, up to 90 percent of the lacustrine brook trout habitat has been lost due to anthropogenic factors, including poor silvicultural practices, acid-precipitation, and incompatible and detrimental fish species introductions. Pond-dwelling brook trout are a key element of the Adirondack ecosystem and retaining this resource is imperative if New York State is to successfully preserve our Adirondack natural heritage.
The new plan replaces the previous Brook Trout Pond Management Plan authored 46 years ago. While some of the management strategies outlined in the 1979 plan remain highly relevant, many aspects of the management environment have changed considerably. These include updates to the scientific knowledge base, the need for more integrated and structured management, the views and expectations of the angling public, reductions in acid precipitation, and new threats to pond-dwelling brook trout, including climate change.
DEC’s updated plan builds upon the lessons learned over the past four decades, while incorporating current science to address emerging challenges to the fishery. DEC developed an assessment, “Historical Perspectives on Adirondack Brook Trout Management,” which is available on the DEC website and presents what has been learned during the past four decades.
Expected benefits associated with the proposed management plan:
- Protection of existing and establishment of new self-sustaining populations;
- Safeguarded hatchery brook trout production for fishing and restoration;
- Maintenance and expansion of heritage broodstock waters;
- Consistent and standardized sampling, data collection and data management;
- Greater structure in our approach to management that includes:
- Consideration of climate change in management actions;
- Decision support tool for management actions;
- Management metrics for “put, grow, and take” fisheries;
- Creation of a citizen science brook trout pond angler partnership program;
- Increased awareness about the value of ponded brook trout populations and human and ecological threats to the security of those populations; and
- Reduced spread of incompatible and detrimental fish, including baitfish.
DEC encourages the public to comment on the Draft Adirondack Brook Trout Pond Management Plan which will be published in the ENB on May 14, and is also available on DEC's website. Public comments will be accepted through June 13, 2025. Following a review of public comments received and further evaluation early this summer, DEC will finalize the plan and begin implementation.
Trek for Trout
One important objective of the draft Adirondack Brook Trout Pond Management Plan is to increase DEC’s knowledge about brook trout pond fisheries. The dispersed and remote nature of the collective fishery makes it very difficult to obtain estimates of fishing pressure, catch and harvest rates, and other parameters of interest using conventional onsite angler survey methods.
On May 17, 2025, a one-day partnership event, Trek for Trout, will be held to support Brook Trout Conservation in the Adirondacks. DEC will be partnering with Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Trout Unlimited, Trout Power, Native Fish Coalition, Paul Smith’s College, and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry to post signs at brook trout ponds as part of a citizen science initiative to collect angler data and protect these fisheries. The signs will contain a unique QR Code that anglers can use to access a survey that will provide DEC with key angler use information.
The sign also has important messaging to protect brook trout ponds by reminding anglers that the use of baitfish is prohibited. DEC biologists will be present at seven posting hubs to provide volunteers their signs and answer questions about the new Adirondack Brook Trout Pond Plan. More information about this partnership event can be found at Management of Adirondack Brook Trout Ponds webpage.
