Eastern Brook Trout Joint VentureEastern Brook Trout Joint Venture Habitat Work Group UpdateHabitat Work Group Update

Hannibal BoltonHannibal Bolton

Chair, Habitat Work GroupChair, Habitat Work Group

Habitat Work Group UpdateHabitat Work Group UpdateRecent ActivitiesRecent Activities

Convened Habitat Work Group meeting at Convened Habitat Work Group meeting at James Madison University; Harrisonville, VA James Madison University; Harrisonville, VA (Nov. 2005)(Nov. 2005)

Meeting Outcomes:Meeting Outcomes: Identified habitat goalsIdentified habitat goals for the next 15-20 years for the next 15-20 years

based on the assessment work of Hudy et. al.based on the assessment work of Hudy et. al. DecisionDecision: Individual states should develop their : Individual states should develop their

own strategies for meeting these goals due to the own strategies for meeting these goals due to the diversity of habitat threats that occur rangewide.diversity of habitat threats that occur rangewide.

Identified protection of habitat/watershedsIdentified protection of habitat/watersheds that that support support intact brook trout populationsintact brook trout populations a key goal of a key goal of the EBTJV.the EBTJV.

Habitat GoalsHabitat Goals

Protect and maintain the current classification Protect and maintain the current classification status on 100 % of the watersheds currently status on 100 % of the watersheds currently classified as intact.classified as intact.

Establish self-sustaining brook trout Establish self-sustaining brook trout populations on 10% of the currently populations on 10% of the currently extirpated watersheds. extirpated watersheds.

Improve 30% of greatly reduced watersheds Improve 30% of greatly reduced watersheds to a higher classification; maintain 70% in to a higher classification; maintain 70% in existing condition.existing condition.

Validate (inventory and monitor) classification Validate (inventory and monitor) classification of predicted watershedsof predicted watersheds

Habitat Work Group UpdateHabitat Work Group Update

Meeting Outcomes:Meeting Outcomes: Identified immediate needIdentified immediate need for for

protection and restoration of protection and restoration of "islands" of habitat"islands" of habitat, with long term , with long term goal of creating continuous habitat goal of creating continuous habitat "corridors”"corridors”

Identified key components of aIdentified key components of a project ranking and prioritization project ranking and prioritization systemsystem; further developed by an ; further developed by an HWG subgroup:HWG subgroup: Larry Mohn (VDGIF), Mark Staley Larry Mohn (VDGIF), Mark Staley

(MDNR), Bryan Moore (TU), Shelaine (MDNR), Bryan Moore (TU), Shelaine Curd-Hetrick (USGS), and Maureen Curd-Hetrick (USGS), and Maureen Gallagher (USFWS)Gallagher (USFWS)

Habitat Work Group UpdateHabitat Work Group Update

Meeting Outcomes:Meeting Outcomes: Draft Draft project ranking project ranking

documentdocument intended for use in intended for use in choosing projects funded choosing projects funded through or endorsed by through or endorsed by EBTJVEBTJV

Next steps for the Next steps for the project project

prioritization processprioritization process include: include: Develop funding guidelines and a Develop funding guidelines and a

process for future fundingprocess for future funding

Refine ranking tool based on Refine ranking tool based on comments from this meeting and comments from this meeting and committee member feedbackcommittee member feedback

Habitat Work Group UpdateHabitat Work Group UpdateMeeting Outcomes:Meeting Outcomes: Developed list of tactics to address top 10 threats to Developed list of tactics to address top 10 threats to

eastern brook trout (as identified ineastern brook trout (as identified in“ Distribution, “ Distribution, Status, & Perturbations to Brook Trout within the Status, & Perturbations to Brook Trout within the Eastern United StatesEastern United States , Hudy et al.), Hudy et al.)

Drafted “Tactics and Strategies” document to address Drafted “Tactics and Strategies” document to address top 10 threats to brook trout (as identified above); top 10 threats to brook trout (as identified above); further developed by an HWG subgroup:further developed by an HWG subgroup: Larry Mohn (VDGIF), Mark Staley (MDNR), Tom Oldham Larry Mohn (VDGIF), Mark Staley (MDNR), Tom Oldham

(WVDNR), Andrew Madden (MDFWEL), Bryan Moore (TU), (WVDNR), Andrew Madden (MDFWEL), Bryan Moore (TU), Shelaine Curd-Hetrick (USGS), and Mike Weimer (USFWS)Shelaine Curd-Hetrick (USGS), and Mike Weimer (USFWS)

Document to complement “Conserving the Eastern Brook Document to complement “Conserving the Eastern Brook Trout: An Overview of Status, Threats, and Trends”Trout: An Overview of Status, Threats, and Trends”

Please provide comments on EBTJV Habitat Work Group documents to:

Hannibal Bolton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicehannibal_bolton@fws.gov 703-358-1718

Habitat Work Group UpdateHabitat Work Group Update

Next Steps for “Tactics and Strategies” document:

Revise and finalize “Tactics and Strategies” document based on input from: - EBTJV HWG and Steering Committee - EBTJV Partner meeting attendees

Changing HatsChanging Hats

NFHI Joint Venture NFHI Joint Venture FundingFunding

$1Million Add from $1Million Add from CongressCongress Southeast Aquatic Resources Southeast Aquatic Resources

Partnership-$225KPartnership-$225K Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture-Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture-

$200K$200K Western Native Trout Initiative-$200KWestern Native Trout Initiative-$200K Midwest Driftless-$100KMidwest Driftless-$100K Matanuska-Siska Watershed (Alaska)-Matanuska-Siska Watershed (Alaska)-

$100K$100K Washington Office-$175KWashington Office-$175K

Federal Funding Federal Funding OpportunitiesOpportunities

Partners for Fish and Wildlife ProgramPartners for Fish and Wildlife Program Fish Passage ProgramFish Passage Program Farm Bill (CRP, WRP, CREP, WHIP, Farm Bill (CRP, WRP, CREP, WHIP,

EQUP, etc.)EQUP, etc.) Landowner Incentive ProgramLandowner Incentive Program Private Stewardship GrantsPrivate Stewardship Grants National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

(Mo’ Fish Campaign)(Mo’ Fish Campaign)