In the Loop 9.24.10

Robert Humston, a biology professor from Virgina’s Washington and Lee University, has been studying the
impact of stocked trout in reservoirs on the Commonwealth’s native
brook trout. His findings so far are fascinating: it turns out that the stocked trout may actually help the wild trout survive longer.

“Introducing this separate population of hatchery
trout with a different genetic signature is adding more variation. That
diversity increases the likelihood that a population can adapt to
changes,” he said. “At the same time, the hatchery trout haven’t
impacted the native species yet. And if we haven’t diluted any local
adaptation by the native trout they may be better able to persist in
the long term.”

Two moving articles—here and here—on the great work being done by Project Healing Waters to help combat veterans take their minds of their injuries and relax in the great outdoors.

The drought in the Northeast is bad enough that the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has decided not to do any fall stocking in several streams in the eastern part of the state.

Trout-habitat-restoration work on the Battenkill has been temporarily halted by the discovery of an archaeological site containing evidence of an ancient campsite along the river.

A father and son from New Zealand decided to try their luck in a rather unscenic piece of water—a canal close to a powerhouse. Lookie what dad caught.

(photo: Sandy Hays)