Brook trout resurgence in the Potomac headwaters is a beacon of hope

Brook trout—a striking, colorful fish that is native to the eastern U.S.—faces severe threats throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed as pollution, deforestation and climate change rattles their freshwater habitat. But in the headwaters of the Potomac River, the species is seeing a resurgence.

The Potomac River begins its journey to the Chesapeake Bay in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, flowing through a mix of private farmland, small towns and the Monongahela and George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. These headwaters were once abundant with native brook trout and other species, but as logging and agricultural practices worsened stream health, trout populations declined.

For over a decade, Trout Unlimited (TU) has led an initiative focused on restoring habitat in these headwaters. In collaboration with federal and West Virginia state agencies, TU has restored previously impaired streams, improved fish migration routes and worked with farmers to reduce the type of sediment runoff that can threaten trout. According to Dustin Wichterman, the associate director of TU's Mid Atlantic Coldwater Habitat Program, the Potomac headwaters are now “one of the most robust brook trout patches south of Maine.”

Working closely with the U.S. Forest Service, TU has completed more than 100 miles of stream restoration in West Virginia for the benefit of trout. This includes fortifying eroding stream banks with boulders and other natural structures, planting trees along waterways and managing the flow of a stream with downed trees. This work helps keep the water cool and limits sediment runoff—both of which benefit trout.

In these same waters, TU has upgraded or removed several blockages to fish passage. As part of their lifecycle, many freshwater fish need access to long stretches of river to spawn, hatch and reach maturity. But dams, low bridges or outdated culverts will block their routes. Recently, TU replaced a low-lying bridge over the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River with a higher one that is not only safer to cross but doesn’t interfere with fish passage. This is just one example of how fish passage has been improved throughout the headwaters.

Because much of the Potomac headwaters flow through private property, TU has also had to work with landowners and farmers to install the type of practices that protect streams. This includes fencing the stream off from cows, who exacerbate erosion when they climb in and out of the water, and planting trees and other vegetation along the stream to soak up stormwater runoff. According to Wichterman, TU has worked with over 400 farmers in West Virginia, which has benefited both the landowners and their neighbors.

“We have more flood resilient communities along the streams, we have healthier agricultural operations, we have sustainable fisheries,” Wichterman said.

Funding for this work has come from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency, through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Small Watershed Grants (SWG) program. The SWG program helps meet the goals and outcomes of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, providing funding to organizations like Trout Unlimited doing on the ground work.

In September 2024, TU received a SWG grant of nearly $1 million to continue their work in the Potomac headwaters, and matched the grant with an additional $447,500. This new funding will restore nine miles of riparian forest habitat, install 7.5 miles of livestock exclusion fencing and reconnect existing brook trout populations to 12 miles of headwater habitat.

“Trout Unlimited’s Potomac Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative, a flagship conservation effort for Trout Unlimited, was spawned here in the headwaters with a small grant just like the one we’re talking about today,” said Wichterman, at a press event announcing the new round of SWG funding.

The Potomac River is one of the largest rivers feeding the Chesapeake Bay. Improving the health of its headwaters means there is less nutrient and sediment pollution flowing into the estuary, which strengthens habitat for species like blue crabs and oysters. In West Virginia, cleaner streams means better recreational opportunities for anglers, hikers, campers and all the businesses involved in outdoor tourism.

West Virginia DEP, a funder and partner in this work, helps the state work toward its Chesapeake Bay goals while meeting the needs of local communities.

“Our residents on the Eastern Panhandle want clean water,” said Scott Settle, a branch assistant director of the West Virginia DEP. “They want forested areas, areas they can fish, they can camp, they can recreate.”