whyprotect

Protection of Minnesota's Native Trout Species

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontenalis) source: MN DNR

Quite some time ago in Minnesota's natural history, naturally reproducing brook trout streams were common in Southeastern Minnesota. Today, there are only two brook trout streams in the state that can maintain healthy populations without regular stocking from hatcheries. Rice county's Spring Brook (officially named Rice Creek) is one of these unique and fragile habitats for brook trout. The main reason so many natural brook trout streams have vanished is due to the pristine habitat requirements necessary for their survival. "Brookies" require clean, cool (prefer 50-60 degrees F) water with a high oxygen content (MN DNR). Brook trout are originally native only to SE Minnesota, the upper St. Croix, Lake Superior and tributaries, but now they are stocked in large numbers throughout the state (MN DNR).

Spring Brook has become a valuable resource to the Minnesota DNR as a source for brook trout eggs. Through stocking other streams with brook trout eggs from Spring Brook, the DNR is hoping to establish populations of these "native strains" in other streams.

Spring Brook should be protected to preserve its unique trout habitat. Brook trout are a native species to the Cannon River region, and therefore should be a conservation priority.

Map of Brook Trout Range (MN DNR)

Unique Stream Provides Sense of Pride

Spring Brook is certainly not a typical stream of the Cannon River watershed. Within the watershed of the Cannon River, there are numerous streams that are listed as "impaired" by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Most of these impaired streams are ridden with sediment and do not provide quality habitat for aquatic species that are sensitive to water quality. People who live in the area and who are familiar with Spring Brook understand that the stream is a misfit in the area.
Justin Watkins of the Cannon River Watershed Partnership described it this way:

"It's uniqueness is notable - surrounded by warmwater streams that drain lakes, it is this funny little 4100 acre basin that produces a primarily groundwater-fed stream. If we want to struggle to maintain diversity, this unique resource should be preserved."

-Justin Watkins, Cannon River Watershed Partnership
Note: Source of quote is a questionaire sent via e-mail

Photo: Spring Brook near confluence with Cannon River (Jeff Jasperson)

The preservation of a unique stream like spring brook helps to preserve the diversity of the Cannon Valley's environment. This stream is easy to overlook because of its small size, but after learning about its unique qualities, it certainly stands out. Spring Brook, with its healthy water quality and unique trout population, can bring a sense of pride to the region if it is managed properly. According to former Cannon River Watershed Partnership employee and Srping Brook advocate Chris Robbins, "People feel a sense of pride because we have the only trout stream in Rice County."

Trout Fishing in Rice County

Spring Brook provides the only opportunity to fish for any species of trout in Rice County. There are many popular trout streams south of Rice County, but only one within its boundaries. Trout streams benefit a community or region in a variety of ways. Aside from the obvious recreational benefits, trout streams can also support the local economy of place through the purchasing of licenses, flies or bait, and transportation costs. In the state of Minnesota, anglers fishing trout streams accounted for $47 million in sales, generating $27 million in income for those on the receiving end of the expenditures, with over 820 jobs directly related to stream fishing (Gartner et al., 2002).

Photo: Brook trout caught on Manitou River, North Shore of Lake Superior (Jeff Jasperson)

The wild brook trout of Spring Brook are especially sought after by trout fisherman. According to a study done by the DNR, anglers who displayed a preference overwhelmingly prefer wild trout (33.2%) over stocked trout (2.2%) (Gartner et al., 2000). Spring Brook is not a heavily fished stream, but the fisherman who do visit the stream certainly make contributions to the local economy.