New Jersey

It’s the most densely populated U.S. state, and it neighbors New York City, but New Jersey is still home to wild trout water: chilly freestone streams, spring-fed creeks, and cold tailwaters. Flat Brook, in the hilly northwest corner, holds more contiguous brook-trout-only miles than any stream in the state. In the central stretch of the state, the South Branch of the Raritan and the Musconetcong are popular destinations running through scenic gorges and past riverfront communities. Stretches of the Musky are designated Wild and Scenic, and the removal of dams in recent years has reconnected this system to the benefit of wild trout and migratory shad to the relief of flood-prone towns.

Threats & Opportunities

New Jersey is hot and has gotten hotter at a faster rate than many other states over the past century. The long-term persistence of the Garden State’s wild trout fisheries will likely depend on access to cold, groundwater-influenced stream habitat. Development in New Jersey makes its trout waters vulnerable to warming temperatures. These challenges are exacerbated by barriers to fish passage. By providing good cover along streams and improving connectivity, we can make these streams more resilient in the face of climate change.

Building capacity for brook trout restoration and conservation needs.

We have hired a project manager to facilitate project planning and oversee on-the-ground conservation efforts in New Jersey. Our Upper Delaware Brook Trout Initiative is a three-state coordination effort to expand capacity across New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, advancing landscape-scale conservation actions essential to eastern brook trout recovery and implementing coldwater conservation projects in priority watersheds.

Leveraging partnerships to increase on-the-ground project impacts.

Our team is collaborating with the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, state agencies, Wildlife Management Institute, Musconetcong Watershed Association and other partners to develop strategies, secure funding and implement brook trout recovery projects. Key priorities include reconnecting coldwater habitat through barrier removal and riparian restoration. In the Flat Brook watershed, we are developing a comprehensive barrier assessment and restoration plan. Following the assessment, we will work with partners to implement priority projects through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative.

Developing long-term strategic vision and action plans.

We are working with partners to protect and enhance native brook trout populations in the Flat Brook and Musconetcong watersheds. Our efforts focus on reconnecting habitat through barrier removal, reducing streambank erosion, restoring degraded stream sections and increasing canopy cover to provide thermal refuge. We are also investing in public outreach to educate communities about the value of habitat restoration and land conservation, enhance recreational opportunities and protect some of New Jersey’s most intact brook trout habitat for future generations.

Protecting coldwater habitat from development pressures.

TU is pursuing opportunities to reduce impacts from large-scale development, agriculture, stormwater runoff and other nonpoint sources of pollution in lower Delaware River tributaries. Our habitat projects focus on reducing thermal impacts and habitat degradation associated with urban development.