Status, Distribution, and Threats of Midwest Brook Trout

Brook trout are the only stream dwelling trout native to the upper Midwest and populations have declined dramatically since early settlement; however, the extent,  severity, and in some cases, the specific cause of the decline is unknown.  Current fishery data along with landscape scale GIS data is being used to model the status and distribution of brook trout at the catchment and subwatershed scales in an effort to complete a range-wide status and distribution map for the United States.  Partner agencies have provided recent fisheries data collected throughout the U.S. portion of the Lake Superior basin, additional data has been collected during the 2011 and 2012 field seasons.  Catchments and subwatersheds with sufficient data have been classified according to brook trout status based on the amount of historic habitat currently occupied by self-sustaining populations.  Landscape scale metrics will be used to develop a classification tree model to predict brook trout status in areas where fishery data is insufficient.  The end product, geo-referenced maps and data will assist biologists, land managers, and other interested parties in evaluating and prioritizing areas for protection, enhancement, or restoration of brook trout populations and provide a baseline for monitoring climate change effects on cold-water species.