News Release - 4/25/2008

2008 "10 Waters to Watch" List Celebrates Acceleration in Aquatic Conservation

WASHINGTON – Today, a group of the nation’s leading authorities on aquatic conservation unveiled the 2008 "10 Waters to Watch" list, a collection of rivers, streams and shores that will be cleaner and healthier habitats for the many fish and wildlife species and people who call these areas home.

Thanks to the combined actions of concerned community groups, non-profit organizations, local watershed groups, Native American tribes and state and federal agencies, these waters are being improved by planting stream-side vegetation, removing structures blocking fish from habitat and protecting bodies of water from the effects of industrial processes, agriculture and livestock.

They are representative of freshwater to marine waters across the country including lakes and reservoirs that are improving through the conservation efforts of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan—a bold initiative to reverse persistent declines in aquatic habitat.

"Our approach—teaming federal, state and local partners—is helping to make these waters better... faster," said Kelly Hepler, the Vice-Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board, from the banks of the Potomac River at the National Casting Call, an annual event highlighting fisheries conservation and recreational fishing heritage. "By watching these 10 examples of our nation’s conservation efforts, we can see real progress in treating the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms."

The 10 Waters to Watch in 2008 include:

• Aaron Run: Frostburg, Maryland–By stemming flows of acid mine drainage into a tumbling mountain stream, conservation partners are re-establishing four miles of native brook trout habitat.

• Big Spring Branch: Madison, Wisconsin–Wild brook and brown trout are benefiting from bank stabilization and in-stream enhancements on more than a half-mile of this Driftless-Area jewel.

• Lake Oconee Island: between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia–Bass, both largemouth and stripers, are getting a boost as a third of a mile of island shoreline is stabilized to prevent erosion and enhance near-shore habitat.

• Little Susitna River: near Wasilla and Anchorage, Alaska–The removal of a half-dozen barriers to fish passage on the main tributaries of the "Little Su" will mean more salmon of all stripes.

• O'Dell Spring Creek: near Bozeman and Ennis, Montana–A classic Montana spring creek on the Madison River Tributary gets even better through stream habitat restoration on 135 headwaters acres.

• South Fork Chalk Creek: near Fillmore and Salt Lake City, Utah–By replacing an old culvert and building a new bridge on this desert stream, more cutthroat trout will be able to make successful spawning migrations.

• Stinky Creek: near Alpine, Arizona–Two fragile native fish, the Apache trout and speckled dace, will be re-introduced after non-native fish are removed from two miles of protected stream habitat on lands of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

• Tampa Bay Shoreline: MacDill Air Force Base, Florida–Stabilizing sediments and promoting growth of sea grasses will create near-shore oyster reefs and improved habitats for a host of marine species.

• Trout Run: Filmore County, Minnesota–The stream's brown trout will welcome improved water quality and hiding places along 3,000 feet of freshly re-contoured and re-vegetated bank.

• Williams Run: near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania–Nine miles of Appalachian stream are restored for brook trout populations by treating acid mine drainage.

"Whether you measure the effect of the 10 success stories in feet or miles of fish and wildlife habitat conserved, these kinds of concerted actions are what it is going to take to get our nation’s waters back into shape," said Hepler. "We believe the Waters recognized today will be the impetus for thousands of projects accomplished in the future."

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is built on a framework of National Fish Habitat Partnerships. These regional-scale efforts include the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership, Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, the Western Native Trout Initiative, the Midwest Driftless Area Restoration Effort and the Matanuska-Susitna Basin Salmon Conservation Partnership. The Action Plan calls for the creation of at least 12 Fish Habitat Partnerships by 2010 to help identify the causes of habitat declines and implement corrective initiatives for aquatic conservation and restoration.

Since its launch two years ago, the Action Plan has received wide public support. To date, hundreds of partners have pledged their support including a range of organizations interested in the health of the nation’s fisheries such as fishing clubs, international conservation organizations, federal agencies, angling industries and academia. Complete information on the scope of the plan is available at www.fishhabitat.org.

The Action Plan is complemented by the "More Fish" campaign administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which is taking the lead in raising funds for these and other projects under the Action Plan. Information about the campaign can be found at www.morefish.org.

About the National Fish Habitat Action Plan
The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is the most comprehensive effort ever attempted to treat the causes of aquatic habitat decline and fix the nation’s most pressing fisheries problems. The Action Plan is a science-based investment strategy to conserve waterways and make conservation dollars stretch farther by combining federal and privately raised funds to build regional partnerships. For more information, visit www.fishhabitat.org.

About the National Casting Call
Hosted by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, the National Casting Call is an annual two-day event providing a unique opportunity for families, youth, the fly fishing industry and their partners to spend time on the water experiencing first-hand the benefits of collaboration in fisheries management. For more information, visit www.nationalcastingcall.org.