We wanted to let you know about an upcoming Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) rulemaking process that includes proposals to protect ponds identified as brook trout waters through Brook Trout Survey volunteer efforts, including proposals to add Moose Pond and Little Fowler Pond to the state’s list of “Heritage” Brook Trout Waters.
We encourag​e you to SUPPORT these two proposed changes by either attending one of the rulemaking hearings listed below or submitting written comments.
State Heritage Fish Waters are lakes and ponds that contain populations of eastern brook trout and/or arctic charr and have never been stocked or have not been stocked in at least 25 years. These lakes and ponds are protected from accidental introduction of non-native fish by resticting use of live fish as bait, and cannot be stocked by MDIFW.
The full proposed package of fishing rule changes can be viewed or downloaded here.
Public Hearings
Presque Isle: July 26, 6:30 pm,Northeastland Hotel, Red Room, 436 Main St.
Millinocket: July 27, 6:30 pm, Stearns High School, Auditorium, 199 State St.
Ellsworth: July 28, 6:30 pm,Ramada, Breakfast Room, 215 High St.
Farmington: August 2, 6:30 pm,University of Maine Farmington, Olson Student Center, N. Dining Hall B, 111 South St.
Brunswick: August 4, 6:30 pm, Comfort Inn, Breakfast Room, 199 Pleasant St.
​Written comments are due by August 17, and may be sent via email or regular mail to Becky Orff, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street 41 SHS, Augusta, ME 04333; phone: 207-287-5202; fax: 207-287-6395 email: Becky.Orff@maine.gov
We hope to see some of you at the public hearings.
Sincerely,
Sally Stockwell
Director of Conservation, Maine Audubon
Jeff Reardon
Maine Brook Trout Project Director, Trout Unlimited
P.S. In addition to supporting the addition of Moose Pond and Little Fowler Pond to the Heritage List, we also suggest you encourage MDIFW ​to move quickly to add additional waters with confirmed brook trout populations to the Heritage List. The following background information may be useful for your comments:
Since 2011, more than 360 volunteers for the Remote Pond Survey Project have completed surveys of 380 remote ponds for which no previous survey data was available. Based on the volunteer survey results, MDIFW staff have completed follow-up surveys on 81 of these, documenting populations of brook trout in 59. None of these ponds has ever been stocked or previously surveyed. Volunteers have committed more than 6,800 hours to this effort.
To sign up for Maine Audubon’s Action Alert e-mails, please click here.
