In 2006, this study was expanded statewide, and a total of 135 stream sections were checked by electro-shocking crews to track trout movements. This confirmed that the problem is not confined to the Northeast Region. Poor results were found at about 30 percent of the sites.

“We’re going to continue to look at that,” Greene said. “It’s not like it’s happening everywhere. It’s probably more of a problem in the northern tier. Water temperature could come into play. There’s a lot of cold water up there.”

The worst-case scenario, according to Greene, is that some stream sections may not be able to be stocked.

“We’re looking into the Brook Trout Enhancement regulations that went into effect a few years back,” said Dave Miko, a PFBC area fisheries manager whose area covers much of the South Central Region.

The Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program has implications that go well beyond Pennsylvania’s borders. Brook trout are the only native Eastern trout other than lake trout, which are primarily denizens of deep, cold lakes and were not historically as widespread in the East as brook trout.

There was such great concern over the viability of native wild brook trout strains that the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture was established.

Brook trout had been native through the Appalachian Mountains from Maine to Georgia. First, it was imperative to get brook trout added to the Wildlife Action Plan in each state to get federal funding for research through the State Wildlife Grants Program.

In Pennsylvania, brook trout have been eliminated or greatly reduced throughout about 70 percent of their historic range, even though Pennsylvania is considered one of the species’ last strongholds.

Stream surveys conducted since 1976 have found wild brook trout populations in about 5,044 stream miles. However, these are mostly fragmented sections, primarily in small headwater tributary streams. The Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program is designed to protect our wild brook trout. The historic range and abundance of brook trout have been greatly reduced through several causes, including degradation of habitat, intermingling with introduced hatchery brook trout strains and having to compete with introduced brown and rainbow trout.

Regulations for the Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program allow fishing year ‘round, but no brook trout may be killed or held in possession. There are no tackle restrictions.

The special regulations apply to brook trout only. General regulations apply to all other trout species, and a current trout-salmon permit is required.

In Miko’s area, Shaeffer Run in Perry County was checked by electro-shocking to monitor changes since it was surveyed in 2004, before Wild Brook Trout Enhancement regulations were imposed.

The goal had been to increase the number of 9-inch wild brook trout. The increase had been just one fish per 900-foot section.

“In Shaeffer Run, things are almost identical to the way they were before the regulations,” Miko said. “The actual biomass changed from 25.5 kilograms per hectare to 20 kilograms per hectare. Essentially, it was identical. The bottom line is we’re not seeing any change with this regulation.”