Habitat concerns

When the state presented the stocking proposal last June, it said it would provide greater opportunities for recreational fishermen and draw visitors to the area. But a number of environmental groups and private citizens vehemently opposed the plan, saying that introducing sterile fish into the Batten Kill would harm the already inhospitable habitat for the native brown trout, whose numbers have steadily declined since the mid-1990s.

Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche handed down the decision Thursday and the department posted the announcement on its Web site Friday morning, according to Ken Cox, a state fisheries biologist. The department also unveiled a detailed habitat restoration plan for the Batten Kill, covering the next six years.

"The habitat restoration work focuses on making in-stream improvements, primarily restoring fish cover to stream, which has been proven to be sorely lacking and insufficient to support the population of brown trout we'd like to see there," Cox said.

This work includes replanting and reforesting stream banks to provide adequate shoreline vegetation. The plan also addresses erosion issues. The department intends to integrate woody debris in the Batten Kill to add "hydraulic diversity" without impeding the flow of the stream or the movement of the fish.

While the draft plan for stocking the Batten Kill with sterile trout had its supporters, the naysayers turned out in force at public hearings last year. Cox said their comments heavily influenced the commissioner's decision.

"Throughout the process, we had a number of public input meetings, and ... the input that we got was overwhelmingly opposed to stocking the river at this time, and that (the public) wanted the habitat restoration to commence," said Cox.

The right call

Shelly Stiles of the Bennington County Conservation District, who participated in the public meetings, was thrilled when she learned of the commissioner's decision.

"I think it was definitely the right call ... not only on the basis of scientific testimony, but also in terms of the sentiment of a number of residents and river users," said Stiles.

The BCCD will continue with its plans to assist in the Batten Kill's restoration, something it has long been committed to, according to Stiles.

Not everyone, however, was overjoyed by Laroche's decision. Joyce "Birdie" Wyman, the recently retired Arlington town clerk and a former member of the state Fish and Wildlife Board, expressed her dissatisfaction.

"I'm disappointed, but not surprised. ... A lot of the folks (who made the decision) do not live here, and they're making decisions about our local stream. It seems like the stream is being used as far as fishing goes for an elite group of fly-fishers. That group can go anywhere to fish; the people of this town can't," said Wyman.

The Batten Kill trout management plan is available at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.