Habitat Getting Better or Worse in SE?

[ilikepike]

Recently I have read a lot of very pessimistic things about environmental trends affecting trout streams in SE MN. The tone is almost like in five years all the trout will be gone and the streams will be silted drainage ditches. This is confusing because only two or three years ago everything I read indicated that everything was going in the right direction, trout populations were as high as they have ever been and the streams are in the best shape they have been in in over a hundred years. I only get down there a couple times a year but are things as bad what I have been reading?

[WxGuy]

You're probably referencing my comments in an earlier post...

It depends where you are, really. There are streams where habitat is great and only getting better with more planting of native grasses, more buffer strips, and habitat projects being completed to speed up stream flow and decrease erosion. Extremely few if any streams in SE MN are anywhere close to their natural state they were in before settlement occured. We need to work with what we have to improve it and make for a happy agreement between our fishes and the people who rely on the land to make a living.

There are streams that are getting much worse because there is no longer the natural protection of deep-rooted native grasses and erosion and siltation are making the streams shallower and wider and in turn, warmer. I think we all make a big mistake when we lump any negative comments into "it's all going to hell in a handbasket and all the trout are dying tomorrow" instead of really looking at what needs to be fixed and fixing it. Also, I highly doubt that despite the forward thinking of the DNR that they ever said that "everything is peachy-keen".

There have been great strides in gaining more easements and protecting and conserving our streams recently and there are very healthy trout populations and great natural reproduction in many of our streams, but definitely not all of them.

The increase in row-cropping recently shows no sign of slowing down with the increased production of ethanol, so silt and erosion will continue to escalate as a threat to our streams until we can cultivate more of a conservation mentality with everyone who fishes in or works around our trout streams.

We shouldn't confuse noticing what is wrong and trying to fix it with having a downright pessimistic attitude toward our resources. I feel lucky to have the great trout resource in SE MN that we do, but it still has a long way to go, and I don't see any reason why we shouldn't continue to make it better.

My $.02

[WCS]

I agree with WxGuy. I have only been trout fishing for 2 seasons and have fished streams that are mostly mud and muck and look to be in serious trouble. I have also fished streams that are in great shape and look to stay that way. I am glad to see the improvements to Mill Creek, but it could use a lot of work further up stream.

I never thought I would see a post from a guy on a fishing forum use the term "Peachy-Keen"

[ilikepike]

WxGuy:

I don't think I saw your comments. I was kind of referencing more reporting of outdoors writers and DNR press releases and comments. I share your sentiment that people shouldn't be overly negative. I always find a good place to fish down there. My original post was more out frustration along the lines of 'great, I found something new that I really enjoy doing just in time for it to decline and disappear - just my luck.' I can fish for all warmwater species within a half mile of where I live but SE trout fishing is truly a unique treasure in this state. Much more convenient that going to Montana or Idaho.

[WxGuy]

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...but SE trout fishing is truly a unique treasure in this state. Much more convenient that going to Montana or Idaho.

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You're absolutely right.

[DEADhead]

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I was kind of referencing more reporting of outdoors writers and DNR press releases and comments

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I think a lot of the sentiment behind the press releases, etc., is that they are trying to get word out that stream health is degrading and that things should be done before the are irrepairable. I believe their intentions are to create awareness of the issue. Obviously it worked if you are talking about it here

[jbtwins24]

ive been fishing in alot of different trout streams in the past 5 yrs and at first i thought the streams were getting worse and now more and more streams are getting a uplift. im glad to say theres more trout in streams and the habitat around the streams are getting much better then they were. the dnr is constantly working on making the streams better then ever.