Press release
ORANGEVILLE, NY – Leading another collaborative effort yielding transformative results, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, with the partnership of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Wyoming County and WNY Trout Unlimited, has successfully redesigned and replaced a culvert at Crow Creek, opening up 1.5 additional miles of cold-water habitat for the native Eastern Brook Trout, the State Fish of New York, just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act.
For the last decade, the population numbers of the native Brook Trout have been declining in the area, with a notable decrease in the population at Crow Creek in the Wyoming County town of Orangeville. The culvert in Crow Creek was too narrow, crooked, and placed too high relative to the water line for the Brook Trout to pass through and successfully spawn. Waterkeeper, with the help and guidance of the NYSDEC, USFWS, Wyoming County Soil and Water, and Wyoming County Highway Department, was able to design and install a correctly sized and aligned culvert, to enable successful fish passage and spawning. The sediment-filled creek channel was also restored to a more natural pathway and Trout Unlimited further assisted the successful spawning of the Brook Trout by building Lunker Boxes which were placed underwater along the sides of Crow Creek for the fish to rest. Sampling just two months after construction of the culvert showed a significant increase in passage by the native Brook Trout population both upstream and downstream.
“Crow Creek is an important headwater stream within the Tonawanda Creek tributary system of the Niagara River watershed. Supporting some of the best remaining cold-water habitats within our region, restoration of this waterway is a regional priority to maintain clean drinking water and enable the future success of our native aquatic species,” explained Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Deputy Executive Director Kerrie Gallo. “The success we have already seen here is especially appreciated as we approach the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is grateful to have worked alongside amazing partners to make this restoration success possible.”
Crow Creek is located in our Niagara River Watershed’s critically important headwaters (or source waters). Native Brook Trout are one of the natural indicators of the health of a waterway and an ecosystem. Water quality issues, streambank erosion, pollutants, and climate change can all negatively impact Brook Trout and a decreasing population can alert agencies to these stressors. Man-made issues, such as improperly sized and placed culverts, create additional stress on the population, leading to a decrease in populations over time. This project successfully addressed and mitigated that stressor on the native Brook Trout population in Crow Creek.
“Brook trout are the official State fish of New York and restoring the ability for this native species to spawn and thrive in our streams is critically important for our fisheries and our environment,” said Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 9 Director Julie Barrett-O’Neill. “The swift increases in brook trout populations in Crow Creek demonstrate that success is quickly achievable when government and organizations partner closely with a shared goal to benefit the ecosystem. DEC thanks Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and all of the partners involved in this project for their efforts.”
In a statement, the Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District said, “The Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District was happy to collaborate with multiple agencies to complete the Crow Creek Culvert Restoration Project. This project aligns with the District’s goals of improving water quality, reducing streambank erosion, and improving habitat for native species. This project has already shown promising results in improving stream connectivity for Eastern Brook Trout.”
In a statement, Western New York Trout Unlimited said, “Western New York Trout Unlimited is pleased to continue our partnerships with the outstanding groups that worked together on this project. The early positive results of this multi goal project clearly demonstrates the excellent outcomes that can be achieved when good people come together around a good idea. The hard work of the people that completed this upgrade to an important headwater will provide both short term and long-term improvements. The measurable improvement in native trout populations in this stream will be a lasting legacy to their valuable contributions.”