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March 8, 2006

 For Immediate Release

 Contact: James Belden, TU Candlewood Valley Chapter Vice President, 203-426-6039

                Kathleen Campbell, TU Press Secretary, 571-274-0597

 Trout Unlimited Awards 2006 Embrace-A-Stream Grant to Candlewood Valley Chapter for Restoration of Deep Brook

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Trout Unlimited, the nation’s largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization, today awarded an $8,805 Embrace-A-Stream grant to its Candlewood Valley Chapter.  The grant will fund a project to improve conditions for native brook trout in Deep Brook.

 Deep Brook, along with a portion of the Pootatuck River, is a Wild Trout Management Area, and it supports wild brook trout populations as well as wild brown trout, rainbow trout and tiger trout.  However, Deep Brook is fragile and suffers from severe erosion.  Increasing development pressures threaten the long-term stability of its steep banks.  

 The Embrace-A-Stream grant will support the second stage in a long-term effort to restore Deep Brook.  This project will strengthen the streambank and remove invasive vegetation to create a natural buffer that improves the health of the stream.   

 The grant will support this goal in partnership with the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Town of Newton and others.  In 2005 these entities formed the Pootatuck Watershed Association to formally oversee collaborative protection efforts on the Pootatuck River and its tributaries.       

 “This Embrace-A-Stream grant will make a huge difference for the protection of Deep Brook,” said James Belden, vice president of the TU Candlewood Valley Chapter. “This project is a critical step in our overall effort to completely restore habitat for four species of wild trout throughout the entire length of the brook and the Pootatuck River downstream.”

 Embrace-A-Stream is the flagship grant program for funding TU grassroots conservation efforts.  Funding is provided by TU members, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, corporate partners and foundations.  An Embrace-A-Stream Committee comprised of TU volunteer representatives and scientific advisors evaluates all proposed projects.

 In 2006, the Embrace-A-Stream program will provide $180,000 for 33 projects that address water and fish habitat quality, native fish restoration, instream flows and fish population research.  Since its inception in 1975, Embrace-A-Stream has funded over 800 projects totaling approximately $3 million.

 “Grassroots habitat work is an important part of Trout Unlimited’s annual conservation effort,” said Charles Gauvin, TU President and Chief Executive Officer.  “Embrace-A-Stream grants fund serious work that makes a difference in protecting and restoring our coldwater resources.”

 Trout Unlimited is North America’s leading coldwater fisheries conservation organization, with more than 150,000 members dedicated to the protection and restoration of trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.

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