May 2000 - Vol. The brook trout is the most abundant sport fish found in Maryland's freshwater streams. But it might not have much of a future in many parts of the state. The Maryland Biological Stream Survey estimated that about 318,000 brook trout live in state streams today. But that may be only about a tenth of the number found a few centuries ago.
Trout require cold, clean, undisturbed streams.
Much of their habitat has been lost since Colonial days. Today, according to the survey, streams with good habitat conditions average 599 brook trout per mile. Instead, brook trout are only found in portions of seven of 17 river basins in the state. In a word, development. In fact, brook trout were only rarely seen in watersheds with more than 0.5 percent impervious surfaces.