Poplar lick run and big run are tributaries of the upper savage river watershed in western maryland

This $101,500 Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Fish Habitat Partnership program (CFDA 15.686) will fund the removal and replacement of two aquatic barriers in the Savage River watershed in western Maryland. Specifically, the project will remove a vented concrete ford on Poplar Lick Run and a perched culvert and rock barrier on Big Run, which are tributaries of the Savage River. These barrier removal efforts will restore connectivity between the main stem of the Savage River and its headwater habitats, providing Eastern brook trout and other aquatic species access to critical cold-water refugia. The project, awarded to the non-profit organization Trout Unlimited, Inc., is part of a larger initiative to improve habitat conditions and climate resilience for native fish populations in this high-priority watershed. The project period runs from June 2024 through September 2026.

Each contains robust self sustaining population patches of eastern brook trout. The savage river watershed represents the regional stronghold of eastern brook trout populations and an important priority for conservation efforts andbuilding climate resilience for native aquatic species. This watershed contains a high proportion of protected stream and riparian corridors which harbor self sustaining populations of native brook trout access to coldwater habitat and thermal refugia is critical to the resiliency of eastern brook trout and other aquatic species to climate change and other human derived impacts. Restoring connectivity to headwater habitats through the removal of in streambarriers will provide access to thermal refugia during periods of lower flow and warmer stream temperatures. These barrier removal projects are needed to restore connectivity and improve habitat conditions in a high priority watershed for the conservation of eastern brook trout. This project will remove a vented concrete ford on poplar lick run as well as a perched culvert and rock barrier on big run in the savage river watershed being part of a larger effort to restore full aquatic connectivity between the mainstem savage river and its headwater tributaries. The vented ford on poplar lick run will be replaced with alow water crossing which will not act as an impediment to upstream movement. A secondary purpose of this project is to support and demonstrate positive conservation outcomes for native species on public lands. The project is located within the savage river state forest representing a prime opportunity for engagement of the local community and general public with conservation efforts undertaken for eastern brook trout