The Batten Kill has clean and cold water. Ample spawning gravels and healthy tributaries ensure successful trout reproduction. Strong populations of aquatic insects and forage fish provide a buffet line for the native brook trout and wild brown trout. The Batten Kill has every component of a world class wild trout stream except for one.

If I were running for mayor in Manchester, my motto would be, “It’s the habitat, stupid.” A comprehensive study of every aspect of river health revealed that the Batten Kill lacks the in-stream structures (such as logs, undercut banks, and deep pools) essential for trout survival.

As a result, Vermont Fish and Wildlife biologist Ken Cox has found that the trout population is “bottlenecked” and few trout survive past the 6-12” mark.

The lack of in-stream habitat is a result of 150 years of human disturbance. The river has been straightened, channelized, and cleared of logs and other “obstructions.”

Still today, canoeists and even a few anglers remove woody debris to make floating the river easier. As Cox describes it, the lack of habitat is a chronic situation that reached a tipping point in the mid 90s. The population of adult brown trout crashed.

Of course, the solution is obvious. Restore the in-stream habitat.

The state of Vermont, the Battenkill Watershed Alliance (BWA), and the Southwestern Vermont Chapter of TU aim to do just that. These groups have cooperated to install root wads and other habitat structures in recent years.

They are currently working on an impressive project called the Twin Rivers Farm Habitat Enhancement. Vermont Fish and Wildlife and the US Forest Service are handling the design and implementation of this project while BWA is spearheading the landowner relations and the fundraising.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Orvis Company tripled private donations, making the project financially feasible.

The end result will be 28 new in-stream structures at the confluence of the Green River and the Batten Kill.

In a recently proposed Interim Management Plan, Vermont Fish and Wildlife outlines four “action items” to restore the Batten Kill. The state’s number one priority is to establish partnerships with groups including TU and BWA to “protect, restore, and enhance” in-stream and riparian habitat.

A partnership between government agencies, non-profits, and private corporations seems like a great way to make big changes on the Batten Kill. All summer I’ve visited projects where cooperation fuels amazing results. The success of the Twin Rivers Farm effort shows that this type of cooperative work is the best course of action on the Batten Kill as well.

Unfortunately, the fourth item in the state’s Interim Management Plan threatens to derail the entire effort. Fish and Wildlife has proposed stocking up to 1000 sterile rainbows per year.

The state held a public hearing about their Interim Management Plan last week. I attended the meeting and listened to a large contingent of TUers and like-minded anglers make it clear that the public wants to keep the Batten Kill wild.

About four out of every five speakers opposed the stocking plan. The Southwestern Vermont TU Chapter did a tremendous job at informing concerned anglers about the meeting and collecting letters from those who couldn’t attend to make sure the public was heard.

Here is what the public said:

The input of even 1000 catchable-sized hatchery fish a year would likely harm the river’s wild trout. Given that the 6-12” wild trout are already dying because of a lack of habitat, it doesn’t make any sense to throw in 1000 more 12” fish.

Not only might these stockies compete with the wild fish, but a stocked fishery would turn this catch-and-release area into a catch-to-keep destination. While the river would remain catch-and-release for brown and brook trout, uninformed anglers might not differentiate between species of trout and keep wild fish. The use of bait could increase unintentional mortality as well.

The Batten Kill is one of only 5 wild trout streams in the state. Perk Perkins, CEO of Orvis, pointed out that stocking is a slippery slope and that it would be difficult for the state to stop stocking after it started. One fishing guide asked, “Where’s the exit strategy?”

Many expressed their concern that stocking would provide a “quick fix,” detracting attention from habitat improvement, the real solution.

“This is about treating an unusually beautiful river how it should be treated,” Perkins said.

While stocking would undoubtedly improve business for Orvis, the company has decided to pull its funding for habitat improvement efforts on the Batten Kill if the state stocks the river. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation would also seriously reconsider their donations.

The loss of financial support from Orvis and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation would destroy the positive momentum of the recent habitat improvement projects. If the state wants to maintain the number one goal, habitat restoration, they are going to have to abandon this short-sighted attempt to provide easily catchable adult trout immediately.

And it isn’t as if the Batten Kill is devoid of trout today. The lack of competition has allowed the brown trout that survive the bottleneck to grow quite large. Expert anglers enjoy hunting these elusive leviathans. Smaller brook trout offer fine angling when the big browns are hiding in their lairs.

Two Southwestern Vermont Chapter TUers, Peter Bellamy and Doug Lyons, took me fishing and I can report that the river offers a fine angling experience.

The bucolic setting is reason enough to wade in the Batten Kill. Covered bridges and old farmhouses complement the clear water and vibrant foliage. The fall colors were just starting to turn during my visit and the green hillsides had a faint glint of red, reminding me of the color of a ripening apple.

The trout were rising during the middle of the day to tricos and small blue-winged olive emergers. I’m sure the last sentence excited some of you and caused others to shudder. I love fishing tricos and we had a blast giving the river’s brook trout sore lips.

If the fishing is slow on the Batten Kill, there is still plenty for the angler to do. Nearby small streams, including the Mettawee, are a lot of fun. After the trico activity ended, we headed up to the Mettawee where Doug showed me how he fishes large dun variants in the stream’s deep pockets.

Off-the-water attractions include the large Orvis flagship store and the American Museum of Fly Fishing.

The museum is the largest repository for fly fishing gear in the world. The exhibits focus on the progression of the sport, fly tying, and famous anglers including Wulff, Williams, Hemingway. The museum also has a library where you can peruse over 7,000 titles! Even Vermont winters aren’t that long.

Depending on where you stay, sitting by the fire and reading is a good option. I stayed at the Battenkill Inn, a beautifully restored 1840 farmhouse operated by TUers Judy and Alan Edmunds. Despite rising trout out the backdoor, I was half tempted to sit in their cozy living room all day.

When you are lodged in a 19th century farmhouse after a day of fishing amongst covered bridges, it is hard to avoid thinking about the history of trout angling. And by looking at the past, we can formulate a vision for the future. The historically robust wild trout population in the Batten Kill offers a great restoration goal.

Recent articles in Southern Vermont newspapers imply that the state has decided not to stock the river. I hope these rumors are correct. If we can unify our efforts to improve habitat, the wild trout in the Batten Kill will have a bright future.

I took some good photos on the Batten Kill. Please click HERE to see them.

Thanks to Peter Bellamy, the Southwestern Vermont Chapter has a tremendous website. At their site you can read more about the Batten Kill, submit a comment to Vermont Fish and Wildlife about their Interim Management Plan, and learn how to help habitat restoration efforts. Please click HERE.

The American Museum of Fly Fishing also has a website that is worth visiting. Click HERE.