Advocates for the Deerfield River affirmed their support for a request to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) asking the agency to cease stocking rainbow trout in the upper Deerfield River during a public listening session Thursday afternoon.

The seven-member Fisheries and Wildlife Board held two sessions to hear from anglers and organizations like the Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited, as it gathers public input and considers the request.

Those advocating for the request said the stocking of rainbow trout in the upper Deerfield River — from the Fife Brook dam to the Route 2 crossing — is potentially impacting the population of wild brown trout. Members of Trout Unlimited are looking for the creation of a wild trout management area to further preserve the ecosystem.

“We believe that creating the wild trout management area is the key to preserving the biodiversity up there,” said Eric Halloran, president of the Deerfield River chapter of Trout Unlimited. “These wild brown trout need special regulations. … Among them are the cessation of the stocking of the rainbows.”

Currently, MassWildlife stocks rainbow trout in the upper Deerfield River, as well as rainbow and brown trout in the lower Deerfield River. Typically, the agency stocks fish about four to five times in the spring and twice in the fall.

Preliminary research shows about 81% of the brown trout caught in the upper river were wild trout and since the agency stopped stocking brown trout in the upper portion of the river in 2023, “there have been no observed changes in abundance,” according to Andrew Madden, supervisor of MassWildlife’s Western District Office.

“Stocked rainbow trout have been a very important part of recreational fishing in the Deerfield. Voluntary angler surveys developed by MassWildlife and Trout Unlimited from 2019 to 2022 indicate that rainbows make up 69% of the catch in the upper Deerfield River,” Madden said, emphasizing a robust fishery also brings a positive economic impact. “The wild brown trout population is currently stable, improvements to habitat are coming and MassWildlife is planning to continue to monitor our wild brown trout population in the upper river.”

Mike Vito, who is also a member of Trout Unlimited and was its former president, said a wild trout management area from the Fife Brook dam to Mohawk Park could help educate the public on MassWildlife’s efforts to preserve trout populations.

Additional protections, such as only allowing barbless hooks, forbidding power bait and permitting artificial bait only, could further preserve wild trout populations.

“Every piece of this framework is important and we feel that by putting it into a package ... it will really help the public understand what we’re trying to do here in protecting the trout population,” Vito said.

Other members of the public, including others affiliated with Trout Unlimited, supported the request to stop stocking rainbow trout, as allowing the wild brown trout population to flourish can bring more anglers to the region.

“I think that for many anglers … we find ourselves venturing farther and farther away during stocking season to pursue wild fish,” said Amherst resident Matthew Chipman, who is a member of Trout Unlimited but emphasized he was speaking for himself. “There are surrounding states that get my money for out-of-state licenses, restaurants that get my tourism dollars. … I do ask that Fish and Wildlife please also consider the possible increase in tourism dollars and the increase in out-of-state licenses as the Deerfield would inevitably become more of a destination than it already is.”

Shelburne Falls resident Jeremy McGeorge said he supports the cessation of stocking rainbow trout, as the Deerfield River is an invaluable resource and he has raised his family on the river.

“I spent a greater part of my younger years out west and in Michigan, and I’ve seen really significant effects on native waters as stocking programs have shifted and people have started to notice the value of the river and watersheds,” McGeorge said. “I think we have a heck of an opportunity here to continue this work. … I’m hopeful that in the future we will take those steps to bring this river back to its purest and healthiest form.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.