The state has closed parts of two rivers to fishing because of the impact the hot weather and drought conditions are having on the fish.
"The biggest problem is the water is too warm. It's in places getting above 75 degrees Fahrenheit," Peter Aarrestad, DEEP Inland Fisheries Division Director, said.
The fish are suffering from heat stress, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
"The stressed fish -- particularly trout -- are seeking refuge by congregating at the mouths of a number of tributary streams, where cooler water is entering the West Branch Farmington River and Farmington River," Susan Whalen, deputy DEEP commissioner, said in a statement.
DEEP officials are concerned that fishing for the trout would put an additional stress on the fish and could lead to an increase in deaths of fish in the river. The high temperatures over the past week have already led to some fish kills along the river, according to the DEEP.
"This is the first time in memory that we have found it necessary to take action like this to protect our fisheries on these rivers, and it is not a step we are taking lightly," Whalen said.
The areas closed to fishing are:
- East Mountain Brook (Hallock Brook), New Hartford
- Cherry Brook, Canton
- Rattlesnake Hill Brook, Canton
- Burlington Brook, Burlington
- Hawley Brook, Avon
- Unionville Brook, Farmington
- Hyde Brook, Farmington
- Pequabuck River, Farmington
The DEEP is posting closure signs in the areas and all water within 100 feet of the signs is closed to fishing. Anyone violating the closure will be fined $154.
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"Most anglers with any good conscience are not going to go in there and fish on top of concentrated fish so we basically are waiting for conditions to reestablish themselves so the trout can disperse back into the river," Aarrestad said.
The closure is scheduled to remain in effect through September 15, but may be shortened if conditions improve, according to the DEEP.
Some portions of the West Branch Farmington River and the Farmington River remain open, but DEEP officials are asking anglers to avoid fishing during the hottest times of the day or to consider fishing upstream of the Collinsville impoundment, where water temperatures are cooler and the fish are less stressed.
