Statewide meetings will discuss trout management

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will hold six public meetings with anglers and the general public in late September and October to discuss its draft trout management plan.

“We are looking for comments on our plan, which is designed to help develop future management and stocking protocols,” division director Stephen S. McDaniel said of the meetings.

The plan also will provide the division broad guidance on policies for addressing complex management challenges and issues related to producing desirable trout-fishing experiences.

“The final plan is intended to provide broad guidance for the West Virginia Natural Resources Commission and DNR staff for managing trout waters,” McDaniel said.

“The plan will inform, but not replace, the existing process for setting seasons and regulations.”

The public meetings will be held across the state on the following dates:

• Sept. 30: 6-8 p.m., Lubeck Fire Department
  1340 Harris Highway, Parkersburg
• Oct. 1: 6-8 p.m., Forks-of-Coal State Nature Area
  50 Rocky Branch Road, Alum Creek
• Oct. 2: 6-8 p.m., Raleigh County Convention Center
  200 Armory Drive, Room C, Beckley
• Oct. 7: 6-8 p.m., West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
  Elkins Operations Center, 738 Ward Road, Elkins
• Oct. 8: 7-9 p.m., West Virginia University
  334 Percival Hall, Morgantown
• Oct. 9: 6-8 p.m., James Rumsey Technical Institute
  3274 Hedgesville Road, Martinsburg

The plan will include values for managing both stocked and wild trout and will result from the work of DNR, a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (citizen volunteers who represent a cross-section of public interests), a Technical Advisory Committee and input from anglers and the general public.

The plan also will include management goals that reflect stakeholder values, specific objectives designed to attain each goal, as well as potential and general strategies for attaining objectives.

For more information, please contact Jim Hedrick at 304-637-0245 or jim.d.hedrick@wv.gov, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Elkins Operations Center, 738 Ward Road, P.O. Box 67, Elkins, WV 26241.