[Dave B.]

Spruce Run Res was once a haven for big holdover and wild browns but that situation hasn't existed for several decades now. There are still wild browns and to a far lesser extent wild brooks in both Spruce Run Creek and Mulhockaway as well as Black Brook, all tribs to the res. In fact back in the 60's and 70's, well before our current Wild Trout Stream program there were only 2 designated 'Natural Trout Fishing' waters in NJ, both of which had at the time very good self sustaining wild populations. One of those was Van Campens Brook, the other was Mulhockaway Creek. Mulhockaway was far and away primarily wild browns, but by the late 70's development in the watershed had diminished the water quality to a point that the wild pops were dwindling rapidly so it was removed from the designation and placed on the stocking rosters.

Despite that the wild browns still hang on to this day, albeit in far smaller numbers. As well there were still very good holdover pops in the res and it wasn't that uncommon to encounter wild and/or long-term holdover browns of often quite impressive size making fall spawning runs up the creek. This still happens from time to time but it is very infrequent these days.

As development progressed in the lower Raritan basin we began to see more frequent and excessive drawdowns of the reservoir. Remember, this is first and foremost a water supply reservoir owned and operated by the NJ Water Supply Authority. When water is needed to maintain an established minimum flow level in the Raritan mainstem Spruce Run Res is the first to be utilized, before Round Valley. For many years the res would be drawn down to a mere 20 foot remaining depth. At this level the remaining water was clearly very small but more importantly the water temps clear to the bottom were far above the survival level for trout. In those years where it still had up to 40-50 foot depths despite having a deeper level that had suitable temps, those levels had inadequate dissolved oxygen to support life.

Eventually an agreement was reached between the water supply authority and NJF&W to not draw it below a certain level in order to maintain the warm and coolwater species present. (bass, pike, 'wiper's, etc) However even this new minimum level doesn't really protect the trout much. Their only haven at those times are the few small areas where both temp and dissolved O2 levels are adequate for survival. As such there is some very limited holdover.

As for developing a big holdover brown fishery there, unfortunately unless there's a huge change in how the res levels are managed it will never happen. Frankly I don't see any prospect of the res storage criteria being changed for the better in this regard in our lifetime. If anything it may well change for the worse as development continues in the watershed.

As for dropping the lake from the stocking list, many of the temp and oxygen factors along with the causal drawdowns I already mentioned played a big role in this decision. Another factor was the amount of angler return vs. stocking numbers, which was very small according to on-the-water creel surveys. These factors along with a few others were the basis for the decision.

One other tale surrounding Spruce Run Creek and the res you might want to look into for some insight into why/how an abundant, naturally reproducing population of trout will never be able to be established there is the story of Spruce Run Creek, the Donaldson rainbows and Rotenone. A failed experiment that fortunately didn't totally annihilate the wild brooks and browns in the creek thankfully.

Finally, my apologies to all for the long-winded post. Hope I didn't bore everyone to death.