DEC biologist recognized for outstanding work on trout streams

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 4 Fisheries Biologist Josh Choquette was recognized by the Region 4 Fish and Wildlife Management Board (FWMB) for his outstanding efforts to preserve access to trout streams throughout the region.

Full disclosure, I have been serving as chairman of the Region 4 FWMB for nearly four years. When the topic came up to possibly recognize Josh for his excellent work, members of the board resoundingly supported the idea. Josh is a DEC veteran. He worked as a fish and wildlife technician for many years and a few years ago, was instrumental in procuring new public lands that reestablished pheasant stocking in Greene County.

Josh was then promoted to the title of Fisheries Biologist, serving as Region 4’s Fishing Access Coordinator.

Josh works out of DEC’s Stamford Sub-Office, but he’s just as likely to be found on a trout stream in any one of the nine counties that comprise Region 4. From NY’s border with Massachusetts and Vermont west to Otsego, then south to Delaware County on the Pennsylvania state line, Josh is working with FWMB representatives, sportsmen and women, plus municipal and other partners to keep from losing access to stock trout on private and public lands across the region.

In some instances, that effort has actually increased public access to streams. In Greene County on the Basic Creek, access and stocking has been restored to its original level.

A testament to his humility, Josh was genuinely shocked when he learned at a Region 4 FWMB meeting that he was the recipient of the plaque and its attending recognition.

The mission of the FWMB is to enhance and improve habitat and public access for hunting, fishing, trapping, and outdoor recreation. Josh’s hard work and dedication have certainly been put to good use in furthering that mission.

DEC has stocked streams with trout for decades. However, a centralized statewide mandated Stream Access Verification Program (SAVP), which has been controversial in its methodology in its attempt to verify landowner access, has led to an alarming decrease in locations to stock trout across the state. That in turn has led to reduced numbers of trout stocked in many instances.

Thanks to Josh’s extraordinary work ethic and coordination with partners, the effort has helped stem the tide of the loss of access and trout stocked in Region 4. By scouring parcel ownership records, Josh then hits the pavement and streamsides, frequently partnering with FWMB members, landowners, sportsmen, and municipalities to reduce losses of both access and trout available to anglers. That effort has in some cases, increased locations that can now be accessed to stock trout in the region to counter corresponding losses in other stream reaches.

If each DEC region had a fishing access coordinator like Josh Choquette, access to trout streams would be maximized for the benefit of all New Yorkers. So, please join me in congratulating DEC’s Josh Choquette on a job well done!

Happy hunting, ice fishing, and trapping until next time!

Remember to report poaching violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at 1-844-DEC-ECOS.

News and Notes

Ducks Unlimited Greene County Chapter Banquet is Coming Up on March 7th  

The Greene County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is holding its annual banquet, dinner and auction on Saturday, March 7 at Anthony’s Banquet Hall located at 746 County Route 23B in Leeds. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. with buffet dinner starting at 5 p.m., followed by a live auction. Tickets are available online at www.ducks.org/newyork/events. For more information, call Dana Hanusik at 518-821-1773 or Jeff Holiday at 965-6105.

A resident of Durham, Larry is a retired captain with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

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