FREEPORT — The critical habitats of several local waterways will be the topic of a presentation Tuesday following the Freeport Conservation Trust’s Annual Meeting. The presentation will be conducted by Trout Unlimited Brook Trout Project Director Jeff Reardon and Freeport resident Alex Abbott, who is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fish passage specialist.

Reardon and Abbott will discuss Mill Stream and Frost Gully Brook in Freeport, and Mare (also referred to as “Mere”) Brook in Brunswick, which provide for native brook trout. Recent surveys have found sea-run trout in local streams. These “salters” are a special find for fishermen. Now several organizations are working together to better understand where the fish are, remove barriers to migrating fish, and conserve adjacent land.

“Surveys in 2015-2017 by anglers and state fisheries biologists surprisingly revealed robust populations of brook trout in three streams,” Reardon stated. “Populations in all three extend into tidewater, making them ‘salter’ brook trout.”

“We are looking forward to learning more about these fish that are being found in local streams and about the habitat they need to thrive,” said land trust President Kathy Damon. “Freeport Conservation Trust hopes to work with Trout Unlimited to raise public awareness of these ‘urban’ trout populations, to address infrastructure blocking fish migration, and to consider whether there are opportunities to expand public access and riparian protection.”

The meeting will take place 7 p.m. at the Freeport Community Center at 53 Depot St. and is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be offered.