Join Us In Our Restoration Efforts!
BRRT on Social Media
Brandywine River Restoration Trust
Home
About
Our Mission & Participants
The Brandywine Watershed
The Hagley Dams
News & Announcements
Programs
Community Engagement
ShadFest
Learn
Fish Passage Alternatives
Comprehensive Plan
Environmental Benefits
Progress & Results
Social
Library
Contact
Donate
Menu
Home
About
Our Mission & Participants
The Brandywine Watershed
The Hagley Dams
News & Announcements
Programs
Community Engagement
ShadFest
Learn
Fish Passage Alternatives
Comprehensive Plan
Environmental Benefits
Progress & Results
Social
Library
Contact
Donate
Translate
BRRT
Brandywine River Restoration Trust is dedicated to the restoration of the historic Brandywine River and enabling the migration of American Shad and providing equitable opportunity for environmental education and recreation.
🎣 22 inches! One rod! 🎣
Scrapple pulled off another incredible catch! Using a juvenile perch for bait, he hooked a gorgeous, massive striper right out of the Brandywine.
Stripers travel 4 miles up this river to feed on shad—which spend 4 years in the Atlantic before returning home to spawn. Simply put: no shad means no stripers. For the first time in nearly 300 years, they’re back, and this catch is proof!
📍 Brandywine Mills Park, Wilmington, DE
🐟 22” Striped Bass
🔗 www.brrt.org
It’s so exciting to see proof that our river is healing and growing healthier every single day! 🐟✨
#brandywineriver #savetheshad #stripedbass #wilmingtonde #riverrestoration ... See MoreSee Less
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
Got that Rappala out hey
Stripers have been coming up the river since long before the dam was removed. There are tons of resident stripers in the Brandywine, including this one. That’s likely not even a migratory striper. Yet you use it to fit your narrative. AThe striper are not there because of the shad. It helps, but they’re also eating peanut bunker, and everything else in the river. It’s not a rare catch, I’ve caught over 100 a night from the Christina and its tributaries. It’s great the work you guys are doing, but don’t make it look like what you’ve done has anything to do with this guy catching a striper
View more comments
Your vote shapes the future of Delaware’s waterways, environment, and local communities. For details on voting procedures, registration status, polling locations, or candidate lists, please refer to official state election resources:
* Check voter registration status and find designated polling locations via ivote.de.gov
* Locate your local representative details at legis.delaware.gov/Legislator/Search/149/
* Review current candidate listings at elections.delaware.gov/candidates/candidatelist/
You can also check the Linktree in our bio to access information and learn more about each candidate. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Where are the American Shad right now? 🐟🍂
As the days get shorter and water temperatures drop, big moves are happening in our river systems!
American Shad are an anadromous species, meaning they live most of their lives in the ocean but return to freshwater rivers to spawn. Right now in Fall, young juvenile shad that spent the summer growing in river nurseries are schooling up and making their big journey downstream toward the Atlantic Ocean!
Restoring free-flowing pathways along the Brandywine River ensures both adult and young shad can complete this incredible journey safely. 🌊✨ ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Watch the full transformation of dam removal along the Brandywine River! Removing obsolete dams restores natural water flow, lowers water temperatures, reduces flooding risks, and reopens historic paths for species like the American Shad for the first time in hundreds of years. ... See MoreSee Less
40 CommentsComment on Facebook
Very cool! Thanks for your work on this!! Can you also help convince the state and the Army Corps of Engineers not to build the new dam they are proposing in White Clay Creek State Park?
Now if only the shad would start showing up again. So far only snakeheads have taking the new route you created
BRRT When was the last dam removal prior to this one?
View more comments
A 92-foot dam is being proposed in Middle Run inside White Clay Creek State Park. White Clay Creek is a federally designated Wild and Scenic River, and damming its free-flowing streams threatens the entire Christina Watershed.
Swipe through the graphics to read the full context and copy the email template to send your comment today! 🔗 Link in bio for direct email copy & paste. ... See MoreSee Less
14 CommentsComment on Facebook
Who do we email? Did I miss it?
Wasn't there a dam in place a long time ago? What was the purpose of it back than?
This must be tied to the pond idea. I wonder why they even want to do this? Anyone know?
View more comments
Small everyday choices make a massive difference in keeping the Brandywine River clean, healthy, and free-flowing.
Here’s the quick breakdown:
🚮 Pick up “The Big 3” on your walk: Grab 3 pieces of trash before you head home so it doesn’t wash downstream.
🌿 Plant a Native Plant or Shrub: Deep native roots naturally filter runoff and keep soil in place.
🧹 Keep Storm Drains Clear: Prevent street debris, grass clippings, and trash from flowing straight into river tributaries. ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
A small refresher on what matters most to us! Some of our main missions at BRRT are to restore the river to its natural state, encourage wildlife conservation, and reduce flooding risks! ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
🩷
Keep up the great work! Cleaner water benefits all species.
Kat Weldon
Your voice matters! Help us make our community programs, events, and river initiatives even better by taking a super quick survey.
Whether you’ve attended one of our events, volunteered on the water, or simply follow along with our river restoration work, we want to hear from you. It only takes a couple of minutes!
How to participate:
• Tap the link in our bio to access the survey 🔗
• Share your honest feedback & ideas
• Help shape the future of our Brandywine community programs!
Thank you for helping us grow and keep the Brandywine River thriving for everyone! 💚 ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Check out this massive Striped Bass caught by Jim Black right near the ShadFest grounds, with the I-95 bridge sitting in the background! 🌉
Striped Bass are highly prized among Northeast anglers, and a healthy population of American Shad is vital to keeping them fed and thriving. Restoring migratory pathways for Shad means better fishing and a stronger ecosystem for everyone! ... See MoreSee Less
32 CommentsComment on Facebook
I think massive is a bit of a stretch
Elbow to elbow down the whole creek there today prolly lol
I hope he doesn't eat it.
View more comments
Local angler Jim Black shared this catch with us! While it’s an impressive-looking fish, the Northern Snakehead is an invasive species in our waterways.
Because snakeheads compete with native fish for food and habitat, wildlife guidelines recommend that if you catch one, do not release it back into the water. (Fun fact: They’re actually considered quite delicious to cook up!)
Caught something interesting on your last trip to the Brandywine? Send us your fishing photos! Your sightings help us monitor our river’s ecosystem. ... See MoreSee Less
22 CommentsComment on Facebook
Hey guys Jesse James here, founder of Snakehead Outlawz. I’m Delaware born and raised and grew up fishing the Brandywine. In fact, years ago I worked for Wilderness Canoes, so this river and these waterways mean a lot to me personally. We absolutely respect our native fisheries and believe in protecting our waterways. At the same time, we also believe the conversation around northern snakeheads needs to keep evolving with the science. After years of communicating with fisheries professionals and state biologists throughout the region, one thing has become increasingly clear: in most of the places where these fish are now established, they are here to stay. The conversation is gradually shifting from eradication toward understanding, management, and what long-term coexistence actually looks like. Virginia biologist John Odenkirk, who spent years studying this species, summed up that long-term perspective well when he said to give it time and these fish would eventually become “as American as apple pie.” Mother Nature has an incredible ability to adapt and find balance. That doesn’t mean we ignore science or environmental responsibility. it means we continue learning as the ecosystem itself changes. Anyone interested in learning more about northern snakeheads, responsible angling, techniques, conservation discussions, and how to catch them is welcome to join our private Facebook community: SNAKEHEAD OUTLAWZ And for snakehead-specific baits, tackle, apparel and gear: Snakeheadoutlawz.com Always happy to share information, compare observations, and help more anglers understand this incredible fishery. 🎣🐉
Caught this one in the Brandywine right across from the zoo
View more comments
Proof that the river is thriving! 🎣💙
From catfish by the Washington Street Bridge to free-flowing waters upstream, our ongoing restoration efforts mean more fish and better days out on the water for everyone. Come on down, cast a line, and enjoy a day on the Brandywine! 🌊 ... See MoreSee Less
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
I bet snakeheads are thriving too
Are they edible?
Go her! That is a big fish!!!
View more comments
Conservation and restoration never go out of style! From restoring local waters to protecting wildlife and connecting communities with nature, our mission is always chic🌿🐟 ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook