High in the Blue Ridge Mountains, an ancient fish is fighting for survival. The Southern Appalachian brook trout, which has called these cold mountain streams home since the Ice Age, has lost 80% of its habitat since 1900. Now, climate change and extreme weather events like Hurricane Helene are pushing this iconic species toward the brink.

These small, iridescent fish with red bellies and speckled backs are more than just another species—they’re a cultural cornerstone of Appalachian life and a $1.4 billion fishing industry. Brook trout, affectionately called “brookies” or “specks” by locals, require pristine, cold water below 68°F to survive. As temperatures rise and extreme storms reshape their habitat, entire populations are vanishing from streams where they once thrived for thousands of years.

Hurricane Helene delivered a devastating blow in 2024, dumping up to 30 inches of rain and sending 7 million cubic yards of debris through mountain waterways. The flooding displaced fish from their home pools and disrupted critical spawning seasons. Scientists fear that just a 2.7°F increase in average stream temperatures could eliminate another 20% of remaining brook trout habitat.

Conservation efforts are underway across the region, from the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians’ protected headwaters to state wildlife biologists conducting post-Helene fish counts. But as researcher Thomas Champeau warns, climate change brings “death by a thousand cuts.” The race is on to save not just a fish, but an irreplaceable piece of Appalachian heritage that connects communities to their mountain home.