Red Bud Run in Winchester

Winchester Trout Unlimited
Chapter # 638

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Red Bud Run

Redbud Run is a small limestone spring creek located in Frederick County near the City of Winchester. The stream originates from two large springs adjacent to Interstate 81 and flows 3.7 miles until it empties into Opequon Creek. It’s a very unique spring creek in that limestone “marl” covers much of the stream bottom, which is continually changing.

Redbud Run was classified as a Class III Wild Trout Stream by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) in the mid 1970’s. A naturally reproducing population of rainbow trout was first documented by VDGIF in 1975. Fish surveys in 2001 and 2005 documented a marginal, wild rainbow trout population existing throughout the entire stream. Rainbow trout stocked by private landowners is thought to be the origin of the wild rainbow stock in Redbud Run.

Brook Trout That Was Stocked at the Head Waters of Red Bud

Historically, brook trout were endemic to Redbud Run. In 2003, VDGIF introduced wild brook trout into a 1/8^th mile section of the headwaters of Redbud Run in an attempt to establish a self-sustaining brook trout population in that section of the stream. These wild brook trout came from the Dry River watershed in Rockingham County. The headwater area of Redbud Run was determined to be suitable habitat for brook trout, and extremely low numbers of rainbow trout were present in this section of stream. Rainbow trout usually “out-compete” brook trout, and this has been documented in areas where rainbow trout have been introduced to existing brook trout populations.

One year after stocking, an electro-fishing survey was conducted to determine if the wild brook trout had survived and spawned. Several of the adult brook trout were recaptured, but no signs of brook trout reproduction were observed. Future surveys are planned to look for signs of brook trout reproduction.

In 2004, with the help of Winchester TU, VDGIF acquired a 33-acre land parcel that includes 1.3 miles of Redbud Run. Planning is underway to include the VDGIF parcel in a “greenway” corridor along Redbud Run, a project in which the Winchester TU chapter is actively involved.

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Red Bud Run