Blue River (WI)

The Blue River restoration led by the Harry and Laura Nohr Chapter of TU has been ongoing for the last several years. The work targets waters in southwestern Wisconsin, where sediment and lack of quality stream habitat have led to declines in brown and brook trout populations. In 2004, the chapter restored a half-mile stretch of river by installing in-stream habitat. In 2005 chapter volunteers completed another two-thirds of a mile upstream in the same way, while plans are underway for another segment further downstream in 2006. Formal monitoring continues, but informal measures such as the number of cars always parked near the river attest to the improvements in trout habitat. Working closely with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Nohr Chapter leveraged funds from many other chapters, especially the helpful chapters from Chicago, and gained support at the nearby Madison Fishing Expo.