Outreach Spotlight: Saratoga, WY

"Where the Trout Leap in Main Street" is Saratoga's town motto, and TU is doing its part to keep the trout leaping. As Wyoming Water Project coordinator Jeff Streeter says, "Trout Unlimited maintains a positive presence in local schools by offering aquatic entomology workshops, and awarding an annual TU College Scholarship. It helps local Boy Scouts attain their fly-fishing merit badge, offers free casting clinics through the town's recreation department, and maintains an active TU Chapter, always stressing the importance of healthy fisheries." 

Partnerships are essential to improving the health of local fisheries. TU encourages dialogue between fishing guides and landowners, irrigators and anglers, notes Streeter. He recently hosted a rafting trip on the North Platte River with ranchers and water users. The outing offered a valuable perspective on the river ecosystem to long-time valley residents as well as forum for exchanging ideas. 

Moreover, community talks presented by TU in 2009-2010--such as "A Celebration of Trout" for the Power of Place series sponsored by Carbon County Higher Education Center, and "Wyoming Water, Wyoming Solutions" to the Voices of the Valley speakers series--help keep Trout Unlimited engaged in the community and the community aware of TU's ongoing efforts within the Upper North Platte Valley. 

The TU Platte Valley Chapter established the North Platte River Cleanup Day in the 1990s. Free to the public guest speakers, fly tying and aquatic entomology workshops as well as the very special Mate and Die Celebration are but a few of the activities offered by Trout Unlimited in the Upper North Platte Valley.