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Dear Friends of TU,
Three weeks ago, Ken Undercoffer of TU's Pennsylvania state council sent me a note describing state plans to develop natural gas on state-owned lands. His letter concluded, "These are the headwaters of our remaining relatively pristine brook trout streams. We need help!" Whether it is the development of Marcellus shale in the Mid-Atlantic region; water intensive oil shale or traditional oil and gas development on public lands; or the push for renewable energy, energy development can have a profound effect on fisheries and water quality.
TU supports the responsible development of energy on public and private lands. Responsible development means that the most important fish and wildlife habitats are set aside so that energy production does not diminish the productive capacity of the lands and waters that sustain native and wild coldwater fish. Responsible development means that federal and state regulators will prevent harmful water withdrawals from our rivers and steams, and that Congress will require oil and gas companies to disclose the toxic chemicals they force into the earth to free trapped gas, and to dispose of the water they use in a proper manner. And it goes without saying that responsible energy development means industry compliance with erosion prevention requirements of the Clean Water Act from which they are now exempt.
Responsible energy development means ensuring that as energy sources are tapped, money is set aside to ensure that state agencies have sufficient management resources, and fish and wildlife habitats are reclaimed and restored. Responsible energy development means that water use is taken into consideration in evaluating the merits of a proposal.
TU believes that we can have both abundant domestic energy supplies and healthy coldwater watersheds, but we are going to have to do a much better job of managing energy development. We will continue to work with energy companies, the Obama administration, the states, and the Congress to make sure the needs of cold water fisheries are considered and protected. Stay tuned. You will be hearing of more opportunities to make your voice heard from TU program staff and volunteer leaders in the coming months.
Thanks for all you do for TU, and please stay in touch. Happy holidays to you and your family.
 
Chris Wood, Trout Unlimited, Chief Operating Officer
cwood@tu.org | direct line: 703-284-9403
Conservation Highlight
TU Legal Victory Prevents Water Grab
Trout Unlimited recently won an important Colorado Supreme Court case that reaffirmed that municipalities can’t claim more water than they reasonably need for future water projects—a decision that will help protect streamflows and trout habitat in the state's rivers.
In the case, the Court ruled that Pagosa Springs area water districts had not sufficiently demonstrated a need for the amount of water they claimed for the proposed Dry Gulch Reservoir, based on projected population growth and water availability over a 50-year planning period. TU was concerned that the water districts’ excessive claims from the San Juan River could lower streamflows and hurt trout populations in the river. » Read More
Calif. TU Volunteer Named Field & Stream’s Conservation Hero of the Year
Longtime TU volunteer, Howard Kern, of Westlake Village, Calif., was named Field & Stream magazine’s 2009 Conservation Hero of the Year. Kern, one of six Field & Stream Heroes of Conservation finalists, was presented with the award in Washington, D.C. in October. In addition to a $5,000 grant that was awarded to each of the finalists, Kern won a new Toyota Tundra. An active member since 1989, Kern has worked on TU projects in his local area of Los Angeles as well as in the Golden Trout Wilderness in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. He has served on TU’s California state council since 1999 and has represented TU as a member of the management committee for the Southern California Steelhead Coalition. » Read More
Get Involved
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
While health care continues to occupy much of the Senate's time and energy, climate change legislation is moving forward. On November 5, the Environment and Public Works Committee passed the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, which is now awaiting action by the full Senate. Senators John Kerry (MA), Lindsey Graham (SC), and Joe Lieberman (CT) are also working on a legislative proposal to add to the body of work already completed by other Senate Committees. The bill passed out of the Environment and Public Works Committee included a section on natural resources adaptation, and it provided dedicated funding to states and federal agencies to engage in activities to protect natural resources from climate impacts. TU will continue to work to ensure that any climate bill includes strong safeguards and dedicated funding for natural resources. » Visit our Online Action Center.
UPCOMING TU EVENTS
Join us for our upcoming volunteer online training sessions and tap into the expertise of TU staff. Trainings are at 8:00 p.m. EST. Please contact Beverly Lane for more information or to register.
December 8 – Connecting Education to Restoration Projects
December 10 – Bulk Email Tool Training
December 16 – Leaders Only Section/ Tacklebox Training
January 12 – Monitoring Fish and Aquatic Insects
February 9 – Monitoring Water Quality
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Want to suggest an event for our next newsletter? email blane@tu.org
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