Last week at his kindergarten’s celebration of Black History month, my son Wylie stood up and said, “My name is Lloyd Hall. I am a food chemist. I discovered a salt mixture that helps food last longer.” While I was getting over the disappointment that he didn’t get to “be” Jackie Robinson, Ethan grabbed my arm and said, “When are you going to take us fishing again?”
The “fishing” that Wylie’s friend referred to involved TU staff Dave Rogers, Andy Snyder, and Keith Curley reading books, tying flies, and casting in the school’s playground. We’d planned a legitimate fishing day but Wylie’s teacher, and I’m not kidding, left one of the kids at the library the week before. After that, the principal “rescheduled” our outing to the school grounds.
Kids today are far more likely to spend time on a computer or in front of the idiot-box (as my Mom calls the TV) then they are to wander creeks. In a single generation, we’ve moved from a society where 60 percent of us grew up in rural areas to one where 80 percent now live in urban or suburban places. Childhood obesity is on the rise as kids spend less time outdoors, and not surprisingly, the number of licensed anglers in the U.S. has declined.
This is where TU fits in. Recovering wild and native fisheries so that our kids can fish for them in their home waters requires protecting the highest quality habitats and reconnecting them to lower elevation areas through local restoration activities. TU developed the Stream Explorers program (www.streamexplorers.org) so that future generations ensure that such vital work endures. Membership in Stream Explorers gets you a neat quarterly newsletter with activities kids can do on their own or with parents and teachers. It costs $12 a year. I’ve signed up my kids, and my brothers’ families as Stream Explorers. I hope you’ll do the same.
Stream Explorers, Trout in the Classroom, and youth camps demonstrate to our children that we are optimistic about a better future. Every time we take a kid fishing, or on a stream clean-up, or teach them how to plant trees, we reaffirm the promise of TU’s vision. And that’s not just good for TU, it’s good for the country. Thanks for all you do. Stay in touch.
 
Chris Wood, Trout Unlimited, Chief Operating Officer
cwood@tu.org | direct line: 703-284-9403
Conservation Highlight—Protect, Reconnect, Restore, Sustain
PROTECT: Private Fish Ponds Pose Threat to Trout
In Montana, Trout Unlimited is spearheading a legislative campaign to bring private fish ponds under tighter oversight. Under current law, private fish ponds that use low-flowing “exempt” wells don’t have to go through the normal groundwater permitting process—despite that fact that these ponds can deplete nearby streams and rivers that depend on the same groundwater sources for healthy flows and trout habitat. »read more
RESTORE: National TU Stream Clean-Up Slated
On June 13, TU is sponsoring a national stream and river clean-up day to celebrate TU's 50 years of coldwater conservation. Volunteers and staff will host stream clean-up projects throughout the country. Prizes will be awarded for most river miles cleaned, weirdest objects found in a river or stream, most volunteer participants, among others. Contact your local chapter or council for more details. »read more
Get Involved
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
In February, the stimulus bill was signed into law by President Obama. TU was able to secure funding from several agencies to do important restoration work that will also provide much-needed jobs on the ground. Money will go to restoring fish and wildlife habitat, cleaning up abandoned mines, removing or rehabilitating harmful roads, and removing obsolete dams and fixing poorly designed culverts. These projects will create jobs while also providing much needed on-the-ground restoration.
In January, the Senate passed the Public Land Management Act of 2009, a package of over 150 public lands bills, many of which will protect places where TU has been leading the fight. This package of bills has passed the Senate, and a House vote is expected in the coming weeks. »TU's online action center
UPCOMING TU EVENTS
March 5
Evening at Hook – Washington, DC
March 11
San Francisco Gala – San Francisco, CA
March 11
Trout in the Classroom Conference Call
contact Rochelle Gandour - rgandour@tu.org
March 18
Strategic Planning Conference Call
contact Beverly Lane- blane@tu.org
March 30
National Leadership Representative Call
April 7
Council Chair Call
May 1 – 3
TU Regional Meeting - Marion, Virginia
May 7-9
TU Regional Meeting - Santa Fe, NM
May 7
Spring Dinner in New York – New York City, NY
August 17-23
TU’s 50th Anniversary – Traverse City, MI
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