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Wild steelhead diversity is key to long-term survival
By Eric Crawford If only it was as simple as an adipose fin. The presence of an adipose fin is universally recognized as the mark. An individual with an adipose fin is, with a few exceptions, considered a wild steelhead. On the other hand, those marked, clipped, or ad-intact fish, they are the hatchery ones. Although it is…
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Functional streamflows key to recovering salmon and steelhead
California's Bay-Delta, where the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers converge to form the largest estuary on the West Coast, is the hub of both the state's water supply and the second largest runs of salmon and steelhead south of Alaska. The Bay-Delta is also the hub of the struggle over how to provide enough water…
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Changes to the Clean Water Rule have big impacts on the ground
High in the headwaters of Back Creek in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are several small streams that only run after it rains. Those “ephemeral” tributaries to Back Creek, a wild brook trout stream that also holds browns and rainbows, intersect with the proposed 600-mile route of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a project that…
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Lean season for Washington steelhead (and what anglers can do about it)
Editor's Note: John McMillan is the science director for Trout Unlimited's Wild Steelhead Initiative, and one of the preeminent steelhead scientists in North America. He is also an accomplished angler and, like his father before him, a dedicated coldwater conservationist. This post can also be found on the blog of Wild Steelheaders United. Although winter…
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Redd surveys shaping priorities in Michigan’s Pere Marquette
By Jake Lemon Michigan’s Pere Marquette River offers anglers unique year-round opportunities to fish for a diverse array of salmonid species, including brook trout, brown trout, steelhead, and coho and chinook salmon. Despite healthy overall conditions on the river — a federally designated Wild and Scenic River and a state-designated Natural River and Blue Ribbon Trout Stream — there are opportunities to improve its ecological condition through restoration…
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Clean Water Rule Update: January 2020
Final rule announced; what it says and what comes next. Final Rule Announced. On January 23rd, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced a final “Waters of the U.S. Rule.” This rule replaces a 2015 Rule, which clarified the extent of jurisdictions for clean water act protections. This new…
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Restoration drives advocacy in the Great Lakes, thankfully
Many conservation organizations are great at on-the-ground habitat restoration. Others excel at policy advocacy. Trout Unlimited is one of the few that shine at both. Our recipe for success is simple. We take the results and good will generated by the partnerships, relationships, and in many cases, friendships created through our restoration work, and use…
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