Newsletter features 2020 highlights for Great Lakes team

We all know that 2020 was far from a normal year. Despite the challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Trout Unlimited’s Great Lakes team soldiered on. The team, which continues to grow, was able to accomplish many key projects in the field as well as to continue advocacy efforts. Below are a few of the highlights from 2020, as well as a look ahead…

Trout Unlimited expands Tree Army to more Michigan watersheds

Trout Unlimited’s Rogue River Tree Army planted 17,067 trees along rivers and streams throughout the Rogue River watershed over the last two years. Its “soldiers” are just getting started. The Tree Army, which is funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the U.S. Forest Service, is made up of TU staff, seasonal work crews and volunteers. This year, the Rogue River Tree Army…

TU’s science programs in Great Lakes keep growing

By Jake Lemon  Trout Unlimited’s team in the Great Lakes region continues to expand on its ambitious science-related initiatives, which are critical in informing protection and restoration projects in the region.  TU continues to support our chapters and partners in enhancing their water monitoring activities with the Mayfly sensor station, a low-cost real-time stream monitoring technology. Developed by Stroud Water…

TU’s California Program excels in spite of 2020

It would be a serious understatement to say that 2020 has been a challenging year. Yet in the midst of a global pandemic and its harsh toll on our economy, communities and personal lives, Trout Unlimited and our supporters and partners helped deliver some outstanding conservation outcomes. Our California Program helped achieve major milestones on…

TU restores important ‘pocket’ wetlands in Michigan

Trout Unlimited recently wrapped up a multi-year project to create and restore critical wetlands in the Rogue River watershed in southern Michigan.  This fall, two more “pocket” wetlands were restored, making a total of four wetland restoration projects over the past three years. Pocket wetlands are small areas that boast large benefits for water quality in this case because of their priority location adjacent to coldwater trout streams.  …

Battenkill Home Rivers Initiative hits the ground running

By Jacob Fetterman  In the first official year of Trout Unlimited’s Battenkill Home Rivers Initiative, we are thrilled to have completed two restoration projects and one reconnection project within the watershed.    The projects to enhance cold-water and spawning habitat took place on three tributaries — Camden Creek, Juniper Swamp Brook, and Coulter Brook — all supporting native brook trout.  …

College group and TU team up for brook trout in Maryland

By Morgan Stum  Trout Unlimited is working with Frostburg State University’s AmeriCorps program to restore brook trout habitat in headwater streams in western Maryland. On Oct. 3, 2020, nine members of Frostburg State’s ECHOSTARS program joined conservation staff from TU’s Western Maryland Initiative to plant 100 potted trees alongside a small Savage River headwater.   ECHOSTARS is an acronym for Empowering Communities, Helping Others, Service Through Action, Resources and Sustainability. The group is a university division of AmeriCorps where, through volunteerism in local…