TU’s Northeast Conservation program has welcomed a key role player to the team. Jon C. Vander Werff is TU’s new Connecticut project manager. Vander Werff will orchestrate the 2025 Norwalk River Cannondale Dam (below) removal project, partnering with regional staff leads Tracy Brown and Jesse Vadala to execute this major project and connect our mission…
The summer of 2024 was our second year having field technicians working across the Driftless Area to assess the condition, fish passage status and flood vulnerability of bridges and culverts on our coldwater streams. This work is often termed “Aquatic Organism Passage” or AOP due to the broad ecosystem benefits that are achieved when…
by Sara Strassman | October 21, 2024 | Science
In May of 2024, the Oak Brook Trout Unlimited chapter traveled to the Driftless Area for their annual fishing visit. But in addition to the chapter’s usual fishing and stewarding their section of highway near Viroqua, magnanimous chapter member Dave Carlson also offered to give TUDARE a preview of the eDNA sampling methods the chapter has…
Without willing, conservation-minded landowners, very few stream restoration projects would happen in the Driftless Area. Over 90% of Driftless trout streams flow through private land, so building relationships and educating landowners about the benefits of stream restoration are critical first steps in assuring that stream restoration work will continue. With this reality in mind,…
The summer of 2024 has been busy for Trout Unlimited staff and volunteers in the Driftless Area. Several projects were completed this summer and many more are in the works. There was activity in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa this year, with work to remain underway until winter. The most recently completed Wisconsin project was…
In September, the Wisconsin Clear Waters TU Chapter and Oak Brook, Illinois TU Chapter completed a stream restoration project on Traverse Valley Creek in Trempealeau County, with a focus on educating local youth. The restored section of stream is along highway X, 5 ½ miles from the junction of X and State Highway 93.…
May and June are great months for fishing caddis patterns in the driftless. This year, I noticed many fish receptive to caddis patterns stationed in shallow, fast water in broad daylight. Here are a few suggestions that might help you catch more trout on caddis patterns. I am not a big fan of floating caddis…