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…

TU completes first phase of Tippy Dam site bank restoration in Michigan

By Matthias Bonzo  Trout Unlimited was part of a multi-partner project this year at an eroding stream bank located along the Manistee River below Tippy Dam in Wellston, Mich. The site, known as the Tunk Hole, was eroding severely due to intense foot traffic from recreational use. This area receives some of the highest angler pressure in…

Bill to fund abandoned mine cleanup moving forward

A Pennsylvania creek runs orange with mine pollution.

Much-needed legislation to continue funding abandoned mine cleanup is moving forward in Congress. The House Natural Resources Committee this week approved H.R. 4248 by a voice vote following testimony from lead sponsor Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA).  “H.R. 4248 would ensure that states and tribes can continue addressing challenges presented by historic mining operations,” Chris Wood, President…

TU helping to deploy Mayfly Sensor Stations

By Jake Lemon  Scientists and anglers throughout the country rely on USGS gaging stations for real-time streamflow and water quality data. Often these stations are located near the mouth of larger rivers forcing data users to extrapolate to understand what is happing in smaller coldwater trout streams.  Now, rapidly emerging technologies in open-source electronics are allowing volunteer groups to collect valuable real-time…

Volunteers in Wisconsin collaborate on stream monitoring effort

By Jake Lemon  The Central Sands region of Wisconsin encompasses 1.75 million acres and parts of eight counties in Central Wisconsin, boasting 800 miles of trout streams.     With the headwaters of these streams facing a variety of stressors, Trout Unlimited chapters in the region are joining forces in a new initiative to strengthen TU’s efforts…

For the love of the Animas

By Ty Churchwell No one in Durango nor Silverton, Colo., will ever forget Aug. 5, 2015 — the day of the Gold King mine spill that sent 3 million gallons of ugly, toxic mine water down the Animas River in southwest part of the state. To say the accident was highly visible is an understatement. In today’s digital world, photos of the orange…