Currently browsing… drought
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Common sense climate solutions in a divided government
Anglers are optimists. We often stay out late for repeated “last casts” in the hopes of landing a big fish. For those of us who care deeply about trout and salmon, we need that optimism, because for multiple reasons, many populations are in decline and it sometimes seems that we are fighting a rearguard action. Scientists tell us…
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The time for action on climate change is now
As keen observers of nature and careful students of science, anglers know well that the science of climate change is becoming clearer and more indisputable with each passing year. As high temperature records continue to fall week after week, month after month and year after year, now is the time for TU’s members and supporters to act. That's why it's critical to…
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The altered definition of a river in one angler’s mind
For many within the ranks of TU, a river is not a river if no fish live in it. And until recently, I couldn’t have agreed more, but a recent trip to a very dry desert in southwestern Utah helped change my mind. As you’ve probably heard, the Southwestern U.S. is in a megadrought. We haven’t seen the likes…
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Rainbows and unicorns
Have I mentioned the water is low? Dismally low, but maybe there's hope on the horizon. Agricultural producers saw their fields soak up every bit of moisture from last winter’s snow, and now with no monsoon season and hot, dry, windy conditions, things are looking bad. Leaves are starting the change early and the crunch of…
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Praying for rain on the Western Slope of Colorado
The thin, cool air and the end of high mountain wildflower season were calling my name. It’s been hot, dry and windy across Colorado, as evidenced by the four wildfires burning vast landscapes across its Western Slope. Rivers are still flowing where I live, but just barely. Many are a trickle and almost all except those in the…
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Drought and trout
There are many demands on water, especially in the West. Municipal water for drinking and other human uses, agricultural water to grow our food, recreational water to keep a thriving outdoor recreation industry afloat and numerous others. And all are important for the economy and our lives and livelihoods, but in the West, it is clear there is not enough to go…
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Climate change and Nevada’s Walker Lake
The relationship between fish, people and water in Nevada is a sordid tale, with Walker Lake, nestled in the western corner of the state, as a particularly interesting character. Walker Lake historically sustained one of the few lake-form populations of Lahontan cutthroat trout, growing large predatory trout similar to the much-famed Pyramid Lake just to…