Currently browsing… public lands
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Tongass turns to restoration
Many visitors travel to Alaska to witness the classic scene of bears feeding on salmon. Those who travel to southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest often visit Margaret Creek, a remote salmon stream 22 miles north of Ketchikan. Although, this area is not the pristine wilderness most expect to experience. Margaret Creek is home to sockeye,…
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Six “lame duck” wishes for trout and salmon
Congress’ lame-duck session offers opportunities for trout and salmon The dust has (mostly) settled following the 2022 midterm elections, and next month a new Congress will be sworn into office. For Trout Unlimited, next year’s 118th congressional session represents an opportunity to forge new relationships and drive our coldwater conservation priorities. But while your newspaper…
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The agony and the ecstasy
Even when they’re beset by freezing rain or other forms of natural calamity, public lands bring peace, quiet, and miserable joy Public lands aren’t always perfect. The fish don’t always cooperate, and the mosquitoes do not care if you are trying to have a moment of peace. Consider it one of those Instagram vs. reality…
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A boom for trout (and taxpayers)
New drilling policies are a win for fish and wildlife. Now we need to modernize oil and gas leasing rules on public lands. Last month, as part of landmark climate legislation, Congress acted for the first time in decades to modernize the outdated oil and gas leasing program on our public lands. The reforms signed…
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National Wildlife Refuges need our help
Here's how we can fix crumbling infrastructure, re-open visitor centers, and hit key conservation targets on these overlooked public lands The National Wildlife Refuge System protects sensitive populations of fish, maintains healthy habitat, and manages land use based on conservation goals. Additionally, over 75 percent of National Wildlife Refuges are open to the public and…
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On protecting prime fishing spots, a balancing act
The Catch 22 of conservation: Can we love sensitive places to death? On a cloudy June day, a buddy and I found ourselves on a remote wildlife refuge in southwest Montana. This year, Montana has seen plenty of spring rain, and it had been raining hard before the trip. (Though, as the saying goes, we…
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4 bills to keep the West wild
With record high temperatures and historically low water levels, Congress needs to act quickly to conserve and protect some of America’s most cherished places With an estimated 47 percent of Western trout habitat at risk of being lost by 2080, Trout Unlimited is working to conserve public lands and fish habitat, and mitigate the impacts…