Jackson, WY – November 2, 2017 – The Jackson Hole Chapter of Trout Unlimited (JHTU), a local, volunteer-led nonprofit dedicated to restoring and reconnecting local rivers and streams, has been entered in the Embrace A Stream Challenge, a new online contest sponsored by Orvis
and Trout Unlimited. From Nov. 6-12, the chapter has a chance to win its share of $50,000 in cash prizes to help fund the Tincup Creek Restoration Project, an initiative to restore Tincup Creek, a tributary of the Salt River outside of Freedom, WY.
In early October, JHTU received a $10,000 grant from the Embrace A Stream program to support this project, and now has a chance to win additional funds to complete the work. In addition, as the top-ranked applicant nationally, JHTU received a custom-made bamboo fly rod that will be featured at their annual Tie One On Fundraising Banquet in May 2018.
To win additional funds, the chapter needs the help of its members, volunteers and community residents. From Nov. 6-12, anyone who visits www.embraceastream.org and makes a donation of as little as $10 to support the chapter’s work will help it unlock prizes ranging from $250 to $5,000. The chapter is competing in this contest with more than 40 other Trout Unlimited chapters from across the country.
“We’re excited to have the chance to raise even more money to restore and improve Tincup Creek in the Embrace A Stream Challenge,” said Tote Turner, Jackson Hole Chapter President. “But we need the help of all of our community members to win. If you care about the future of native cutthroat trout in the Upper Snake watershed, please help us by donating to this important project.”
The Tincup Creek Restoration Project is a large-scale, multi-phase restoration project that will restore riparian conditions and habitat for Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Snake River finespotted subspecies) on over 4 miles of degraded stream on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest with the help of government agencies, conservation organizations, the Snake River Cutthroats and Star Valley TU chapters, and local volunteers. Significant increases in biomass of the native cutthroat trout and other native fish species are expected within a couple of years after completing the project as a result of restored stream function in this important Salt River tributary. The first phase of the project was completed in 2017. All funds raised through the Embrace A Stream Challenge will go directly towards on-the-ground work planned for 2018.
The Tincup Creek Restoration Project is a project of TU’s Snake River Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative, an ambitious initiative to restore and protect the headwaters of the upper Snake River and its fishery, together with a diverse group of community, landowner, and agency partners.
Embrace A Stream is a matching grant program administered by Trout Unlimited that provides funds to local chapters and councils for coldwater fisheries conservation. Since its inception in 1975, the grant program has funded more than 1,000 individual projects for a total of $4.4 million in direct cash grants. Local chapters and councils contributed an additional $13 million in cash and in-kind services to EAS funded projects, for a total investment of more than $17 million. The Embrace A Stream Challenge is a new national online contest sponsored by Orvis and Trout Unlimited to connect people who care with a chance to support improvements to the rivers and streams in their communities.
“This year, more than 40 local Trout Unlimited chapters from across the country have brought forward plans to take care of the rivers that they love to fish,” said Russ Meyer, chair of the Embrace A Stream grants committee, a group of Trout Unlimited volunteers who review and approve all grant applications. “The Embrace A Stream Challenge gives everyone in your community the chance to join us in supporting this important local project.”
About Trout Unlimited
Trout Unlimited is the nation’s largest coldwater conservation organization, with more than 300,000 members and supporters dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. Visit us online at tu.org.
About the Jackson Hole Chapter of Trout Unlimited
The Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited serves more than 300 members in the Jackson Hole area. Founded in 1983, the chapter works with partners on reconnection and restoration projects, youth education, and member engagement.