More than 115 participants recently connected at the Stoney Creek Lodge in Onalaska, Wisc., for the 18th annual Driftless Area Symposium..
Held in late February, the event featured presentations on a wide variety of topics, including trout genetics, stocking activities, stream restoration permitting, outreach strategies, beavers, springs and more. There were more than 30 presenters, including nine students who shared their research activities.
The event included an evening meal and social on the 25th and lunch and workshop sessions on the 26th.
The event included partner engagement booths and materials from the No765kVLine group, Fishers & Farmers Partnership, Ohio River Basin Fish Habitat Partnership, and the Outdoor Recreation Alliance.
The National Fish Habitat Partnership is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and our sister FHPs were in attendance to help spread the word and answer questions.
We also welcomed participants from the Upper Midwest Stream Restoration Symposium, which held its annual conference in La Crosse on the preceding days.
They invited DARE Coordinator, Sara Strassman, to present to their event on Tuesday, February 24, creating an opportunity for more cross-pollination between Trout Unlimited, the Driftless Area Restoration Effort FHP and the stream restoration practitioner community.
Presentations were recorded and are available on TU’s YouTube channel.