November 2023 | View Upcoming Events

Later this month, we'll send a volunteer survey. Please complete your chapter survey, so we may serve you better.

As we previously announced … We've entered the 21st Century … we can now text you with important updates, reminders, and other information. We promise we won't fill your phone, the most we'll send is three-messages a month. But, you'll need to 'opt-in' to get our text messages. You can opt-in here

Scroll down to the volunteer section to learn more, and look for a follow up email addressed to Zane Gray members asking for your help and support.

Until then, 

Tight Lines. 

Alan Davis

Let's talk about membership. Please bear with me.

As we begin to wind down 2023, it's important to understand that Trout Unlimited is not just about fishing. Yes, most of us are anglers and YOU provide us with the inspiration and information on how to be more successful on the water. But, at its core, TU is about the science and nobility of conservation. Of course, we're talking about water, clean and cold. To paraphrase, our motto is “What's good for trout, is good for America.” It's a good membership campaign slogan. 

This past year has been a remarkably successful time for TU throughout the United States. So many things have been accomplished at every level. With dedicated staff and volunteers we are now 300,000 strong in 387 chapters in 36 councils across the nation. And, as more people discover the joys of fly fishing and YOUR effective commitment to water conservation, our membership is steadily growing, especially with women. 

We accomplish great things across the national spectrum because we are essentially a collaborative change-maker. Our public policy and conservation experts work with local, state, regional and national NGOs and wildlife advocates to raise funds and direct those resources toward everything from environmental education, to water quality and the angler experience. And we generally do it quietly without a lot of self-aggrandizement. 

Our Arizona TU Council is no exception. TU secured a major win in August when President Biden officially designated Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, protecting nearly 1 million acres of land adjacent to the Grand Canyon from future uranium mining. TU received coverage for our years-long effort and partnership with the Grand Canyon Tribal Council.

Another innovative project is Arizona Trout in the Classroom, which begins delivery of rainbow trout eggs to public schools on November 13. Science students in designated schools throughout the state, with equipment provided by TU, will study the hatching and raising of the fingerling trout in a controlled environment. Future anglers and conservationists in the making.

Up in the high country, TU is responsible for funding and rebuilding a cold water spring catchment and pipe that feeds into an incubation pond on the campus of the R-C Scout Ranch on Christopher Creek above Payson. The current spring box and feeder pipe is decades old and no longer serviceable. The project is in collaboration with Arizona Game and Fish, the Grand Canyon Council/BSA and private donors. Construction has already started on Phase II, and should be finished by year's end. See the photos below.

So, your membership in TU and your support for our advocacy is important. On November 7, starting at 5:30 pm, we will have a TU on Tap mixer at Spokes on Southern, 1470 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ. We will visit with our members, have a beer and talk about what we're doing in Arizona. We think you will be impressed. There will be food!

If your TU membership has lapsed, please take a moment and renew. Our Zane Gray TU team is doing exceptional work and we need you! And after you've re-upped, tell a friend to join us. Bring them to the Spokes event. New members get an introductory half-price membership here . Pass it on. Here's the renewal membership link. Click here to renew .

Coming up in October in Zane Gray land. 

Arizona Fly Casters has its monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 14, 6-8:30 pm at the Arizona American Italian Club, 7509 N. 12th St., Phoenix, AZ. This month's speaker is our good friend Andy Price , Scout Executive and CEO of the Grand Canyon Council/BSA and a fly angler of the first order. More info at www.azflycasters.org .

Desert Fly Casters will hold their monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 8, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Elks Lodge, 1775 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, AZ. This month's speaker is Bryan Quick, of the Fly Shop in Redding, CA. Info at www.desertflycasters.com 

See you at Spokes!

October Meeting Summary

The AZTU-PPC meeting held in October 2023 was devoted to reviewing the 2023 accomplishments of the Public Policy Committee to date, discussing the format of the annual planning session to be held in February 2024, and a couple of clean water updates/projects from the Public Policy Committee members.

Legislative Update

The state legislature is very quiet right now, they passed their budget on May 12th and there is no activity on bills. The only items taking place are confirmation hearings. TU will continue to monitor these hearings and continue building relationships with lawmakers over the Summer and into Fall so we can be productive in the upcoming 2024 session.

Groundwater News in Arizona

Groundwater continues to be a hot topic in Arizona! The Ad-hoc Committee in Arizona continues to promote the message that local control of groundwater in rural communities is critical to their livelihoods. Twenty percent of Arizona's groundwater became managed in 1980 with the "Groundwater Management of 1980". But the other 80% of groundwater in Arizona still has no protection. Landowners can pump as much water as they want, without measurement, reporting or limit. The group working with the Arizona Department of Water Resources is looking to find an executable protocol for managing water outside of the Active Management Areas of Phoenix, Prescott, Pinal County, Tucson, and Santa Cruz which were established by the legislation in 1980. The draft legislation would empower local and rural communities to create Rural Groundwater Stewardship Areas if the groundwater in their rural community became threatened.

The Committee is currently hosting county-based dialogue sessions to engage local residents in the issues. One was held in Flagstaff for Coconino County on October 25th and had an attendance of local community members of approximately 70 people. Coconino County Supervisor Patrice Horstman, the water manager for Flagstaff, the mayor of Tucson, a hydrology professor from NAU, and our AZTU-PPC Past Chairman, Tom Osterday, were panelists. Additional meetings/events are being planned.

We encourage you to be alert for calls to support the Rural Groundwater Stewardship Areas legislation in the upcoming legislative session!

Two articles published in the Arizona Republic recently:

Arizona won't explain why it has paused leases on some state-owned farmland.

Is the Arizona State Land Department taking steps to reverse a handful of unpopular leases? Or, more widely rethinking water use on state trust land?

Check out the story here:

Water shortfall could halt growth.

Check out the story: here

Upcoming Events

The November 2023 AZTU-PPC Meeting will be held Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 7:00 PM. The first half of the meeting will be devoted to updates on initiatives from members of the Public Policy Committee and the last half of the meeting will devoted to organizational discussions and assignments for the upcoming AZ Council Film Festival to be held in February 2025.

The AZTU-Public Policy Committee (AZTU-PPC) hosts a virtual meeting on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 until 8:00 PM. If you are interested, please contact Ron Stearns at PublicPolicyChair@az-tu.org .

Arizona Trout Unlimited is working on a new spring box and water line at the R-C Scout Ranch near Payson, AZ. The current system is very old and leaks and feeds a pond that is listed as one of the established habitats for the endangered round tail chub. It will also increase the volume of water in Christopher Creek as well as eventually open a new year round fishing area in the creek, about 80 to 100 yards up stream of the spring box. We recently hired a contractor to do the work, but access is very challenging due to overgrown brush in the area. 

We had a workday at R-C Scout Ranch on Saturday, September 29^th that was scheduled from 8:00am to 5:00pm. On that morning nine of us showed up. I was a little worried that we wouldn’t be able to finish all the work we had to get done with only eight people. The work of the day consisted of clearing a path for a waterline from the spring box to the pond, a path for accessing the spring box and clearing out brush from around the existing spring box. 

I am happy to report that, because we had three chain saws and some strong backs, all the work was completed by lunchtime and the contractor has now begun working on the new system. This is a great project in that the pond also provides youth recreational fishing and conservation opportunities.

Rod Buchanan

conservationchair@zanegreytu.org

Reports from Lee's Ferry has the fishing as Very Good. River conditions are ideal for wading. Streamflow discharge was last observed at 7,800 cfs, and a gauge height of 8.04 feet. With the 0.89% decrease since Oct. 31. The streamflow average over the past 10 days (as of Nov. 1) is 7,870 cfs.

Fly fishing try San Juan worm patterns in the rust, brown, and red in size 14. Scuds in grey, ginger, and pink in size 14. In the mornings before the water starts to rise, try black midge patterns, sizes 16-18. Concentrate on areas with a fast current with the water depth no deeper than your leader length.