Action & Impact Around the State 2022

*****Happy Holidays To All*****

Photo courtesy of William Meyer

As winter closes in on our watersheds, we look back at 2022 and all the work council and chapters have accomplished around the state.

We have continued to expand our barrier assessment team (BAT) Program across the state, developed a strategic partnership with USFS in the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, invested in GIS technology to connect projects with people and resources, and advocated for legislation that protects native fish and their environments through grassroots work, as well as continued the work with youth conservation and fly fishing education through a week long camp, and held our first DEI fly fishing 101 event. We have financially supported a new legacy educational film on steelhead monitoring in the Skagit (see below) and a westslope cutthroat study in the Methow River. We continue to fund chapter conservation and education projects around the state.

Look below at some of their projects.

Chapters have been hard at work with boots on the ground volunteers; Monitoring stream temps and westslope cutthroat trout in the Teanaway and Methow; Working to restore and protect Kokanee salmon in Lake Sammamish and it's tributaries, removing invasive species in Puget Sound watersheds; Collecting eDNA in the Nooksack; Monitoring water quality in the Spokane River tributaries; Repairing and updating local fishing sites for improved handicap access on the Icicle river; Cleaning-up the Yakima River and educating youth on conservation, fly tying and fishing; Educating the public about salmon species & teaching kids to fish on the Olympic Peninsula; Habitat restoration & Embrace A Stream Grants for youth education projects in Olympia, and Klickitat watersheds are underway.

We Need Your Help

Can We Count on You This Year?

This time of year is known as the giving season and you're probably getting lots of asks. The truth is all non-profits need help to continue their work, and that includes us.

So this is our final ask for the year. Can we count on you to help us continue the work of assessing fish barriers, restoring streams and advocating for the protection of wild fish?

Or maybe you would like to Invest in the next generation of fly fishing conservationists by making your gift to our Northwest Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy? Just make a notation on your gift that you want it to go to NWYFFA.

(For more information about the Youth Academy program CLICK HERE)

We hope you will choose to make a gift that helps ensure the future of our rivers and streams for generations to come.

There are 3 different ways to give on our website, it's easy and fast!

GIVE HERE

OR USE THE QR-CODE

<<<<------------------------------

WE THANK YOU!!

HUGE THANK-YOU

to Dannon Engquist!!

We are so excited to share the new look to our website and all the great work Dannon has been doing behind the scenes to get our content updated. Be sure to check out all the new information, new links and places to see what we are doing and how to get involved. ************Check it out HERE**************

We can't thank you enough Dannon, for the gift of your time!!

YOU ABSOLUTELY ROCK!!

We are excited to announce the upcoming premiere of this outstanding film!

North Sound Chapter, Washington Council, & Wild Steelheaders United present

"A Steelhead Story: The Legacy of Bill McMillan."

Produced by Waist Deep Media

Bill McMillan has been volunteering his time and energy to steelhead recovery on the Skagit River in Washington for decades—helping to lead fellow volunteers in the collection of data for spawner surveys. These spawner surveys are designed to offer a baseline estimate for returning fish to the Skagit River and its tributaries every year. Bill is a wellspring of information on fish and fishing and remains a steadfast steward of conservation and is an inspiration in his community. As Bill nears his retirement from volunteer work, he is passing on the torch of the invaluable information he has collected over the years as well as his process of data collection into the capable arms of other driven volunteers.

This Waist Deep Media production pays homage to Bill's years of volunteer work and his shining example of citizen science. This short documentary offers insights into Bill's work and a cursory introduction into spawner surveys, and additionally interviews other conservation stakeholders and proponents in the area with knowledge on this project.

This film will premier at Kulshan Brewery's Roosevelt location, Bellingham, WA on January 12th, 2023. Kulshan will be donating $1 per pint sold between 6-9pm to Trout Unlimited, a cold water conservation group with a fly fishing problem.

6:00 pm - Doors open. ** 7:00 pm - Film starts.** 8:00 pm - Silent auction closes

Follow North Sound TU Chapter on FaceBook for updates - HERE

February 7th, 2023

WCTU Advocacy Committee is sponsoring a Legislative Day in Olympia, WA on Tuesday February 7th, 2023.

**REGISTER NOW HERE**

or use the QR code below.

This is our first Washington State Trout Unlimited legislative day. Make some time on your calendar to spend a day in Olympia, learn about our work in the legislature, and talk to representatives about policy and budget issues.

Early commitment is important to ensure we get a broad array of legislative meetings scheduled. I look forward to seeing you there!

Alexei Calambokidis - Washington State TU Conservation Manager

All those attending will receive a WCTU T-shirt! Lunch is provided!

Talk to your chapter leaders about helping send you to this important day in Olympia and come join the fun!

After registering please email your name & size (S-XXL) for a Unisex T-shirt HERE and we will have your T-shirt at the event in Olympia----see you there!!!

This is why we do the BAT work - to identify fish passage barriers so when funding comes fish barriers get priority for restoration.

New Funding for Fish Passage Restoration for Trout Unlimited

USFS gives $40 Million to Trout Unlimited for fish passage on National Forrest land across the United States

USFS will disburse up to $40 million to TU for projects on national forests and grasslands nationwide that will benefit and protect fish and streams and make them both more resilient and productive, not to mention help local economies. Read More HERE

NOAA Announces $20 Million for Trout Unlimited fish passage restoration.

Washington, California, Michigan & Wisconsin will share $20M from NOAA's restoring fish passage through barrier removal program.

Read more HERE. Washington TU Staff Projects Funded - Read More HERE

WCTU Advocacy Committee is following these headline issues:

Click on the blue or green links for information on each topic.

*Lower Snake River Dam Removal - Salmon and Steelhead recovery

*Chehalis River Habitat Restoration & Dam Proposal

*Gill nets in the mainstream Columbia River - big success in budget

*Salmon Recovery & SMA/GMA

*Coastal Steelhead Regulation Changes

*6ppd quinone & Salmon Mortality

*Warm Water Fish Policy

*Enloe Dam Removal TU Feasibility Study

*Nelson Dam Puyallup River

*Electron Dam

*Puget Sound Net Pens OUT

*Tongass Roadless Rule - AK

*Green River Valley Alliance working to legislate mineral withdrawal.

If you would like to join the advocacy team and represent your chapter or just find out more about all these issues in our state; please contact the

WCTU AC Co-Chair - Andrew Kenefick Here

Not a TU Member Yet?

Support your cold water conservation for future generations and become a Trout Unlimited member today! Your membership helps support so many conservation efforts around our state. Annual memberships start at $17.50 Click HERE to find out more. If you don't know your local chapter name just put unknown and you will be placed in your closest chapter.

Photo courtesy of William Meyer

Haven't started using TU Eventgroove for promoting your Events Yet? We are encouraging all chapters to use this tool to spread the word and register folks for your events.

Check it out HERE and get started!!

Then your events will appear HERE

We want to share your chapter events and important conservation work in this newsletter. Spread the word across the state about fun and informative events you are hosting. Let us know how your events turned out so we can share your stories!!

Engagement is the way to Grow your chapter!! Learn more HERE

Washington Council Of Trout Unlimited