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Committed to
Protecting, Connecting and Restoring Arizona's watersheds and fisheries.
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"Be patient and calm—for no one can catch fish in anger." - Herbert Hoover
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Message From The President |
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Welcome to the March 2021 Newsletter,
Spring is just around the corner, we know, because Major League Baseball played the first spring training games this past weekend.
On Saturday, February 27, Arizona Game and Fish Department, USFS Tonto National Forest, volunteers from Zane Grey chapter, Gila Trout Chapter, Old Pueblo chapter, and Mogollon Sporting Association helped improve in-stream fish habitat in a portion of the Upper East Verde River. See the pictures and further in the newsletter.
This month was again a busy month for your chapter. We co-hosted two Salt River Saturdays with AZFishbook, and worked on the conservation project described above. See more under the Conservation section below.
Don’t forget our 2021 photo contest. The first-place winner receives a handmade H & H 9’ 6wt rod and second place winner receive hand-made St. Croix 5wt fly rod and case. So, keep your cameras ready, and send us your best fishing, nature, and wildlife photos from Arizona and the Western United States. See the details on our website by clicking here, and see more information in the next article.
This month we invite all Zane Grey members to participate in our annual planning session. Please let us know if you like to attend, please contact me direct. If you have already responded we'll contact you separately with more details and the agenda.
We plan a great 2021, and look forward to you joining us for our various activities and conservation opportunities.
Want to get away this summer? Or, maybe better yet, send your teenagers away and learn to fish? Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited is partnering with Scouts BSA Grand Canyon Council, and running three 1-week Fish Camps. We need volunteers; interested in volunteering, sign up here. More information and details here.
Upcoming Events:
Zane Grey Chapter and AZFishbook.com are jointly hosting a series of Salt River Saturdays. These events are a combination stream cleanup and a Salt River fishing opportunity. Save the Dates:
Saturday, March 13, 9-12, Blue Point Bridge
Saturday, March 27, 9-12, Blue Point Bridge
Help Wanted Needed!
Tired of doing crossword puzzles and 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzles? Then consider volunteering for a position with your chapter board. We currently are looking for a STREAM Keeper leader, and a board member at-large. If interested, contact any board member, or me.
Here are some of the articles in this month's Newsletter.
- 2021 Fishing & Nature Photo Contest
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Don't Simply Call Someone Out, Call Someone In
- Public Policy – Waters of Arizona Update;
- Review of 2021 Legislation;
- Water Rights Bill
- Grand Canyon Protection
- Private Land Sales to the Feds
- Heritage Fund Bill
- Surface Water Protection
- AZGFD Announces New Leadership Positions
- ZGTU Joins AZFishbook for Salt River Saturday & Trash Clean-Up
- Upper East Verde River conservation project
- Did you know? How to Pump a Trout's Stomach
- Other Angling organizations
- ZGTU and affiliates calendar
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Follow ZGTU on Social Media
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We’ve gone virtual!!!!
Please join us for our annual planning meeting:
Thursday, March 4, 2021 7:00 - 8:45 PM
Please let us know if you are joining us for the planning session. Contact me.
Until then,
Tight Lines.
Alan Davis
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PHOTO CONTEST PRIZES
Grand Prize – People’s Choice: H&H 9’ 6wt fly rod
Grand Prize – Judges Choice: St. Croix 5wt fly rod and case
Honorable mentions (3): AZ hand tied fly assortment and TU ball cap
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION -
Don’t Simply Call Someone Out, Call Someone In!
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Let’s face it: Many of us are on edge. With our recent and on-going political and economic climate, coupled with pandemic restrictions, mandates and restrictions still in place everywhere we turn, it’s no wonder we’re all feeling (knowingly or not) a sense of acedia. Yes, there’s actually a name for the emotional listlessness and apathy we’re experiencing. And this lethargy may make us more irritable with our fellow anglers, conservationists, family members, friends and the world in general.
However, there are legitimate instances when we do need to let someone know their words and/or actions are unacceptable. Times when there’s a need to interrupt someone in order to prevent more verbal and emotional damage. When someone says something inappropriate or offensive, often our brain can’t think fast enough to respond in a productive way. It’s good to have a couple of phrases in your repertoire for such occasions. If we really want to effect a change, though, it’s often kinder, gentler and more productive to call someone in, versus calling them out brutally.
Calling in offers an opportunity to discuss something deeper; to find a sense of understanding and focus on perspectives and not just react harshly. How many times have you had to remind someone that fly fishers use a “rod” and never a “pole?” That may not be universally offensive, but as a fly fisher you softly call that person out and mention that you are having a strong reaction to the word “pole” and then proceed to call that person in by discussing the importance of catch and release and cold-water conservation strategies.
The next time you encounter intolerance, speak up! And call someone in to the conversation.
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2021 Legislative Sessions
The 2021 Arizona legislature has now been in session for six weeks. A few of the most important bills relative to our mission are featured for this month:
- HB2056/SB1368 - We are delighted to report that this bill has passed the House with 58 votes in favor and none opposing and the Senate with 29 "yea" votes and no votes in opposition. Governor Ducey signed this bill on February 18th! This bill, proposed by Rep. Griffin will protect water rights-holders who do not consume their entire allocation to retain that right in the future. Previously, if a rights-holder did not use their allotment, they lost it.
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HB2702 - This bill, proposed by Representative Finchem, would require a land-owner to get approval of the Arizona Legislature before being able to sell their land to the federal government. The supporters justify this proposed legislation based on a claim that it would protect the property tax that the state gets on this land because the state does not receive tax revenue from federal land. We are strongly opposed to this legislation. It would deny property owners their rights to do what they deem appropriate with their property without undue interference from the state. Outdoor recreation provides over 200,000 jobs in the state and delivers over $1.4B in state and local tax revenue, which far outweighs the property tax value of the land. This bill has passed out of committee and is to be voted on by the entire House very soon. We encourage you to contact your Representative and to urge them to vote against this piece of legislation!
- SB1384/HB2127 - The American Heritage Fund bill would dedicate $10M to be spent on maintaining and improving Arizona's trails, parks, cultural sites and open spaces. As of 2/11/2021, this bill has passed the House and being reviewed in the Senate Appropriations and Rules Committees. We support this legislation.
- HB2691 - Probably the most impactful legislation for protecting the clean, cold water we like to fish is the legislation that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has drafted as the "Surface Water Protection Program". We have been tracking this in past ZGTU Newsletters. With the issuance of the Navigable Water Protection Rule by the US Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers, most of the surface water in AZ has lost its protection. This is Arizona's attempt to put protections in place. While we are concerned that ephemeral streams may not receive adequate protection and "dredge & fill" is not managed, this is a major step forward. This bill has passed the Natural Resources, Energy and Water and the Rules Committees and is moving to the floor calendar.
At the federal level, the US House of Representatives recently passed the Grand Canyon Protection Act which was proposed by Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva. This piece of legislation will protect approximately 1 million acres of land near the Grand Canyon from uranium mining. The region is currently protected from new mining claims under a 20-year moratorium instituted by former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in 2012, but that would expire unless renewed. The bill is part of a package of public lands bills put forward by Grijalva and other members of Congress. Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema have introduced a similar measure in the Senate.
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The AZTU Public Policy Committee (PPC) hosts a virtual meeting on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 until 8:00 PM. If you are interested, please contact Tom Osterday at publicpolicychair@zanegreytu.org
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Leadership Announcements at AZGFD
Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) announced a number of leadership changes.
In February, Governor Ducey confirmed Clay Hernandez, from Tucson, as a new AZGFD Commissioner. Clay’s experience includes serving as president and several volunteer leader roles for the Old Pueblo chapter Trout Unlimited in Tucson.
Chris Cantrell is leaving as Fisheries Branch Chief to assume the role of Development Branch Chief overseeing engineering and operations related to fishing facilities throughout the state.
Julie Carter will take on the role of Aquatics Wildlife Branch Chief to manage native species conservation and sportfish opportunities.
All members should be very pleased with the leaders that have been chosen to continue the positive progress of Arizona’s fisheries.
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Women's Virtual Book Club:
Book - The Secret Life of Lobsters
by Trevor Corson
Next conversation: Thursday, March 18th, 6 PM
Join us whether you've read the book or not!
Call In: 712-432-0220
(Access code: 4632017)
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Social media: Sara Westfall has started an Instagram page for Arizona Women of Trout Unlimited. Check it out: azwotu. If you're more traditional, try signing up for the private Facebook group: Arizona Women of Trout Unlimited.
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Zane Grey Chapter Joins AZFishbook for Salt River Saturday and trash Clean-Up #Notinmywater
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Saturday, February 13 and again on February 27, ZGTU joined with AZFishbook.com hosting a couple of Salt River Saturdays.
Everyone enjoyed the time outdoors, fishing and the opportunity to help clean up the river. We're going again this month. Come join us March 13, and March 27. Check your email for last minute information.
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Upper East Verde River Conservation Project |
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Saturday, February 27, Arizona Game and Fish Dept, USFS Tonto National Forest, volunteers from Zane Grey chapter, Gila Trout chapter, Old Pueblo chapter, and Mogollon Sporting Association helped improve in-stream fish habitat in a portion of the Upper East Verde River.
The stream improvement work enhanced a section of about 200 feet of the creek that spills over a solid rock shelf and provided no useful base for bug life or holding cover for trout. The work involved hand positioning a series of log barriers, then cabling these logs to the solid rock creating deeper pools, and a base for bug life.
Over 20-volunteers and AZGFD staff participated in the project.
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Pro Tip: How to Correctly Use a Stomach Pump on Trout |
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Here’s a useful video from Steve Galletta, of Bighorn Angler Fly Shop & Lodge in Fort Smith, Montana. You don’t see many anglers using a stomach pump, but it can provide great information about what fish are eating, especially if there are lots of bugs in the water at the same time.
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Looking for a Fishing Opportunity? |
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Below is a list of fishing organizations in Arizona. Feel free to join, explore, visit their websites or attend a meeting to find out more information: |
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Arizona Flycasters Club
Sunnyslope Community Center | 802 E. Vogel Ave. Phoenix, AZ
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Fly-Fishing Social Event night - 2nd Thursday of each month. Great speaker and awesome raffle. Donations support our Community outreach partners from Veterans to Youth activities.
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Desert Fly Casters
Check website for details.
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General meeting 2nd Wednesday of each month. There may be some exceptions so check website for details.
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AZFISHBOOK offers a variety of social activities. Listed below are some of the activities available.
Check out the AZFISHBOOK Groups at:
Looking for buddy to fish with?
Signup for AZFishBook Newsletter:
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Join Trout Unlimited Today!
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REMEMBER:
Your Conservation License Plate Supports TU Programs
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The Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC) license plate fund is derived from the sale of wildlife conservation license plates and member organizations as well as non-member organizations are eligible to apply for those funds.
The Arizona TU Council and Chapters have received funds over the past seven years in support of the Annual Native and Wild Trout Conferences and the Trout-In-the-Classroom programs.
The next time your registration comes up for renewal, choose the conservation license plate option at registration to show your support for conservation and our projects.
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Combined Calendar
AZ Trout Unlimited & Chapters, Arizona Flycasters Club and several other area fishing and conservation calendars
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You may access our calendar here.
Zane Grey Trout Unlimited
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Protect. Reconnect. Restore. Sustain. Conserving coldwater habitat in the desert southwest. |
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