Trout Unlimited

One trip. Endless opportunity. ?? ?? Conservation ?? ?? Fly fishing ?? ?? Lifelong memories ?? Applications for 2025 TU Expeditions are now open! These multi-day, place-based experiences combine conservation, fly fishing, and mentorship to make a difference for our rivers & streams. Join us this summer in the Klamath River Basin. Apply now: https://bit.ly/4iIv4jN

Transformation TUesday: Golden Trout Wilderness, CA In the high-mountain meadows of the Golden Trout Wilderness, TU staff and partners are implementing low tech, process-based restoration techniques to instantly transform the landscape. Beaver dam analogs not only provide in-stream habitat, but also instantly reconnect the floodplain and raise the water table, providing cooler temperatures in the long summer months and deep pools that provide refuge for fish during the cold winter months. These photos show the incredible before & after results immediately after the construction of a BDA.

Healthy rivers and streams aren't just good for fish: they're good for the entire ecosystem. This #WorldWildlifeDay, we're celebrating the clean, cold water that sustains all life. That’s why we’re working to reconnect and restore Priority Waters across the country. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gHHqZQC8 ?? #2: Alaska Fly Out/Fly Out Media

In his recent blog, "Public Servants: An Appreciation," our president and CEO Chris Wood reflects on his early days working in federal agencies. Over the decades, he learned invaluable lessons from biologists, forest managers, and fisheries scientists—lessons that continue to shape TU’s approach to conservation today. These public servants—working across agencies like the Forest Service, BLM, NOAA Fisheries, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service—play a critical role in caring for our rivers, lands, and fisheries. Their work often goes unnoticed, but its impact is undeniable. "I do not know a single person who supports waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government," writes Wood. "But it is important that we not lose sight of the committed, hardworking people doing invaluable work with us to care for and recover our rivers, lands, and our fisheries." Read his full blog: https://bit.ly/3QFysQk

Places as special as the Ruby Mountains bring people together. In Nevada, a broad coalition of hunters, anglers, and other stakeholders are rallying behind an effort to protect this unique public land. The Rubies boast unparalleled native fish and big-game habitat and draw in outdoor enthusiasts to experience towering peaks, horizon-chasing valleys, and remarkable hunting and fishing opportunities. Despite the lack of economically recoverable oil and gas resources in the Ruby Mountains, these lands are still made available for leasing. The leasing process requires significant resources from federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS), but speculative lease proposals yield very little benefit to taxpayers. A proposal on the table would withdraw these lands from oil and gas leasing consideration. That would allow resources to be redirected towards sustainable economic activities in the Rubies and refocus responsible oil and gas leasing efforts on areas where energy development is economically feasible. The Forest Service and BLM are currently accepting public comments on the proposed oil and gas withdrawal through the end of March. Join TU in asking these agencies to protect the Rubies from speculative leasing and conserve some of the West’s most pristine fish and wildlife habitat: https://bit.ly/3QAN9nS

Growing up in western Wisconsin fishing for trout and walleye with his grandfather, Brice Wizner developed a deep appreciation for fish and the waters they call home. Now, as a business owner and stream restoration contractor, he’s putting that passion to work. Through his company, Geomorphic Restoration, Brice partners with TU to remove barriers, rebuild streambanks, restore wetlands and reconnect critical habitat. When Geomorphic Restoration takes on a project, Brice makes a point to hire local workers and source materials from nearby vendors—ensuring that every restoration project is an investment in the community as well as the river. “Riparian areas are sensitive, so we really try to be meticulous with how we do things,” said Brice. That attention to detail is why TU relies on skilled contractors like him to bring restoration projects to life. Restoring rivers isn’t just good for fish—it’s an investment in communities and people. Learn more about how TU and Brice's restoration work supports people, rivers, fish, and local economies: https://bit.ly/4h2mmv9

National monuments are more than just designations on a map – they are public lands that provide world-class hunting and fishing opportunities. Places like Browns Canyon National Monument in Colorado and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in northern California boast famous trout fisheries and provide habitat for big-game species. Under the Antiquities Act of 1906, presidents have the authority to permanently protect extraordinary geologic, cultural, historic, and ecological resources on federal public lands and waters from new development by creating national monuments. TU recently sat down with Field & Stream to discuss the importance of these monuments to hunting and fishing. "The Antiquities Act has a great history of protecting some world-class hunting and fishing opportunities," said Steve Kandell, Director of TU’s Protection Campaign Center. "It's one of the greatest conservation tools we have in this country." Dive into the rest of the story with Field & Stream: https://bit.ly/4gYsxAk

West coasters: The countdown is on! ? TU’s 2025 Pacific Regional Rendezvous kicks off this Friday in Pleasanton, CA, alongside The Fly Fishing Show and you don’t want to miss it. Join us for a weekend of learning, networking, and good times with TU volunteers, staff, and partners, including our President and CEO Chris Wood. Grab your ticket today: https://bit.ly/4bhiFkj

Trout Unlimited has a lot of unsung heroes – contractors, landowners, volunteers, members, etc. Over the coming weeks, we're?highlighting and celebrating these folks, starting with the talented?and wild Jim Brooks. Over the course of his career in the Gila Wilderness and across New Mexico, he has cheated death more than once, spent years of his life under the stars, survived mule wrecks, fought wildfires, protected native fish, and made sure his?closest friends did the same. ? From reconnecting rivers to increasing resilience against drought and wildfire, Jim’s work is a testament to how restoration work fuels both the native species and communities that depend on healthy watersheds. ? Learn more about Jim: https://bit.ly/41d9QD8

Big News for the Eel River?? California’s mighty Eel River once produced so many salmon and steelhead that it sustained a commercial canning operation. But for over a century, conflicts over water use have plagued the basin. The Eel River’s salmon and steelhead runs have paid a steep price, and are today a fraction of their former glory. Last week, after years of negotiations, a stakeholder group comprised of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, Russian River water interests, salmon and steelhead advocates, and the state of California announced a new agreement in principle that clears the way for fish recovery and sustainable water sharing in the wake of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s decision to decommission and remove its Potter Valley Project. Matt Clifford, TU’s California Director, has been closely involved in the long and difficult negotiations that led to the new agreement. Clifford said, “This agreement, and PG&E’s commitment to decommissioning the Potter Valley Project, represent our best opportunity to restore the Eel River and the native fish populations that have sustained the region’s tribes, California’s commercial fishing fleets and a legendary sport fishery. The Eel is one of TU’s Priority Waters, and we have worked for years to reconnect this watershed and find sustainable solutions for the Tribes and communities that depend on this river. We’re proud to be working alongside our Tribal, state, community and conservation partners to build this path forward together.” Read more about this huge development for the Eel River: https://bit.ly/41frM1l ??1: Brett Wedeking ??2: Charlie Schneider/California Trout California Trout California Department of Fish and Wildlife