Author

Chris Wood

  • From the President

    This force for native trout and salmon conservation is in Texas. (Yes, Texas.)

    The Guadalupe River chapter of TU looks well beyond their state and their (engineered) river to drive important conservation changes for native trout around the nation.

    Native fish come first at Trout Unlimited. Wild trout come second, when they do not compromise native fish. Hatchery fish do not belong if they interfere with wild and native fish.  TU was founded on the banks of the Au Sable River of Michigan by a group of anglers who were frustrated that the state…

  • From the President

    On mining cleanups, it’s long past time

    A “Good Samaritan” bill in Congress would make it easier for conservationists and partners to tackle abandoned mines polluting Western waters  About two decades ago, the New York Times ran a story about TU’s Ted Fitzgerald, introducing him as “a rangy 59-year-old who was raised in a coal mining family.”   The newspaper described Ted’s role…

  • Science From the field From the President

    Under the hood at TU

    From stream restoration to species recovery, science drives Trout Unlimited Three of the greatest days of my professional career spanned from a Friday afternoon to a Monday morning. On the Friday, Jack E. Williams, one of the pre-eminent aquatic scientists in the country and at the time the head of the fisheries program for the…

  • From the President

    A year-end message to the TU community

    As the year draws to a close, let’s celebrate a few of the victories that all of you—members, supporters, partners, donors, and our staff around the country—made possible

    For me, December is a time for introspection. I’ve been thinking a lot about our work at Trout Unlimited and the challenges we faced in 2021. TU may not be as large as some of our peer organizations, but none, and I mean none, are as able to blend grassroots local knowledge and professional staff…

  • From the President Snake River dams

    We must save Snake River salmon and steelhead

    Half-measures will ensure the extinction of salmon and steelhead in the Snake River basin, and nothing more.

    I have spoken at four or five conferences with Shannon Wheeler, the Vice Chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe. And every time I do, I come away a little wiser, and a little more passionate, about the need to recover Snake River salmon and steelhead. And a little more hopeful that we can. When I…