In September, the Wisconsin Clear Waters TU Chapter and Oak Brook, Illinois TU Chapter completed a stream restoration project on Traverse Valley Creek in Trempealeau County, with a focus on educating local youth.
The restored section of stream is along highway X, 5 ½ miles from the junction of X and State Highway 93. It contains vital spawning gravel and holding habitat for brook trout.
Habitat improvements included bank shaping and installing riffle and pool forming rock weirs, cross-channel logs, and root wads.
Students from Arcadia, Independence, and Whitehall High Schools participated in the project, seeding the restored area, learning about habitat features, and conducting an entomology survey.
This hands-on experience, part of the teens’ animal science class, taught them valuable skills in scientific observation and resource management.
The project was made possible by the chapters’ financial contributions, matched by a National Fish Habitat Partnership grant awarded through the Driftless Area Restoration Effort and support from Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. An education and outreach component was incorporated into the grant proposal, so while the project helps trout of the project, they are not the sole beneficiaries of the work.
By engaging local youth in the restoration process, the project not only improves trout habitat but also inspires the next generation of conservation leaders.