The Snake River has, by far, the greatest potential for wild fish recovery of any watershed in the Columbia Basin. Historically it produced about 40 percent of the spring/summer Chinook salmon and 55 percent of the summer steelhead in the Columbia system. Annual run estimates prior to the 1850s exceed two-million fish for all
How we’re making key Western streams more hospitable for trout and people in the hotter, drier present
It often takes years for the results of conservation work to be recognized, but sometimes it happens during the process. Such was the case on a recent project Trout Unlimited was working on with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in northeastern Utah.
By Mark Taylor In the early morning hours Saturday, Congress stepped up to protect one of America’s most historic watersheds. The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, first introduced in 2010 and long a priority for Trout Unlimited and our partners in the region, finally cleared both the House and Senate as a provision
We don’t all have trout fisheries in our backyards or even close to home. But in many “developed” watersheds across America, bottom-release dams designed for hydropower or flood control create stretches of cold rivers that can and do support healthy populations of introduced trout. I suppose we could debate the merits of introducing a non-native
A guide to fishing on work trips and tackling conservation projects close to home with 2x Olympian Eric Loughran
Two recent studies demonstrate how dam breach paired with increased spill in the mid-Columbia would allow many Snake River spring/summer Chinook populations to reach various management goals I am sitting on my parent’s porch on a Sunday afternoon in July when the neighbors stop by to say hi. “Oh! You are a fish biologist,” they
Salmon and steelhead are roaring back above the recently removed Klamath dams. Now, what comes next?
At Trout Unlimited, we aren’t always about checking all the boxes when it comes to restoration projects, but one that just happened on the Gunnison River in central Colorado does just that
By Garrett Hanks Wolf Creek pass in the San Juan mountains of Colorado serves as the tipping point between the westward San Juan basin, home to the recently rediscovered San Juan cutthroat trout, and the Rio Grande cutthroat’s namesake river to the east. Unlike trout, bear, mule deer and other wildlife are unhindered by the ridgeline; their tracks freely cross the divide. Look north and you’ll notice the burn scar from the West Fork fire of 2013. Setting off south along the Continental Divide Trail, you quickly
As the Klamath River is reconnected, Chrysten Rivard reflects on the partnerships and dedication guiding TU’s work for the basin’s fish, water and communities
Welcome to the first installment in a month-long focus on water in the West. Join us on a tour through the history of the West’s water systems and major rivers, as we navigate the challenges of drought and water-scarcity facing the region. We’ll also explore Trout Unlimited’s leadership in finding innovative solutions to long-standing problems.
I personally wouldn’t mind seeing some type of permitted camping situation put in place, heavier guided fishing regulation and maybe even some type of easy to get “use permit” to float period during heavy use. I’m not talking about a lottery or anything that extreme…
As anglers, we are out there in the field, witnessing firsthand the stream closures and warmer waters and burned landscapes. What we’re seeing, year after year, is evidence piling up of profound changes in the air and under our feet.
But at present, I’m not sure about our individual and collective will to respond and take action. It’s human nature to stick to our ingrained habits and mindset, to resist change in our thoughts or routines, short of emergency or catastrophe.
Amidst the debate over the future of water rights in the Colorado River, a spotlight on the impacts to tribal nations and what it means for the future of indigenous populations across the West
Along with the on-the-ground project work and agency relationship-building we focused on in the last two posts, TU also works for legislative change that improves habitat, provides tools to respond to drought, preserves a thriving agricultural economy and works toward water security in the West. One of the legislative vehicles through which we work is
Born in Colorado, the mighty Colorado River serves over 40 million people and irrigates nearly 5 million acres of farmland before it enters Mexico. It is the hardest-working river in the West. The river also provides some of the finest trout fishing in the country and attracts millions of dollars in associated outdoor-related revenue to local communities.
Data visualization presents data in an interactive, pictorial or graphical format and can be useful for making large, complex datasets more accessible for decision makers or the general public. Decision support tools are data visualizations designed with a specific conservation question in mind. They gather relevant datasets and allow users to apply their own criteria
