TUDARE 8th Annual Stream Project Planning Workshop

April 14-15, 2012
Living Waters Bible Camp
Westby, Wisconsin

You are invited to participate in one of Trout Unlimited's premiere training events, a two-day workshop where you will learn how to plan and implement your own stream restoration project, from start to finish. You will also and be briefed on emerging conservation issues across the upper Mississippi basin.

This year, we will be focusing on basic project planning and will start a separate project fund-raising track. Experienced speakers will cover major project topics like stream selection, easements, building partnerships, safe projects and liability issues, outreach, managing project finances, pre- and post-project monitoring and will also provide useful tools from TU chapters and national staff to help make your project a success.

We'll provide an update on the Farm Bill and on Sunday morning, a team of experts will help you plan your own restoration project, from start to finish.

Fishing, social and project tour opportunities will also be available.

Download the registration form

March 6, 2012

Dear Wisconsin TU Member or Friend:   As many of you know, the Wisconsin Concil of Trout Unlimited is trying very hard to have an offical Wisconsin Trout Unlimited license plate. This plate would include a special logo, the phrase "Wisconsin Trout Unlimited" printed at its base, and would cost an additional $25 every year. After production costs are repaid to the State, the extra fee would come to Wisconsin Trout Unlimited. The plate has the potential to povide a provide a steady, continuing source of income for our group, and would be a great way for members to show their support. To make this happen, WE NEED YOUR HELP! The Wisconsin TU License Plate Bill has been assigned a number: AB 524. It is currently in the Assembly Transportation Committee, but has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing/vote. Although the bill may receive broad support from both sides of the aisle, it cannot pass until it is set for a public hearing/vote. Please contact the Chair and Vice Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, and tell them to send the Trout Unlimited License Plate Bill -- AB 524 -- out for a public hearing and vote, and ask them to please vote in favor of passing the bill. The Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee is Representative Jerry Petrowski, and his contact information may be found here. The Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee is Representative Paul Farrow, and his contact information may be found here. Why Should This Bill be Set for a Hearing, and Approved? If you are asked why AB 524 should be approved, you might want to note that -- aside from the obvious conservation benefits which Wisconsin TU provides -- it brings in thousands upon thousands of non-State dollars, and puts them back into our public trout streams. You might want to mentoin that Wisconsin TU provides countless volunteer hours educating youth about the outdoors and working with U.S. Military Veterans, and that Wisconsin TU spends countless volunteer hours improving trout streams and angling opportunities for Wisconsin's residents. In this economic climate, moreover, it might be worth noting that a Northstar Group Economic Impact Study found that recreational angling in the Driftless Area alone (which includes just one corner of Wisconsin) resulted in a $1.1 Billion yearly economic benefit. Wisconsin TU is, quite simply, good for our stream, good for our children and veterans, and good for the economy. Please do all that you can to support AB 524. Very truly yours, Henry E. Koltz Regional Vice Chair - Wisconsin Trout Unlimited

Jay Thurston, the author of Spring Creek Treasure, Wisconsin's 100 Best Trout Streams, is updating his book and he is asking our chapter for help with his revision.  He is adding a catagory for evaluating scenic qualities of a trout stream.  Please rate the following streams: 

EVALUATING SCENIC QUALITIES OF A TROUT STREAM

     To evaluate a trout stream all anglers should use the same scale of 0 to 60 points.  The lowest pointtotal a stream will receive is 15.  This is based on the assumption that an ugly trout stream does not exist.  One trout stream, the most scenic in Wisconsin, will receive 60 points.  The BruleRiver, in DouglasCounty, is the most scenic trout stream.  This is based on the factthat 33,000 anglers enjoy fishing the Brule each year.  And historically five U. S. Presidents have fished the Brule.  Therefore, the second most scenic stream in Wisconsin will receive 59 or fewer points. And it is alrightto give two streams the same pointtotal.  For example you may decide thatthe WolfRiver and PrairieRiver each deserves 52 points.  Also, it is not necessary to give a long trout stream a higher pointtotal.  For example, you may decide thatthe Big Green River, 11 miles long, should be rated higher than the PestigoRiver, 70 miles long. 

     Each TU Chapter that has volunteered for this task will be given a list of streams by county that have already made the 100 besttrout stream list.  Your evaluation can and will move streams up or down on that list based on their scenic beauty.  I suggest you divide your streams into groups of four.  For example, if you have 16 streams to evaluate, give four of the streams a point ratio from 15 to 25 points; a second group of four give points from 26 to 35 points; a third group of four from 36 to 45 points; and the top group of four receives the most points 46 to 59 points. 

     Also, I suggest anglers who have fished the stream in at leasttwo places should evaluate the stream.  Why at leasttwo places?  At leasttwo places because the most scenic streams are not highly scenic for their entire length.  For example, if you were to only fish the SiouxRiver (BayfieldCounty) in the lower portion near Lake Superior you might rate it in the lower quartile of 15 to 25 points.  However, if you were to fish the SiouxRiver below BigRockPark you would probably rate it in the upper quartile of 46 to 59 points.

     If you have any question about how to proceed please contact me by email or phone:  608 637-3461.

     Thanks you most sincerely for your help in this important project.

                                                                                                                                                  Jay Thurston  

Forward your results to Doug Erdmann at derdmann2@new.rr.com 

Jay gave us a copy of his book for helping out. 

The 7^th annual Sand Lake Conservation Camp will be held at Camp Bird Youth Camp near Crivitz, WI from June 21-23 for Wisconsin & Upper Michigan youth attending grades 6-8 this fall. Sand Lake Conservation Camp provides positive educational outdoor experiences, helps foster an appreciation for nature, and introduces a variety of opportunities in natural resources and conservation careers. Campers are exposed to environmental education topics, social situations, and hands-on activities, all of which contribute to life-long learning. Activities and programs include subjects such as wildlife ecology, water quality, fisheries, forestry, and outdoor skills (orienteering, canoeing, etc.). General camp information, including what to bring, camp map, photos, required forms, and other materials can be found online at:

The Marinette County Chapter of Trout Unlimited would like to thank the following people for tying/donating flies for the State Council Banquet.  Peter Kurtz, Roger Prestine, Dale Lange, Chris Gestwicki (Caddis Shack Flyshop in Escanaba, MI), Todd Holman, and Doug Erdmann. 

Oconto River Watershed		Marinette	Green Bay		DNR
Ethan Firgens	Dale Halla	Doug Erdmann	Harold Becks	Pat Hill	Chip Long, Biologist
Roger Firgens	Dan Sumnicht	Roger Prestine	Byron Dugree	Jeff House	Mitch Semrow, LTE
Mark Green	Harold Zellmer		Dennis Dugree	Paul Kruse	Joe Watson, LTE
			Wally Heil	Leo Nikowitz	Eric Wingers, LTE
			Brian Hill	Mike Renish

If you would like to received your monthly notice by e-mail, contact Dale Lange at dhlange@centurytel.net.  This would save the chapter alot of money on postage.