AFF Grant Launches Salmonfly Project on the Yellowstone

Fishing Montana’s Upper Yellowstone (photo: W. Tilt)

As many anglers are aware, aquatic insects are declining across the western US. Such declines have major implications for the health of native trout, local fishing economies, and freshwater biodiversity, yet little is known about why and to what degree.

Robust conservation requires strong data, yet insufficient information on aquatic insect health and habitat quality is collected on important fisheries, including the Yellowstone River, to track insect declines, identify solutions, and facilitate proactive management.

In May, AFF provided a $10,000 grant to the Salmonfly Project to initiate a multi-year research and monitoring program. This grant was made possible by an anonymous donor and Simms Fishing. In addition, the Yellow Dog Community and Conservation Fund is supporting the project. The project will undertake intensive sampling in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 to replicate a study conducted in 1973 (the only one known to have been undertaken) to establish a baseline. With a baseline established a new volunteer-assisted insect and habitat monitoring program on the Yellowstone will annually monitor the population sizes of ten target indicators species that represent the most abundant, ecologically and recreationally important, and sensitive insects across the River, along with changes in water temperature, dewatering, sedimentation, and nutrient pollution.

This monitoring and education program will be sustained with the vital support of local flyfishing businesses, guides, the Joe Brooks Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group, among others.

The data will help identify the status, trends, and drivers of potential future insect declines and will be strategically distributed to resource managers to guide management planning, and ultimately, protect the health of the Yellowstone River.

A Huge Step Forward for Bristol Bay

On May 1, 2024, Representative Peltola of Alaska introduced the Bristol Bay Protection Act. If passed, the Bristol Bay Protection Act would codify the protections enacted by EPA last year that vetoed the proposed Pebble Mine, and would ensure no mine could ever move forward at the Pebble deposit. 

While the EPA's veto is incredibly durable, adding a layer of congressional protection only strengthens the agency’s work. If passed, any future mining of the Pebble deposit would require a further act of Congress to proceed. 

Bristol Bay Forever, Trout Unlimited, and many others will be working to support this bill to help ensure that this special place, including its fishery and communities, remains protected from future mining threats.  

Join other members of the business sector working to protect Bristol Bay and the jobs, productivity, and economic stability that it provides. Bristol Bay Forever has provided a link to encourage your members of Congress to support the bill.

If you are interested in celebrating and highlighting this important step even more, Trout Unlimited has developed a toolkit with draft email language, social posts and images.

Support the Farm Bill for Fish

Upper Yellowstone Watershed.. Photo by Whitney Tilt

The Farm Bill is one of the most important federal programs affecting conservation and wildlife habitat. It offers the single largest source of funding for conservation on private lands.

Often overlooked. Farm bill programs fund significant water conservation work with watershed-wide impacts for trout, salmon, and other fish. The Farm Bill’s conservation programs also fund a significant amount of coldwater conservation across the country. Conservation groups, like Trout Unlimited, leverage these programs to improve and restore aquatic habitats for fish and people.

Every place where a cold trout or salmon stream runs through private working land, a potential conservation project could be funded through Farm Bill programs to improve the land and aquatic habitat throughout the watershed.  TROUT UNLIMITED

Trout Unlimited outlines just a few examples of how the Farm Bill helps fishing:

• It’s replacing undersized culverts in Oregon as part of a creating a Salmon Superhighway.

• In the Gunnison River watershed, it’s modernizing irrigation systems to retain more water volume in-stream.

• It’s coordinating multiple agencies to help reduce flooding on a farm in Utah.

• In the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, its streambank stabilization, erosion control, and riparian planting.

• In the Potomac Headwaters of West Virginia, it’s working with farmers to restore native eastern brook trout.

• In New England, it’s strategic installation of woody material to control erosion and provide native brook trout habitat.

The common thread of this work is partnering with voluntary landowners to implement solutions that benefit both the landowner and the whole watershed and supporting rural economies by leveraging federal funds to deliver conservation services through local contractors. Trout Unlimited’s role in each project can vary from being a facilitator to federal programs and technical services, providing direct technical services, to full project management, engineering and implementation.

To learn more about how the Farm Bill funds conservation programs. watch Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s (TRCP) What is the Farm Bill overview and support a Farm Bull for Fish Conservation by signing TU’s petition to call on Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bil!.

Court Rules Against Montana's Smith River

Image courtesy of Montana Trout Unlimited

Anglers are stunned and saddened to learn of the Montana Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Black Butte Mine in the Smith River. On February 26, 2024, the Court overturned Montana Trout Unlimited’s (MTU) lower court victory against the Black Butte Mine and Montana DEQ. Thus, the Australian-owned, Tintina Company will be reissued its permit to build an industrial copper mine along the most important trout tributary to the Smith River.

“This marks another sad example of Montana’s lenient mining and permitting laws allowing for the development of a large-scale, high-risk mine to be built without proper regard for the other values of a place, including its water quality, quantity, fishery, wildlife, recreational opportunities and cultural heritage.” David Brooks, Executive Director

MTU joined National Trout Unlimited, MEIC, Earthworks, and American Rivers with legal representation by Earthjustice, to defend the Meagher County District Court decision that the MT Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) did not properly or sufficiently evaluate the risks this mine poses to water quality, quantity and the Smith fishery under Montana mine permitting laws. The MT Supreme Court heard this case on June 21, 2023, and has now issued this decision.

While MTU cannot appeal the MT Supreme Court decision, they will continue to pursue their coalition’s water rights claims against the mining company, now in front of the MT Supreme Court, to be heard on March 29, 2024.

MTU and partners are also committed to establishing a mineral withdrawal on public lands in the Smith watershed that will provide protection for the river for decades to come. A victory on the water rights claims would disallow this mine to be built. A successful mineral withdrawal will ensure that this or any other mine could not expand beyond private land.

MTU is asking folks to take action to protect the Smith from additional mining by asking the U.S. Forest Service to remove public land in the Smith from future mining development.

Pebble Mine News and a Call for Action

Photo courtesy of Dave McCoy.

SCOTUS Denies Alaska's Bid to Revive Pebble Mine… for now

The U.S. Supreme Court on January 8th rejected Alaska's bid to revive a proposed copper and gold mine that was blocked by the Environmental Protection Agency by appealing directly to the U.S Supreme Court.

Alaska still can try to reverse the decision through the more typical process, starting in a lower court and appealing any unfavorable decisions to the Supreme Court.

While the Supreme Court is not taking Alaska’s case directly, it is a certainty that Alaska will pursue another route.   

From Northern Dynasty, the mine proponent:

"While it is a disappointing decision, it is important to note that this is not a comment on the arguments put forward by the state. We have long stated our belief that the EPA has acted outside of its regulatory authority and that remains our position today. The legal issues raised by the state will now work their way through the federal courts. We will also evaluate our legal options in contesting the extraordinary steps the EPA has taken to preemptively stop the Pebble Project. Pebble is an important project for Alaska and the nation. It could create jobs for Alaskans, provide an economic catalyst for the state and provide a much-needed source of critical minerals for the long-term safety and security of the United States."

From the United Tribes of Bristol Bay and the Bristol Bay Native Corporation:

“While it is, undoubtedly, great news that the Supreme Court declined to take the State of Alaska’s case directly, this means that the State and Northern Dynasty Minerals will need to go through the normal legal process to challenge EPA’s veto. Rest assured that they will do so starting at a lower federal court. The legal fight will still happen, and this reinforces the need for federal legislation that would permanently protect the broader Bristol Bay region from future mines such as Pebble.  The sporting community has been a steadfast ally in this battle for decades, and we must remain vigilant.”

So Northern Dynasty and State of Alaska are not giving up and the legal fight is only beginning, not finished.

But something that can be done right now…

Immediate action is needed to retain protections on approximately 1.25 million acres of land in the Bristol Bay region

Across Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management is weighing options on the future of 28 million acres of D-1 lands, including those acres in Bristol Bay. These lands have been protected for over 50 years and if the protections were lifted, we will not get them back.

Take action! Comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement runs until February 14.

Businesses for Bristol Bay and Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska has put together a toolkit and image library to help AFFTA members craft an action item that will engage your members/customers/fans/followers.  Please use any of these assets to spread the word and help us generate comments.

2023 Jim Range Conservation Award

Steve Moyer (second from left), winner of the 2023 Jim Range Conservation Award winner, is joined by Scott Hed, 2021 Jim Range Award winner (on left), Benny Blanco, 2021 Jim Range Award winner (second from right) and Whitney Tilt, AFF Executive Director (on right).

The Jim Range Conservation Leadership Award is presented annually in recognition of exemplary efforts to advance the fisheries conservation and stewardship mission of AFFTA and the AFFTA Fisheries Fund. The award is named in honor of James "Jim" Range, a passionate champion of fish and wildlife who spent more than a decade as AFFTA's voice on Capitol Hill. A life-long sportsman, it was Range's bipartisan, cooperative style that made him as beloved as he was effective. Award seeks to recognize individuals in the AFFTA family who embody Jim Range’s commitment and passion on behalf of America’s fisheries and anglers. 

2023 Jim Range Award: Steve Moyer, Trout Unlimited 

For more than 30 years, TU’s Steve Moyer has been fighting for coldwater conservation. After earning a wildlife management degree from the University of Maine (1980) and a master’s degree in fisheries science from Virginia Tech in 1984, Steve headed to Washington DC. Following two years at the Sport Fishing Institute and another five as a fish and wildlife lobbyist with the National Wildlife Federation, Steve joined Trout Unlimited in 1992. He spent a few years as TU’s VP for conservation and oversaw volunteer operations along with serving as the director of government affairs. From 2009 to his retirement in 2023, Steve’s role as the head of Government Affairs thrust him into the heart of important issues, such as the Clean Water Act, Good Samaritan mining legislation, federal hatchery policy, and helped craft the National Fish Habitat Initiative.    

For more on the conservation impact of Jim Range read Steve’s TU Blog “Reflecting on an honor named for a friend and fighter.”

Keep Fish Wet Launches a Toolkit for Guides, Shop, and Lodges

Keep Fish Wet announces the launch of a best practices Toolkit for guides, shops, and lodges. Continuing the tradition of providing the recreational angling world with free, science-based, consistent, and persistent messaging about best practices for catch-and-release, Keep Fish Wet has expanded their programing to include material specifically designed for professionals working in recreational fisheries. “Guides, shops, and lodges are important messengers within the industry, and we wanted to make sure that they have the resources necessary to help their clients use science-based best practices” says Sascha Clark Danylchuk, Executive Director of Keep Fish Wet. “We also know that their jobs are already demanding, so the Toolkit is designed to make communicating to their clients and customers easier.” 

The Toolkit consists of a mix of digital and physical resources with multiple uses created to reduce barriers to access and offer ‘non-preachy’ educational opportunities. It is currently available for free to guides, and those that work at shops and lodges within the United States. Keep Fish Wet plans to expand availability as well as develop new content for the Toolkit soon. “If we want resilient fisheries, we need all recreational anglers participating in conservation. This is why we included information on the best practices for harvesting fish and our new statement on the value of multiple perspectives on fishing in the Toolkit.” says Clark Danylchuk. The Toolkit was funded by the S. Kent Rockwell Foundation and the AFFTA Fisheries Fund. The Maine Department of Marine Resources funded the creation of a striped bass version of the Toolkit.

Industry Collaboration creates Conservation Impact

The successful fight to stop Alaska’s Pebble Mine is one example of how the fly fishing industry adds its weight to important fisheries conservation efforts.

As part of Confluence, held in Salt Lake City, September 26-28, AFF organized a panel discussion on Industry Collaboration & Conservation Impact. Sponsored by Simms Fishing Products and moderated by Diane Bristol, Simms Vice President, Culture and Community, the discussion examined how industry collaboration with conservation partners leads to better results, how conservation benefits when industry competitors come together for the greater good, and how conservation benefits when non-profit organizations join together as partners rather than competitors.

Panelists Benny Blanco and Chris Wittman, Captains for Clean Water; Sascha Clark Danylchuck, Keep Fish Wet; Steve Moyer, Trout Unlimited’s VP for Government Affairs (recently retired); and Whitney Tilt, AFF’s Executive Director each shared their experience with the fly fishing industry getting involved in fisheries conservation. In addition, the discussion greatly benefited from the audience which included members of industry and conservation groups, as well as representatives from NOAA. 

Panelists highlighted the obvious benefits of increased funding, beefed up marketing clout, and expanded outreach. They also noted that industry brands and conservation groups standing together increased the overall visibility of the conservation project, making it easier to solicit additional partners and funding. It was also noted that state and federal management agencies, as well as elected officials, pay more attention to a conservation issue when they see industry and conservation interests standing shoulder-to-shoulder. The panel noted a number of successful industry behaviors including a company’s strong conservation ethos (as compared with a primary interest in simply increasing sales or market share), a company’s interest in widening the partnership among the industry (rather than make it exclusive), the durability of the relationship (more than a one-off donation or short-term fad), and the need for the company’s commitment to extend all the way to the top executives.  

Discussions also explored some challenges common to many conservation efforts including the fact that it’s one thing to rally support around an issue where it’s all hands on deck now (for example, Captains for Clean Water’s success in rallying guides to travel to Tallahassee to oppose SB 2508) versus sustaining a high level of interest and support when the conservation issue extends out over years. There are successes to celebrate (e.g., Alaska’s Pebble Mine, Maine’s Penobscot Bay, and dam removals on the Klamath in California) but many remain (e.g., continued threats to Florida Bay, WOTUS definition, and continued threats to Bristol Bay). Other observations emerging from the discussion included the need to get the entire sport fishing community on the same page and the need for all of us to be better trained as advocates.

New Mexico Stream Access Stewardship & Education

Volunteers working to repair beaver dam analogs on Big Bear Creek, NM (photo courtesy of BHA, NM)

Through pint nights and stream access restoration projects, New Mexico Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is working to promote stewardship of New Mexico’s rivers and streams.

With funding provided by the AFFTA Fisheries Fund and others the project team set to work planning two educational pint nights that brought people together to enjoy each other’s company and learn about such topics as historical and current river access, beaver ecology, and how to conserve and care for the watersheds that give New Mexico some the best fly fishing in the country. A common theme was that everyone can strive to have a positive impact while they are on the river.

 Adjusting their plans from the fall to the spring, in response to weather and water conditions, NMBHA scheduled a “Stream Restoration Project and Turkey Hunt” work weekend in April 2022. Following a morning of turkey hunting, volunteers arrived at Big Bear Creek, completed a safety briefing and hiked a mile to the stream sections where several beaver dam analogs (BDAs) needed to be rebuilt after being blown out by high flows.

 With a long-term goal of eventually reintroducing the New Mexico State fish, the Rio Grande Cutthroat, to this stretch of stream, the BHA volunteers got to work gathering limbs, rocks, and sediment to build a solid foundation for two BDA structures. The team completed repairs to BDAs at two different locations. While this work was grueling for those hauling heavy buckets of sediment and transporting rocks and large logs, everyone found the work super rewarding. The volunteers found the immediate impact created by the BDAs especially rewarding as they could see the course of the stream change before their eyes. Even the youngest volunteers had a great time with kids, ages 2-10, getting their hands dirty hauling building materials and working in the stream.

 The next day, following another morning hunt (with a 9-year-old girl bagging her first gobbler), the crew helped the Forest Service clean up hundreds of feet of discarded hose that had been left in the riparian bottom after a post-fire reseeding effort. Working for several hours, the team removed a huge amount of old hose from the stream as well as any trash they found along the way. The team found it fantastic to see the piles of hose they removed stacked up and ready to be hauled off.

There remains a lot of work to be done but moving so much debris off the landscape was incredibly rewarding!

A volunteer shows off a sample of the hose debris removed from the creek, Note the recently burned forst behind (photo courtesy of NM BHA)

The New Mexico Chapter of BHA extend their sincere appreciation to AFF Fisheries Fund and the U.S. Forest Service partners that made this project possible, and to Broken Trail Distillery for donations of water and cocktails.  

Bonefish Spawning Site in the Florida Keys Discovered

Bonefish Pre-spawning Aggregate in Florida Keys. Photo Credit: Ian Wilson-Navarro

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) scientists have successfully located and documented a bonefish pre-spawning aggregation (PSA) in the Florida Keys. The discovery is the first of its kind in Florida waters and the culmination of a years-long search that utilized acoustic telemetry and the historical knowledge of veteran fishing guides.   

“This is a major discovery for the Florida Keys fishery,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie. “BTT has previously identified PSAs in several other countries, but Florida sites remained elusive—until now. By locating this PSA, our scientists will be able to learn more about where and how bonefish spawn in the Florida Keys, which is information critical to the sustained recovery of the population.”  

Over the course of the 2022-2023 bonefish spawning season, which spans from October to April, BTT Florida Keys Initiative Manager Dr. Ross Boucek and his team tracked 67 fish and logged more than 94,000 detections. Many of these detections were in the area where BTT research during the 2021-2022 season and reports from fishing guides indicated a likely PSA. Fourteen bonefish detected at the suspected PSA site had been tagged at distant flats, including two fish tagged 55 miles away.  

The newly discovered PSA comprises approximately 2,000 to 5,000 fish and is located three to four miles offshore along a reef. Previously documented PSAs in the Bahamas and Belize are located in nearshore waters.  

“It is encouraging to see that our bonefish population in Florida has recovered to a point now where big spawning aggregations can form,” said Boucek. “It’s our job to make sure that these fish can keep spawning for years to come. We can do this by protecting the habitats that support these aggregations, reducing human stresses from boat traffic and other on-water activities that could disrupt their spawn, and most importantly improving water quality. Harmful contaminants in the water have been shown to affect fish reproduction. We will continue to let science lead the way by determining what actions need to happen to keep bonefish spawning safe and happy.”  

At the site, BTT scientists also observed bonefish gulping air at the surface. Previous research shows that bonefish engage in this behavior before spawning to fill their swim bladders. At night, the fish dive hundreds of feet and rapidly ascend to the surface. The sudden change in pressure during the ascent makes their swim bladders expand, enabling the bonefish to release their eggs and sperm. After fertilization takes place, the hatched larvae drift in the ocean’s currents before settling in shallow sand- or mud-bottom bays, where they develop into juvenile bonefish. 

“As a Keys fishing guide for 53 years, with a science background, I took bonefish for granted—they were what I fished for every day,” said Captain Rick Ruoff, member of the BTT Board of Directors. “I thought that I knew all about the resource; until the population crashed. I discovered neither I, nor anyone else, knew where or how bonefish spawned—a major gap in our knowledge. BTT has come up with the amazing science to determine the dynamics of bonefish spawning. It has been a great lesson to me that we have located this missing piece of the puzzle. To have a healthy population and management goals, you have to understand all aspects of your resource. I am so proud to be part of the BTT science effort that has unraveled these bonefish mysteries, and will witness their rebound.”

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Over the past years, AFF has been proud to support the ongoing research of BTT and we look forward to continuing to do so.

Protecting Montana’s Treasured Smith River

Cave’s eye view of Montana’s Smith River. All photos courtesy of Montana Trout

David Brooks, Montana Trout Unlimited

Since it became the only river in Montana with a permit system in 1989, applications to float the Smith River have skyrocketed from less than 200 to roughly 15,000 over each of the last three years. And for good reason. With only one public put-in and take-out site for 59 miles of river, lucky permit holders and their crew experience the kind of rare, unplugged, multi-day river trip that has made the Smith one of the most coveted floats in the country. Those 59 treasured miles are dotted with scenic designated campsites, wind through deep and steep limestone canyons, offer up blue-ribbon wild trout fishing and wildlife watching, and entice floaters to hike public lands or explore age-old Native American cultural sites and artworks. It’s the kind of place people turn to for their favorite family vacation. Couples get engaged, married or celebrate their honeymoon along the river. And while the vast majority of floaters are private groups of friends and family, the guided trips that the permit system allows are at the heart of Montana’s robust outdoor recreation industry. Unless you just plain prefer concrete to dirt, water, trees, critters, and the big sky above, the Smith River earns its accolades every float season with thousands of people. Fortunately, it has also earned the concern and care of many of those people, along with the AFFTA grant program.

 As special as the Smith River and its surrounding public lands are to Montanans and visitors alike, it is not without its threats. The biggest of these threats is a large-scale copper mine in the headwaters of the Smith’s most important trout spawning tributary. Unfortunately, floaters aren’t the only ones who covet a permit related to the Smith. In 2014, Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) began evaluating a permit application by Tintina, a wholly owned subsidiary of an Australian parent company, to mine copper on private lands adjacent to Sheep Creek, a tributary that flows into the Smith directly across from the boat launch at Camp Baker, where river trips begin. The Black Butte Copper Mine would include miles of underground workings, ore processing facilities, waste and tailings storage, large-scale habitat disruption, and, likely, dewatering of Smith River tributaries along with acidic wastewater discharges. The copper in the region is found in ore that is also high in sulfide, which when exposed to air and water through mining, milling and storage can create acid mine discharge that lasts, well, forever. Because the risks of this mine are considerable for the present and future of this iconic fishery, Montana Trout Unlimited (MTU) began a campaign to protect the Smith from that fate. 

Since 2014 MTU has led a multifaceted campaign including educating the public and elected officials, connecting with business stakeholders, especially in the outdoor recreation community. Not surprisingly, Smith River lovers from Montana and beyond have joined this effort repeatedly, often, vigorously and in great numbers. AFFTA has been an early and multi-year investor and supporter of the work to protect the Smith River for all its many values and for the diverse people who love it. From hiring experts to help us identify technical concerns with mining copper in the headwaters of the Smith, to turning out thousands of public comments during the DEQ’s environmental analysis, AFFTA’s support has helped us successfully delay this harmful mine proposal more than once.  

Despite public opposition and expert analysis showing that the Black Butte mine risks degrading and diminishing the best source of cold, clean water that the Smith River depends on, DEQ issued the company a permit in 2020. With the unwavering support of fellow conservation groups (Trout Unlimited, Montana Environmental Information Center, American Rivers, EarthWorks, and EarthJustice), we challenged that permit in district court. The court delivered a huge win for the Smith River in Spring, 2022, by ruling in our favor and revoking the permit for this mine. We now stand ready to defend that win against the company and DEQ’s appeal to the Montana Supreme Court. 

As we defend our court victory, we are also promoting a mineral withdrawal on the public lands adjacent to Sheep Creek within the Smith watershed. If the US Forest Service establishes a mineral withdrawal, it would prevent Tintina or any other mining company from mining on those public lands. Tintina told its investors it plans expand on to Forest Service property in an effort to create a 50-year major mining complex and, to those ends, has already invested in staking more than 10,000 acres of mining claims on public lands. Because protecting the Smith River depends on protecting the surrounding land, especially National Forest, we’ve seen the same outpouring of support for the mineral withdrawal as we have for stopping the mine. In particular, Montana’s Tribes have joined in the request for a withdrawal to protect the wealth of cultural sites on public lands within the Smith watershed. Led by the Fort Belknap Indian Community and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, we recently received an endorsement of the withdrawal by the 13 Tribes that make up the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council.  

Without the support of AFFTA, along with many other individuals and businesses that cherish the Smith River, there would be a copper mine operating alongside its headwaters right now. Thank you! We aim to continue defending and protecting this sacred river and know that we will not be alone.

Grant Spotlight: Guiding for the Future

Fishing Outfitters Association of MontanA

Montana’s rivers are the lifeblood of the state’s environment and economy. They continue to face increased demands to supply water, recreation, and environmental services. These demands — particularly in the face of increasing periods of drought and other stressors — affect the rivers’ resilience and fisheries, as well as the potential for conflict among users.

The August 2016 closure of 183 miles of the Upper Yellowstone River and its tributaries in Montana to all water-based recreation was a wake-up call to the fishing industry and other river users that: 1) business as usual will not suffice, and 2) there is the need for certified guides and professionals to step up as advocates for, and stewards of, the rivers and watersheds they depend on.

The Guiding for the Future (G4F) program was developed by the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana to help address these challenges.

G4F is not about landing the most or biggest fish, but rather emphasizes knowledge, ethics, conservation, and a commitment to stewardship as core responsibilities of a professional guide. The program provides advanced levels of skill development for professional fishing guides and aims to inspire dedicated stewardship of aquatic ecosystems while increasing the knowledge and professionalism of guides, outfitters, and the fly-fishing industry as a whole.

AFF has been pleased to provide a grant and technical assistance in support of G4F. Several other states, inlcuding Maine, have expressed interest in adapting the program to their state.

Youth Leadership Program, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin

The Menominee Indian Reservation lies on 235,000 acres of ancestral lands in east-central Wisconsin. Recognizing the challenges faced by their community, including opioid addiction, poverty, and high rates of suicide, the community strives to restore harmony in their future leaders through the therapeutic experiences of nature to guide them to positive choices, and healthy lifestyles. Youth leadership activities include fly fishing, ice and spear fishing, rice harvesting, indigenous games, and others.

Thanks to the energies of Tribal member Bryant Waupoose and others, the Native Youth Leadership Program has received outstanding support for the fly fishing industry and AFF was delighted to provide a small grant award in Spring 2022. The following letter was received in July 2022.

Dear Fisheries Fund,

On behalf of Menikanaehkem (Rebuilders) a 501c3 we would like to thank you for your generous contribution of $1,500 dollars to our youth program.

Our healing journey this year was nothing short of amazing with many strides of growth in our future leaders. The purpose of this journey was to enhance the awareness of self through focusing on what we call the four therapy targets within (Mental, Physical, Spiritual, and Emotional.) We believe when our efforts are focused on the core of oneself it then can be projected out into our natural environment “how do you care about the environment if you don’t care about yourself.” Our tradition of a young man coming of age and traveling with a male mentor is also carried on through this journey to help us build a strong foundation for our youth to succeed.

This year’s journey was intentionally done through June 23rd to July 6th taking place when all of life on Mother Earth is at full bloom and the sun during this time is closest to us. This is a powerful time for our indigenous people.

We traveled from our homelands located in Northeast Wisconsin to Yellowstone National Park visiting other tribal lands along the path such as Lakota people in Sisseton, SD and the Shoshone and Arapaho people of the Wind River Reservation in WY. Our youth had a chance to spend time with inspirational people such as elders, tribal leaders, and grassroots organizers that are working on many issues we face including loss of language and culture, identity, and natural resources.

This unique opportunity allowed us to spend time on their homelands learning of the ways they are preserving their cultural practices, water resources, and sacred places. This also gave the opportunity to do some Fly-Fishing in some of the most beautiful places on turtle island. Our youth was able to meet a diverse group of individuals from backgrounds of fly-fishing and conservation and received encouragement on how this journey can raise awareness on the issues we face today.  

The support we received from AFFTA Fisheries Fund helped us tremendously with lodging, meals, fuel, and a few forgotten items our youth needed to do some of the activities in comfort such as hiking boots and clothing.

We greatly appreciate your support! Thank you for helping make this journey possible!

AFF Grant Update: Alaska Fish Habitat Mapping and Community Science Project

Two juvenile coho salmon captured in an under-documented stream in the Tongass National Forest. Photo by Mark Hieronymus.

The Trout Unlimited Alaska Fish Habitat Mapping and Community Science Project is an ongoing effort by TU staff and volunteers to expand Alaska’s Anadromous Waters Catalog by documenting previously unknown anadromous waters and species in Southeast Alaska. During the 2022 field season, the project engaged 18 volunteer observers for a total of 172 hours over 10 survey days and conducted 4 additional surveys without volunteer assistance. In aggregate, these surveys resulted in 16 AWC nominations for species and/or waters additions, with a net total of over 73,500 feet (nearly 14 miles) of anadromous habitat in 20 water bodies. With the 2022 nominations, the Project has added over 356,000 feet (over 67.4 miles) of waters/species to the AWC since its inception in 2018. For 2023, we will be increasing our outreach / engagement with area volunteers in order to expand the scale of the project and continue to add anadromous fish habitat use information to the AWC. 

Project Background

In Alaska, one of the first steps toward conserving fish habitat is ensuring a water body is documented on state records as supporting anadromous salmon, steelhead and char. The Fish Habitat Mapping and Community Science Project (the Project) is an ongoing effort by Trout Unlimited, Alaska Program (TU) staff and volunteers to collect and add fish habitat data to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) Catalog of Waters Important for Spawning, Rearing or Migration of Anadromous Fishes (AWC). The AWC specifies which water bodies are important to anadromous fish species and therefore afforded protection under Alaska state law; water bodies that are not specified within the AWC are not afforded that protection. The AWC currently lists approximately 8,000 streams, rivers and lakes throughout Southeast Alaska which have been specified as being important for anadromous fish – however, this is believed to represent only a fraction of the total number of water bodies with anadromous use. In addition to gaps in actual habitat listing, many of the water bodies currently listed in the AWC have incomplete species assemblages. Until these habitats are inventoried and assemblages fully accounted for, they are not afforded protection under State of Alaska law. Without a complete inventory of important anadromous fish habitat in the AWC, habitat remains vulnerable to incompatible uses and development, and state protections may not reflect the true extent of spawning, rearing or seasonal use habitat.

 While ADFG is tasked with surveying and updating the AWC, it is estimated that only 50% of the habitat used by anadromous species in the region is currently documented. Through the Project, TU has the opportunity to add observational data to the AWC and secure conservation measures for currently unprotected anadromous fish habitat, as well as add to the general body of knowledge regarding fish habitat distribution by surveying un- and under-documented water bodies in Southeast Alaska.

The Project also seeks to engage interested individuals and groups (anglers, fishing guides, fish enthusiasts, etc.) in a community science observation and data collection effort to add to the known anadromous fish resources of Alaska.

Project Leader Mark Hieronymus and a volunteer documenting minnow trap catch.

 2022 Field Season Results

The field season kicked off in May with three steelhead presence surveys. A persistent sea-level snowpack made streamside travel difficult at times, but we gathered enough data to nominate two new steelhead streams for inclusion in the AWC and extended anadromy in all three surveyed streams. In total, we nominated over 29,600 feet (~5.6 miles) of steelhead habitat to the AWC. During the course of our steelhead surveys, we also observed habitat use by anadromous Dolly Varden in one stream and rearing juvenile coho in another. These observations resulted in over 7,200 feet (~1.2 miles) of habitat nominated for Dolly Varden presence, and over 11,600 feet (~2.2 miles) nominated for coho rearing and presence.

After the steelhead run was over for 2022, we turned our attention to juvenile fish surveys. From early June to late September, we made observations of anadromous habitat use in 15 streams. Despite a 2-week hiatus in mid-July due to covid and several survey flights canceled due to persistent foggy conditions, we were able to collect enough observation information to add rearing coho salmon to five AWC-listed streams, representing over 20,200 feet (~3.8 miles) of habitat. We also nominated 10 new streams and one lake for addition to the catalog, for a total of over 11,400 feet (~2.2 miles) of new habitat. While all of the new habitat was nominated with the presence and rearing of juvenile coho, we also observed previous years’ pink salmon remains in the form of bone piles on three streams, and included pink salmon presence in our nominations as well.

In total, our 2022 surveys led to the nomination of over 73,500 feet of habitat for AWC inclusion in 20 individual waters within our prioritized survey area.

Cumulative Project Results

With the addition of the 2022 nominations, the running total of new waters and species use in existing waters added to the AWC by the Project now stands at over 356,400 feet (over 67.5 miles). Species added include steelhead (anadromous rainbow trout), sea-run (anadromous) cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden char, and pink and coho salmon.

The Community Science aspect of the Project has been steadily gaining momentum as well. Building upon the “pilot year” of 2021 which saw the assistance of 7 individual volunteers representing 83 volunteer-hours, this year we assisted by a total of 18 volunteers representing 172 volunteer-hours of fieldwork. Outreach to the local TU chapter for volunteers will continue, and we hope to have a large pool of enthusiastic data collectors ready to go for the 2023 field season.

 Looking Ahead to 2023

As we move into the winter of 2022/23, we will be re-prioritizing the waters within our survey area and ramping up our outreach and recruitment of volunteer observers for the 2023 field season.

The “Tongass 77” (T77) drainages will be the primary focus of the 2023 adult steelhead surveys, along with a few select streams in close geographic proximity to Juneau which have un- and under-documented anadromous habitat in need of documentation as well. Areas of interest for 2023 juvenile surveys include the un- and under-documented streams draining into western Lynn Canal from Boat Harbor south to Point Couverden, northern Icy Strait from Point Couverden to Excursion Inlet, eastern Stephens Passage from Slocum Inlet to Holkham Bay, northern Chichagof Island and the south side of Tenakee inlet from Crab Bay west to Bay Head, and water bodies accessible by the Juneau road system.

Special Thanks

We would like to thank the organizations whose support of fish habitat conservation made the 2022 AKFHMP season possible. Financial support from NOAA, the Evenor Armington Foundation, and the AFFTA Fisheries Fund as well as field support from Trout Unlimited Chapter #581 volunteer observers / data collectors contributed greatly to the success of the Project. We look forward to working with all of you again in the near future.

Notes

The Tongass 77 (T77) is a TU proposal to conserve select high-value anadromous watersheds in the Tongass National Forest. For more information about the T77, go to http://www.americansalmonforest.org/the-tongass-77.html. For more information about Trout Unlimited, Alaska Program’s Fish Habitat Mapping Project and to find out how you can help, please visit http://www.americansalmonforest.org/community-science.html. For more information on the AWC, go to https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/sf/SARR/AWC/index.cfm?ADFG=main.home.

Cascading effects of climate change on recreational marine flats fishes and fisheries

A Bahamas bonefish (photo by Whitney Tilt)

Danylchuk, A.J., Griffin, L.P., Ahrens, R. et al. Cascading effects of climate change on recreational marine flats fishes and fisheries. Environ Biol Fish (2022).

Tropical and subtropical coastal flats provide myriad ecological goods and services, including recreational fisheries focused on flats-inhabiting fishes such as bonefish, tarpon, and permit. The cascading effects of climate change have the potential to negatively impact coastal flats around the globe and to reduce their ecological and economic value.

In this paper, the authors consider how the combined effects of climate change, including extremes in temperature and precipitation regimes, sea level rise, and changes in nutrient dynamics, are causing rapid and potentially permanent changes to the structure and function of tropical and subtropical flats ecosystems. The authors then apply the available science on recreationally targeted fishes to reveal how these changes can cascade through layers of biological organization—from individuals, to populations, to communities—and ultimately impact the coastal systems that depend on them.

The paper identifies critical gaps in knowledge related to the extent and severity of these effects, and how such gaps influence the effectiveness of conservation, management, policy, and grassroots stewardship efforts.

New Mexico Supreme Court: "All Streams are Public"

Sign on the Pecos River in New Mexico (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)

On September 1, 2020, the New Mexico Supreme Court published its written opinion on a lawsuit regarding stream access in the state. The court's long-awaited formal opinion re-establishes the public's constitutional right to wade and fish in streams that flow through private property. It represents a decisive win for anglers and public-access advocates in New Mexico, and it brings some clarity to a complex issue that has sparked similar legal battles in other Western states.

“This is a good day for fishermen,” says Ben Neary, the conservation director for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, one of three petitioners in the lawsuit that was originally filed against the State Game Commission in 2020.

The court’s long-awaited opinion further clarifies its March 1 oral decision, which overturned a State Game Commission rule that allowed private landowners to exclude the public from streams flowing through their property. This unanimous decision, as many anglers interpreted it, effectively re-established the public’s constitutional right to wade and fish in these streams.

As Outdoor Life reported in August, 2022, however, private landowners and their supporters have argued in the time since that until the court released a written opinion, they maintained their view that wading and fishing in streams flowing through private property amounted to trespassing. We also learned first-hand that anglers lawfully fishing those streams were in a sort of legal limbo wherein they could still face intimidation and threats with little recourse.

The court’s issuance of a formal opinion on Sept. 1 officially closes the chapter on this period of uncertainty.

“We hold that the public has the right to recreate and fish in public waters,” the court wrote, “and that this right includes the privilege to do such acts as are reasonably necessary to effect the enjoyment of such right.”

Citation: “A Win for Anglers: New Mexico Supreme Court Issues Written Opinion Saying All Streams Are Public,” Dav Collins, Outdoor Life, September 1, 2022.

$30,000 in Grants to Partners

Brook trout release (photo: Native Fish Coalition)

In June, the AFFTA Fisheries Fund (AFF) Board awarded $31,500 to non-profits across the country in support of projects aimed at fisheries restoration, research, education, and assisting underserved communities. AFF is proud to have provided more than $265,000 in support of partner organizations working to enhance fisheries, restore habitat, and increase awareness.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers - New Mexico Stream Access Stewardship & Education

Access/Restoration/Education

Through targeted stream access restoration projects, an education campaign and collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, work to enhance the public’s understanding of how to thoughtfully recreate on New Mexico rivers and streams while being good stewards of our riparian and aquatic ecosystems and fisheries.

Bighorn River Alliance - Side Channel Reactivation Project (Montana)

Habitat Restoration

Based on the successful reactivation of two side channels in 2021 (which AFFTA Fisheries Fund provided financial support in 2020), work to reactivate 12 side channels that have become disconnected or are increasingly low functioning, restoring a total of 5.5 miles of critical spawning and juvenile rearing habitat.

Flathead Rivers Alliance - Fisheries Conservation and Stewardship Messaging (Montana)

Education/Responsible Recreation

Expand responsible recreation messaging, focusing on fisheries conservation and stewardship, surrounding the 219-mile Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River, targeting visitors and residents alike in northwest Montana.

Menikanaehkem - Menominee Reservation Youth Initiative (Wisconsin)

Education/Underserved Communities

Support for an Indigenous youth leadership initiative providing wellness to at-risk youth through the revitalization of their connection to nature using fly fishing as the "hook" to share the therapeutic experiences of the outdoors.

Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited - Downtown Trout (Connecticut)

Education/Underserved Communities

Launch "Downtown Trout" in the heart of Stamford, Connecticut, designed to increase outdoor participation among urban families by offering free, weekly fishing and environmental education opportunities for local youth and families.

Native Fish Coalition - Inter-Stream Movement of Sea-Run Brook Trout in Maine

Research/Management

Research to determine whether wild native sea-run brook trout in a multi-stream estuary system demonstrate inter-stream movement. As sea-run brook trout represent a unique life history strategy, migrating between freshwater, brackish water, and saltwater, this understanding is vital for proper management.

North Umpqua Coalition - Establishing an all-wild steelhead watershed (Oregon)

Species Restoration

Wild summer and winter steelhead in the North Umpqua River face threats from the climate change impacts of fire and drought. With the destruction of the Rock Creek Hatchery by wildfire, work to designate the river as a wild steelhead-only watershed.

Trout Unlimited -- Alaska Fish Habitat Mapping and Community Science Project

Research/Management

Provide continued support to survey water bodies in southeast Alaska for anadromous fish use and add these data to the Anadromous Waters Catalog (AWC) to ensure prioritized anadromous fish habitats receive basic protections under state law. At present, the AWC is incomplete, and many important species and water bodies are left unprotected.

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“We are delighted to provide support for these important projects while we also recognize the need to grow our grant funding as we were unable to provide support for many other quality projects,” observed Whitney Tilt, AFF Executive Director. “For 2022, we grew our grant funding by 30 percent, and we plan to keep that growth in 2023 and beyond thanks to support of the fly fishing industry.” 

Stand Up, One More Time, to Protect Bristol Bay!

An Alaskan brown bear enjoys a Bristol Bay sockeye salmon (W. Tilt photo)

We’re on the doorstep of the final public comment period with the EPA on the Clean Water Act Section 404(c) process that could see protections secured for the watersheds threatened by the proposed Pebble Mine project in southwest Alaska’s Bristol Bay region.  We believe that the comment period may commence before the end of this month.  I wanted to share a few things with you as sort of a “heads up” and more concrete information will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks. 

Get caught up by tuning in to these two podcasts to hear more details on the status of the EPA process and what we expect is coming this summer:

Waterside Chat on Wednesday, May 25.  Tom Sadler with the Marine Fish Conservation Network will host Dr. Sam Snyder with the Wild Salmon Center and myself to discuss the latest with the Bristol Bay campaign.  Click the link to register, then tune in live at 3pm Eastern.  If you can’t make that time, the event will be recorded to view at your convenience.

The Politics of Fish is the American Sportfishing Association’s bi-weekly podcast, hosted by ASA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Mike Leonard.  Click the link after May 27 to hear Mike talk with Dr. Sam Snyder from the Wild Salmon Center about the Clean Water Act process and protecting Bristol Bay.

If you’re getting the Action Alerts from Business for Bristol Bay and Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska, stand by for a social media toolkit that you can use to help spread the word about the public comment period and for a sport fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation sign-on letter. 

If you’re not part of the Bristol Bay network, contact Scott Hed at scott@sportsmansalliance4ak.org to join this effort. We’re going to give one final strong nudge to get this across the finish line!

For some inspiration and a reminder of just what we’ve been fighting for all these years, please take a moment to read It shouldn’t be ‘Groundhog Day’ in Bristol Bay, a recent editorial in the Anchorage Daily News written by a pair of young Alaskan outdoorsmen with boots on the ground and skin in the game in Bristol Bay. Connor and Cabot’s call to action will get you fired up to help us convince the EPA to finish the job in Bristol Bay.

“Clean Water Act protections for the Pebble deposit area, coupled with congressional legislation that permanently safeguards the region from large-scale mining, is the only thing that will end an ongoing whack-a-mole game of irresponsible mine proposals that compromise Bristol Bay’s fisheries and future, and go against the will of local Alaskans.”

Conservation & Industry Awards at 2022 IFTD

The Jim Range Conservation Leadership Award

Presented annually in recognition of exemplary efforts to advance the fisheries conservation and stewardship mission of AFFTA and the AFFTA Fisheries Fund. The award is named in honor of James "Jim" Range, a passionate champion of fish and wildlife who spent more than a decade as AFFTA's voice on Capitol Hill. A life-long sportsman, it was Range's bipartisan, cooperative style that made him as beloved as he was effective. Award seeks to recognize individuals in the AFFTA family who embody Jim Range’s commitment and passion on behalf of America’s fisheries and anglers.

2021 and 2022 Jim Range Conservation Leadership Award Winners Scott Hed (left) and Benny Blanco (right)

 2021 Jim Range Award: Scott Hed, Businesses for Bristol Bay

 So much of the conservation work we all get asked to do involves making something happen: Tearing down a dam; designating a Wild and Scenic River; creating a new Wilderness Area; reducing our carbon footprint. But sometimes, we end up fighting to prevent something from happening. For the past 15-20 years, at practically every flyfishing trade show, consumer show, or gathering, Scott Hed has been there, sitting behind a table handing out literature, or standing in front of a table explaining to someone why Pebble Mine in Alaska is a really bad idea. Environmental risks will always be present, but the threat of Pebble Mine is nearing its end, and Scott Hed has led the way in getting it there.

 2022 Jim Range Award: Benny Blanco, Guiding Flow TV

 An award-winning conservationist, tournament-winning fishing guide, ardent mentor and acclaimed television host, Captain Benny Blanco spends most of his time fighting for clean water initiatives to protect and restore Florida’s world class fisheries. Fed up with inaction, he set out to change the culture in the fishing industry and interjected himself into every available opportunity to speak up.  Setting the example by holding the industry accountable and asking his peers to get involved, he plays an instrumental role in forcing the topic of water quality to the forefront of conversation everywhere. He is a key ambassador for organizations like Captains for Clean Water, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and the Everglades Foundation, to name a few. When he isn’t in Tallahassee or Washington DC, you can find him on the pristine flats of Biscayne Bay or the farthest reaches of Everglades National Park. Guiding Flow TV was born from his deep passion for these places and the desire to empower our communities to become its stewards.

The Lefty Kreh Leadership Award

 Presented annually in recognition of exceptional efforts to further AFFTA’s mission of promoting the sustained growth of the fly-fishing industry. 

2022 Lefty Kreh Award, Diane Bristol, Simms

 As Vice President, Culture and Community, for Simms in Bozeman, Montana, Diane has been with Simms for over 28 years honing her experience in customer service, marketing, and management. Among her many hats, Diane focuses on Simms’ employees and community - continuing to build a culture at Simms that is as unique & special as the brand represents. Diane has been active in numerous organizations including AFFTA, Casting for Recovery, Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, and Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation, to name a few. In 2019, Bristol, along with Simms, was recognized by Greater Yellowstone Coalition for her role in helping to protect the Yellowstone Ecosystem with the successful passage of the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act.

Bristol Bay & Florida Bay-Support and Go Fishing

Support conservation efforts in Bristol Bay and Florida Bay and earn a chance at five great fly fishing adventures.

ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE WORK OF…