Council Opposes Back Forty Mine

Wisconsin Council of Trout Unlimited NONPROFIT ORG. 2515 Bigler Circle U.S. POSTAGE News and Views from Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Verona, WI 53593 PAID wicouncil.tu.org PERMIT NO. 1 MADISON, WI Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Council opposes Back Forty mine

The Wisconsin State Council of Trout Unlimited has taken a position in opposition to the Back Forty sulfide mine. The mine proposed by Aquila Resources would be located along the banks of the Menominee River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, roughly due east of Wausaukee, Wisconsin. At its closest point, the mine would be within 150 feet of the river. This would be an open-pit sulfide mine with a pit depth of up to 750 feet. The ore would be pro- cessed at the site using cyanide and create toxic waste that would need to be contained indefinitely. The mine is being engineered with a standard that it would need to withstand a 100-year flood event, even though just this past summer the area experienced a 500-year flood event. I think it is important to also note the mining company, Aquila Resources, is a foreign company based in Toronto, Canada. It is a penny stock selling for 18 cents a share at the time of this writing. The company has never operated this type of mine on its own. The Menominee is a world-class smallmouth bass fishery and one of the largest tributaries of Green Bay. The river hosts migratory steelhead Company Fishing Lines Fly Tight and brown trout and is home to a MENOMINEE RIVER AND ITS WORLD CLASS FISHERY AT RISK FROM OPEN-PIT SULFIDE MINE large population of sturgeon. Any acid produced by the mine and not The Menominee is a world-class smallmouth bass fishery and one of the largest tributaries of Green Bay. The river hosts contained could be devastating to migratory steelhead and brown trout and is home to a large population of sturgeon. Any acid produced by the mine and the fish populations. not contained could be devastating to the fish populations. Trout Unlimited cannot ignore the potentially devastating Trout Unlimited cannot ignore impacts to this large freshwater area and the fisheries it supports. the potentially devastating impacts to this large freshwater area and the Company in De Pere, Wisconsin. resident anglers on the Menominee comment on the mine proposal, as fisheries it supports. Tight Lines is one of Trout Unlimit- River. In addition to his role as he holds a master’s of environmen- What follows is an article by ed’s biggest supporters in Wiscon- manager at Tight Lines, Charlie is tal science and policy that focused Charlie Piette. Charlie is the shop sin. A large portion of its business also a guide on the Menominee Riv- specifically on water quality. manager at Tight Lines Fly Fishing involves guiding resident and non- er. He is also highly qualified to WITU remains Back Forty Mine: busy with A disaster in the making. legislative By Charlie Piette questionably one of the best Chemical reactions occur when smallmouth fisheries in the world, the waste rocks, or tailings, are ex- issues I’ll be very forward in expressing but it is so much more than that. In posed to air and water, forming sul- By Henry Koltz, TU National Trustee my opposition to the Back Forty the post-dam era, the river is in as furic acid. Over time, the sulfuric Mine, and yes, I’m tremendously bi- pristine of a state as it will ever be. acid continues to eat away at the High-capacity well bill ased. As a fly-fishing guide, I have It supports a highly diverse commu- tailings, leaching out toxic heavy Wisconsin Trout Unlimited took the pleasure of spending a signifi- nity of native fishes, insects, plants metals. During the life of a mine, a hard stance in opposition to SB cant portion of my time working on and birds, all of which depend exclu- continuous exposure to water via 76/AB 105. This bill was identical to the Menominee River. I also hap- sively on the clean water to thrive. rain over the pit leads to a poison- a bill which had moved through the pen to have a masters of environ- Anyone remotely tuned in to wa- ous liquid known as acid mine Wisconsin Legislature last session, mental science and policy that ter quality issues knows that sulfide drainage. When this hazardous liq- and which actually passed both focused specifically on water quali- mining can be dangerous. Here are uid contaminates surrounding sur- houses, but which did not become ty. Needless to say, those two facets the basics. In the case of the Back face waters, the end results are law on technical grounds. The two combined make me extremely con- Forty Mine, the main metals at play catastrophic for everything in its versions of the bill which passed cerned for the future of the river if are gold, copper and zinc. The hard path. Even a slight alteration of the through both houses were not iden- this mine becomes a reality. rock containing these metals is sul- present water chemistry caused by tical, and were not reconciled, so Though the river is generally fide bearing. When buried under- the mine would have unknown, and they were not signed into law. pretty quiet, smallmouth bass fanat- ground, they are typically harmless. quite possibly devastating, effects This year a similar bill was ics know about the Menominee. In Through mining, these rocks are on the flora and fauna of the lower moved through both houses. It al- fact, many devotees make an annual taken out of the ground and the Menominee all the way out into lows high-capacity well permit hold pilgrimage to fish these beautiful metals are extracted with a process Green Bay. fighters. I’ll spare the flowery hyper- that uses cyanide. That is just the Please see MINE, page 26 bole. The Menominee River is un- beginning of the danger. Please see WELLS, page 13 PagePage 2 Wisconsin Trout FallJuly 2017 2006

Wisconsin TU Chapters, Presidents, and Websites Aldo Leopold (#375): Mike Stapleton, W8002 Whitetail Drive, Pard- eeville, WI 53954; (608) 742-3665; [email protected]; aldoleopold.tu.org Antigo (#313): Scott Henricks, 213 Mary St., Antigo, WI 54409-2536 (715) 623-3867; [email protected] WILD RIVERS Blackhawk (#390): Terry Vaughn; 4710 E. Creek Road, Beloit, WI 53511; (608) 362-4295; [email protected]; Bayfield Douglas NORTHWOODS www.BlackhawkTU.org Central Wisconsin (#117): Laura Tucker; N5424 Sunny Hill Rd, Sax- Iron Ashland eville, 54976 (920) 622-5401; [email protected]; cwtu.org, Vilas Coulee Region (#278): Curt Rees; W5190 Birchwood Lane, La- Burnett Washburn Crosse, WI 54601; [email protected]

Sawyer Price Florence www.CouleeRegionTU.org Oneida Forest Fox Valley (#193): Nate Ratliff, 199 Taylor Street, Little Chute, MARINETTE Polk Rusk 54140 (920) 851-0502; [email protected]; Barron Marinette www.foxvalleytu.org ANTIGO GREEN BAY Lincoln Frank Hornberg (#624): Matt Salchert, 1800 Minnesota Ave., Ste- Taylor Langlade WOLF vens Point, WI 54481 (715) 321-1394; [email protected]; RIVER St. Croix Chippewa www.Hornberg-TU.org Dunn WISCONSIN Menominee RIVER VALLEY Oconto Green Bay (#083): Staush Gruszynski, 1715 Deckner Ave., Green OCONTO WI CLEAR Marathon Bay, 54302 (920) 216-3793; [email protected]; Shawano RIVER Clark WATERS Door greenbaytu.org Pierce Eau Claire SHAW-PACA Kewaunee Harry & Laura Nohr (#257): Tim Fraley, 2 Pagham Court, Madison, Pepin Wood Waupaca WI 53719; hm:(608) 271-1733; c:(608)220-0762; Portage Buffalo Outagamie Brown FOX [email protected]; www.NohrTU.org Jackson FRANK HORNBERG VALLEY Kiap-TU-Wish (#168): Tom Schnadt, 2174 Commonwealth Ave., St. Trempealeau Manitowoc Waushara Winnebago Paul, MN 55108; 651-245-5163; [email protected]; KIAP-TU-WISH Calumet LAKESHORE Adams CENTRAL www.kiaptuwish.org Monroe La Crosse Juneau WISCONSIN Marquette Lakeshore (#423): Myk Hranicka, N2766 Hopeman Heights, Waldo, Sheboygan Green WI 53093; 920-627-5779; [email protected]; www.Wisconsin- Lake Fond du Lac TU.org/Lakeshore Vernon ALDO LEOPOLD Marinette (#422): Dale Lange, N2095 CTH BB, Marinette, WI; 715- Dodge Ozaukee Columbia 582-1135; [email protected], marinettecounty.tu.org. Richland Sauk Washington Northwoods (#256): Jay N. Joppa; 8570 Oak Park Circle, Minocqua, Crawford WI 54548; (715) 499-1022; [email protected]; COULEE Dane SOUTHEASTERN Jefferson Waukesha Milwaukee northwoods.tu.org REGION Iowa WISCONSIN Grant SOUTHERN WISCONSIN Oconto River (#385): Tom Klatt; 1677 Forest Glen Drive Green Bay, WI 54304 (920) 621-9266; [email protected]; ocontorivertu.com Rock Walworth Racine Lafayette Green Shaw-Paca (#381): Nate Sipple, 931 E. Fifth St., Shawano, WI

HARRY & Kenosha 54166; (715) 304-7581; [email protected]; Wisconsin- LAURA NOHR TU.org/ShawPaca; www.facebook.com/shawpacatu Southeastern Wisconsin (#078): Todd Durian; 4724 W. Blue Mound BLACKHAWK Road, Milwaukee, 53186; [email protected]; 414-403-5670; SEWTU.org; facebook.com/southeastwisconsintroutunlimited Southern Wisconsin (#061): Matt Sment; 608-218-4133; fis- [email protected]; P.O. Box 45555, Madison, WI 53744- 5555; www.swtu.org Wild Rivers (#415): Bob Rice 74355 Kaukamo Road, Iron River, WI 54847; (715) 292-1143; [email protected] www.wisconsintu.org/wildrivers Wisconsin Clear Waters (#255): Joe Knight 5555 Northwoods Ct Eau Claire, WI 54703 (715) 832-8358 [email protected]; www.WisconsinTU.org/ClearWaters Visit WITU online at: Wisconsin River Valley (#395): Doug Brown, R4800 Timber Lane, Ringle, WI 54471; [email protected]; 715-899-0024; wicouncil.tu.org www.wrvtu.org Wolf River (#050): Andy Killoren, N1493 Hwy 45, Fremont, WI 54940; (920) 667-5385; [email protected]; WolfriverTU.org State Council Leadership Are you getting emails from TU? State Chair: Linn Beck, 160 W. Education: Bob Haase, W7949 19th Ave., Oshkosh, WI 54902 Treptow Ln., Eldorado, WI 54932 If you are currently not receiving news and event-related email (920) 216-7408; (920) 922-8003 (H); messages from your chapter, the state council and TU National, [email protected] [email protected] then you are truly missing out on what’s happening at all three lev- Vice Chair: Mike Kuhr, 6103 Friends of WITU and Watershed els. TU National manages the mailing list for the council and chap- Queensway, Monona, WI 53716; Access Fund: Doug Brown, R4800 (414) 588-4281; Timber Ln., Ringle, WI 54471 ters, so update your address by going to www.tu.org, log in, then go [email protected] (715) 899-0024; to “Email Preferences.” You can also call 1-800-834-2419 to make Secretary: Tom Lager, 1700 Spring [email protected] these changes, or to ask questions about making the changes via Hill Ct., Neenah, WI 54956; Legal Counsel: Open the web site. (920) 540-9194; Legislative Chair: Henry Koltz [email protected] Membership: Chair Paul Kruse, Treasurer: Gary Stoychoff, 1326 500 Saint Jude St., Green Bay, WI 14th Ave., Green Bay, WI 54304 54303 (920) 494-4220); WISCONSIN TROUT [email protected]; [email protected] Vol. 29, No. 4— Fall 2017 National Trustee: Henry Koltz, National Leadership Council 2300 N. Mayfair Rd., Ste. 1175, Representative: Kim McCarthy, Wisconsin Trout is the official publication of the Wisconsin Council of Milwaukee, WI 53226 (414) 331- 736 Meadowbrook Ct., Green Trout Unlimited and is distributed to the members of Wisconsin’s 21 5679 (H); [email protected] Bay, WI 54313 (920) 434-3659; TU chapters. Non-member subscriptions are $12.50/year. Publication Vice Chair, Central Region: [email protected] dates are the first weeks of January, April, July and October. Dead- To m L a g e r , s e e a b o v e Trout In the Classroom Coordina- lines for articles and advertisements are the 10th of December, March, Vice Chair, Northeast Region: tor: Greg Olson, 16370 Division June and September. For a current advertising rate sheet, contact the Doug Erdmann, 2418 Woodview St., Lakeland MN, 55043; editor. Lane, Marinette, WI 54143; 715- [email protected] 735-7407; Veterans Services Partnership Co- Photo/article contributions, letters to the editor and advertisements [email protected] ordinator: Mike Kuhr are welcomed. Submit to: Water Resources: Bob Obma, Todd Franklin, Editor Vice Chair, Southern Region: Jim 12870 West Shore Drive, Moun- 2515 Bigler Circle Wierzba, 2817 Country Club tain, WI 54149 (715) 276-1170 (H) Verona, WI 53593 Drive, Mequon, WI 53092 (262) [email protected] (608) 516-3647 238-0282; [email protected] Website: Brandon Schmalz, 1229 [email protected] Vice Chair, Western Region: Gary Goss Ave., Menasha, WI 54952; Horvath, 623 W. Pine Street, River 920-851-8129; Brandon.schmalz State Council Officers Falls, WI 54806 (715)425-8489; @plexus.com Executive Committee includes officers and vice chairs [email protected] Women’s Initiatives: Awards: Bill Heart, 29450 Verners Heidi Oberstadt, 456 Wadleigh St., Linn Beck, Chair Mike Kuhr, Vice Chair Road, Ashland, WI 54806; (715) Stevens Point, WI 54481; 715-573- 209-0431;[email protected] 5104; [email protected] Tom Lager, Secretary Gary Stoychoff, Treasurer Communications: Open Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 3 Chairman’s Column Summer fades into fall Our efforts shift with the seasons, but still focus on habitat, kids, fundraising and legislative issues. By Linn Beck, Council Chair all this preparation, we wouldn’t be able to do the things that are very Wow, where did the time go this near to our hearts: Restoring our summer? It seems like yesterday streams and keeping the chapter that it was early May and I was try- traditions going. For those of you ing to figure out what weekends who helped out at work days this were going to work out to get out past year, take satisfaction in a job and fish, and now by the time you well done. read this we are at the close of the As the trout season ends and you trout season. are cleaning your gear and getting I hope everyone got in their fair your fly-tying stations prepared and share of fishing. Based on the work picking out your winter reading ma- day reports I have seen, it seems like terial, please think about a few a lot of you were able to help out at things. your chapter work days. I know I First, we are about to get into the was able to make a couple work most unfavorable season of the days and it felt great to get wet and year: The legislative sessions. Please work up a sweat. What a great ex- take time to read our emails regard- cuse to get out and fish before and ing contacting your representatives after the work is done. It’s kind of about important issues such as the like killing two birds with one stone. bill regarding sulfide ore mining in Now the fun begins all over Wisconsin. Contact your represen- again, as we get back in the swing of tatives, neighbors and anyone else things with our chapter meetings. who will listen and let them know STATE COUNCIL CHAIR LINN BECK We’re all planning our chapter ban- this is a very bad idea. quets to make the money to fund Second, the Wisconsin Trout Un- our work days. We’re all working on limited banquet is just around the keep doing all the great work we do. youth fishing. They will remember setting up great programs for our corner, on the first Saturday of Feb- Finally, keep up the great work you for it. chapter meetings. ruary, at the Premier Best Western with our youth. It is great to hear Thanks for all you do. This all sounds like a lot of work, in Oshkosh. Please consider attend- from parents on how much fun their Tight Lines. but it really is the fun part. Without ing and supporting WITU so we can kids had at your events. Take a

2013 American Angler, Bothwell now recants his original thesis: LETTERS “I no longer believe the problem is North American streams is the result of it (dydimo) being moved around…Scientists are now convinced Dydimo “rock snot” blooms not spread by fishermen that dydimo lives in many streams, but blooms only when the water has far less than the normal amount of phosphorus…The most damaging I read with interest the article in the Summer 2017 Issue of Wisconsin dydimo episode in the United States seems to have been on Rapid Creek Trout by Kim McCarthy about the dydimo blooms in Rapid Creek in the in South Dakota, where a six-mile bloom dramatically impacted a blue South Dakota Black Hills. Although Kim was correct to point out the ribbon brown trout fishery. In 2007 and 2008, Bothwell and other scien- dangers of invasive species, the example of dydimo ("rock snot") as an in- tists added phosphorus to sections of Rapid Creek. Sure enough, the vasive species in North America and the spread of dydimo by fishermen dydimo mats shrank.” is incorrect, according to the latest research independently performed by In Freshwater Biology (2012) 57, 641-653 Bothwell now writes, “The a research team in the USA and another in New Zealand. blooms were present only in rivers where average dissolved P was very The National Science Foundation published an article (http://ti- low. Didymo in higher nutrient waters had higher cell division rates, nyurl.com/yaawsuju) about a study in this same Rapid Creek, which was shorter stalks, and did not form blooms…the blooms are caused by low published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. “In a study fund- nutrients in the overlying water, which promotes excessive stalk produced by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the State of South Da- tion. Subsequent surveys, experiments and observations in New Zealand kota Carbon Scientist fund, Sundareshwar and colleagues revealed that have all been consistent with low nutrients (specifically low P) driving the didymo is able to concentrate phosphorus from the water.” blooms.” In layman’s terms, dydimo forms “rock snot” filamentous mats as an Furthermore, didymo has been found in core borings of lake sedi- adaptation to the low phosphorus concentrations in the water. These ments dated back to 1218 by the presence of ash from a volcanic erup- mats are able to concentrate the phosphorus required for dydimo growth. tion. So I believe and I suggest that the research shows dydimo blooms in For “rock snot” to occur, there also must be abundant iron in the water, North America are unlikely to be due to recent transplantation of dydi- which is required for the mats to concentrate the phosphorus. Without mo by fisherman. Rather, dydimo was spread centuries ago and only re- both low phosphorus and iron, dydimo cannot form mats. cently bloomed due to low phosphorus conditions as a result of “The ability of the mats to store phosphorus is tied to the availability eliminating phosphorus in detergents, cleaning agents and lawn fertilizer. of iron in the water.” I think this recent discovery makes more sense than the old theory Didymo cells adsorb, or condense on their surfaces, both iron and that all of a sudden dydimo sprang due to anglers boots when anglers phosphorus. Then bacterial processes in the mat interact with iron to in- have been using these same rivers for more than a century with no dydi- crease the biological availability of phosphorus. mo blooms. The process results in abundant phosphorus for cell division, “and Dr. Henry Kanemoto hence,” says Sundareshwar, “resolution to the paradox of didymo blooms in oliogotrophic streams and rivers.” Kathy Kilroy and Max Bothwell have independently confirmed the findings in the rivers of New Zealand that have Dydimo blooms. Kilroy wrote an article for Wailogy, the New Zealand Freshwater Science Jour- nal titled “What causes didymo blooms (“rock snot”) in NZ rivers?” (http://tinyurl.com/y7zl9pey) Ironically, Max Bothwell is the Canadian scientist who first blew the whistle (incorrectly, as it turns out) on dydimo and felt boots. Indepen- dent of the South Dakota Sundareshwar team, Kilroy and Bothwell were studying the New Zealand didymo-affected Waitaki River. Kilroy and Bothwell confirmed that “the blooms are caused by low nutrients in the overlying water, which promotes excessive stalk production. Subsequent surveys, experiments and observations in New Zealand have all been consistent with low nutrients (specifically low P) driving the blooms.” Kilroy and Bothwell published their findings in The Journal of Phycol- ogy 47: 981-989; Freshwater Biology 57: 641-653; and Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 69: 1723-1727. As a result of these new findings, Max Bothwell, who wrote an influen- tial article that blamed angler’s felt-soled boots as causing dydimo spread, has now reversed himself and said that anglers’ boots are not re- sponsible. His original article, “On the Boots of Fishermen,” can be found at http://tinyurl.com/y8tj6yze. Bothwell now believes that dydimo has been in North American waters and that it is a change in water chemistry, specifically lower phosphorus, levels that has caused dydimo blooms. In an article in July-August Page 4 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Nominations sought for 2018 State Council awards The Wisconsin State Council of TU believes it general membership, so please take time to tell If you have any questions about an award, feel is important to recognize the outstanding efforts our awards committee of individuals, groups or free to contact an award committee member. of our members and the broader conservation others you feel qualify for one of our awards. Their contact information is on page 2. community and has presented a number of Nominations, including a short narrative, The awards committee includes Bill Heart, awards since 1983. should be submitted to the committee at least 60 Mike Kuhr, Todd Franklin and Henry Koltz. Nominations are now being taken for the days before the annual banquet. Successful recipi- Send nominations to Mike Kuhr at awards to be presented this February at the annu- ents will be notified by the committee at least 15 [email protected]. al meeting and banquet in Oshkosh. days prior to the banquet. Award nominations come from the WITU Wisconsin TU State Council Award Criteria Resource Award of Merit Robert Hunt Resource Professional Award Recipient can be a person, corporation or organization and may be a Recipient must be a state fish manager or other conservation professional nonmember. Award can be presented posthumously. who has shown concern for the trout resource over and above his or her Award is given for outstanding contributions to conservation (does not normal duties. need to be given for trout or salmon contributions). Corporate Sponsor Award Gold Trout Award for Service Recipient must be a business or corporation that has shown outstanding Recipient must be a member in good standing of Wisconsin TU. support of the State Council through financial contributions or by Award will be presented to any person who has been an officer of the State providing other support for TU’s activities. Council, a national director, or any committee chairperson. Certificate of Appreciation This individual must have served at least one year of his or her term. Recipient can be a member of Wisconsin TU or be someone indirectly Silver Trout Award for Chapter Merit related to the trout and salmon resource. Recipient can be someone in an Recipient must be a WITU chapter that has restored, enhanced, or organization for his or her efforts within that organization. protected Wisconsin’s trout or salmon resource. The end result of the project must demonstrate a long-term commitment or benefit to the trout Tomorrow’s Angler Award or salmon resource. Individuals who have significantly contributed to youth education. The total value of the project, including the value placed on man-hours and materials, must total at least $3,500. SPECIAL AWARDS: The project must involve trout and salmon resources available to the Jeffrey Carlson Leadership Award public to fish. Projects for private use only do not qualify. Recipient must be a WITU member who, following the example of Jeff’s Gold Net Award work over many years on coaster brook trout restoration, has taken a Recipient must be an individual who has been a member in good standing leadership role on a major stream project, or preserved or restored a of WITU for a period of at least five years. species in a body of water. Recipient must have participated in at least one major state or chapter Unsung Valuable Trouter fundraising event in the last five years. Reel Partner Award Recipient must have worked on or attended at least five TU resource projects in the last five years. NOTES: All award nominations must be submitted to the awards committee Joan and Lee Wulff Award for Outstanding Conservation as a written narrative describing the candidates’ accomplishments, be that Leadership nominee an individual, chapter or other. All award recipients will be asked to Recipient to be an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service in be present at the awards banquet. The judgment and selection of all award the field of conservation. WITU’s Executive Committee will choose the recipients will be made by the awards committee, and their selections will be recipient. The traveling award, a framed collection of flies tied by Lee final. Wulff, remains with the recipient for one year.

YEAR AWARD OF MERIT GOLD TROUT SILVER TROUT GOLD NET JOAN & LEE WULFF HUNT PROFESSIONAL CORP./BUSINESS CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION 1984 Harold Starkweather Roger Fairbanks Ojibleau Bob Brunsell Duke Andrews Tom Flesch, Bob Maier, Tom Mertens, Bob Burnham, Bob Brunsell, Wally Cooper, Duke Andrews, Jim Spalding, Cap Buettner & GBTU 1985 Jim Addis Ron Koshoshek Shaw-Paca Mitch Bent Prof. Jack Heaton Arling Erickson, Lee Parker, Cy Sendalbach, Tom Poullett, Tom Sopkovich, Phil Orth, Sheldon's (Mepps) 1986 Bob Zimmerman Larry Meicher & Green Bay Jim Bereza Frank Pratt Rep. Sharon Metz, Frank Pratt, Walli Arts, Bob Retko Larry Worth, Earl Little, Glen Cox & Tim Johnson 87 Tom Flesch Dan Harmon Antigo Lowell Genrich Max Johnson Connie Rohlman 1988 Richard Osborn Kim McCarthy & Fox Valley Jim Bereza Tim Larson Rep. James Holperin, Jim Curray, Jerry Weatherwax Bud Jordahl & Joe Knight 89 Mitch Bent Bob Heding Southern WI Bob Worth Gene VanDyck Jim Bereza, Herb Hintze & Gordon King 1990 Bob Hunt Jim Bereza Aldo Leopold Dick Krays Scott Stewart 1991 Larry Claggett Rich Wachowski & Green Bay Dennis Orgemen Duke Andrews Anne Dirkman & Tip Bagstad Steve Born 1992 Nash Williams Herb Buettner Wolf River Marlin Spindler Dave Vetrano Mike Syverson, Carrol Besadny & Forrest Grulke 1993 -- Jerry Weatherwax Aldo Leopold Jim Bereza Tim Larson 1994 [No banquet this year] 1995 George Vukelich Bob Eastlund, Harley Frank Hornberg John Cantwell Bob Boucher Erbs & Jim Hlaban 1996 Richard Knitter David Newhouse Kiap-TU-Wish Forrest Grulke Bud Jordahl Marty Engel Bob Reynolds & Sen. Robert Cowles 1997 Lee Kernen Bob Heim John Bethke Steve Born Duke Andrews 1998 Herb Buettner Bill Sherer WI River Valley Herb Hintze Kathleen Falk Scott Stewart, Andy Morton & Ken Johnson 1999 Dr. Christine Thomas Jeff Smith Kiap-TU-Wish Jeff Preiss Jeff Carlson Jim Holzer, John Nelson & Stu Grimstad Al Niebur 2000 -- Tony Treml Harry & Laura Nohr Larry Doebert Martin Hanson Roger Kerr 2001 Terry Kohler Fred Young Central WI Greg Vodak John Welter Sen. Kevin Shibilski, Dick Prine, David Beckwith & Ron Seely 2002 Elward Engle John Bethke & Coulee Region Gary Stoychoff George Meyer Larry Kreise John Sauers, Scott Watson, Steve Galoff & Stu Grimstad Connie Walker for WI Public Radio 2003 Dave Ladd Chuck Steudel Ojibleau Bill Pielsticker Dan Flaherty Kris Stepenuck, Peggy Compton & Mike Reiter 2004 Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa & Dave Fritz Wild Rivers Gordon Braun Dale Druckrey Jeff Hastings & Eric Schubring for WOJB-FM Forest County Potawatomi Jim Radtke 2005 Larry Meicher Jeff Smith Harry & Laura Nohr Bill Heart -- Al Stranz Rep. Du Wayne Johnsrud & Sen. Neal Kedzie 2006 Herb Behnke Larry Kriese Lakeshore & Ocooch Don Pluemer -- Ed Culhane 2007 Dennis Vanden Bloomen Bill Pielsticker Blackhawk Del Schwaller Peg Lautenschlager Scott Toshner Green Bay Chapter, Cindy Koperski, & Rep. Tom Petri 2008 -- Dan Wisniewski Southeastern WI Dave Patrick Herb Hintze John Sours Jeff and Jenna Phillips family 2009 Clint Byrnes Todd Hanson Southern WI Tim Meyer Jim Hlaban Tim Larson & Dave Brum Kathleen Falk & Ken Anderson 2010 WI League of Conservation Voters Bill Heart Kiap-TU-Wish Steve Hill Chuck Beeler Rob Herman Paul Smith, Paul Krahn, & Greg Wahl 2011 John Welter Bob Haase Central WI Rick Kyte Topf Wells Henry Quinlan & George Boronow Tight Lines Fly Fishing Co. Alistair Stewart & Fairmount Minerals Co. 2012 Dan Wisniewski Henry Koltz Aldo Leopold John Gremmer Paul Kruse Shawn Sullivan Fontana Sports Specialties Save Copper Creek, Al Niebur, & Bob Micheel 2013 Kim McCarthy Dale Lange Southern WI Rich Vetrano Scott Grady Cliff Sebero & Brent Bergstrom Hayward Fly Fishing Co. Tom Gawle, Sen. Bob Jauch, & Sen. Dale Schultz 2014 Bill Heart Winston Ostrow Oconto River Watershed Rich Erickson Tina Murray Todd Mau & Pat Sutter Cabelas All Noll, Rick Bauer, & Brian Larson 2015 Henry Koltz Doug Brown Northwoods Dave Seligman Stu Grimstad Tracy Hames & Tony Pillow WI Orvis stores Jim Ott, Brandon Scholz, Dale Dahlke, & Dave Carlson 2016 Mike Staggs Heidi Oberstadt Fox Valley Joe Bach Scott Stewart Sue Reinecke & Dave Seibel St. Croix Rod Co. Jeff Butler & Bob Swanson 2017 -- Linn Beck Marinette County Tom Lager Gene Van Dyck Ben Heussner, Marty Engel Damian Wilmot Fly By Night Greg Dietl, Jim Erickson, Dave Zueg

OTHER AWARDS 1985 Scientific Contribution Award -- Steve Field 1989 Scientific Contribution Award -- Eddie Avery 1991 Headwaters Award -- Clint Byrnes 1996 Aldo Leopold Leadership Award -- Todd Hanson 1998 Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Forrest Grulke 1999 Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Mitch Bent 2003 Jeffrey Carlson Leadership Award -- Roger Widner; Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Jim Bereza 2004 Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Jim Hlaban; Reel Partners Award -- Oakbrook Chapter TU & Elliott Donnelley Chapter TU 2005 Jeffrey Carlson Leadership Award -- Pete Esser 2006 Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Dan Holland; Reel Partners Award -- River Alliance of WI 2007 Jeffrey Carlson Leadership Award -- Bill Heart; Aldo Leopold Leadership Award -- Bill Pielsticker 2008 Jeffrey Carlson Leadership Award -- John Welter; Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Sarah Sanford 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award -- Larry Meicher; Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Bob Gennrich 2010 Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Randy Arnold 2012 Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Eric Rauch 2013 Jeffrey Carlson Leadership Award -- Kent Johnson 2014 Jeffrey Carlson Leadership Award -- Mike Barniskis; Reel Partners Award -- Steve Born, Tom Krauskopt, Bob Selk, Fred Wolf, & Scott Stokes; Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Ivan Nohavica 2015 Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Stan Strelka and Jim Wierzba; Tomorrow's Angler Award -- Bob Haase, Todd Templen, Linn Beck 2016 Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Mike Stapleton, John Gribb; Reel Partners Award -- Jennifer Giegerich, Erin O'Brien & Helen Sarakinos 2017 Most Unsung Valuable Trouter Award -- Bob Traczyk; Tomorrow's Angler Award -- Wayne Parmley Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 5 2017 TUDARE Project Bus Tour coming soon Annual tour is set for Tuesday, October 17, departing from Winona, Minnesota

A group of innovative and suc- off. We’ll also invite the designers, cessful southeast Minnesota trout contractors and landowners to join stream restoration projects will be us and talk about the work they’ve featured on the 2017 Project Bus done.” Tour on October 17. Minnesota Each year the bus tour will focus Trout Unlimited, Hiawatha and on projects in a different part of the Win-Cres chapters of TU, the Min- Driftless Area. nesota DNR and other partners The tour will meet at the Wino- have cooperated in building a na Fleet Farm parking lot (High- strong coldwater restoration pro- ways 61 and 43) at 8 a.m. and return gram, with projects notable for their by 5 p.m. Project sites on Rush and impacts on many species, including Pine Creeks near Rushford, Mill trout. Creek near Chatfield and Garvin “We’re excited to bring interest- Brook near Stockton will be fea- ed people from all over the Drift- tured. There is no admission fee less Area to see these projects and and lunch will be provided. Reser- take good ideas home,” said Jeff vations are necessary as seating is Hastings, project manager for TU’s limited. For questions or reserva- ENJOYING A LITTLE SOCIAL TIME BETWEEN STREAMS Driftless Area Restoration Effort tions, contact Duke Welter at dwel- Project sites on Rush and Pine Creeks near Rushford, Mill Creek near Chatfield (DARE). “New designs and meth- [email protected]. Signups for the charter and Garvin Brook near Stockton will be featured. There is no admission fee and ods are changing the face of resto- bus tour are now under way. lunch will be provided. Reservations are necessary, as seating is limited. ration and these projects show them Camp American Legion Veterans Service Partnership event leaves lasting impression. Photos by Eagle Rock Camp Rock by Eagle Photos TYING A BLUEGILL FLY ISN’T THAT DIFFICULT, AFTER ALL Terry Cummings of the Northwoods Chapter helps a young camper with constructing the perfect bluegill fly. By Mike Kuhr 18 adults and 26 kids, participated in the four-day event. Marilla, being This past August, nine military familiar with TU and our work with families gathered for an adventure- Project Healing Waters, reached out filled week at Camp American Le- to Wisconsin TU and asked us to gion near Minocqua. Wisconsin TU lead fly-fishing and fly-tying activi- volunteers from four different chap- ties on day three. ters provided the expertise on “fly We started the morning working fishing day.” The camp offered ac- with the children while the adults

tive troops, National Guard, reserv- were doing other activities. The re- Camp Rock by Eagle Photos ists and veterans the opportunity to treats often break up the adults and reconnect with and reintegrate with kids for a period of time during the their families in a low-stress envi- day. This creates more family bond- CASTING LESSONS PART OF THE PROGRAM ronment situated in the heart of ing opportunities during mealtime Laura MacFarland of the Northwoods Chapter, Henry Kanemoto of the Wisconsin’s famed “Northwoods.” and in the evenings where everyone Wisconsin River Valley Chapter and Bill Sherer of We Tie It Fly Shop and the This retreat was the brainchild of can come together and share their Northwoods Chapter, mentor youth anglers at Camp American Legion. Lynn Marilla, a TU volunteer in her daily experiences. home state of North Carolina and Terry Cummings and Dave Tip- founder and “Chief Executive ple of the Northwoods Chapter and gave the kids a brief casting lesson. rod and reel outfits. Camper” of Eagle Rock Camp Renee Sagal of the Aldo Leopold Soon it was time to give the new Volunteers and family members (ERC), a non-profit organization Chapter set up fly-tying stations for flies a try. Volunteers Henry all gathered in the lodge for lunch serving military families in North the kids in the morning. WITU Ed- Kanemoto and Chuck Sauer from provided by the camp. Afterwards it Carolina. According to their web- ucation Chair Bob Haase provided the Wisconsin River Valley Chapter, was family time, and it was great to site, ERC “reconnects military fami- the tying material kits with every- Laura MacFarland of the North- see husbands, wives and kids all lies at holistic retreats that are thing needed to tie simple panfish woods Chapter, Jared Sagal of the lined up casting a line in the lake. therapeutic, build spiritual resilien- flies. Bright colored foam, chenille Aldo Leopold Chapter and Mike Rainy weather brought the day to an cy and strengthen family bonds.” and hackle quickly adorned the Kuhr of the Southeast Wisconsin early end, but the families all really When Marilla, a Michigan na- hooks. Thanks to Northwoods TU Chapter assisted. High winds and enjoyed their time together on the tive, heard about Camp American for letting us use their fly-tying vices stormy skies made casting a chal- water. Legion, which offers lodging, meals and tools. Next. the kids brought lenge, but the kids kept their com- Wisconsin TU is proud to have and recreation opportunities to Wis- their flies down to the shores of the posure and managed to land some been able to assist in serving these consin’s military families on the lake, hoping to get a bass or blue- small bluegills near shore. We’d like military families and we look for- shores of Big Carr Lake, she imme- gills’ attention. to thank Northwoods TU and Tina ward to partnering with both Camp diately went to work on setting up a Once lakeside, Bill Sherer of We Murry of the Wisconsin Women’s American Legion and Eagle Rock retreat. Nine families, consisting of Tie It Fly Shop in Boulder Junction Fly Fishing Clinics for providing the Camp on future retreats. Page 6 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Fourth Annual WITU Youth Fishing Camp Thanks to the chapters, volunteers and campers for buying into this amazing annual event.

By Linn Beck, Council Chair return and serve as mentors. The the Oberstadts Photos by part I love though, is going to chap- The 2017 Wisconsin Trout Un- ter events and seeing past campers limited Youth Camp is in the books being involved and having fun doing and this year’s camp had everything it. going for it. The weather was great I want to thank everyone for and we had another fantastic turn- making the camp a success, includ- out of campers, mentors and volun- ing all the chapters that spend the teers. money to make sure a youth or two It’s hard to believe this was our could attend the camp and repre- fourth annual camp. Time flies sent their chapter. I can’t offer when you are having fun, and fun it enough thanks to the many volun- is has been. Of course, we couldn’t teers and mentors. I know how spe- do it without having our supportive cial time off is for everyone, but chapters buying into the program. each year so many people give their Thanks to this support, what started time to this event. Including com- out as a great idea has developed in- mittee members, presenters and to something truly special. As long mentors, we average 35 volunteers as chapters continue to find inter- every year. Over the course of these ested youth campers, this annual first four years more than 100 dif- event can go on for a long time. ferent people have given their time Next year’s camp is July 19-22. and effort in some way. We had a dream when we started A big thanks go out to the very TYING FLIES CAN BRING SMILES the camp that every youth would be dedicated members of our WITU Aled Griffiths and mentor Don Fritz are truly enjoying themselves at this past as excited about our passion as we Youth Camp Committee. The work summer’s WITU Youth Fishing Camp. are when we finished the event. This the committee puts in really shows, dream has turned into a reality. Sev- and has made the camp what it is. much fun as the experience we en- youth fishing. Show them not only eral former campers started a youth I would like to send a special joyed having you participate. the fishing, but point out the beauty chapter within their home chapter. thank you to all the youth who have One thing we’ve confirmed via that surrounds them when you are Some of the youth have enjoyed attended our camp. We hope the ex- the camp is that youngsters love to on the water. Be a mentor and you camp so much that they volunteer to perience you had with us was as fish. Please find the time to take a will have a friend for life. Chapter Youth Education Coordinators needed

By Linn Beck, Council Chair ters that have sponsored youth are experiencing some great youth involvement. For example, the Fox Valley Chapter past camp attendees We have been talking about and encouraging all the chapters to in- have been working to develop a youth chapter. The youth camp also is stall a Youth Education Coordinator within their chapters. Currently reaping the rewards of youth involvement. About 25 percent of our this position exists in less than 10 percent of chapters nationwide. In past participants are now volunteering to be mentors and presenters at Wisconsin we are doing better, with about with about a third of the the camp. chapters having success finding a volunteer to take on this important I know there are a lot of examples of youth involvement with chap- chapter role. ter programs such as “Trout In the Classroom.” Some of the chapter I took on the role of Youth Education Coordinator for the State fun days are experiencing great youth involvement, such as Cabin Fe- Council because I believe that this is an important role not only to help ver and TroutFest. We are having more youth tyers at some of our develop our youth programs for the chapters with the coordinators, but functions around the state. more importantly to give our youth an opportunity to learn and enjoy If you are interested in serving as a Youth Education Coordinator the programs that are available. for your chapter, contact your chapter leaders or contact me at chl- In my role, I won’t be developing new programs in the individual [email protected] or 920-216-7408. I also ask that chapter leaders let me chapters, but instead I will be available to help all the chapters either know when you fill this vital position. develop some or all the programs that Trout Unlimited has available, or help improve the programs that are already up and running. This chapter role doesn’t require that the youth coordinators take the lead for all their chapters’ youth programs, but rather work to help the chapter to recruit leaders for the programs the chapter is willing to take on. Additional roles of the chapter Youth Education Coordinator include: • Serving as a liaison between the chapter and other youth organizations. This would be to help get youth involved in our programs. • Serve as the contact between the chapter and TU National’s Head- waters staff. • Manage youth memberships and help recruit youth to attend chapter events. • Search for funding opportunities for youth-related programs. One of the biggest issues facing chapters is the lack of youth attend- ing meetings and becoming involved. This could change in a heartbeat with youth programs designed to build interest and involvement. I speak from experience with something as simple as the WITU Youth Fishing Camp. I get to see the interest of these youth and the eager- ness to learn something new at each of the programs. I know the chap- Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 7 Taking it all in and passing it on Things we might be missing.

you know, water snakes are quite asked if I would be interested in go- feisty. ing trout fishing with him someday. Working my way upstream, I fi- His name was Morris and he nally reached the boys and shared worked part time for the railroad, so the snake story. We decided it was he was free seven out of every 10 time to work our way back down- days. He explained that his grand- stream to the truck, but we had tak- kids were too young to go fishing en our time. So began the best part and his own children were too busy of the outing, exactly what Shawn working and taking care of those had talked about: stopping, looking young grandkids, thus he was in around and being in the moment. need of a young fishing partner. One of the snakes was still hang- I now finally had a trout fishing ing in the tree. We found bugs, talk- mentor. At the time I was excited, ed about undercut bank cover, but I did not fully realize my good debated plant species, ate wild rasp- fortune and how much long-term berries and picked up trash. We impact this would have on me. found a golden stonefly nymph, and So, for the next several summers, this was as big of a moment for Wil- I would get a call in the evening ask- liam as if he had caught a fish. He ing if I could be ready to go the next had never seen one, but yet had morning at 5:30 a.m. The answer fished that nymph many times. was always an enthusiastic “yes!” This outing was all for these two We typically fished worms and young men, but yet I felt like the night crawlers, then eventually privileged one. What a rich experi- moved to spinners on some outings. ence it was. I stepped back, sighed In his earlier life he fly fished, and thought to myself that this is but due to local conditions and what it is all about. heavy brush, he went back to spin Over the next several days I re- fishing. So, even though we did not flected back on this outing as well as fly fish, he shared a lot of good in- remembering back to my early expe- formation on the topic that worked riences getting on trout water in my as a great stepping-stone to later LEARNING TO STOP, LISTEN AND LOOK early teens. I had been very interest- pursue fly fishing. Youth mentor Michael Endres stops to see what’s clinging to the rocks during ed in fishing from an early age, and By the time I got my driver’s li- my grandmother shared stories that cense and had a few buddies that the Youth Camp fishing outing. fascinated me and handed down were also into chasing trout, Mor- quite a bit of old fishing gear. ris’s grandkids were old enough to Words and photos by Wayne Parmley trout. So we geared up and headed Unfortunately she was long past take over as his new fishing part- to a quiet part of the Mecan River being able to actually take me fish- ners. For all of us, I believe, trout fish- to explore. ing, but either way it pulled me in As James Babb notes in his book, ing is and always has been a bit During the drive, Michael and I deeper into pursuit of learning all I “Fish Won’t Let Me Sleep,” the more than just trying to catch trout. chatted up a storm and William could about fishing. Books, maga- most important angling innovation Yes, the pursuit of trout is what gets drifted off to nap land. We debated zines and the rare outdoor TV show since the fishing hook was the auto- us on the stream, but the “bit more” if we should leave him in the truck added to my drive. mobile.” I could not agree more. is soaking in the total surroundings. to sleep while we fished, but he At age 11 my family moved into That is the biggest key to trout fish- We all do it, but do we do it as deep- sprang into action once he heard the town from our waterless rural set- ing. Anyone without the means to ly as we could or should? doors open. ting. Living in town actually gave me drive needs someone who can. On Sunday morning, the last day We were all in a nice relaxed access to water for the first time. This leads me to believe that of the Wisconsin TU Youth Trout mood, not in a hurry. I set them up The Flambeau River was just a 3- maybe this is a gap TU can help fill Fishing Camp this past July, I had on the stream in different spots with block walk from our new house. in a better way. I know TU does so the good fortune, quite by accident, plenty of room and then faded into Thus began weekly, in some cases much already and does do some to experience the “bit more” a bit the background a bit to watch them daily, fishing outings all summer mentoring, but mentorship I feel is more. do their thing. long. That was a big deal since I had still needed for some of those 10- to The day before, Shawn Sullivan Since it was very warm, sunny, no one in my family to take me fish- 16-year-old kids out there who don’t of the DNR gave a great presenta- unfamiliar water and so on, fishing ing. I now had the means to do it on have a family member or neighbor tion on trout steam environments, was slow, to say the least, so we did my own. to fill that role. restoration and related topics. not have high expectations, but we Little did I know that this would I worry there are some kids that I have seen this presentation sev- were so happy to just be out on a open a door to trout fishing. For me go to our camp and come home ex- eral times, and it is always enjoyable stream. trout seemed inaccessible for many cited with an armload of new gear and informative. Shawn always As we all inched along popping a reasons, not quite something that and just can’t get to trout water to tweaks it a bit, adding a new story cast here and there, me a bend or was real. Not that I did not enjoy all keep the excitement going. and often getting off track because two behind them, I found myself re- the warm-water fishing, I truly love Would there be a way to create a of a great question or a related idea ally looking at everything around warm-water, but trout were just so mentor network within TU chapters that freshly pops into his head. I al- me: plants, bugs, poking my rod un- beautiful, exotic and remote to me or at the state level? Just one or two ways find some nugget to take away, der LUNKER structures to see just at that time. outings a summer could really make so I never tire of his presentations, how far back they go, etc. A neighbor of ours saw me haul- a big difference in a young angler’s and his enthusiasm is infectious. Then a damselfly sitting on a leaf ing my gear down the street to the life. This presentation picked up on a at eye level caught my attention. river so he knew I was into fishing. theme he added on the day before While looking at this damselfly with He approached me one day and at our on-stream presentation, my face two inches way, I finally no- where he touched on taking your ticed just a few inches behind it, time and looking around. He noted looking at me was a Northern Water all the fantastic things going on that snake. make up the whole environment. Luckily my fear of snakes has Cool stuff is happening. You just been curbed over the past few years might see something very interest- by my son’s intense interest in ing while you are not fishing, and snakes. I went from not touching that just might make you a better them three years ago to holding fisherman. Yes, cliché of course, but them. Yes, your children can teach yet such true advice. you many things, even how to deal Back to Sunday morning. All the with phobias. I slowly backed away students were paired up with guides, for a better look and noticed a larg- and all volunteer assignments were er one behind it. in place, so I was free to take two of Ironically, Shawn had talked our junior mentors fishing, William about water snakes in the trees Follett and Michael Endres. around trout steams and I had nei- Junior mentors are students who ther heard of that nor have I ever we ask back and/or they ask to come seen a water snake in a tree. So, back to help, and it has become a here I am less than 24 hours later great part of the youth camp pro- experiencing it close up. I pulled out gram. After all the great help they my camera and started taking pho- brought to camp, they more than tos, so close that the snake nearest STOP AND LOOK AROUND, AND YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WHAT YOU SEE deserved some free time chasing me struck at the camera. As many of Eye-to-eye with a northern water snake on the Mecan River. Page 8 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Kiap-TU-Wish completes Trimbelle River project Volunteers put in tremendous effort to sow seed and plant prairie plugs. By Dan Wilcox banks and create in-stream trout habitat. Mike Holst hauled out The Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter re- stumps and excess soil. In-stream cently announced the completion of habitat features include two plunge a conservation project on the Trim- pools, including one on the Trim- belle River west of Ellsworth. This belle River and one on Spring project is another example of the vi- Creek, 12 root wads with logs and sion of Kiap-TU-Wish in the 21st large boulders. century: to conserve, protect and re- Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter and Fair- store our coldwater streams. mount Minerals volunteers built 6 The project area is on the Mike wood LUNKER structures that pro- and Suzanne Holst property along vide overhead shelter for trout. Five County Highway O about one mile LUNKER structures were installed south of U.S. Highway 10. There is a in the Trimbelle River and one on DNR easement on the property and Spring Creek. Work was completed it is open to public fishing. on June 21 with final grading, seed- Dennis Fritz, who recently re- ing and mulching, and construction tired from the Pierce County Con- of a small parking area. servation Department, and Mike In June Kiap-TU-Wish volun- Holst started planning the project in teers seeded grass mix, winter rye 2013. Jeff Kitelinger of the USDA and red clover. Dennis Fritz donat- Natural Resources Conservation ed some native wildflower and grass Service in Ellsworth and DNR Trout seed that was planted along Spring Stream Projects Leader Nate An- Creek. We used 250 straw bales to Dan Wilcox derson designed the project. mulch everything, a record for us to INSTREAM STRUCTURE AND STABILIZED BANKS The project included stabilizing place in one day. Here’s a beautiful view of the recently completed Trimbelle River project on the the banks and providing in-stream There was a total of 889 feet of Holst property, looking upstream from one of the plunge pools. structure for trout on the Trimbelle one bank and 345 feet of both banks River and the tributary Spring completed on Trimbelle River and Creek. Starting during the winter of 356 feet of both banks on Spring (not including labor) was $48,268. of it. They extend their thanks to all 2017, Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter volun- Creek for a total of 2,291 feet of rip The DNR Trout Stamp Program for their hard work on the project. teers spent 527 hours cutting and rap and trout habitat. Randy Ar- provided $14,121.20. Cost per foot Jeff Kitelinger of the NRCS in Ells- burning box elder trees and brush nold, Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter volun- for 2,291 feet of stone rip rap bank worth said that with completion of along the river. The DNR pur- teer coordinator, constructed and protection was $21. The DNR con- the Holst project, there are now chased rock riprap that was deliv- installed a sign for the project. He structed a two-car parking area and about two miles of Trimbelle River ered during the winter. Mike Holst also built and set out 16 bluebird installed a culvert. That work was downstream of Highway 10, nearly donated and hauled in large lime- boxes along the Trimbelle River. funded through the DNR Fisheries all of which has been restored and stone boulders. The U.S. Department of Agricul- Lands budget. that provides excellent opportunity In early May the DNR stream ture Environmental Quality Incen- Landowners Mike and Sue Holst for public fishing. crew removed stumps, graded the tive Program (EQIP) funded said that they are pleased with how Follow the chapter on Facebook banks back to a gentle slope and $34,147 of stream bank stabiliza- well the project turned out and that or at kiaptuwish.org. placed rock to stabilize the stream tion. The total cost of the project they are happy to have been a part Correctional center provides prairie seeds and plugs By Dan Wilcox Captain Scott Grady, who recently retired. He handed the To h e l p i n m a t e s p r e p a r e reins over to Sergeant Jona- themselves to rejoin the wider than Rosenthal at the correc- community, the St. Croix Cor- tional center to lead the rectional Center in New Rich- project. mond offers a wide range of The correctional center work and treatment pro- provided funds and time to grams. According to Caitlin build a greenhouse and pro- Smith of the U.S. Fish and vide supplies for this project. Wildlife Service (USFWS) The Willow River Rod and Wetlands Management Office Gun Club provided funds to near Somerset, Wisconsin, the purchase greenhouse light- USFWS and DNR completing. Donations of planting ed a prairie restoration proj- containers were obtained ect on about five acres of the from the local community. correctional center grounds. The pilot project was a suc- Dan Wilcox This started a conversation cess, growing about 2,500 for further partnership and plugs. Species included oxeye KIAP VOLUNTEERS PITCH IN how to expand efforts for pol- sunflower, bergamot, com- Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter volunteers and DNR stream crew during the seeding and linators. mon milkweed, swamp milk- mulching work at the Holst project. The correctional center weed and butterfly milkweed. committed to starting a local There were too many plugs ecotype seed plot on their for the correctional center to way more than the 500 plants we the Trimbelle River. After work- grounds to provide native plant to expand their seed and had discussed. ing from 9 a.m. until after noon, prairie seed and plugs (small educational plot, so they On a Sunday in July, Kiap- the volunteers were bushed, but plants) for public and private wanted to provide excess TU-Wish Chapter volunteers we left knowing that there will lands throughout the commu- plugs to the surrounding com- gathered at the Mike and Su- be a 300-yard strip of pollinator nity. They also committed nu- munity. zanne Holst property, where habitat along the newly restored merous volunteer hours for Excess plugs were provided there is a fishing easement on reach of the Trimbelle River. habitat-related projects. Their to USFWS to distribute to the Trimbelle River along Coun- Caitlin Smith said that the na- goal is about giving back to grant partners and the local ty Highway O, about a mile tive plants pollinator program the community. community. That’s how the south of U.S. Highway 10. Vol- with the St. Croix Correctional The USFWS received a Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter re- unteer Coordinator Randy Ar- Facility is an excellent opportu- Monarch grant from the Na- ceived a donation of native nold, Pat Sexton, Leif Grina, nity for education and outreach, tional Fish and Wildlife Foun- prairie plants. I met with the Nathan and his six-year-old son while also giving back to the dation to conduct a program USFWS office near Somerset. Isaiah Scheibe, Trish Hanna and community. She and Colleen to provide plants for pollina- Caitlin Smith and her col- I were the planting crew. Anderson hope that this project tors. Plugs were grown and league, monarch program co- It was a nice morning that continues well into the future supplied by the St. Croix Cor- ordinator Colleen Anderson, turned into a hot day. We plant- and provides pollinator habitat rectional Center. The USF- loaded my truck with many ed and watered more than 700 for years to come. WS was initially working with flats of small native plants, native prairie plant plugs along Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 9 Marinette Chapter supports local monitoring effort

By Greg Cleereman depth above the culverts, road width and surface type were noted The ability of trout to move up to facilitate a rough remediation and down a stream is an often over- cost estimate, if appropriate. looked habitat quality factor. Improperly installed culverts are Knowing this, Trout Unlimited has the biggest fish-passage problem, been actively seeking out and recti- mostly due to being undersized or fying trout passage problems in “perched.” An undersized culvert northeastern Wisconsin usually results in ponding upstream In March of this year, Laura of the inlet. In this situation, flow MacFarland, Wisconsin TU Great rates through the culvert may be Lakes Stream Restoration Manag- too high for trout to pass through. er, contacted Marinette County’s Ponding can also lead to higher wa- Greg Cleereman to request help ter temperatures and buildup of with assessing stream passage issues sediment. in the Peshtigo River Watershed. Culvert bottoms should be Collaboration was quickly agreed placed at the level of the stream to, if additional county staff re- bottom. A perched culvert is too sources became available. A tight high, sometimes completely above budget in the Marinette County the water surface, resulting a mini Land Information Department had water fall from the outlet. Some an- required elimination of the summer glers like perched culverts as they help that usually assisted perma- concentrate trout, but a perched nent staff with field work and other culvert is bad for a stream since all duties. brook trout movement may be This was where the Marinette blocked. TU Chapter stepped in by donating Despite a relatively late project $3,000 to partially fund hiring a start and technical difficulties in- summer staff person. Brody Devine, herent to using a new computer da- a Peshtigo High School graduate ta collection method, we have and UW-Stevens Point attendee, visited 221 stream crossings. Some began assisting Marinette County crossings were bridges, presenting staff in mid-June. His duties includ- no passage issues. Others turned ed crossing surveys, especially on out to be ephemeral or only con- Swamp, Camp Nine, Camp Five, nected wetlands. Swede John and Eagle Creek and So far, 64 sites were fully exam- tributaries. ined. The effort will continue until Several parameters were consid- all stream segments suitable for MARINETTE COUNTY CHAPTER SUPPORTS SUMMER STAFF ered at each stop. Culvert dimen- trout have been visited. Russ Mattice and Brody Devine (in the stream) are shown with some of the sions were measured and conditions In all, three full-time Marinette equipment used to assess stream crossings. assessed. Water flow rate was County staff worked on the project. gauged in both the culvert and nat- Russ Mattice worked in the field. Greg Cleereman also performed Words and photos contributed by ural stream. Stream dimensions and Tim Oestreich made project maps, field work and will make a project Marinette County Land Information flow rate were taken for later com- organized data and set up our com- presentation at the October Mari- Director and Conservationist Greg parison with the culvert results. Fill puter data collection equipment. nette Chapter meeting. Cleereman. CWTU member attends TU Teen Summit Clay Parmley looks forward to implementing goals at the national level.

By Jennifer Owen ect at a local stream, and, of course, lots of time for hanging out by the campfire, tying Spotting an endangered bird, working flies and fishing. on a stream improvement project and “The fact that this year's summit was brainstorming ways to get more kids into held in Grayling, Mich., which is the birth- fishing are all pretty interesting endeavors. place of TU, made it even more special,” But for Clay Parmley, a 16-year-old Parmley said. who is passionate about conservation, “I would say the stream improvement these were just a few of the things that oc- project we did was as enjoyable as fishing. curred in less than a week at the TU Teen We were on a stretch of the North Branch Summit in Grayling, of the Au Sable River, Michigan close to the headwaters. “We were lucky We split into groups and enough to see a Kirt- floated about 40 logs land's Warbler, which “The fact that this year’s down 100 yards. My team was pretty great,” summit was held in built a LUNKER struc- said Parmley. “It's Grayling, Michigan, ture with a water jet. It'll weird to think that be there for a thousand this bird, which is en- which is the birthplace years if nothing crazy dangered, only nests of Trout Unlimited, happens. It was pretty in this specific area of cool.” Michigan, but then made it even more Parmley and the rest actually winters in the special.” of the attendees will keep Bahamas.” in touch to work together Parmley, a mem- on a mutual goal. TU ber of CWTU for Teen Summit encourag- four years, was one of es teens to attend for a 29 teens from across the U.S. who attend- second or third year to build on the mo- ed the teen summit. The organization re- mentum of ideas that have been started. cruits young leaders ages 13-18 who have He will consider going next year after the proven a commitment to TU’s mission and location for the 2018 summit has been de- have demonstrated leadership at a high termined. level. “I think it’s important to be able to con- During the five-day event they form the nect adults who can mentor kids who don't Youth Leadership Council (YLC). The have anyone to take them fishing or ex- YLC members stay involved with each pose them to different ecosystems. Maybe other, their local community and with TU we can come up with some type of network staff throughout the year, working on proj- like an online program where that hap- ects and outreach with the goal to raise pens. We’ll see where it goes,” he says. CWTU’S CLAY PARMLEY ATTENDS TEEN SUMMIT TU’s profile among their peers. Activities Parmley is a junior at Oshkosh West Parmley, a member of CWTU for four years, was one of 29 teens include conservation tours of the area, High School this fall. Passionate about leadership skills, conservation and science snakes and reptiles, he plans to study her- from across the U.S. who attended the teen summit. Here he workshops, guest speakers, a service proj- petology in college. shows off a Manistee River brown trout. Page 10 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Reconnecting TU’s Great Lakes Restoration Program continues to reconnect watersheds.

NORTH OTTER CREEK: BEFORE AND AFTER TU implemented a road crossing abandonment on North Otter Creek in Forest County in September. Four culverts were removed, eliminating an aquatic passage barrier, restoring the natural geomorphology of the river and reconnecting the floodplain. Large wood was added at the former crossing to provide instream habitat. By Laura MacFarland, TU Great Lakes Restoration Manager This work is being funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, in partnership with TU, is Forest Service, Wisconsin DNR Trout Stamp Funds, Wisconsin DNR Sur- still on track to reconnect more than 30 miles of coldwater habitat within the face Water Grants, Trout and Salmon Foundation, WITU and the Wild Riv- Peshtigo River watershed this summer. Eleven projects are slated to be com- ers, Northwoods, Marinette and Green Bay chapters. This project would not pleted by the end of the construction season. be possible without the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). We recently installed one of our largest new structures on Halley Creek in Trout Unlimited has received a second grant from the National Fish and Forest County. Replacing three degraded, perched undersized culverts, this Wildlife Foundation’s Sustain Our Great Lakes Program, which will enable 19-foot-wide aluminum box culvert mimics the natural width of the stream, us to continue our efforts in northern Wisconsin through 2019. We will con- preventing constriction of flow (which can cause high velocities). tinue to partner with the U.S. Forest Service to reconnect a minimum of 30 The new culvert was set lower, allowing organisms to swim through, and more miles on and adjacent to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. also allowing sediment and debris to flow unimpeded, preventing habitat For more examples of our projects, please like and follow “Trout Unlimit- degradation. This project reconnected 7.2 miles of high-quality, class 1 trout ed – Great Lakes Restoration” on Facebook. You will find additional photos, stream to the Peshtigo River. project updates and information on how you can get involved on the ground.

Statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Scott W. Grady Snapshot Day: Rodmaker Volunteers and partnerships aimed at catching invaders. Split Bamboo Rods New, repairs, restoration, appraisals lished in a waterbody, there is no way to fully remove the By Amanda Perdzock, River Alliance of Wisconsin Rodmaking Tools and Advice population without also harming native fish and mussels. In early August more than 100 volunteers showed up This was the fourth year for AIS Snapshot Day, coor- at 16 cities around Wisconsin to participate in this year’s dinated by the River Alliance of Wisconsin, UW-Exten- Call or email Scott for details at Statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day. sion Lakes, and dozens of local organizations and county 920/687-0987 or [email protected] Built around the notion that many eyes are needed to conservation departments across the state. fight invasives, AIS Snapshot Day was designed to train To learn more about AIS Snapshot Day and get in- local citizens to identify invasive species and collect spe- volved with next year’s event, contact River Alliance of cies distribution data for DNR and other resource man- Wisconsin Statewide AIS Program Director Amanda agers. Perdzock, at [email protected] or 608-257- Volunteers visited 142 stream and lake sites, finding 2424, extension 111. invasive species at 80 of the sites surveyed. Species mon- itored for included submerged species such as Eurasian watermilfoil, shore- land species such as Japanese knot- weed, and New Zealand mudsnails, the infamous invertebrate of high concern to anglers in recent years. Of the sites where invasive species were found, only a handful of sites had species which hadn’t been previously documented. One of these discoveries occurred on Stratton Lake in Waupaca County, thanks to a crew of volunteers from the Wild Rose snapshot training site, hosted in partnership with UW-Extension Lakes, Golden Sands RC&D, and the Central Wisconsin Chapter of TU. Their discovery of corbicula flu- Elevate your fly fishing to a new minea, also known by the aliases of Asian or Asiatic clam, was the second level. The Original BlueSky discovery of this bivalve in central Wis- Furled Leader. Sizes for all fish & consin. Corbicula can lay up to 70,000 fishing conditions. BlueSky - the eggs a year, which allows it to compete TM with native species for food. leader in furled leaders. This species, much like the well- FurledLeaders.com known zebra mussel, can also wreak Lakes UW-Extension Skawinski, Paul [email protected] • Ph/Fax 920-822-5396 havoc by fouling up water intake pipes LOOKING FOR INVASIVES used by water treatment systems and 1237 Yurek Rd., Pulaski WI 54162 USA power plants. Once it becomes estab- A volunteer from the Wild Rose training site looks for invasive species. Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 11 Brown trout and temps Using archival tags to measure thermal habitat use by brown trout during summer: A case study on the Namekagon River.

WALTER, WHERE ARE YOU? Volunteers help the search for tagged brown trout on the Namekagon River. By Matthew Mitro, Wisconsin DNR ferences between the water temperature recorded by each tagged trout When we measure thermal habi- and the water temperature recorded tat for trout in streams, we typically by a temperature data logger placed install a temperature data logger at directly in the raceway were well a fixed location and assume it is rep- within the accuracy range. resentative of water temperatures We next field-tested the tags in experienced by trout over some brown trout in the Namekagon Riv- larger area of the stream. Data log- er. This river warms in the summer gers may be set to record hourly, and we do not know if the trout tol- thereby tracking diel changes in erate the warm thermal conditions temperature. These data can be or if they find and occupy some LARGE TAGGED BROWN TROUT ON THE NAMEKAGON RIVER summarized into daily, weekly or thermal refugia, should it exist. monthly averages of water tempera- In May 2016, we tagged and re- Researchers and volunteers recaptured seven of the 11 trout that they had ture, which are useful for defining leased 11 brown trout in the Name- tagged in May with archival temperature tags. thermal tolerance limits for trout. kagon River near Seeley. We also We have found that brook trout installed a stationary temperature ger, we see evidence that at times In this pilot study on the use of and brown trout in Wisconsin data logger at the release site and at the tagged trout were exploiting archival temperature tags in trout, streams can tolerate average tem- three additional sites along 7.5 miles thermal habitat about 0.9 to 1.8 ºF we concluded that trout may be se- peratures as high as 77.5 F for one of the river. In September, we re- cooler as compared to the fixed site lecting thermal habitat about 0.9 F day, 73.9 F for one week, and 71.2 F captured seven of the 11 brown data recorder. to 1.8 F lower than the ambient wa- for one month. Streams that get this trout near where we tagged and re- There was some minor variability ter temperature measured by the warm typically do not provide quali- leased them in May. Tags were lost in water temperatures measured by stationary data logger when such ty trout fishing, but some trout have from two trout, so we ended up with the four stationary data loggers in thermal habitat was available near- been observed tolerating such con- temperature data from five recap- the Namekagon River, but they did by. The thermal conditions in the ditions. tured trout. not indicate the presence of any sig- Namekagon River during summer We know trout can move, and We were fortunate to have recap- nificant thermal refugia during sum- 2016 were at times stressful for the search for more suitable thermal tured 7 of 11. The Namekagon Riv- mer 2016. In other words, there was brown trout but not limiting. We al- habitat, should it exist, would be a er is big trout water, and had the likely no thermal benefit to moving so concluded that the temperature good reason to do so. In 2016 we trout moved and not returned to the a few miles in either direction along data measured by a data logger at a tested a new archival temperature area where we released them, we the river from Seeley. The changes fixed site was generally representa- tag that allows us to measure the could have been searching a long in thermal habitat found by the tive of thermal conditions realized thermal habitat occupied by tagged time to possibly find them. But from tagged trout likely occurred at a fine by trout in the river. trout. Archival temperature tags are my experience in tagging and recap- scale within a short section of the There are some great questions miniaturized temperature data log- turing trout, I have found that while river or across the channel. about trout and thermal habitat yet gers that can be surgically implanted some trout move—sometimes long The maximum daily average wa- to be answered. What thermal con- into a fish and will measure and re- distances—many do not, particular- ter temperature in the Namekagon ditions will induce a trout to search cord the water temperature wherev- ly at certain times of the year. River near Seeley was 74.7 F (about for more optimal thermal habitat? er the trout goes. The tags are 17 Water temperatures measured by 2.8 F less than the one -day thermal How do trout respond to variation mm long with a diameter or 6 mm each of the five recaptured brown tolerance limit for trout). Over the in thermal conditions in more ther- and weigh 1 gram. trout generally matched the water course of the summer the maximum mally-diverse streams? How do real- We first tested the tags on rain- temperature recorded by a nearby average water temperature mea- ized thermal conditions affect bow trout at the Nevin Fish Hatch- stationary temperature data logger. sured over one-to 63-day time peri- growth, maturation, and egg pro- ery to see if they accurately However, when we look more ods was on average about 1.6 F duction? Archival temperature tags recorded the water temperature in closely at the differences between lower than the thermal tolerance may be a useful tool for answering the hatchery raceway. The accuracy the temperatures measured by the limits defined for trout in Wisconsin such questions. of tags is plus/minus 0.36 F. The dif- tags versus the stationary data log- streams. Page 12 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Book Reviews Two books of Wisconsin and Driftless Area interest By Duke Welter but the process, that counted to for taking bits and pieces from actu- Jackson County also be named him. And the inimitable Ben Logan, al words and confecting them into Stockwell Creek? A questioning nature is a hall- memoirist of “The Land Remem- pseudo-Indian names.” His “fertile Near where I grew up in Wash- mark of outdoorspeople and envi- bers,” is featured as he mulls the mind” may have come up with Os- burn County, Bashaw township is ronmentalists. Curiosity underlies role in his life played by his family’s seo from parts of Algonquin words locally thought to be named after our active engagement with the “Seldom Seen Farm” above Gays he had encountered in his studies B.A. Shaw, said to have been an of- world. It’s not a characteristic Mills. and interviews with tribal members ficer of the Shell Lake Lumber unique to anglers by any means, but I especially appreciated the sec- around the Great Lakes. Maybe Company. But when one reviews I find it interesting that many an- tions on the lives of tribes in the re- when an area is being settled, one corporate records of that company, glers I meet share a wide-ranging gion, as they dealt with the gets some latitude in such things. there’s no Mr. Shaw listed. Instead, curiosity, an inquiring mind about intruding white settlers, traders, ex- Near my own neighborhood in the author attributes the name to a the world we occupy. plorers and treaty negotiators and Vernon County, I found out there Sioux chief named Wabasha who One author tried to protect really was an Avalanche, or at least lived well south of the area. Who with a philosoph- their cultures. it looks like there was. An 1884 his- knows? ic turn, a native Other sections tory of the county said it took its Many counties across the state Montanan named include poetry, ex- name “from the formation of the have sacrificed the original names of McLean, wrote, aminations of the earth immediately east of the place, their roads to a contrived set of al- “If you’re not try- Lake LaFarge which resembles a gigantic landslide phabetical words or numbers. That ing to find an- dam partly built or avalanche suddenly stopped in its may be of some benefit to delivery swers to riddles, on the Kickapoo destructive course.” vehicles or emergency services peo- you’re not fly-fish- River in the late And Esofea, home now only to a ple who can’t bother to use a map or ing.” 60s, and the role lovely little county park on an epon- GPS or learn the names. But it gives If you’re look- of suffragettes ymous branch of the Bad Axe River, up often colorful names and family ing for answers to from Richland was named by an early settler, Even names deserving of recognition. Ku- questions on a Center in obtain- Tomtengen in 1868 using the E from dos to the counties that refused to couple of close-to- ing voting rights his name combined with a respelling rename. home topics, two for women. of Sophia, either from his wife or That’s enough for reviews for books of Wiscon- Scattered another family member. How about this issue. Right now I think I’ll go sin and Driftless throughout this that? back and see what Viroqua was real- interest that came book are arresting In LaFayette County, the town of ly named after: The steamboat or across my door- nuggets to appre- Calamine was named in 1856 after the fictional indian princess? step in recent ciate. Author the zinc ore mined there that was a weeks may be of Catherine Young key ingredient of calamine lotion, The Driftless Reader, Curt Meine interest. They’re of Blue River de- used to treat poison ivy and sores. and Keefe Keeley, Eds., University of both from University of Wisconsin scribes our smaller streams as such: I’ve seen across this region a Wisconsin Press, Madison, 333 pages, Press, and they follow a growing line “…the spring creek is an artery in a plethora of features, mostly streams, 2017, $26.95. of the Press’ quality offerings, in- water heart, alive and pulsing.” with two names. Now, as an angler, I Place Names of Wisconsin, Ed- cluding some of special outdoor in- Stegner describes Guttenberg, Io- have heard of people adopting an ward Callary, UW Press, Madison, terest we’ve reviewed in past issues. wa as marked by “a certain thread- alias instead of the accepted name 327 pages, 2016, $21.95. bare tidiness.” You will find your for their favorite stream. But why, “The Driftless Reader” own. This book is sure to provide for instance, would Halls Creek in some enjoyable evenings of reading “The Driftless Reader” is a wide- by the fire this winter. ranging anthology of pieces focus- ing on our unglaciated area and will be released by the time you read “Place Names of this. Editors Curt Meine, author of Wisconsin” the preeminent biography of Aldo When I was a young reader, Leopold, and Keefe Keeley, execu- there wasn’t a better place to spend tive director of the Driftless-focused an afternoon of miserable weather Savannah Institute, took on the task than curled up behind the couch of assembling and condensing hun- with a couple volumes of the family dreds of choices to about 80 pieces, encyclopedia. “Place Names of Wis- mostly short, to paint a picture of consin” scratched that same itch. I’d the varied faces of the region. long wondered where lots of place Their selections cover the geog- names came from, and Callary, a raphy, exploration and unique geol- professor emeritus of linguistics at ogy of the Driftless Area, from Northern Illinois University, helps some of the first scientists and Eu- illuminate many of them. ropean explorers in the 1670s to It turns out many names are fair- more modern examiners. ly pedestrian, named after the cur- The colorful lead-mining indus- rent president or the first settler or try of the 1820s and 1830s, populat- a well-known battle. But I was sured in large part by migrants from prised to find out how much fluidity Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky, there was in naming, and how much gave us our state’s name and hun- chicanery and ego showed up, dreds of good stories. among other things. Botanists, trappers, traders and In one town, a settler got 12 sig- settlers gave us accounts of their ex- natures on a petition to have a post plorations and lives here. The life of office, but left the name blank. Af- the Mississippi and tributaries like ter he obtained the signatures, he Coon Creek, where Aldo Leopold filled in his own name for the town. describes the nation’s first water- The post office named the town af- shed restoration project, provide ter him, but it didn’t last long. He more examination of the richness of left town soon after. this place by people who appreciate The Town of Peebles was named it. after an early settler. He was asked Many familiar authors show up by the railroad how much he’d pay in excerpts, and a complete bibliog- to have the town named after him. raphy allows the reader to find “Not a damn cent,” he answered. It more complete versions of their was named after him anyway. writings. Frank Lloyd Wright, Laura And Mt. Morris in Waushara Ingalls Wilder, Mark Twain, Wallace County was just called “the moun- Stegner (a UW product before he tain” until Gunnar Gunderson and GearEquipment up with and Fontana clothing Sports for fallfor yourmuskie, spring salmon/ Trout became one of the West’s best-ap- Solomon Morris each sought to and Steelhead adventures. preciated authors), John Muir and have it named after himself. They steelhead, and Iowa trout fishing has arrived. Henry David Thoreau all show up agreed to name it after a footrace to in excerpts. the top, which Morris won. William Cronon, the UW profes- Many names came from tribal sor who’s one of our generation’s languages, but some of them were top environmental historians, of- just plain made up. Early explorer fers his thoughts on how early cave Henry Schoolcraft, according to the explorations help establish his own author, though a thoughtful describ- sense of place. He concludes that it er of the places he visited in the wasn’t the quarry of exploring caves, mid-19th century, “was notorious Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 13

WELLS, from page 1 Plainfield Lake and Long Lake; vealed that up to 60 percent of sam- increase in various stamp funds as- and three watershed areas: the pled wells contained fecal microbes sociated with different sports. For ers to move, rebuild, repair and Fourteen Mile Creek, Ten Mile from both bovine and human waste. inland trout stamps, the fee would transfer high-capacity wells with- Creek and Lone Rock-Fourteen One researcher from the U.S. De- be increased to $15. out further review by the Depart- Mile Creek watersheds, to deter- partment of Agriculture’s Re- Our chapters voted unanimously ment of Natural Resources (DNR). mine if existing and potential search Service noted that in his in favor of a fee increase, although In effect, it provides permit holders groundwater withdrawals are, or professional opinion if a second some chapters differed on the with perpetual permits, not subject are likely to cause significant reduc- rounds of studies was performed, amount of the increase, and when it to further review, regardless of tions of stream or lake flows or lev- the number of contaminated wells should commence. WITU recogniz- changing circumstances, science or els below seasonal averages. would jump to 90 percent. Re- es that additional segregated fund- water levels. If the studies determine that searchers estimated that such con- ing for trout streams helps increase Wisconsin TU’s position on pumping is having adverse impacts, tamination leads to the infection of the economic impacts of trout an- high-capacity wells and opposition then the DNR is required to pro- 140 of the county’s 20,000 residents gling. It also helps bring youth into to these bills remained consistent in pose measures to the legislature on each year. the sport via different methods of this session. Specifically, WITU how to remedy such impacts. In keeping with its previous po- angling (fly, spin and bait). We be- took the position that all high-ca- When we learned that the study sition, and aware of the facts above, lieve that a fee increase will ensure pacity well permits should be peri- may not be funded in the state’s WITU signed on to a “Resolution that Wisconsin’s blue-ribbon trout- odically reviewed (for example, budget bill, Wisconsin TU urged its in Support of a Statewide Moratori- fishing opportunities continue to every 10 years), because it is unde- members to speak to their legisla- um on the Construction and Expan- exist, and continue to provide quali- niable that science progresses. Per- tors. In late August we learned that sion of Industrial-Sized ty recreational opportunities for mits issued 20 years ago are based the study would be fully funded, as Concentrated Animal Feeding Op- Wisconsin residents and guests. Fi- on antiquated science, just as per- required by Act 10. erations in Wisconsin.” We strong- nally, we believe that even with the mits issued today will be based on ly support cold, clean fishable fee increase, Wisconsin’s trout science which is outmoded in an- CAFO moratorium water. Therefore, we strongly sup- stamp is an amazing bargain, con- port cold, clean and drinkable wa- sidering the number of stream other 20 years. It makes sense to As most know, Wisconsin Trout use the best available science to un- ter. miles accessible for trout angling, Unlimited has previously taken a Wisconsin Trout Unlimited con- versus our neighboring states. derstand how high-capacity wells written position in opposition to are interacting with one another, tinues to urge its members to reach As a result, Wisconsin Trout Un- CAFOs which cannot be shown to out to their legislators and ask them limited supports this increase. We and how they impact ground and guarantee no pollution to ground surface water. That can only be ac- to support a moratorium on indus- had hoped that this increase could or surface waters. Highly concen- trial-scale CAFOs in Wisconsin. be included as an item in this year’s complished through periodic re- trated animal operations result in a view. budget bill. Unfortunately, due to significant amount of animal efflu- significant turbulence in this year’s Despite our email campaigns, ent. In many parts of Wisconsin, the Trout Stamp Fee Increase meetings with legislators both in budget debate, notably regarding substrate beneath such operations As most know, when we pur- Foxconn and transportation fund- Madison and in legislators’ districts, is fractured bedrock. Many other chase trout stamps, the funds are and despite our testimony at hearing, this effort simply failed to gain parts of Wisconsin feature karst to- placed in to a segregated fund. That traction, despite the best efforts of ings regarding these bills, these bills pography, which is dissolved, solu- segregated funding must, by law, be advanced through both houses of WITU and other groups. ble rocks such as limestone and used for improving and maintaining As is often the case with legisla- the legislature, and were signed in- dolomite, which leads to under- inland trout habitat, or to conduct to law in June of this year as 2017 tive initiatives, Wisconsin TU will ground passages, sinkholes and trout surveys. remain committed, and will contin- Wisconsin Act 10. caves. When effluent such as liquid Since 2006, the trout stamp fee One facet of this bill that TU ue to push for this increase. Wis- manure is spread over these sub- has been $10. While the value of a consin TU believes that this does support is that it requires that strates, it seeps in and downward, dollar has decreased over the past a study be performed in Wiscon- increase is in the best interests of making its way into water tables. 10 years, the DNR has also suffered our streams, their uses and the eco sin’s Central Sands area to evaluate Such pollution is a significant is- budget constraints. Recently a and model the hydrology of three sue statewide, such as in Kewaukee group of hunting and angling orga- specified lakes: Pleasant Lake, County, where a recent study re- nizations organized to support an See TROUT STAMPS, page 16

WISCONSIN Page 14 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 No power, no water, no cell service? A solo trip in the Montana wilderness is just what this gal needed. loudly, everything from the Rat Each of these adventures chal- Pack to the Supremes to Jason Is- lenges me in unexpected ways. bell. I took solar showers in the While I’m working hard in graduate nude, with only the hummingbirds school, the solitude and openness of to notice. I wandered, and took those mountains is teaching me chances while navigating with hand- something else, something deeper, written directions, and found “un- something meaningful. I’ll let you known” beautiful places! know, when I put my finger on it. I surprised myself with my ability I’m guessing that many of you know to effectively read a map. My Girl exactly what I’m talking about. Scout colleagues would be so proud. Special thanks to Dan for open- I didn’t lose a fly the entire trip, and ing his glorious cabin to me and my beamed with joy knowing the flies I creative spirit. tied held up to so many successful I’ll paraphrase from Heraclitus, trout sets. Cutthroat are gaining in and note, with total clarity, that this the ranks of my favorite kind of curly girl will never step in the same trout, although you all know that river twice: for it’s not the same riv- brookies will always be my number er, and I’m not the same girl. one favorite.

THERE’S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT MONTANA TROUT Heidi Oberstad takes a gentle grip and grin.

Words and photos by Heidi Oberstadt Jeep to get me down to the Bitter- root Forest. After a crazy drive filled As a millennial, and someone with wildlife, a traffic violation and who works in the media industry, I winding roads, I made it to the cab- admit that I am addicted to my con- in. I couldn’t sleep the first night. I nected life. Not an hour goes by missed my mustachioed husband’s where I’m not checking my email, or snoring, and tried to mentally re- my post reach, or responding to a place the white noise of his breath- digital message of some kind. When ing with the bubbling of the stream I was offered the opportunity to go outside. I could cast to the stream out in the mountains of Montana in from the back door of the cabin; August, to a remote cabin, and cre- with the river so close, I was sere- ate beautiful art, I jumped at the naded by the riffles 24/7. chance. In the five days that I spent in It wasn’t until later that I realized that little valley, I did yoga six times, this meant I was going to have to fished 10 times, stepped in fresh give up my cell service and fully em- moose scat once, and drank a couple brace a disconnected life. In the bottles of red wine. I took photos of past, when I’ve been without tech- the sky and the water, of the fish and nology, there has always been a day the frogs, and struggled with wildfire or two spent detoxing. It takes me a smoke. At dawn and dusk, the while to relax, stop worrying or won- smoke slithered around the moun- dering if I’m missing something im- tains like a pink satin snake, and I portant, and start breathing in the was simultaneously horrified and outdoors once again. awestruck. I drank my weight in cof- HAZY...BUT STILL PICTURESQUE I flew into Missoula and rented a fee and fished in my pajamas. I sang, Wildfire smoke has been part of the scenery this summer in Montana, and Heidi Oberstadt captured the eye-burning beauty of a hazy mountainscape. Celebrate cold, clean, fishable water with us By Mike Kuhr, Banquet Chair check out the silent auction items. There are great deals to Doing anything the first week- be had. Last year we had more end in February? Sure, you could than $20,000 worth of prizes. be on your favorite early season Chapter fly boxes have be- trout stream picking ice out of come very popular auction items. your guides, but I bet you’d rath- Some of the best fly tiers in Wis- er be with us celebrating all the consin donate flies to fill beauti- good work Wisconsin Trout Un- ful wooden fly boxes engraved limited is doing for our coldwa- with the local chapter’s names. ter resources. Which chapter will have the best Join us in Oshkosh for the box this year? Wisconsin TU 47th Anniversary We’ll also have live auction Banquet on Saturday, Feb. 3, items featuring amazing guided 2018. As in years past, the Best fishing trips. Warning, bidding in Western Waterfront hotel will a live auction setting can be play host to the festivities. It’s thrilling, especially if your fishing sure to be a fun-filled evening. buddy is cheering you on. While the goal for the evening We’ll gather for a nice dinner, will be to raise funds to support listen to the State of Wisconsin our coldwater conservation mis- Trout address from Chair Linn sion, our Banquet Committee is Beck. Then Trout Professor focused on making sure every- Emeritus Steve Born will pepper one has an enjoyable time. us with humor and present Several of our partner organi- awards. A good time is sure to be zations will be on hand with dis- had by all. plays and representatives, and Go ahead and put February 3 we’ll have a cash bar available to on your calendar, and plan on help enhance your fish stories. bringing a spouse, fishing buddy, You’ll want to spend some co-worker, or TU Teen. All are time perusing the goods avail- welcome. able as bucket raffle prizes. Then Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 15 Father-son duo hits five states A summer spent fishing together, the Rees boys cover the country. By Curt Rees parks. Even in early July, the Snake River, Buffalo Fork, and Pacific I have a lot of summer fishing trip memories as Creek were impossible to fish due to a kid growing up in South Dakota. I spent many the high runoff. But we found fish- hours in the boat with my dad and brothers on the able water in the tailrace of the Jack- Missouri River system catching walleyes, perch son Lake dam. Gavin caught the first and pike. Fast forward about 30 years and I hope lake trout on a Mepps spinner, and I to have instilled similar positive memories with caught mine on a white Frick's Fix fly. my 15-year-old son Gavin as we caught fish in five My 5-wt rod got quite a workout with different states this summer. that 21-inch laker.

Wisconsin Utah Fishing was excellent here in southwest Wis- The next leg of our trip was to Pro- consin this spring and summer. I’m a fly guy and vo, Utah, where my brother Carter Gavin is a spinner guy and we both found plenty lives. He is also a fly fisherman, so we of fish here in the Driftless. Most of my fish came were happy to spend a day on the on streamers as I like to throw leeches, buggers Provo River with him. We fished the and Frick's Fixes to catch the aggressive fish in the lower section of the Provo, saw plenty local waters. Gavin found fish on every outing of fish but couldn’t get any to take. with Mepps XDs or Panther Martins on our trips. We moved to the middle section of We each caught our fair share of fish in the Drift- the Provo and Gavin caught a brown less, but the most memorable day of the season within 10 minutes. Carter found a few was on Coon Creek on a very hot day in May. He fish while high sticking a double caught 16 browns and brookies and I caught 16 nymph rig, and Gavin had the hot less than that using every fly in my pack. rod, netting six more browns. They caught all the fish and I took pictures. South Dakota We headed west on July 2 to see my family for Minnesota Independence Day, and our hotel was right on the At the end of July, we did a four- Missouri River in Fort Pierre, South Dakota. We night trip to the Boundary Waters in got to town about 8 p.m. and Gavin insisted that northern Minnesota with some we throw just a few casts before going up to friends from church. We put in at the

Grandma's for a late supper. We fished for 10 end of the Gunflint Trail and stayed Curt Rees minutes and landed a couple of Missouri River on an island on the west side of Sea smallies. The next day we hit the river with Gull Lake. We caught a bunch of MISSOURI RIVER SMALLIE Grandpa Curt (my dad) and brought about 12 smallmouth casting crank baits and Gavin Rees shows off a colorful smallmouth bass along the walleyes to the boat. then had one very good evening Missouri River near Fort Pierre, South Dakota. catching northern pike on topwater Wyoming baits. We barely even had to retrieve the top wa- one in our group caught fish. The weather was ter baits, as the fish would strike the lures as soon good, no big rainstorms, and the clear skies at After our South Dakota stay, we headed west as they hit the water or just after a subtle twitch. night allowed for some wonderful sky watching. to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone National We only caught one walleye on our trip, but every- Page 16 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Asian carp barrier study released

By Taylor Ridderbusch, TU Great Lakes Organizer for preventing the spread of invasives, particular- sures. This is a step in the right direction, and will ly Asian carp, at the Brandon Road Lock and allow legislators and stakeholders more time to On August 7 the U.S. Army Corps of Engi- Dam in Joliet, Illinois. The preliminary preferred address complete basin separation, which will ul- neers released the draft Brandon Road Feasibility option outlined by the Army Corps, called the timately be necessary to ensure that the Great Study, which assesses options for preventing “Technology Alternative-Complex Noise with Lakes are protected. Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes. The Electric Barrier” includes: complex noise, water The “Technology Alternative- Complex Noise report was originally set to be released on Febru- jets, an engineered channel, an electric barrier and Electric Barrier” has an initial estimated cost ary 28, 2017, but was delayed by Trump Adminis- and a flushing lock. Additionally, this alternative of $275.3 million. TU believes this is a justifiable tration officials. Thanks to hard work from Great includes nonstructural activities (i.e. overfishing), expense for protecting the world’s largest fresh- Lakes legislators, sportsmen and women from new boat launches and a new mooring cell. For a water system that generates $16 billion though around the region, and other organizations, the full outline and definitions of these measures tourism and $7 billion via angling annually. study has been released and has initiated a 45-day please visit the Corps’ Report Page at http://glm- The Army Corps will be collecting comments comment period, which closes on November 16, ris.anl.gov/brandon-rd/. though November 16. Comments can be submit- 2017. TU supports the Corps’ recommendation, as it ted at http://glmris.anl.gov/brandon-rd/draft-com- The study examines five possible alternatives provides for an increased array of protective mea- ments/.

TROUT STAMPS, from page 13 In a February 2017 letter, nearly threatens the Great Lakes and the stream reaches, however, and harm all of Wisconsin’s Congressional $7 billion annual fishing economy it done to them will undoubtedly neg- nomic benefits that they produce for members signed a letter in support supports. atively impact all downstream Wisconsin and its residents. of GLRI funding, including Sean We will continue to keep our stretches. Wisconsin Trout Unlimited urges Duffy, Mike Gallagher, Glenn members updated regarding this In Wisconsin, 47 percent of its members to contact their legisla- Grothman, Ron Kind, Gwen matter as the bill moves through stream miles within native trout his- tors, and ask them to support a $5 Moore, Mark Pocan, and F. James Congress. torical range are classified as inter- trout stamp fee increase when the Sensenbrenner. mittent or ephemeral (and if the issue arises. A continuing resolution was then Zoning ordinance training WOTUS rule is rejected would not passed as part of a budget deal to be subject to Clean Water Act pro- Many areas of Wisconsin lack Support GLRI avoid having a government shut- tections). More than 60 percent down. That resolution fully funded zoning ordinances, which can lead Wisconsin’s streams are designated As previously reported, political GLRI at $300 million, its previous to development which is both unde- as headwater streams. regime change brings policy change. level, for the next budgetary cycle. sirable to local residents and com- In the Kickapoo River basin of Such is the case at the federal level. Please thank your federal legisla- munities, as well as allow the Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, and as- With a new administration, we faced tors for their support of GLRI. construction of facilities which are tounding 60 percent of all streams the possibility of losing all funding harmful to coldwater resources and are designated as intermittent or for the Great Lakes Restoration Ini- the economic engine that they pro- Inland aquaculture ephemeral and would be left unpro- tiative (GLRI). vide for Wisconsin’s citizens and tected. Another 63 percent of In the last legislative session a Starting in 2010 GLRI has pro- businesses. streams in this same region are con- bill was introduced to make signifi- vided funding to “protect and re- Getting out ahead of such issues sidered headwaters. In short, only 3 cant changes to regulations regard- store the largest system of fresh with solid, sound and fair ordinanc- percent of streams in this region ing aquaculture facilities in surface water in the world – the es is the best course of action. Being would be subject to Clean Water Wisconsin. We actively engaged the Great Lakes.” GLRI’s Action Plan proactive avoids potential damage Act protection. The implications of legislature regarding this bill, nego- calls for funds to be distributed to to coldwater resources. such figures are clear. Without the tiating several amendments. The remediate Great Lakes areas of Wisconsin Trout Unlimited WOTUS rule, many of the sources first ensured that changes regarding concern, prevent and control the seeks volunteers to help lead efforts of some of the best trout waters in water diversions applied only to ex- spread of invasive species, reduce to educate local municipalities re- Wisconsin would be without de- isting facilities and existing diver- nutrient runoff and associated al- garding drafting and enacting ordi- fense. sions. Therefore the changes were gae blooms, and to restore habitat nances aimed at protecting Because Wisconsin TU cares not prospective, but only for al- in order to benefit native Great coldwater resources. If you are ca- about our streams, the people that ready-licensed facilities. Lakes species. pable of aiding such efforts, or use them, and the jobs and salaries Another amendment ensured These objectives clearly fall with- would be willing to donate funding that they provide, it urges all of its that a portion of the bill which in our mission, and the funds that to support such training, please members to reach out to the Envi- would have redefined aquaculture GLRI provides have directly aided contact a WITU leader. ronmental Protection Agency at as agriculture, such that aquaculture the retention of staff in northern 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, in facilities would have been available Wisconsin who are working on WOTUS support Washington, D.C., 20460, and to stream-crossing and connectivity to receive state-paid cost sharing on TU is a strong supporter of the their federal representatives and projects on coldwater watersheds. best management mitigation prac- Clean Water Rule (Waters of the senators, in support of enacting the This program has also supported tices, was removed. A third amend- U.S. Rule, or “WOTUS”). The rule WOTUS rule of 2015. fish-passage efforts on the ment made clear that grading along was created in response to concerns Menomonee River near Miller Park stream banks would only be allowed about the lack of clarity in applica- in Milwaukee. That single project when necessary to maintain existing, Conclusion tion of the Clean Water Act of 1972 reopened more than 25 miles of riv- already-permitted aquaculture facil- Our political climate is excep- from multiple sources. Important- er to anadromous fish passage. ities. tionally hectic. Regardless of our ly, the WOTUS rule called for a GLRI funds have also resulted in Ultimately, last year’s bill did not political affiliation, we are all con- restoration of the application of the numerous toxin removal projects, pass through the session. cerned about the waters of our state Clean Water Act to ephemeral and such as on the Sheboygan River. It Similar bills were brought back in and nation. intermittent streams (often head- has also funded invasive species this session (SB 95 / AB 160), and As such, and in such a turbulent waters), and to isolated wetlands. control, notably asian carp, as well we assumed they would have ample political environment, it is critical The rule was intended to clarify as projects to protect nearshore votes to pass. Both bills passed that TU be a voice of reason. We that the “waters of the United health, wetland and habitat restora- through their respective committees ask that our members reach out to States” included traditional naviga- tion, and many other projects right and houses, and a bill is now avail- their federal representatives con- ble waters, non-navigable tributar- here in Wisconsin. able for the governor’s signature. cerning WOTUS, and their state ies of traditional navigable waters, Expenditures in support of these We again worked during these representatives regarding the is- and wetlands that directly abut such objectives is a sound investment, as bills’ processes to ensure that the sues detailed above, and let them tributaries, and included a provi- the value of the Great Lakes fishery same amendments it had garnered know how incredibly important pro- sion that a fact-specific analysis has been estimated at $7 billion an- last session remained in place, and tecting our water is. could be performed to determine if nually. These projects put locals to found that an even more narrow In keeping with TU’s position as a water has a “significant nexus” to work, and bring funds to local econ- definition was inserted regarding a voice of reason, it is imperative navigable water such that it should omies. GLRI funds also reduce lo- the geographic areas where water that our members be persistent, but be covered by the Clean Water Act. cal financial burdens. In Wisconsin’s diversions may occur. always cordial, polite, and always on The WOTUS rule was to be im- northwoods, GLRI funds support This session, other conservation point and keeping in mind the other plemented in 2015, but had been TU staff’s efforts to rebuild road organizations similarly worked with hundreds of thousands of TU mem- stayed by court action since that crossings to outlast “ordinary” the bills’ authors to secure changes bers that we each represent. time. Last February, President crossings, such that local govern- and amendments to its language. Please be honest, courteous, Trump signed an executive order ments will have reduced future re- WITU thanks the legislature for state our position, and represent calling for a review of the WOTUS pair and replacement costs. hearing our concerns and working yourself and TU well. rule. WITU, and TU National lobbied to address some of them. We need each member more TU believes that all waters as de- Wisconsin’s federal delegation re- than ever. And we need each mem- fined by the WOTUS rule should garding this issue. Historically, GL- ber to be active, to speak up and Great Lakes aquaculture be subject to Clean Water Act pro- RI funding has enjoyed a good deal make a difference. The future of WITU and TU National have al- tections, and we favor the rule. of bipartisan support across the our streams and the sport that we so been supporting a bill which Anyone who has fished Wisconsin’s Great Lakes region, and when it was love is at stake. would prohibit net-pen aquaculture streams knows that “fishhable” wa- proposed for complete elimination Thank you for all that you do for within the Great Lakes. Represen- ter often starts as small, non-navi- in this budget session, the vast ma- Wisconsin TU. tatives of WITU and the national gable, intermittent and ephemeral jority of Wisconsin’s federal dele- office have lobbied in support of streams. Such small waters un- gates took action. this bill. Net-pen aquaculture doubtedly impact navigable down- Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 17 Fall 2017 Update: Friends of Wisconsin Trout Unlimited The 2017 fundraising campaign is well on either rehabilitation or outright reconstruc- its way, and the response has been terrific. tion of streams were awarded this summer Through your generation donations, we and more potential recipients are awaiting have raised nearly $17,000. An enormous notice of grant funding to help their proj- amount of in-stream work will be accom- ects. Your support of this program is making plished because of this. A huge thank you this happen. goes out to the SEWTU Chapter with a very I hope you got out this year and enjoyed generous $5,000 contribution to this fund. the bounty of our healthy, productive trout For the last several years, many of the streams. Many streams throughout the state grants involve supporting DNR fishery have directly benefited for the Friends of crews that do maintenance, brush/bundling Wisconsin TU program. primarily in the northeast and central part of Doug Brown, Chairman the state. Numerous grants to chapters for Friends of Wisconsin TU Friends grants support DNR LTE crews like this one with Doug Weber, Kyle Siebers, DJ Loken.

Providing habitat improvement grants since 1991.

The latest projects are... $2,000 to the Northwoods Chapter for habitat crews in 2015 $2,000 to Wild Rivers for White River in Ashland County in 2015 $2,000 to Marinette and $1,500 to Wolf River for NE $2,000 to Wisconsin River Val- Region work in 2015 ley for Prairie River Project in Lincoln County in 2015

$2,000 to the Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter for the Upper Kinni in 2014 $2,000 to Green Bay Chapter for a habitat crew 2015

$2,000 to Wis. Clearwaters Chapter for Waumandee Creek in 2015

$2,000 to SEWTU for Little $2,000 to Harry & Laura Nohr Willow Creek in Richland Chapter for Pompey Pillar, 2016 County in 2016

Here are our David Menke Bristol WI Ken Voight Sugar Grove IL Friends of Wisconsin TU Cris Meyer Middleton WI Don Wagner GillettWI Steven Miller Sun Prairie WI Denis Wandtke Ogdensburg WI Jason Anderson Mukwonago WI Steve Musser Middleton WI Stephen Wilke MarinetteWI Edwin Barnes MiddletonWI Herb Oechler Wauwatosa WI Paul Williams Madison WI Charles Barnhill MadisonWI Cheryl and Winston Ostrow De PereWI Dan Wisniewski Middleton WI Jim Bayorgeon AppletonWI Donald Persons Janesville WI Nancy and Roland Woodruff OshkoshWI Jolene Berg Chippewa Falls WI Randall Rake Helena MT Norb Wozniak Stevens Point WI John and Susan Bleimehl VeronaWI Ron Rellatz MertonWI Robert Wyman Beaver Dam WI Stephen Born MadisonWI Thomas Rogers Princeton WI Frederic Young RoscoeIL Allon Bostwick Port Washington WI Tom Ryan Whitefish Bay WI Maxwell Burgert Neenah WI Michael San Dretto Neenah WI Rick Christopherson NorwalkWI Lisa and Todd Scheel St. Germain WI TROUT UNLIMITED CHAPTERS Andrew Cook II Sister BayWI Jeff and Mary Schmoeger Cot. GroveWI Kiap-TU-Wish TU Chapter Bruce Davidson WauwatosaWI James Schommer Lodi WI Antigo Chapter Mike Duren Mazomanie WI James School KaukaunaWI SEWTU Chapter Ed Eggers Genoa WI Jim and Marie Seder New Berlin WI Jim Flesch Fox Point, WI Robert Selk Madison WI Jerome Fox Two Rivers WI John Shillinglaw MadisonWI In Memory of Mike Rands. D. James Fruit Jr. Hartland WI George Shinners Antigo WI Donation from Tom and Nan Siebert Scott Geboy Fox Point WI Brent Sittlow HudsonWI Dan Geddes Appleton WI Michael Staggs Poynette WI John Gribb Mount Horeb WI Mike Stary New Richmond WI Special Thanks to Todd Hanson for the Gordon Grieshaber Mineral Point WI Gary Stoychoff Green Bay WI donation from the sale of his books. Dean Hagness MD Custer WI Rick Szymialis Waupaca WI Ashton & Stephen Hawk Madison WI Julie & Todd Templen Dubuque IA William Heart Ashland WI Donald Thompson Cumberland WI Brian Hegge Rhinelander WI Chuck Urban Wauwatosa WI Wally Heil De PereWI Dennis, Becky Vanden Bloomen E.Claire Bob Hellyer Boulder JunctionWI Eric Van Vugt Milwaukee WI Walter Hellyer Egg Harbor WI Greg Vodak Stoughton WI Charles Hodulik Madison WI Jeff Jackson Oconto FallsWI Charles Jorgenson Oconomowoc WI John Kenealy III Waukesha WI Yes, I want to join the “Friends” of Wisconsin TU. Lane Kistler MilwaukeeWI Enclosed is my check, payable to Wisconsin Trout Unlimited. Ralph Klassy Phillips WI MAIL TO: Friends of Wisconsin TU Mark Kraft Madison WI % Doug Brown Barb and Joe Kruse LaCrosse WI R4800 Timber Lane Joseph Kubale Dane WI Ringle, WI 54471 Thomas Lukas Manitowoc WI Thomas and Larissa Lyon Janesville WI Douglas MacFarland DousmanWI Name Brian Madsen Ellsworth WI Anna Magnin MarshfieldWI Address Kevin Mahaney Middleton WI Kim McCarthy Green Bay WI Austin McGuan Green Bay WI City, State Zip Phone # Page 18 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Chapter News

Aldo Leopold Chapter to provide prime habitat for fish, Species Program Director Aman- amphibians, macroinvertebrates da Perdzock of the River Alliance The chapter fundraiser and spring appears to be likely, how- and other wildlife. We construct- of Wisconsin was the guest pre- picnic in June netted $2,470 to ever, since quite a bit of planning ed about 500 feet of log sill, bank senter. She taught the audience help fund our projects and activi- remains to be done. cover and bank stabilization. The how to identify aquatic invasive ties in the coming year. Many The upcoming chapter meet- total habitat restoration project species in our riparian corridor thanks to our generous donors ing on October 11 at Suzy’s covered about 4,200 feet. and identified the risk factors of and participants. We couldn’t Steakhouse in Portage will in- Dennis served an awesome transporting invasive species be- keep going without you. clude a program by Bill Engber lunch consisting of fried chicken, tween waterbodies. We had been hoping to partici- on fishing in Iceland. We hope to salads and dessert. Great conver- Amanda did an outstanding pate yet this fall in a project on draw a crowd for this, and since sation, new friendships, the shar- job describing the threat that Bear Creek being planned by seating is limited, we ask that ing of fishing adventures and hot these species poseto our environ- Carl Wagner, an Eagle Scout anyone hoping to attend would spots were plentiful. The assis- ment and steps we can all take to candidate from Portage. Con- email Mike Stapleton at tance of the other TU chapters decrease their spread. She also struction of an access stile, re- [email protected]. If was greatly appreciated. gave a demonstration on how to building and relocation of the the “Land of Fire and Ice” hap- Nate Ratliff from the Fox Val- properly clean waders. Cleaning existing kiosk, and the trimming pens to be on your bucket list, ley Chapter was there and took equipment will be available for of bankside willows are all ex- Bill will let us know how to get fantastic photos. Check them out use at future stream habitat work- pected to be part of a busy day in- there on a budget for what could on the CWTU website at cw- days. Once again a successful day volving scouts and ALTU be the trip of a lifetime. tu.org. Click the “Multimedia” occurred with the guidance of the members. A postponement until —Mike Stapleton tab. DNR. The July work day was on the We also held a work day Sep- Antigo Chapter Pine River off of Aniwa Road, tember 16 on the Pine River east of Wild Rose, and 36 people CWTU proudly sponsored attended. Many thanks again to Clay Parmley, a 16-year-old stu- I can't believe it’s October al- veterans and other residents from FVTU for its continued support. dent who is passionate about con- ready! Where did the summer Evergreen Terrace to Silver This work day focused on build- servation, for the TU National go? We had a busy summer, Moon Springs in Elton for an af- ing structures and repositioning Teen Summit. The Summit re- starting with our Kids Fishing ternoon of fishing. Boy, what fun logs. Many thanks to the work cruits young leaders ages 13 to 18 Day in early June. We had one of that was, and they all caught fish. day crew for their hard work in who have proven their commit- the biggest turnouts ever. It was a When we were done fishing, the stream restoration. We were ment to TU’s mission and have great day and a lot of fun. crew cleaned the fish and they blessed with sunny skies, a nice demonstrated leadership at a high Our chapter had a couple of took the fish back home for a fish breeze, and great food per Dennis level. Parmley has been active work days this summer. North of fry. Drazkowki’s leadership. You can with the chapter for four years Antigo on the East branch of the The DNR dredge has been in view Nate Ratliff’s great photos and his enthusiasm for conserva- Eau Claire River at Lion’s Park, a the Mayking Flowage this sum- on the CWTU website. tion and fly fishing is infectious. group of TU members cleaned mer working hard. We funded In August more than 30 mem- See the article about his experi- and restained the deck and re-let- $3,000 for the fuel for this project bers of the Central Wisconsin and ences at the summit in this issue tered the sign. More recently we and we hope that the DNR can Fox Valley chapters attended a of Wisconsin Trout. worked on the Eau Claire River spend another year there. presentation on aquatic invasive TU put on its fourth Youth with rakes and shovels, cleaning We also just sent a check to species prior to a work day on the Trout Fishing Camp in July, out little springs that supply the the town of Elcho to help fund a Pine River. Aquatic Invasive thought to be the best so far. CW- river with cold water. Work days long-need culvert and road proj- are always a good time. ect on Fitzgerald Dam Road. This With the school year starting, is a large project that will correct our chapter has started our sec- water flow and a fish barrier on ond Trout In the Classroom proj- the Evergreen River north of An- ect. This one is at Wittenberg- tigo in the town of Elcho. Thanks Birnamwood high school. We to all the supporters of this much- just finished helping set up the needed project. The Antigo fish tank and equipment at the Chapter provided $1,500 in sup- school. Again we are working port of this project. with the Antigo High School for We are looking forward to our our second year of Trout In the fundraising banquet in March. Classroom. —Scott Henricks At the end of July our chapter had the pleasure of taking some Central Wisconsin Chapter

At our Casting Clinic and pic- for CWTU. Dennis Drazkowski nic at Marble Park in June, we coordinated a work day attended taught beginner and advanced by five Wisconsin TU chapters casting. Bob Haase presented rig- including our chapter and the Fox ging demonstrations. Jeff Treu Valley, Green Bay, Marinette and organized casting instructors. We Oconto River chapters. More provided free sandwiches, cook- than 40 volunteers turned out that ies, brownies and great conversa- morning at a stretch of the West tion, including fishing advice. Branch of the White River, just The River Keepers, coordinat- west of Wautoma, to participate ed by Bob Jozwowski, are busy in a unique multi-TU chapter monitoring streams in our region habitat restoration project. for quality of the water. Data is The day’s activities were led being entered into the computer- by nine members from the DNR ized program of UW-Extension. Fisheries units from Wild Rose Dennis Drazkowski is doing a and Green Bay, with organiza- wonderful job of organizing work tional assistance from the Central days. Work days occur on the Wisconsin and Green Bay chap- third Saturday of each month ters. from May through September. In about four hours we per- We've recently worked on the formed fishability and naviga- West Branch of the White River tion brushing. Brushing crews and on the Pine River. The volun- bundled the brush and strategical- Cy Post teer turnout has been great, as we ly placed it in the stream to nar- are averaging 36 volunteers per row and deepen the stream GETTING THE HANG OF IT work day. channel. Woody debris from pri- Coulee Chapter volunteer Bob Hubbard teaches fly casting at the Youth Outdoor Also in June was another first or storm damage was reoriented Fest in July. Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 19 Chapter News

TU sponsored three campers this vice. He showed that kayaks will Hansen at Longfellow Middle happen and all are appreciated. year. These three kids were excit- get you to places not easily School will both lead TIC proj- Please check out reelrecovery.org ed to attend and left with fresh reached. Thought and planning ects with students in their science to see how you might help with knowledge, enthusiasm, new gear goes into fishing from one. classrooms. future events. and best of all, a big smile! The Our 46th Annual Conserva- Dale Jonson, Fred Spademan, Here is what’s on tap for the camp had an awesome group of tion Banquet is October 14 from Cy Post and Curt Rees worked CRTU meetings and presenta- mentors, guides, presenters and 4:30-9 p.m. at the Best Western with members of Onalaska’s Boy tions this coming year. Thank junior mentors from across the Premier Waterfront Hotel in Osh- Scout troop 168 to help five of you Dave Krier for coordinating state. kosh. It’s a great time, with great their members earn the Scout fly- all of this. Tom Starmack shared The men and women who vol- people and great conversation. fishing badge. Congrats to scouts all he knows about fly tying on unteer form the foundation that Youth admission is only $15, and Grant, Luke, Jack, Ethan and September 20. makes this event possible. they receive a special give and are Sam for earning their fly-fishing On October 18 Bob Micheel At our September meeting our entered into a youth raffle. Adult merit badges. The CRTU chapter and John Noble will talk about own Dan Harmon, who has spent tickets are $40 if purchased be- will pay for these scouts' TU the excellent trout fishing in a lot of time fishing from a kayak, fore October 4. Teen or Stream Explorer mem- Monroe County. On November shared his experiences and ad- —Laura Tucker berships. 15 Dave Vetrano will discuss the We appreciate the help of our history of the very successful Coulee Region Chapter friends from the Lee Wulff and wild trout stocking program in Gary Borger TU chapters for in- Wisconsin. On December 20 Greetings from the Coulee Re- next summer. stalling a new stile on the Little Geri Meyer of the Driftless An- gion chapter. It’s been a fantastic We are very appreciative of La Crosse River. They did all the gler will talk to attendees about summer here in the Driftless. We the help of the Cabela's store in hard work and CRTU made trout equipment and her efforts to haven’t had any meetings lately, Sun Prairie, especially Jan Bre- lunch. Sounds like a good deal, bring more women into the world but we did manage to make time itsprecher, as they aided us in right? Thanks go out to landown- of fly fishing. Jason Freund will to help others enjoy fishing in the landing a $5,000 grant to support er Bruce Peterson for helping all make us all smarter on January area. our work with our Veterans Ser- of us make this happen, and 17 as he shares information on Many thanks to Cy Post, Bob vice Project (VSP), youth out- thanks to Duke Welter for bring- caddis flies and larva. Hubbard, Fred Spademan and doors events, and stream ing it all together. Our banquet is on February Scott Linssen for their help with restoration in our area. This mon- In early September the Coulee 23, so there is no chapter meeting the Youth Outdoor Fest in July. ey will be used to send CRTU Region was home to the Reel Re- that month. On March 21 we look They worked with hundreds of member Will Lusignan to the covery fly fishing event for men forward to hearing from DNR kids and parents during this event VSP training session in Sun Val- living with cancer. Jeremy South- wardens Shawna Stringham, to talk about fishing, teach fly ley, Idaho this fall. worth coordinated this project Greg Koelker and Dave Mathes. casting and help tie flies. Thanks to this Cabela’s grant, and was assisted by many quality For our last meeting of the year The big rains and flooding in we are also able to fund two dif- people to make it happen. Thank on April 18 we will hear from Southwest Wisconsin led to the ferent Trout In the Classroom you to CRTU friends Anthony DNR fisheries biologist Kirk Ol- cancellation of Coon Valley’s (TIC) projects in the School Dis- Larson, Brian Schumacher, Janet son, who will share all that is Trout Fest on July 22, but we trict of La Crosse. Scott Linssen Veit, Jim Gitter and Jeanie, Rob, happening in Southwest Wiscon- look forward to this fun event at Central High School and Jeff Robbie and Charlie Ruprecht for sin. all their help to make this event —Curt Rees go well. There were many more people who helped this event Fox Valley Chapter

The Fox Valley Chapter has Klingseisen, a past youth partici- been involved in and with a num- pant, also assisted with the activi- ber of activities this summer. ties. FVTU sponsored Norm’s These activities have included in- grandson, George, for the event troducing youth to fishing and this summer. how to fish, youth fly tying, habi- Habitat Days this summer tat work on the Pine River, and have been held on the Pine River planning for the upcoming fall just northeast of Wild Rose and meetings. were joint efforts with Central A number of chapter members Wisconsin TU and a team from assisted with the Wisconsin TU the Wild Rose DNR station. Youth Camp in July at Pine Lake The July and August habitat Bible Camp in Waupaca County. days were very productive, as FVTU members included Norm there were at least 35 volunteers Christnacht, Jen Erickson and in attendance each Saturday. The Tom Lager. Youth member Zach July day was used to remove ma- Nate Ratliff Anthony Larson Anthony

A BROOKIE ALWAYS BRINGS A SMILE BUILDING HABITAT BY HAND A guest at the Reel Recovery fly fishing outing shows off a gorgeous brook Mike Maier (left) of the Central Wisconsin Chapter and Tony Garvey of the Fox trout. Coulee Chapter members have been very supportive of this program, Valley Chapter nail cross members on a bank cover on Pine River in Washara which helps men with cancer. County near Aniwa Road between County Highway K and 22nd Drive. Page 20 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Chapter News

with brown trout annually from stocked in 2016 and 179 in 2017. 1973-1994, with additional stock- Wisconsin DNR staff conduct- ing in 1998 and 1999. However, ed backpack shocking at two sta- stocking efforts were halted due tions along Shady Lane. In total, to a lack of return of stocked fish. 23 Brown Trout were sampled Habitat loss and degradation over with 22 of the fish sampled rang- time was thought to be one of the ing from 8.4-10.5 inches. One main causes. larger fish of 14 inches was also Our monitoring information sampled. indicated that water temperatures Enjoy fall and the Wisconsin generally stayed below 70 F dur- fishing. And in the words of Tom ing the summer months and indi- Lager - our Let’s Talk Bugs writ- cated a fairly strong aquatic er - “enjoy his creation.” invertebrate community. —Rich Erickson, Joe Bach, Jim Trout In the Classroom result- Jenkin ed in 118 fingerling brown trout Frank Hornberg Chapter

Our chapter joined forces with Supper Club in Amherst, allowed the Friends of the Tomorrow/ us to use their grounds as a stag- Waupaca River for a river cleaning area. They also supplied up day in August. Teams were as- burgers and buns for the hot signed sections of the Tomorrow lunch. Vicky Haugh supplied River between the road crossings breakfast goodies. at Highway 161 and County T. Our team of River Keepers Each team then cleared the river continues to monitor the Tomor- of obstructions and debris. row River. Water levels in the We were pleased to see the river are generally higher than next generation of fly fishers rep- normal this year, thanks to the resented by Jack and Naomi abudance of rain in the early Bohm, who accompanied their summer. Ted Carapezza, visiting father, Wyatt Bohm, on one of from out of state, assisted the the teams. team on August 22. Gary and Darlene Anderson, —John Vollrath

Nate Ratliff owners of the Rivers Bar and Harry & Laura Nohr Chapter IT’S ALL SMILES WITH THESE FVTU TIC STUDENTS Work on about a quarter mile pleted. About 30 root wads were ny downed trees that were block- fly-tying section created by of Borah Creek has been com- installed and some bank was being stream flow on the Pine. The Duane Velie. It is very informa- downed trees were a result of the tive. Also check out Chapter tornado that went through that Chef Bob Kinderman’s recipes in portion of Waushara County in our newsletters. Jesse Walters al- mid June. The group broke up in- so provides excellent fly-tying to four separate groups to com- instruction in our newsletters. plete work on four different The Trout In the Classroom sections of the stream. (TIC) program has gained trac- The August habitat day had tion as a result of the effort of one group of volunteers working many and it is providing grass- on a bank structure just off of roots support for not only a trout Aniwa Road. That crew complet- stream but, more importantly, a ed about 80 feet of beam and watershed. We met Adam Nickel planking work that morning. The of the DNR at Stony Brook. The DNR LTE crew had the posts in purpose of the meeting was to place so the work on the placing electro shock Stony Creek to de- and the fastening of the beams termine if trout raised in the and planking made for efficient classroom by Chilton students use of the volunteer’s time. Two had in fact survived. Within 20 other groups of volunteers were feet of where they entered Stony again involved with removing Brook they located the first of 30 downed trees and creating brush brown trout found in about 300 bundles to help narrow the yards of stream. You see, not on- stream in a couple of the wider ly were the trout shocked, the au- bends. dience that assembled was also The September habitat day shocked. The trout ranged in size was also on the Pine River. The from 8 1/4 inches to 14 inches. work included finishing up the The audience included stu- bank cover and completing the dents from Chilton Christian and removal of downed trees and cre- Chilton Public Schools, a half ating additional brush bundles. dozen land owners, Riverkeep- Our monthly chapter meet- ers, the Calumet County water ings have started up again with specialist, the DNR and FVTU. the first meeting in September at Nickel took scale samples to the Capitol Centre on the North- verify the age of the trout at a lat- side of Appleton. It was a Social er date. There was quite a bit of

Night, with a chance for mem- speculation on the age of the Brian Larson bers to share stories, pictures and trout, which were planted in videos of recent fishing trips. April of 2016 and April of 2017. We are in the planning stages The youth successfully returned NEW ROOT WADS IN BORAH CREEK for our annual Cabin Fever Day all the trout to the stream after fundraiser on January 20 at the measuring and scale removal. According to the Harry and Laura Nohr Chapter, work on about a quarter mile Grand Meridian in Appleton. Stony Brook has received a of Borah Creek has been completed. About 30 root wads were installed and Watch our website for details. fair amount of attention the last some banks were being pulled back during the primary work. The banks are Also check our website and the two years. It has been stocked generally fairly stable here. Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 21 Chapter News Ron Kuehn

Brian Larson FRIENDSHIPS MADE AT WITU YOUTH CAMP The Kiap Chapter’s Anna Kuehn and her mentor, Jen Folz, ham it up at the DAVE ROH GETS AWARD FROM NOHR CHAPTER WITU Youth Fishing Camp. The Harry and Laura Nohr Chapter had a Landowner Appreciation/Project Completion/Award Ceremony and gave a long-overdue Golden Net Award to Dan Wilcox, planted along the August. The Eco Fair is a new Dave Roh, their long-time project contractor. Trimbelle/Holst easement; 16 venture put together by local peo- blue bird houses installed along ple to promote Earth Day and ex- ing pulled back during the prima- project our contractor is doing on the river; and a sign placed to rec- pressions of environmental ry work. The banks are generally Otter Creek. ognize project partners. interest. (Gaylord Nelson, a fairly stable here. In September we had a Land- All in all, approximately 900 hometown son and founder of We also are done with work owner Appreciation/Project feet of the Trimbelle and 170 feet Earth Day, is celebrated in the on the Blue River above Bower Completion/Award Ceremony. of Spring Creek were restored to Clear Lake Area Historical Muse- road. This is property that we got We gave out our long overdue productive coldwater habitat. um.) a TU fishing easement for. Golden Net Award to Dave Roh, With the Holst project, more than Chapter volunteers were there We also will be making some our contractor. two miles of stream have been re- with posters and the chapter di- LUNKER structures for another —Brian Larson stored on this portion of the orama that shows what a typical Trimbelle. stream restoration project entails. Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter Elsewhere on the Trimbelle, Several interesting contacts Kiap-TU-Wish volunteers con- were made at the Eco Fair includ- Kiap-TU-Wish takes a re- belle, started planning the project ducted the post-restoration habi- ing a contractor who had recently prieve from chapter meetings ev- in 2013 with the help of Pierce tat assessment on the stretch of made his first bid on a stream res- ery summer so that members County. Last winter Kiap volun- river near County Highway W. toration project, a landowner who have more time to fish and hang teers, organized by Randy Ar- Thanks to John Kaplan, Kent has a spring on his property that out with family and friends. And nold, cleared the stream banks of Johnson, Dan Wilcox, Dan Dun- supports a population of native while they do just that, members boxelder and brush. can, Joseph Duncan and Scott brook trout, and a Wisconsin also continue to work on stream This past summer the DNR Wagner. state park educator who ex- projects, advocate for restoration crew of Nate Anderson and Ron The Parker Creek culvert proj- pressed interest in starting a and educate. Fredrick sloped the banks, ar- ect has been in the works for Trout In the Classroom project. This year’s summer activities mored them with rock, and in- more than four years. A perched Thank you to volunteers Perry included work on three stream stalled LUNKER structures and culvert, located just outside of Anderson, John Carlson and Per- projects and participation in the root wads. Amery, was replaced in August. ry Palin for their time and effort Kinni Corridor Planning Pro- Kiap volunteers then seeded Pierce County representatives at this new event. cess, summer youth camp and and mulched the site. Final and chapter member John Carl- In early September, the final Eco Fair. touches included native grass son were on-site for the installa- Tech Talk was held for the Kinn- The Trimbelle-Spring Creek/ seed, donated by Dennis Fritz, tion. Funding for the $35,000 ickinnic River Corridor Study, a Holst project was completed in spread along Spring Creek; prai- project was provided by Kiap- comprehensive, two-year plan- June. Mike Holst, the landowner rie plugs, grown at St. Croix Cor- TU-Wish, Bosch-New Rich- ning process initiated by the City along this section of the Trim- rectional Center and secured by mond, a Friends of Wisconsin TU of River Falls. The final Tech grant, Star Prairie Fish and Talk focused on the importance Game, and Trout Stamp dollars. of recreation, tourism and eco- As a result of the replacement, nomics to river corridor planning. we anticipate lower water tem- Ed Freer with SEH Inc., the con- peratures, a stronger flow to the sultants running the study, mouth of the Apple River, and opened the evening with a discus- enhanced brook trout reproduc- sion about recreation and tour- tion in the creek’s headwaters. ism in small river towns and how Kiap members certainly en- these experiences could translate joyed the opportunity this sum- into strategies for River Falls. mer to volunteer and work with Patrick Seeb, the director of the DNR’s electrofishing trout the Destination Medical Center survey crew. DNR employee (DMC) Economic Development Barb Scott did a great job setting Agency in Rochester, Minneso- up the survey routes and times. ta, spoke about the importance of Kudos to Randy Arnold for economic development and

Dan Wilcox coordinating Kiap’s volunteers. “placemaking.” The evening con- The trout crew of Kyle Kuss, Dan cluded with a description of the Gilbertson, Haley Ludwig and next phase of the planning pro- Josh Morrisey were always process: a four-day community input KIAP VOLUNTEERS PLANTING NATIVE PLANTS fessional and fun to be around. session, scheduled for October At the Kiap Chapter’s Trimbelle River Project, volunteers plant native plant Kiap-TU-Wish was present at 25-28 at the River Falls Public the Eco Fair in Clear Lake in late Library. This input session will plugs that were grown at the St. Croix Correctional Facility. Page 22 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Chapter News pull together community ideas ing after the summer hiatus was Our chapter donated $4,000 to Great Lakes stream restoration and thoughts into tangible graph- held in early September. Anna the Town of Elcho in Langlade manager. This project is well un- ics, maps and plans. Khuen and her dad, Ron, shared County to replace a culvert on the derway and Greg Cleereman re- When complete, the Kinnick- their experiences at the WITU Hunting River. This new culvert ported that 221 sites have been innic River Corridor Plan will es- Youth Fishing Camp. Anna had will allow for unrestricted move- reviewed thus far. For more in- tablish a future vision for the area high praise for the staff, especial- ment of trout up and down the formation see the article in this and strategies for implementa- ly her women mentors. In the Hunting River. issue of Wisconsin Trout. tion. camp’s four short days she made We also gave $3,000 to Mari- Check our website for upcom- It is critically important that some good friends with whom nette County to survey culverts in ing events at marinettecoun- chapter members show up to par- she stays in touch. the Peshtigo Watershed to see if ty.tu.org. These are opportunities ticipate at the input session. Ulti- Ron said he was impressed they are properly placed and do to meet some great people, im- mately, the completed plan will with the facility and staff. Both not impede trout movement. This prove our trout waters and learn be used by the River Falls City are hoping to go back next year, area is outside the scope that new places to trout fish. Council to design future ameni- with Ron as an instructor and Laura MacFarland does as TU’s —Doug Erdmann ties, natural areas and, most im- Anna as a junior mentor. portantly, determine the fate of —Tom Schnadt, Gary Horvath, Northwoods Chapter the two dams on the Kinni. John Carlson and Maria Manion Finally, our first chapter meet- Bill Sherer, Dave Tipple, Lau- Peshtigo River watershed and in ra MacFarland and Terry Cum- the Chequamegon-Nicolet Na- Lakeshore Chapter mings volunteered to teach fly tional Forest in Oconto County. tying and take family members Before and after photos at one Lakeshore TU’s summer has clear. However, the stream has fishing at the August 17 veteran’s site showed that aquatic life is us- been filled with change and ex- been fishing great and many an- day organized by Mike Kuhr at ing the improved passage. citement. glers have reported catching fish Camp American Legion outside Bob Haase from the Central In July our long-time Presi- on dries. Hoppers seem to be of Lake Tomahawk. Wisconsin Chapter will be the dent Gordy Martin submitted his coming alive now, so we expect At our September chapter speaker at our November chapter resignation from the position. the fishing to improve over the meeting, TU’s Great Lakes meeting. Bob will be speaking Gordy has served way longer next few weeks. Stream Restoration Manager about many of his innovative ap- than expected and has helped We are excited to share that Laura MacFarland gave a presen- proaches to fly tying. lead efforts to improve fishing in we have been working this sum- tation on the status of several cul- —Terry Cummings our region over the last 10 years mer on brushing out several vert replacement projects in the as both an active member and as small streams in Sheboygan president. County. Oconto River Chapter Gordy leaves behind a great Our work has already made a legacy. We will miss his leader- difference with increased flow Our chapter continues to work tunity for each child to catch a ship but will have him with us as and more visible fish on some of on stream projects with the Green trout. Other members ran a cast- he will continue to help us grow the waterways we’ve worked on. Bay, Marinette and Wolf River ing contest and gave away rod the club and tackle new projects. More than anything, our work chapters. This year’s projects in- and reel combos for prizes. Still Stepping in for Gordy will be has helped generate some new cluded brushing, bundling and others offered to teach fly casting Myk Hranicka. Myk was voted in excitement and we have seen structure rehab work on Shawano to those that wanted to learn an- by the board as the new acting several new members join us for Creek, on the South Branch of other type of fishing. president and will lead our ef- work days. We will be meeting the Oconto and Eagle Creek. Plans are in place to hold the forts for the next several months with the DNR biologist soon to The chapter set up a booth at annual handicapped fishing day until we hold our regular officer talk about creating a long-term the Oconto County Youth Fair in September 16 at Brunner’s Pond elections. If he is not careful, he plan for stream improvements on August. We displayed a Trout-In- in Underhill. will find himself voted in again. some of these small streams. the-Classroom set-up, complete Participants are treated to a Work on our crown jewel, the Overall, it has been a great with chiller and live trout. This picnic lunch before fishing for Onion River, has mostly focused summer and we look forward to was donated by the Lakewood the big one. Fish caught are on maintenance and brushing more exciting things happening Fish Hatchery. cleaned and sent along with the projects this year. We have had with the chapter. The TIC set-up will be taken fisherperson and his or her care- several large trees come down —Myk Hranicka to the Menominee Indian High giver for a fish fry at their home. that required some real effort to School, which is the ninth school Details of the event will be in the area to install and utilize shared in the next issue of Wis- Marinette County Chapter the Trout In the Classroom cur- consin Trout. riculum. To help pay for the Our membership meetings are This summer has been a busy these browns do not come easy. equipment, the chapter ran a held monthly, excluding May and time for our chapter. In June we This year our chapter spon- summer cash raffle. November, on the first Wednes- worked with several other TU sored two Marinette County 12- In early August, chapter mem- day of each month. Meetings are chapters on the West Branch of year-olds to attend the Wisconsin bers participated in the Suring held at the Lone Oak Gun Club, the White River in Waushara Trout Unlimited Youth Fishing Sportsmen's Youth Day. Nearly just north of Gillett, starting at 7 County. A total crew of nearly 50 Camp at the Pine Lake Bible 40 kids participated in the event. p.m. people showed up and a sizeable Camp near Wild Rose. Our chapter provided the oppor- —Tom Klatt section of the stream was im- Owen Wysocki of Goodman proved. and Brett Nygren of Marinette Shaw-Paca Chapter Also in June, our chapter both reported they had a great cleared an access trail from time and learned a lot. The two The ShawPaca Chapter will scholarships to students going Highway 8 to the North Branch boys demonstrated that they are be resuming its yearly meet- into fisheries management, ed- of the Pike River. This 1/3-mile proficient with both the spinning ings in October. The chapter ucation and growth. trail now allows for easy access rod and the fly rod. Facebook page will have the The annual chapter banquet to a rapids section of the river. Doug Erdmann guided Owen This trail starts in a parking lot on a half-day fishing trip to the time and place, but it will will once again be held in on Highway 8 near 3 Mile Road. Pine River in Waushara County again be the third Thursday of March or April, with details to Chapter members have since and Owen landed two brook trout the month, on October 19. follow online and on Face- fished this area and reported on flies. Owen also won an Orvis Our officers and board had a book. If you have questions or good numbers of brook trout and fly rod outfit. Brett also fished busy summer of fishing, from comments, please let us know a few browns. the Pine River and caught a cou- the Driftless Area to the warm- and we’ll do our best to answer In July, members of the Green ple of trout on spinners. water spoils of Wisconsin’s them in a timely fashion. Bay and Marinette County chap- In August, our chapter assist- larger rivers to the freestones We’re looking forward to get- ter assisted the DNR on a stream- ed the Green Bay, Oconto and of northern Wisconsin. Variety ting back to work and assisting shocking survey on the North Wolf River chapters with a is the spice of life. our local work crews and the Branch of Beaver Creek in Mari- stream improvement project on The chapter’s focus this DNR in any way we can. nette County. It was very educa- the South Branch of the Oconto year will once again be fund- Tight Lines. tional and several age classes of River near County Highway T. —Nate Sipple brown trout were located. This was a continuation of a ing our local work crews, sup- Chapter members fish this stream improvement project that plying area libraries with stream regularly and report that started last year. copies of TROUT Magazine, Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 23 Chapter News

and build on the premier fishing for trout angling on the spring produced by other restoration creeks of southwestern Wiscon- projects upstream and down- sin, as well as Montana. In addi- stream of the proposed project tion, they offer several casting site. clinics. On this same day we had The topic of Dave’s presenta- members helping clean up Pike tion was casting. He is a Federa- Creek in sponsorship with the tion of Fly Fishers (FFF) certified Kenosha Sportfishing and Con- casting instructor and teaches servation Association. The event classes designed for beginners, took place at the Petrifying masters and other FFF certified Springs Park. instructors. Dave is an Orvis-cer- Also in September, Jay Zawer- tified guide and a recipient of the schnik, Chuck Beeler and several Mel Kreiger Award for casting other members represented SEW- instruction excellence presented TU at the Cabela’s Ladies Day by the International Federation of Out event. Jay and Chuck and Fly Fishers. This presentation of- team distributed brochures, ex- fered practical tips for everyone. plained the TU mission and an- Our SEWTU Habitat Fund- swered questions from attendees. raiser is Tuesday, October 24 at This is a great event to grow our the New Berlin Hills Golf Club, Ken Rizzo membership diversity. 13175 W. Graham Street in New Greg Schick and the Oak Berlin. FUTURE TU LEADER GETTING HER HANDS WET Creek Fly Tying Group will con- The event starts at 6 p.m. and tinue with the monthly fly-tying will take the place of our October SEWTU’s Family Fun Day continues to be a much-anticipated summer event. sessions at the Oak Creek Com- chapter meeting. Kids and adults enjoy a variety of activities at Paradise Springs. munity Center 8580 S. Howell This is an exciting event for Ave. These sessions are conduct- our chapter. There will be food, Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter ed from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and plenty of opportunities for social- meet on the first and third Tues- izing, and most importantly raffle It has been a busy summer for portunities for our area veterans. days of each month, running prizes, a door prize and a silent the Southeastern Wisconsin In addition to regular fly-tying through May of 2018. auction. Chapter. and rod-building sessions, SEW- SEWTU monthly chapter All of the funds raised from We’ve had several productive TU volunteers organize and as- meetings resumed in September the evening will be used for fu- workdays, educational work- sist at fishing outings. after the summer hiatus. Our ture stream restoration projects. shops, classes and clinics. As we In August our members joined chapter meetings are held at Thanks to Stan Strelka, and Rosie head into fall we will continue to veterans at Rushing Waters Fish- Thunder Bay Grill, located at the and Matt Marotz, for organizing organize workdays and outreach eries and helped them to catch intersection of I-94 and Highway this event. opportunities for members and plenty of trout with some taunt- 164 in Pewaukee. SEWTU is fortunate to have the general public, as well as re- ing from the flies they had tied. Meetings occur on the fourth so many members that are active suming our monthly chapter Another outing in August at Tuesday of each month and are and willing to take leadership and meetings. Milwaukee’s Lakefront provided open to the public. organizational roles for work- SEWTU members participated another great opportunity for In September we welcomed days, education and outreach in several stream outings this fishing and camaraderie on the Dave Barron as our guest speak- events. summer. water with the catching not as er. We also have many wonderful After rains flooded out our Ju- productive as Rushing Waters. Dave is co-owner, with his volunteers who are willing to do- ly workday, our chapter reorga- Everyone had a great time with wife, Nancy, of Jacquish Hollow nate their time helping these nized for a strong showing in wonderful reward. Angler and Angler’s Inn in Rich- events run smoothly. August in partnership with our Another activity conducted in land Center. Jacquish Hollow —Todd Durian friends from the Southern Wis- August for member outreach and Angler provides guide services consin Chapter. education was our annual Casting The work was conducted on Clinic, thanks to the coordination the Sugar River Basco Unit of Chapter Vice President Stan Wildlife Area (Neperud proper- Strelka. Each year we get togeth- ty) and involved instream work er at Greenfield Park to learn installing planking on two large about casting and enjoy a cook- bank covers. This work comple- out. mented the DNR work of addi- It provides an opportunity for tional bank covers, log sills, root new and experienced casters to wad deflectors, brush bundles, get tips from multiple experts and bank shaping, rip rap and more. make new friends. Our casting In late August we held our instructor was Eric Helm from fourth annual SEWTU Family Orvis. Many of our members pro- Day at Paradise Springs near Ea- vide support for Eric with the gle. many Fly Fishing 101 classes he This is always a special event conducts throughout the year. as children, parents, grandparents In September we worked at and other family members join in Bluff Creek near Whitewater. a day of stream exploration activ- Luke Roffler, the DNR fisheries ities and fun. Some of these in- biologist for Walworth County, clude kick netting, aquatic insect has been doing a great job identi- identification, a casting station fying habitat projects and im- for kids, stream table experi- proving streams for trout. ments to learn how water and During the work day we in- streams flow, and a tour of the stalled habitat features within the spring house, pond and spring. re-meander project site. This in- After participating in the ac- cluded placement of woody ma- tivities, everyone was able take a terial, half logs, and/or boulders very close look at some brook where necessary to direct stream trout, thanks to an electro-fishing energy, increase water velocities demonstration conducted by the or provide overhead cover. Other

DNR. After all of the excitement, activities included in-stream Ken Rizzo everyone enjoyed a cookout at weed pulling and cutting/drag- the park shelter. ging of small brush. CLOSE UP VIEW OF REAL TROUT The SEWTU Project Healing This work helped enhance the Hallie Koltz holds up a shocked brook trout during Paradise Springs Family Day, Waters program, led by George next two phases of the recently which has brought families together for several years now. Batcha, continues to provide op- completed re-meander project Page 24 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017 Chapter News

raiser. ities here, we encourage you to It’s been a busy summer for visit our site for information on us, including the launch of an all everything from fall stream new website at SWTU.ORG. In- workdays to great fly patterns. stead of detailing our many activ- —Drew Kasel Wild Rivers Chapter

Summer has been relatively trout in the same tailwater sys- quiet for the Wild Rivers Chap- tems. ter. Chapter members worked The Wild Rivers chapter is with Sawyer County fisheries bi- partnering with Wisconsin TU to ologist for the DNR to do some help the Bayfield Regional Con- follow up habitat work on a bea- servancy (BRC) successfully ver dam removal project we protect a parcel of land just shy helped with last year. We contin- of 600 acres in Ashland County. ued to aid in placing brush bun- The landowner wishes to protect dles in two small creeks where the parcel for its natural resourc- To m K r a u s k o p f dams had been removed in the es while also allowing it to be past. Chapter members Bob Trac- open to non-motorized public SWTU AND FRIENDS WORK ON SUGAR RIVER zyk and Bill Heart were on hand use. Between the Wild Rivers SWTU had 31 mighty members of its Stream Team lend a hand at an August to help with the work. chapter and Wisconsin State workday on the Sugar River at the Basco Unit Wildlife Area. This two-year For the last few years we’ve Council, a contribution of $5,000 project included reshaping stream banks and installing LUNKER structures, log been having an annual bass and has been made to Bayfield Re- sills, root wad deflectors, brush bundles, rip rap, rock barbs and bank covers. musky outing in August. This gional Conservancy to start the year we were joined by a couple work in grant writing to ensure members of Arkansas Trout Un- that this project goes through. limited. Bill Thorne and Bruce At the September chapter Petray made the drive north to meeting, BRC staff members Eri- fish with us, and then Thorne ka Lang and Mary O'Brien pre- gave a presentation on the stock- sented on this Ashland County ing of Bonneville Cutthroats in project and other projects that the White River tail water system BRC is engaged in developing in Arkansas. The goal is that and maintaining conservation there would be successful natu- easements and land protection in ral reproduction of the species, the region that Wild Rivers chap- much like the natural reproduc- ter works in. tion occurring amongst brown —Bob Rice Wisconsin Clear Waters

The Wisconsin Clear Waters The contest was to include warm-

Jim Beecher Chapter had two enthusiastic water fish and take place in the candidates for the annual Wis- vicinity of Eau Claire and the SWTU’S PROJECT HEALING WATERS FLY FISHING CLINIC consin Trout Unlimited Youth Wisconsin Clear Waters Chapter The SWTU Project Healing Waters program hosted a fly-fishing clinic along Camp at Waupaca and we spon- and the Wisconsin Clear Waters Black Earth Creek in Cross Plains. Many thanks to the volunteers who made a sored them both: Nick Leary and Chapter was to be the beneficiary difference for some very worthy veterans. Jack Savaloja. of any funds raised. Unfortunate- “The only thing I’d change ly, steve canceled the event due Southern Wisconsin Chapter about camp would be to make to a lack of sign-ups. It appears more days to get kids out even that a one-fly contest that in- more,” wrote Nick in his letter to cludes smallmouths and muskies Save the date for our Icebreak- Our keynote speakers will be the chapter. He sounds like a is an idea whose time has not yet er event on Saturday, January 13. Tucker and Jacquie Nelson from fisherman. come. Anyway, Steve has been It will once again be held at the Nelson Spring Creek Ranch in In June the chapter was a busy with his new guide service, easy-to-access, spacious and Livingston, Montana. Give them sponsor of Trout Day on Eagle but it's back to school now. His comfortable headquarters of a quick search on the internet and Creek in Buffalo County, along regular job is teaching high American Family Insurance on you'll see why we're so excited to with several clubs. The event in- school English. the east side of Madison. have them for our largest fund- cluded fishing, shocking the The chapter has transferred the creek by DNR, food and prizes. deed of land we owned to the Al- More than 110 kids attended. In liance of Dunn County Conserva- addition to giving some financial tion and Sports Clubs. The support, board member Bob chapter has owned the property Swanson brought down a couple on Elk Creek, near the mouth of fly rods for prizes. Elk Creek Lake, for more than 30 Speaking of fly rods, L.L. years. Bean has donated five complete Many years ago we did a habi- fly rod kits to the chapter to be tat project there. We also used to used for education purposes. hold an annual brat feed there, Thanks to LL Bean. The rods ar- sometimes combined with fish- rived in summer after our educa- ing or a brushing project. But TU tion projects were over for the National prefers that chapters not year, so the leaders still have no own property, and the alliance wind knots. has been successful with public In recent years the chapter vol- access issues and purchases for unteers have helped out at a public use in the county. It in- morning of fly tying, casting cludes a permanent fishing ease- practice and fishing at the Beaver ment. Thanks to Dick Duplessie Creek Nature Reserve, but this for doing the paper work for this. didn't happen this year because The chapter takes a break from not enough youths signed up. The board meetings and general fees may be a bit high. meetings in the summer, but Also not quite panning out board meetings resumed in Sep- WILD RIVERS CHAPTER DISCUSSES BAYFIELD REGIONAL CONSERVANCY was a One Fly Contest organized tember. Dick Duplessie is the Mary O'Brien (left) and Erika Lang present on the work of the Bayfield Regional by local fly fishing guide and new chapter president, replacing chapter member Steve Wisner. Joe Knight, who stepped in for a Conservancy to the September Wild Rivers Chapter meeting. Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 25 Chapter News

ANDY KILLOREN FISHING THE WOLF RIVER IN AUGUST 2017 from Alice Klimoski at Mike's They went around to various BIG BROOKIES IN DUNCAN CREEK Service at Langlade about some places on the Wolf and Hunting A DNR crew shocking the upstream portion of Duncan Creek this summer people looking for info about rivers. The end result was a fea- found some larger trout. fishing the Wolf River. Turns out ture article in the July/August is- it was Carl Haensel and Jade sue of Eastern Fly Fishing one-year term when health issues An experiment the chapter is Thomason. magazine. The article does a great kept Al Noll from finishing his funding that involves moving Bill has been reading their arti- job of representing all that the final year as president. brook trout from upstream of the cles in Eastern Fly Fishing maga- Wolf has to offer. If you can find The northern boundary for Bloomer Pond on Duncan Creek, zine for a while and says their a copy it is worth the read. streams eligible to be included in where they have historically quality of writing is impressive. The Wolf River Chapter fall TU DARE project has been ex- been abundant but small, and re- After talking with them for an meeting is October 7 at the Bear panded to include part of Barron stocking them downstream be- hour or so about hatches, time of Paw Adventure Resort, with County and more of Chippewa low a barrier, seems to be year, access, trout, smallmouth, lunch and fishing afterwards. and Dunn County. The chapter working. A DNR crew shocking all of the normal fisher stuff, they —Laurie Zen Netzow already has plans underway for the upstream portion of Duncan were ready to go fishing. work on Wilson Creek in Dunn this summer found some larger County, which is now within the trout. Regular anglers say they Oak Brook Chapter boundaries of TU DARE. have been catching larger brook- The chapter recently sent off a ies, although the behavior of the For the past several years the erosion and phosphorus discharge letter in support of the federal anglers is probably helping. They Oak Brook TU (OBTU) chapter, within the city of Sparta. grant Jeff Hastings is trying to have been releasing the big ones along with a wide range of part- Since 2014 OBTU has provid- get for TU DARE. In general and keeping the little ones if they ners, has provided financial sup- ed both volunteer and financial terms we said there are a lot of want a fish dinner. port for the Weister Creek project support that has been leveraged to potential projects in this northern —Joe Knight within the Kickapoo Valley Re- get large government grants. OB- end of the Driftless Area. serve. TU volunteers returned to Sparta Weister Creek is in its third for a stream restoration work day Wisconsin River Valley Chapter year of construction and fourth in July. Seven LUNKERS were year of fundraising. Phase 3 con- constructed, which were used for Greetings from the Wisconsin ing vegetation. We didn't catch a struction will be completed this restoration work on Beaver River Valley. I’m sure it is said fish on Sunday but enjoyed the fall. Creek. by nearly everyone the speed that beautiful weather and even a few At that time, the project will “We had planned to remove the summer season arrives and in wild raspberries. cover 7,540 feet of stream length, tree dams and debris at the Bea- the blink of an eye is gone. The last weekend in August six acres of restored wetlands and ver Creek construction site, but In July I did have the pleasure brings the Sporting Heritage Day 36 acres of prairie planting. It is a all trees and obstructions were of spending a couple days at the at the Wausau School Forest. significant project with a total taken care of the prior week by a WITU Youth Fishing Camp. It is Many thanks to Henry Kanemoto project length of 13,000 feet. very heavy rain storm,” said Con- an amazing group of students and John Meachen for showing In addition to stream improve- servation Chair Dave Carlson. and mentors, and it’s a pleasure their tying expertise to the kids ment, the Weister Creek project “Local streams received a roy- to meet and work with them. who turned out for the event. provides habitat for hunting and al flush of high water, but our I had the opportunity to men- Thanks also to Al Hauber who is a demonstration site for many stream work in Sparta from previ- tor Jack Savaloja from Eau joined Henry and John in the af- non-game wildlife habitat best ous years held up really well.” Claire. Jack had a little trouble ternoon for casting. practices. —Jim Schmiedeskamp with casting, as any beginner We are still planning presenta- The chapter’s other Driftless does. tions for the fall but are looking Area stream restoration project We did manage to catch a forward to seeing everyone for encompasses the reduction of soil trout together on the Saturday the fall meeting October 7 and night outing. When we got out on the art and literature event at the the stream Sunday morning we Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art were in more close quarters and Museum, October 5-9. he was roll casting like a pro and —Linda Lehman MIKE’S had very few issues with fly eat- Wolf River Chapter SERVICE AT LANGLADE The summer fishing on the smallmouth bass fishing day trip JUNCTION OF HWY. 55 AND 64 Wolf River for many was a on the Wolf. Many smallmouth FLY SHOP AUTO REPAIR pleasant surprise. While the bass and a trout were caught. smallmouth fishing was quite What a collection of river, rap- good for most, the trout contin- ids, boulder gardens, eagles, os- Fly Shop & Sporting Goods ued to bite as the Wolf River prey, otter and some great guys. maintained higher water levels Also of interest, the Wolf Riv- Need a special pattern? Ask Mike! and cooler water temperatures er was one of the featured rivers • Custom Tied Flies • than the past few years. in the July/August issue of East- Expectations are that the Au- ern Fly Fishing magazine. Carl tumn season will provide excep- Haensel and Jade Thomason did MICHAEL & (715) 882-8901 tional fishing with good sized a great job of writing about all ALICE KLIMOSKI 4505 STATE ROAD 55 trout and numbers. that the Wolf River has to offer. Owners WHITE LAKE, WISCONSIN 54491 In August we had a fantastic Last fall Bill Kallner got a call Page 26 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017

, from page 1 stand a 100-year flood event. This is I’m sure many readers are won- MINE an undoubtedly terrible mistake by dering how this all fits into the mis- the regulatory bodies of Michigan. sion of TU, since the Menominee Please help Aquila Resources paints an all- We flat-out do not have normal River is not a coldwater resource. too-rosy picture of the life and final weather in this area anymore. And why is it so important that Wis- Wisconsin Trout capping of the mine. Its engineering Whether you believe in climate consin Trout Unlimited has taken a wants your would be largely designed after an- change or not makes no difference stance of opposition to a mine in the other sulfide mine in northwestern in this case. Having spent more than state of Michigan? feedback Wisconsin on the banks of the Flam- a thousand days on the Menominee The connection is not exactly beau River. Aquila and its associ- River over the course of 16 years, I transparent until one does a bit of ates are attempting to compare the have witnessed a dramatic increase research into current proposed leg- As a Wisconsin TU two sites and highlight the Flam- in severe weather. In June of 2017, islation here at home. This is where member, Wisconsin beau Mine as a success story with we were forced to cancel more the protection of our cold water re- Trout is your minimal water contamination. guide trips than we have in the en- sources comes to light. Unlike publication. We One doesn’t have to dig too tire existence of our Michigan, Wisconsin welcome your deeply to determine that these two business combined, has what amounts to a suggestions and hope projects are completely different all due to the fact moratorium on sulfide you will take a few and have zero ground for compari- that the river was at “The second mining. These restric- son. First and foremost, the Flam- or above USGS tions have protected minutes to give us your beau Mine is a tiny fraction of the feedback. flood stage. problem, and multiple natural areas size that Back 40 would be. The All of these vio- true ticking in the state that also waste rock generated by Back 40 lent storms beg a lin- contain some of the What do you like about would be nearly six times larger. bomb, is the Wisconsin Trout? gering question. same metals found in Furthermore, unlike the Flambeau What could happen containment of the Back 40 site. Mine, which shipped all its rock when the big one Some of our legisla- Is there anything you’d away for processing, Back 40 would hits? In 2016, north- the acid mine tors are working hard like to see more of? exclusively process and store the western Wisconsin drainage during to ease the current re- toxic end products in the pit a mere was subject to what a strictions on sulfide 150 feet from the river. operation and Are there any specific U.S. Forest Service mining, which will in- At the very root of it all, Back 40 hydrologist de- after closure.” evitably threaten some topics you’d like us to would pose a two-fold wastewater cover? scribed as five times of the trout water ma- problem. The first potential disaster a 500-year flood ny hold dear. Wiscon- stems from water being pumped in- event. This system sin Trout Unlimited’s Do you like the addition to the river during operation. Aqui- dumped 12 inches of rain in a few opposition to Back 40 makes a clear of color to select la was already granted the necessary hours causing, several million dol- statement. The disastrous effects of pages? permit to pump millions of gallons lars in damage to infrastructure and sulfide mining on surface waters are of treated water directly into the killing a handful of people. What if well-documented and future mine Menominee. One little slip in the a similar event were to occur during sites represent a true threat to Please share your treatment process could dramatical- the operational life of Back 40? clean, cold water bodies. I applaud ideas, suggestions, ly alter the river’s water chemistry Open pit mine planning intends to TU’s efforts in taking a stance comments and leading to unknown consequences. keep water in, but what if the pit is against Back 40, and I truly believe criticisms by sending The second problem, and true swallowed by the river? Considering it is an important action in align- them to ticking bomb, is the containment of Back 40’s proposed proximity to the ment with TU’s mission to conserve, toddfranklinwistrout@g the acid mine drainage during oper- Menominee and the violent weather protect and restore North America's mail.com. ation and after closure. Despite Aq- seen across the globe as of late, the coldwater fisheries and their water- uila’s lofty claims about their barrier risks far outweigh the potential ben- sheds. wall’s capabilities, they are only re- efits. quired by permit to build it to with-

Paul Feldhake Port Washington WI Dr. C. Emil Mueller Boscobel WI Joel Fisher Birnamwood WI Keith Nelson Waunakee WI William Flader, M.D. Madison WI Eric Nelson Chili WI Richard Galling Hartland WI Herb Oechler Wauwatosa WI Daniel Geddes Appleton WI Winston Ostrow De Pere WI Don Glanzer Loganville WI Scott Quandt DDS Green Bay WI James J. Goodwin Sturgeon Bay WI Carl Rasmussen Neenah WI Colleen Grant Eden Prairie MN Bob Retko Cedarburg WI Dan Grauer Wausau WI James Ruether Mosinee WI John Gribb Mt. Horeb WI Michael San Dretto Neenah WI Jack Halbrehder Sparta WI Jeff Schmoeger Cottage Grove WI Stephen Hawk Madison WI Glen Schnadt Richland Center WI Ashton Hawk Madison WI P.R. Schumann Hartford WI John Hawk New Holstein WI Frederick W. Seybold Madison WI Donald Heinzen Verona WI Edwin Shultz Prairie du Sac WI Walter Hellyer Egg Harber WI Michael Staggs Poynette WI Jerone Herro Kimberly WI Wayne Stockman Spring Valley WI Cline Hickok Hudson Thomas Towne Rosendale WI Nancy and Dan Hill Spencer WI Dennis Vandenbloomen Eau Claire WI Fall 2017 update John Hoar Ashland WI Carol Vendt Oconto WI Charles Hodulik Madison WI John Voorhees Hazelhurst WI Harold Hoffman West SalemWI Dick Wachoski Eau Claire WI The 2017 Watershed Access Fund campaign is nearing its end and Scott Homann Roscoe IL Don Wagner Gillett WI the response has been very good. Thanks to your generous contribu- Phyllis Hunt Waupaca WI Janis Watson Thiensville WI John & Judith Hutchinson Sun Prairie WI Donald Wellhouse Kaukana WI tions, we have raised more than $5,500! Thank you so much for the sup- William Johnson Hudson WI Paul Wiemerslage Hudson WI port. Cliff Kremmer Sparta WI Stephen Wilke Marinette WI Larissa Lyon Janesville WI Dan Wisniewski MiddletonWI The Wisconsin TU Watershed Access fund is used to secure impor- Thomas Lyon Fontana WI Don Wolf Madison WI tant stream access links, such as the well known “Horseshoe” section on Brian Madsen Ellsworth WI Jared Wunderlich DePere WI the North Fork of the Bad Axe. Without this program, we may have lost Kevin Mahaney Middleton WI Wendy & Fred Young Roscoe IL Charles Martinson Mt. Horeb WI the opportunity to secure public fishing access on this beautiful section Peter Meronek Stevens Point WI Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter of TU Fred Mikolajewski West Allis WI Wisconsin Clearwaters Chapter of TU of water. Marinette County Chapter of TU The current grant request is $7,500. Because two chapters may each Robert Moser Milwaukee WI request for a single acquisition and each chapter would have to match at 50 percent, the new limits would provide as much as $15,000 for a single purchase or easement. The matching 50 percent from chapters Here is my contribution of $100 or more to can be in the form of volunteer hours. the Wisconsin TU Watershed Access Fund The 2018 fundraising campaign is coming soon. Watch for a letter from us late this fall, and please consider making a generous contribu- Make your check payable to tion to the 2018 Watershed Access Fund. The need for access is critical Wisconsin Trout Unlimited for anglers to continue their passion for trout fishing. Access is also critical for Trout Unlimited to continue its successful stream improvement work. MAIL TO: TU Watershed Access Fund I hope you all had a fantastic 2017 fishing season. Attn: Doug Brown R4800 Timber Ln. Doug Brown, Wisconsin TU Watershed Access Fund Chair Ringle, WI 54471

2016 Contributors Name Louis Arata Whitefish Bay WI Edward Brockner Beaver Dam WI Henry Barkhausen Winnetka IL Russell Ciscon Phillips WI Ed Barnes Middleton WI William Creasey Muscatine IA Address Charles Barnhill Madison WI Terry Cummings Rhinelander WI Jim Bayorgeon Appleton WI David Darling River Falls WI Michael Benish Oregon WI Bruce Davidson Wauwatosa WI City, State, Zip Ron & Jolene Berg Chippewa Falls WI Steve Deery Coloma WI Mark Berggren Madison WI Richard Diedrich Grafton WI Blaine Biedermann Madison WI Richard Duplessie Eau Claire WI Mike Duren Mazomanie WI Phone Richard Boda Boyceville WI Jack Ellingboe Prescott WI Stephen Born Madison WI Harley Erbs Rhinelander WI Fall 2017 Wisconsin Trout Page 27 Driftless Rambler With Duke Welter TUDARE Outreach Coordinator Under water...again. It’s been 10 years this summer a month later. More than $21 mil- since a catastrophic storm hit much lion in damage took place in that of the Driftless Area and caused last storm. tens of millions of dollars of damage Since 2007 at least eight cata- across the region. The following strophic storms have hit the region, spring, another of almost similar according to the federal govern- magnitude drenched us again. The ment's weather studies branch, the first has been described as a 1000- National Atmospheric and Oceanic year event and the second, a 500- Administration (NOAA). These year event. The economic, personal storms are causing weather special- and environmental impacts were ists to question the description of a tremendous, and are still being felt. 100-, 500- or 1,000-year event. Worse, those storms led a parade Roads all across the region have on the high ground, stormwaters was originally controversial in Wis- of more dramatic rainfalls, most of been interrupted as usually-dry runs were washing along shoulders and consin, but that has changed. In the them of high intensity and short du- flood and wash out culverts or the causing ravines and washouts. 2007-8 floods, some 50 structures ration. The most recent, July 23, roadway covering them. We’ve learned again and again were lost in Wisconsin, but almost dumped more than 10 inches of rain Our County JJ Bridge over how floodwaters take out pieces of 950 were lost in Minnesota, which on Arcadia in a few hours, and plen- Reads Creek is still blocked off al- roads, and how dangerous it is to try hadn’t adopted similar zoning rules. ty more across southwest Wisconsin. most a year later, as the county tries to drive through any flooded road. Avalanche, that little hamlet These aren’t isolated, according to figure out where the money will Sadly, deaths last year and this dear to anglers on the West Fork of to the weather scientists, but are come from to fix it. They can get spring don’t seem to drive the les- the Kickapoo, once boasted a part of a weather pattern they’ve funding to replace it with the same son home to everyone. church, school, newspaper and 750 watched develop over the past de- bridge, but to make it strong These dramatic events have led souls, according to an area resident cade. Since 2007 some parts of the enough to withstand future floods me to some observations that don’t who was born there. Today, with the Driftless Area have been inundated would cost much more. Private bode well. One is that while scien- razing of the Avalanche Store and every single year: 2008, the Root landowners are vexed by losing their tists are generally convinced we are more houses, only a half-dozen River and Viroqua area. 2009, El bridges repeatedly. in for more of these high-intensity, buildings remain. Other Vernon Paso. 2010, Boscobel and Decorah, I traveled Highway 14 along short-duration storms, many of our County and Driftless Area villages and so on. Reads Creek early the morning of policy makers at the state and fed- that remain but a place name, such Last year Viroqua had three suc- September 23, after more than nine eral level either decline to address as Purdy or Newton, and many cessive events over an eight-week inches fell overnight. At the JJ the situation or deny it’s occurring. foundations of their former struc- period, with rainfall events of five bridge, the normally seven-foot- That means it’s hard for a town tures are buried under successive and six and more than nine inches. wide stream was more than 80 feet or county to plan for replacing an layers of flood-born sediment. Some people lost repeated bridges wide, and piled with downed trees. inadequate bridge with one de- Changes are coming, albeit slow- across creeks that otherwise would Downstream, the flood had gone signed to withstand harsher condi- ly. Some highway departments are be less than ten feet across. through the nursery’s hoop houses tions, if you can’t get funding help working to plan and build roads and Also last year, Trempealeau and and hundreds of plastic flower pots from the federal government. And bridges that take the changing Buffalo counties got hit twice, two bobbed as they washed down to- towns have scores and hundreds of weather conditions into account. weeks apart; northeast Iowa got hit ward the Kickapoo River. inadequate culverts that they can’t Urban subdivisions are being re- two weeks later and Vernon and The big river itself was up over or won’t replace without increased quired to include better storm wa- Crawford counties were hammered the only bridge at Readstown. Even financial help. ter systems. Even Viroqua's own How were some of those culverts system seems to be overtaxed, with sized? One town road crew member gullies forming in draws directly said they just went to the local sup- over stormwater piping. plier and bought the cheapest cul- One cannot help but wonder the vert available, regardless of its size. extent to which agricultural practic- Another observation is that we es, especially during the corn-and- are seeing significant erosion in soybean boom, have contributed to places that have been relatively sta- some of the woes. Much upland soil ble for many decades. They were erosion control was lost as corn and beat up by early land use, remedied bean prices rose and many decades- from the 1930s through 1960s, but old contour strips, grass waterways now are at risk again. If we don’t and buffers were torn out on hill- address them in ways that allow side fields. Now, during a storm, them to withstand these changing downhill runoff goes unchecked conditions, we’ll be in an age of and tears out dry runs and water- backsliding on soil conservation. courses, causing increased damage. An excellent article in the La- Stream restoration techniques Crosse Tribune by environmental have been tested, too, in these dra- reporter Chris Hubbuch recently matic events. Some didn’t survive, examined a wide range of problems, but most have, as their widened mostly unaddressed, posed by the floodplains help absorb the power rash of 100-year storm events. of floods. But some, especially in Some solutions have been found higher-gradient areas or in con- in the past 10 years, including mov- stricted valleys, were badly beaten ing residents of flood-prone towns up or destroyed. like Gays Mills to higher ground, Continuing to take inadequate with help from the Federal Emer- measures, or doing nothing, in the gency Management Administration face of changing conditions, doesn’t (FEMA), or buying out landowners make any sense. But in light of the in villages like Avalanche. last 10 years, it’s likely the challeng- And across the region, some es will continue. How will we zoning changes have made signifi- choose to meet them? cant changes. Flood plain zoning You can donate securities to WITU The Wisconsin Council of Trout Unlimited has an account at Morgan Stanley. Whether you’re a TU member or not, you can donate securities to the WITU from almost any source. To d d Fr a n k l i n

ONE OF MANY STREAM CROSSING DESTROYED LAST FALL Contact Rick Christopherson at 1-888-301-9769 or This concrete crossing on Tainter Hollow Road in Vernon County was one of [email protected] many that couldn’t withstand last September’s rain event. Page 28 Wisconsin Trout Fall 2017