The
TROUT TALE
The official newsletter of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited Volume 4, Issue 2
Winter 2016
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Bear Basin Adventures ready to take you to the incredible backcountry of Wyoming......Page 5
Snake Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative By BARB ALLEN Jackson Hole Chapter President
And CORY TOYE Wyoming Water & Habitat Program Director
T
he Jackson Hole Chapter and the Wyoming Water and Habitat Program of Wyoming are excited to announce the posting for a new position in the Snake River Headwaters. Few western rivers enjoy a backdrop as unique and spectacular as the upper Snake River in western Wyoming. Originating near the northern boundary of Grand Teton National Park, the upper Snake flows from the volcanically active Yellowstone Plateau through the dramatic faultblock uplift mountains of the Teton Range. The system of headwater streams and rivers that creates the Snake — eventually the largest tributary to the Columbia River — lies at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest intact functioning ecosystem in the United States outside of Alaska. Some of the most important cottonwood gallery forests in the West are found within this river corridor, and the adjacent forests are strongholds for a diverse assemblage of animals, including large predators like grizzly bears and wolves that have been extirpated from most of their historical habitats in the contiguous U.S. The river is home to several amphibian and native fish species, including a unique mix of native Yellowstone and Snake River fine spotted cutthroat trout. Undoubtedly, the Snake and its tributaries around Jackson Hole are keystones in one of the most iconic landscapes in the world. Due to the nature of the river and the fact that most of the land adjacent to it is public, the upper Snake offers a unique opportunity for anglers and other recreationists, and it enjoys many protections that are not afforded to other western streams. The Snake River Headwaters
encompass portions of the Gros Ventre and Teton Wilderness areas and Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Forty-three U.S. Forest Service roadless areas are identified in this subbasin, along with three Bureau of Land Management Wilderness Study Areas. All told, roughly 33 percent of the Snake Headwaters subbasin enjoys some type of ‘protected’ management designation. Despite those protections, however, human activities and development continue to impact hydrologic function, stream habitat and native fish populations. Forty-six miles along
five different streams in the Snake River Headwaters subbasin are listed as water quality impaired. The main stem of the Snake River is modified by a levee system that confines the channel and prevents it from accessing its historical flood plain, interrupting natural processes like groundwater recharge, riffle-pool formation, and flood attenuation. This floodplain disconnection has led to a loss of important in-stream habitats like side channels, logjams and backwaters, and it has had a negative impact on
See SNAKE HEADWATERS page 3
Kathleen “Beanie” Doffermyre of the Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited Chapter is focused on the task at hand while fly fishing the incredibly scenic Spread Creek in Teton County. COURTESY PHOTOS/Russ Schnitzer — schnitzerphoto.com
NOTES FROM THE CHAIRMAN Here’s to a great 2016...
W
inter is here! As I write this, we are having a below zero morning here in Green River — our coldest day of the year so far. The river here in town is iced over for the winter, so tailwater fishing is where the action is going to be for a while now. Hopefully everyone has been enjoying the holidays with family and friends and looking forward to the New Year. As WYTU moves into the New Year, we are looking forward to bringing on a new Wyoming Coordinator to help the council and chapters move forward with our mission of helping our cold water fisheries here in Wyoming. We have been working with National Trout Unlimited and Wyoming Water and Habitat Director Cory Toye on the employment posting for this position and are currently working through the process with the candidates that have applied for the position. We plan to have a new coordinator hired early in the year, and will let everyone know as soon as things are finalized. We had a great WYTU fall meeting in Sheridan last November, and I want to thank the Little Bighorn Chapter for hosting the event in this beautiful part of the state. I’ve only been to Sheridan one other time, and was able to travel some country that I’ve never been in before, including through the Bighorns. I need to get up that way more in the future. I want to thank all the TU staff and chapter volunteers from throughout the state who attended and contributed to the good discussion we had. One of the highlights was Trout Unlimited Senior Scientist Jack Williams was able to attend on Sunday, and gave us a presentation on the State of the Trout, as well as a training session on Stream Temperature Monitoring. The council was able to provide each of the chapters with a stream temperature monitoring kit from TU, and Jack worked with all of us on how to deploy and utilize the equipment on each of our home waters. Each chapter representative brought
their kit home, so hopefully each of the chapters can decide where to best use the equipment to gather data in their own backyard. Thanks again to everyone who attended the meeting and contributed to the discussion. These are great opportunities for networking and developing friendships with others throughout the state in addition to the opportunity to discuss issues that affect us all. We look forward to the 2016 Annual Spring Council Meeting that will be held in Cheyenne in the spring. The TU Western Regional meeting will be held this year in Eugene, Oregon, on April 1-2, and the TU National Meeting will be held in Bozeman, Montana on September 28 through October 1. All TU members are invited to attend these events, and with the national meeting being held here in the west within driving distance, it would be a great opportunity to attend if you are able. Plus it is definitely a nice time of year to get some fishing in on the rivers around Bozeman for sure! I wanted to make sure folks knew the dates and could mark them on their calendars if interested. Once again, thanks to each and every one of you for your work and passion to help our fisheries here in Wyoming. Without our dedicated and passionate volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to make the difference we are making on our waters throughout the state. The grass root volunteers are the lifeblood of this organization, and we should all be proud of the good work that is being accomplished within all of our chapters and on our waters throughout the state. Here’s to a great 2016, strengthening old friendships, making new ones and having some fun fishing the waters we all care so much about! Calvin Hazlewood is the chair of WYTU and lives in Green River. He and his wife, Amy, along with their daughter Dayna and their dog Hatch, enjoy the outdoors — particularly fishing and floating in their drift boat. Calvin is also an accomplished photographer. Email Calvin at calvinandamy@q.com
WINNER OF THE 2014 TROUT UNLIMITED “BOLLINGER AWARD FOR BEST NEWSLETTER” The TROUT TALE is a quarterly newsletter of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited. The deadline for submission of information, photos and content for the Spring 2016 newsletter (April, May and June) will be March 1, 2016. Please send any and all contributions for the spring issue to newsletter editor Mike Jensen at: trouthut@gmail.com The TROUT TALE is available through e-mail and online on the council’s website at: wyomingtu.org
MISSION: Conserving and protecting Wyoming’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds
WYOMING COUNCIL OFFICERS: Calvin Hazlewood Chair Cole Sherard Vice Chair and Secretary Dave Sweet Treasurer Jim Broderick NLC Representative Mike Jensen Past Chair
WYOMING CHAPTERS: n Casper-Grey Reef n Curt Gowdy n East Yellowstone n Jackson Hole n Laramie Valley n Little Bighorn n Platte Valley n Popo Agie Anglers n Seedskadee n Upper Bear River n Upper Green River
OFFICE LOCATION: 409 Lincoln Street Lander, Wyoming 82520 Phone: 307.332.6700 Fax: 307.332.9299
ONLINE: www.wyomingtu.org
© 2016 Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited
Mike Jensen, Newsletter Editor • Calvin Hazlewood, Chairman
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SNAKE HEADWATERS, continued from page 1 riparian vegetation like cottonwoods, which do not regenerate effectively in the absence of flood plain inundation. In addition to these main stem impacts, many of the important tributaries in the system — Buffalo , Gros Ventre and Hoback rivers—have diversions that dewater stream reaches, block migrations and entrain and kill fish. “The time is now to invest in restoring these degraded and disconnected habitats, before their cumulative impacts reduce fish population resiliency, and, ultimately, survival,” states Barb Allen, President of Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited. “Together with a diverse group of community and agency partners, TU is embarking on an ambitious campaign to reverse these trends, and to restore, and protect, the headwaters of the upper Snake River and its fishery.” TU’s Snake River Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative will leverage the capacity of our active local chapter and engaged membership in and around Jackson Hole by hiring a TU staff project manager to work with the chapter and local partners to develop and implement high-priority restoration projects to benefit native trout and their habitats in the Snake River and its tributaries. Home Rivers Initiatives are national programs that place a full-time TU staff member in a watershed to live and work with, and within, the local community, and bring the full range of TU’s scientific, policy, education, and legal expertise to bear on watershed-scale restoration and protection. TU’s many successes using this method range from the Catskills in New York and the Driftless Area of the upper Midwest to the South Fork of the Snake and Deschutes rivers in the West. It is a tested and proven formula, and TU already has built a foundation for success in the Snake Headwaters. TU has completed a suite of important restoration and reconnection projects in native trout streams. The Jackson Hole TU chapter has been worked on Flat Creek for several years to improve habitat and water quality
in that famous stream, and in 2010 TU removed a full-spanning diversion dam on Spread Creek and reconnected over 50 miles of habitat in that tributary to the main stem Snake River. In 2012, TU removed the Newbold Dam from the Gros Ventre River reconnecting over 60 miles for native fish. Since 2007, five Adopt A Trout Classes have provided curriculum to over 600 students in Jackson about the watershed and its native fishery. “Boots on the ground and waders in the water get projects done and Trout Unlimited is an awesome source of dedicated people power. Those of us passionate about conserving, protecting and restoring aquatic systems and their watersheds don’t get hung up on who is leading and who is getting the credit — as long as work gets done,” said Paul Dey, Aquatic Habitat Program Manager, Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “We wholeheartedly support TU’s bid to add a staff member in the Snake and Salt River basins. A career’s worth of work could occupy several biologists in those drainages improving conditions for native cutthroat trout. I look forward to seeing and helping facilitate those improvements.” But there is more to be done. A full-time staffer in the drainage will ensure that projects continue to be identified and implemented to improve trout populations and address habitat limitations. This position will work closely with TU volunteers and partners to increase TU’s ability to complete more projects in the watershed, raise visibility in the community about the work TU is accomplishing and lead to healthier, more resilient populations of trout for generations to enjoy. “This opportunity would not be available without the foresight and financial contribution from the Jackson Hole Chapter,” states Cory Toye, Wyoming Water and Habitat Program Director. “The funding that the chapter contributed made this effort possible and we are extremely excited about this partnership to accomplish great things for the coldwater fisheries in the upper Snake River watershed.”
A small token of appreciation... Former Wyoming Coordinator for Trout Unlimited Scott Christy, left, accepts a plaque from Wyoming Water and Habitat Director Cory Toye in late November at the TU offices in Lander. The plaque read, “In recognition of outstanding contributions, vision, leadership and dedicated service to Wyoming Trout Unlimited.” Christy served as the Wyoming Coordinator for Trout Unlimited from June 2010 to September 2015. In addition, the WYTU executive committee presented Scott with a gift card to the Wind River Outdoor Company in Lander and most of the chapters in the council contributed to give Scott a guided fly fishing adventure with Wind River Canyon Whitewater & Fly Fishing on the reservation portion of the Wind River Canyon. WYTU PHOTO/Cathy Purves
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W Y O M I N G
BUSINESS
B U S I N E S S
The real deal in backcountry adventure...
By WALT GASSON Director of Trout Unlimited Endorsed Businesses
E
S P O T L I G H T
ver notice how there’s some folks you just connect with, right out of the chute? People who are warm and friendly and straight-up real, from the start? That’s the way it was for me with Heath and Sarah Woltman, the owners of Bear Basin Adventures near Dubois. I met this great couple and their awesome family shortly after I came to Trout Unlimited, and we’ve been friends ever since. Heath is a Midwesterner by birth who starting working on Wyoming dude ranches at age 14. He moved to Wyoming full time after graduation and continued his learning of horses and the outdoors. Heath worked for many years at the Lazy L & B guest ranch as a head wrangler and manager, running the outfitting end of the ranch. I’ve been around good horsemen all my life, and I can assure you that Heath Woltman is a real horseman. Years of owning, training, shoeing, feeding and working with horses, specifically putting new riders at ease on horses makes Heath an asset to your backcountry vacation. Sarah was born in coastal New South Wales, Australia. Her love of riding, horses and all animals started when her grandmother took her to a dude/farm ranch at the age of 10. This started the ball rolling for years of riding vacations and volunteering and instructing for the Riding for the Disabled Association while gaining a Bachelor of Business degree. Sarah moved to Wyoming in 2003 after working on a dude ranch for the summer. She fell in love not only with the country but with Heath and decided to stay. Soon after, the two were married and started making plans to start their own business centered around horses, hospitality, and enjoying backcountry Wyoming – so began Bear Basin Adventures. These guys fish the backcountry, and whether it is a week-long trip or just a day long excursion, they have a trip for everyone. The high country lakes of the Wind River and Absaroka Ranges give you the opportunity for
spectacular fishing for brook trout, rainbows, browns and (my personal favorite) Yellowstone cutthroats. They tend to the cooking and camp chores so you can spend your time doing what you love most —fishing! Just because you’re in some of the wildest country in America doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be comfortable, maybe even pampered a bit. Heath and Sarah know that great fishing is what brings you but a great camp is what brings you back — and they run a great camp. You’ll sleep snug and warm in a traditional Wyoming tent camp and you’ll be enjoying fantastic gourmet camp cuisine. The menu might include country style pork ribs smothered in BBQ sauce with German potato salad and fried corn, marinated flank steak with penne pasta and a red wine sauce, sweet and tangy elk meatballs with mashed potatoes and fresh green beans. Appetizers and desserts are also included such as summer sausage and cheese platter, pita, hummus and vegetable plate, Dutch oven berry cobbler, lemon pound cake with blueberries or coffee laced brownies with fresh whipped cream. Naturally, they can accommodate most special dietary needs if given enough notice. With all the talk lately about the great experiences available for female anglers in Wyoming, I’d be missing the point if I didn’t mention Bear Basin Adventures’ special women’s pack trip in the heart of the Greater Yellowstone country. It takes place in the beautiful Dunoir Valley, near Dubois, Wyoming. The Dunoir is a spectacular glaciated volcanic valley of high plateaus between lush open meadows. During your horseback summit of Dunoir Butte, you’ll see a wide diversity and abundance of wildflowers and wildlife, including moose, elk, mule deer and bighorn sheep. The fishing is great, and the scenery is breathtaking. Everything about this trip is designed to make it a relaxing and exciting adventure for women of all ages and all levels of backcountry experience. So if you’ve ever thought about a backcountry trip, but didn’t really know where to start — start here. Start with my friends Heath and Sarah. They’re the real deal — and so is Bear Basin Adventures.
Where to find them: Bear Basin Adventures — Heath & Sarah Worltman Phone: 307.349.4630 • Cell: 307.840.3579 e-mail: bearbasinadventures@dteworld.com www.bearbasinadventures.com Page 4
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NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Yearly reflections...
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hether by tradition, custom, or some innate force of nature, people tend to reflect upon events and accomplishments of the previous year when the calendar changes from one year to the next. The reason for doing so really doesn’t matter all that much; the things we do reflect upon… well, they obviously do matter. It’s probably no surprise Wyoming Trout Unlimited plays a large role in my yearly reflections. Chapter and council meetings and gatherings, fishing outings, volunteer days in and along streams, and regional and national gatherings of my TU friends from across the country… they’re all memories that make me smile. A fact I recently learned about WYTU should make you smile, too. The quick version of the backstory is that the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reveals the return on investment (ROI) of the average TU membership ($35) at the annual meeting. I’ll share with you that ROI for all of TU is well over 800 percent! Pause and think about that for a moment. Many non-profit organizations are extremely pleased to double or triple a membership investment; two to three times return is pretty good. Yet, TU manages to multiply it more than eight times! Eight times! I’m kind of biased, but that’s pretty impressive. If you are already smiling let me caution you: limber up your cheeks some more because you’re likely to need it when you read how well WYTU does. I crunched the ROI numbers for the fiscal years that ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2015. Ready? In both years the ROI was within a few percentage points of… drumroll please… 1000 percent! In a world where rankings matter to many people, I can’t tell you I have that information. I don’t know where WYTU ranks in relation to other states in terms of the ROI of a $35 TU membership. Just like the reason for annual reflection, however, I don’t think it matters too much in this case. Knowing that WYTU takes a $35 membership and turns it into roughly $350 of on-theground stream restoration, youth and women’s education programs, veterans’ programs, and much, much more, puts a smile on my face that would make a Cheshire cat envious. To all our members in Wyoming who entrust us with their membership fee “seed money”: thank you! I hope you’ll agree your investment was worth it. To all our members who help multiply that 10 times in doing remarkable work: thank you! Keep up the great work. As all of you reflect on your own events and accomplishments of 2015 I hope your smile is as big as mine reflecting on the great work of WYTU. Jim Broderick serves as the National Leadership Council representative for the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited. He and his wife, Becky, along with their two dogs, Bear and Cooper, and a pond full of Snake River cutthroat trout, live in Jackson. Jim is the owner of Rocky Mountain Ranch Management and in his free time, he enjoys driving his drift boat in search of epic fly fishing. E-mail Jim at: jbroderick@rockymountainranchmanagement.com
Over 1,125 likes and counting! Join the conversation and keep up-to-date on what’s new and exciting at Wyoming Trout Unlimited! You’ll be glad you did!
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CALENDAR WYTU FEBRUARY 15, 2016 Please note — the Wyoming Council and all chapters must have their respective tax returns filed no later than February 15, 2016. For or WYTU PHOTO/Charlie Card questions assistance, please contact WYTU treasurer Dave Sweet at 307.899.9959. APRIL 1-2, 2016 Western Regional meeting will be held in Eugene, Oregon. Watch Trout Unlimited’s website (www.tu.org) for more information as it becomes available. TBA — MID APRIL Wyoming Trout Unlimited Annual Spring Council Meeting will be held in Cheyenne. Watch for more details as they become available for the three-day event. SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 1, 2016 The Annual Trout Unlimited Meeting will be held in Bozeman, Montana. This is a great opportunity for WYTU members to participate in a national meeting close to home! Check out the Trout Unlimited website at: tu.org for more exciting information. Watch Trout Unlimited’s website (www.tu.org) for more information as it becomes available.
If you have an item for the WYTU calendar, please e-mail to Mike Jensen today at: trouthut@gmail.com.
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WYTU CHAPTER CHATTER UPPER BEAR RIVER CHAPTER
Information Provided By JIM HISSONG Chapter President The Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter (UBRTU) has been busy establishing new leadership. Elections were held this past fall where President Jim Hissong, Vice President Mark Tesoro, Past-President Rick Slagowski, and Conservation Chair Robin Rhodes have been recycled into different leadership positions. We are particularly proud that Becky Crumrine and Jennifer Schmidt stepped up to Treasurer and Secretary positions, respectively. UBRTU continues to recruit women into the ranks. Leaders with two X-chromosomes will make our chapter stronger with their guidance. Chapter meetings have included discussions and presentations on WGFD’s Walk-In-Access program. We hope to get more angling opportunities on the Bear River. In December, after a brief presentation on TU’s WildSteelHeadersUnited initiative we had have some fun watching Hank Patterson’s “Sensei” and “Baitfishers” short films along with giving away some swag. Future meetings will include presentations on Reel Recovery and learning more about Fly Fishing Team USA from regional legend Lance Egan. We have funded a topography survey on the Booth Ditch project on the Bear River. Working with TU Staffers Nick Walrath and Jim Derito, a design to exchange the largest push-up dam on the river with a modern head gate/fish screen will move forward quickly. Planning will begin in earnest come January for the best fundraising banquet in Wyoming. The annual event will take place on May 14th, 2016. Mark your calendars now. Hope your Christmas holiday was very memorable and all of us at UBRTU wish you a Happy New Year!
through City Park in Lander. The bid went to Environmental Quality Resources (Maryland) and their subcontractor, EcoHydro out of Colorado. They specialize in stream restoration work in trout waters, which (in addition to the lowest bid) was one of the main qualifiers for their selection. They will work with the main contractor, Intermountain Aquatics, who provided the engineering design for this project and will be overseeing the restoration activities. The main goals are to address the low-flow conditions on the Middle Fork and to remove the pressure along the banks of the river with rock structures. This work should improve fish habitat, water quality, rehabilitate damage from
the 2010 flood, and improve bank stability. This project consists of constructing in-stream fish habitat with the creation of boulder drop pools, improved vegetation point bars, bank stabilization and excavating low flow channels to improve flow. The Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River (especially the section running through Lander) significantly diminishes in flow each August and affects water quality conditions, including E Coli issues. This causes a number of concerns regarding fish survival, water quality, and river stability, as
See CHAPTER CHATTER page 7
POPO AGIE ANGLERS Information Provided By Cathy Purves Chapter Secretary Anglers Award Bid for Middle Fork Project The Popo Agie Anglers Chapter in Lander recently awarded the bid for trout habitat restoration and enhancement work on a half-mile of the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River that runs
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CHAPTER CHATTER, continued from page 6 well as limited recreational opportunities for the young anglers who frequent City Park on those hot August days. In the past few years, extensive river evaluations by various federal, state and county agencies have been completed. Out of this assessment, a proposal for a section of river remediation is being submitted for support funding. This proposal has required planning, studying, and support by a number of stakeholders. PPA has made it one of their top priorities, contributing $20,000 toward the project. Work begins this winter with completion set for April 2016. This project would not be possible without the support of a substantial grant from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust of $180,000, and the matching and in-kind contributions from the Popo Agie Conservation District, City of Lander, Fremont County Parks and Recreation, One Shot’s Water for Wildlife, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Luckey Pond Aerator in and functioning The long-awaited aerator for the Anglers’ and Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Luckey Pond project has finally been installed and tests reveal the oxygen levels are high and it is functioning properly. This fish pond, created with collaborative efforts from the Popo Agie Anglers and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, is a popular fishing spot for the town’s youth. Every June the Anglers host a fishing tournament during Kids’ Fishing Day. Hundreds of youth have caught their very first trout at this pond but it was routinely freezing over in the winter and reaching far too warm temperatures in the summer to support trout. For the past two years, the Anglers have been working with WGFD, the local power company and, with a grant from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust fund, were able to get this effort finalized in October. The WGFD has built a fence around the pond’s general area now to prevent access onto the pond in the winter. In the past, since the pond froze over, many kids used it as a skating pond. Due to concerns with thin ice since the installation of the aerator, the WGFD recently erected the fence. The Anglers contributed funding to help in the fencing project. Yellowstone cutthroat genetics testing reveals surprises The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Fish Biologist Paul Gerrity has been initiating studies these past two years in the Popo Agie River watershed to evaluate the genetics of populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout that inhabit these drainages. The Anglers have been keenly interested in these studies and have contributed funds to allow Paul to continue his research. Native to the Popo Agie River drainage, there’s been a decline in Yellowstone cutthroat populations over the years due to competition with non-native salmonids including Brook trout, and general predation. Most of the populations have been extirpated but there are two areas where they still exist. Paul’s goal was to test the genetics in these two areas (the mainstem of the North Fork of the Popo Agie River and the High Meadow Creek drainage). The original source of the Yellowstone cutthroat population is unknown — there are no stocking records that exist and there’s very little anecdotal evidence. Questions about their origin include whether there was some form of geological movement or event that caused the isolation
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of these species from other Yellowstone cutthroat populations. WGFD’s objectives were to determine if they were genetically pure populations and if they were indigenous to the area or recently stocked. Samples were collected in 2014 and again in 2015. In the High Meadow Creek drainage, the coloration patterns on this native trout looked to be pure Yellowstone cutthroat and the genetic testing proved this to be correct. Tests showed they were 99 percent pure, making them a conservation population (anything over 95 percent purity qualifies them as conservation populations). The tougher question to resolve is whether they are indigenous or stocked. Results varied. For the High Meadow population, they appeared more closely related to Yellowstone National Park native cutthroat and thus may have originated from some stocking efforts within the last century from the Park waters itself. For the North Fork of the Popo Agie River drainage, the Yellowstone cutthroat patterns appear significantly different enough to be more like Snake River cutthroat trout. There is not much genetic interchange between fish in these two drainages and Snake River cutthroat are considered to be stronger and less challenged when it comes to environmental impacts. The testing lab which conducted the genetics research identified the North Fork population as 95 percent Bear River cutthroat, which has WGFD scratching their heads. This doesn’t mean that Bear River cutthroat exist in the North Fork drainage; in fact, the cutthroat in the North Fork are 100 percent pure cutthroat but the testing data, at this point in the analysis, is inconclusive. Paul expressed the need to conduct further testing to get a greater understanding of the results. Therefore, the Anglers voted to support Paul’s continued analysis work by contributing additional funds toward this testing. In addition to conducting more in-depth genetic testing on the North Fork populations, work will also include collecting genetic samples from Snake River cutthroat populations out of the Jackson region for comparison data. Paul mentioned that the Yellowstone cutthroat are not faring well in the North Fork drainage and WGFD is looking for new expansion data and habitat in order to keep these populations viable. For the summer of 2016, the Anglers will participate in genetic testing activities, helping Paul conduct gill net and electrofishing surveys. Special thanks to Pisces Molecular for their analysis. Mark Your Calendars Now March 12, 2016. The Angler’s 26th annual FUNdraiser and Banquet will be held at the Lander Community Center. Planning efforts are currently underway.
EAST YELLOWSTONE CHAPTER Information Provided By Bob Capron and Dave Sweet The East Yellowstone Chapter members and volunteers wrapped up their annual fall fish rescue program in November. Members and volunteers spent an incredible 1001 volunteer hours to save 2,413 fish, of which 2,138 were trout. According to Bob Capron, this is the lowest number of fish saved over the past six years, partly because a fish screen was installed on the North Fork ditch in mid-summer 2015. And that’s very good news. Since 2010, volunteers have saved over 24,000 trout from five different ditches and canals including Garland, Willwood, Cody Canal, Lakeview and the North Fork. Capron noted that the Cody Canal was not pumped down for volunteers to work in the fall of 2015. The East Yellowstone Chapter and Bob Capron in particular, have been recognized nationally for their work saving trout each fall in northwest Wyoming. Editor’s Note: Help spread the word on your chapter’s great work, accomplishments and activities! If your chapter would like to be included in the WYTU “Chapter Chatter” section, please send your brief information to Mike Jensen at: trouthut@gmail.com.
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The People’s Canal fish barrier project By HILLARY WALRATH Trout Unlimited Salinity Control Coordinator Henry’s Fork of the Green River
I
n the world of trout conservation, the term “fish barrier” is usually seen as a trout’s arch nemesis. However, in a world filled with invasive species, those barriers are often the only thing protecting trout. That happened to be the case on the Henry’s Fork, a tributary to the Green River. The Henry’s Fork flows from the northern Uinta Mountains in Utah down into Wyoming and drains into Flaming Gorge Reservoir near the town of Manila, Utah. Fisherfolk often drive across this little river on their way to bigger waters, such as Flaming Gorge or the Green River below its dam. Although this river is easy to miss, it is home to several conservation populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT) and other native aquatic species. Flaming Gorge Reservoir, on the other hand, contains non-native species, Native fish species found above the including the predatory People’s Canal diversion. burbot. The People’s Canal irrigation diversion is the only thing that has prevented the highly piscivorous (aka: trout-eating machine) burbot from accessing over onehundred river miles in the Henry’s Fork river. Trout Unlimited and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department sampled both above and below the diversion and the results were striking. Above the diversion, they found healthy CRCT, bluehead and flannelmouth suckers and a Left: Non-native fish species found below the People’s Canal diversion.
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The People’s Canal fish barrier is pictured after construction was completed in November 2015. COURTESY PHOTOS/Hillary Walrath
variety of other native fish species. Immediately below the diversion, they found burbot and spawning rainbow trout. The worrisome issue was that the diversion was wooden, antiquated, and could potentially fail with the next big flood event. So, Trout Unlimited partnered with the People’s Canal Irrigation Company, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and both the Seedskadee and Upper Bear River Chapters of Trout Unlimited to improve the old structure to one of the largest fish barriers in the state of Wyoming. Construction of the new diversion lasted from October to the middle of November, just in time for winter to make its appearance. This project has been years in the making and wouldn’t have been possible without every single partner. Thanks to their efforts, the future of this incredible fishery looks merry and bright.
The People’s Canal diversion before construction.
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WYTU
Sportsmen’s Conservation Project (SCP) Intermountain Director Greg McReynolds is pleased to announce that Tasha Sorensen has been hired as a Wyoming SCP field staffer. Tasha comes to Trout Unlimited (TU) from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department where she was a senior public relations specialist and ran a nationally recognized hunter and angler recruitment program called Forever Wild Families. “She can also drive a forklift, cast a fly rod and fly a plane,” said McReynolds.Ê Tasha will be taking over the Greater Little Mountain campaign, spearheading SCP’s agency planTASHA ning efforts in Wyoming and driving a new effort to SORENSEN put together state legislation on Wyoming’s Wilderness Study Areas. She currently lives in Cheyenne, but will be relocating this summer to work out of the Wyoming TU office in Lander. All of the TU members, volunteers and staffers in the Cowboy State wish to welcome Tasha to her new post. She can be contacted by e-mail at: tsorensen@tu.org.
WYTU Chair Calvin Hazlewood spent a good portion of the meeting discussing the vacant Wyoming Coordinator position and the plans to fill the position. Former coordinator Scott Christy left his post in September to pursue other opportunities and adventures. The council hopes to have a new coordinator hired and in North Platte Chapter president Jim States place after the first of follows along as TU Senior Scientist Jack the year. Williams leads a training session on the On Sunday morn- use of stream temperature monitoring kits. ing, Trout Unlimited WYTU PHOTOS/Mike Jensen Senior Scientist Jack Williams gave an outstanding presentation entitled “State of Trout.” In addition, he led a very informative training session on the use of stream temperature monitoring kits. The council purchased a kit for each chapter so they can use the kit on their respective home waters. A special thanks to Jack for traveling to Wyoming to be a part of the council meeting. The WYTU executive committee wishes to thank everyone who attended the weekend event, particularly those who traveled from long distances. Thanks, too, to the Bighorn Chapter in Sheridan for hosting the event. Plans are currently underway for the Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s Annual Spring Meeting that will be held in Cheyenne sometime in April. Watch for more details as they become available.
WYTU volunteers and staffers gather in Sheridan for fall council meeting
Deadline for chapter tax returns fast approaching
The beautiful Bighorn Mountains provided an outstanding backdrop for the WYTU Fall Council Meeting held in Sheridan on November 6-8, 2015. This is the first time a council meeting has been held in Sheridan. A good turnout of volunteers and Trout Unlimited staffers alike gathered for the weekend meetings held at the Best Western Sheridan Center. Chapters represented at the event included the East Yellowstone Chapter, Seedskadee Chapter, Upper Bear River Chapter, Jackson Hole Chapter, Curt Gowdy Chapter, Casper Area-Grey Reef Chapter, Bighorn Chapter and the Platte Valley Chapter. Saturday’s business meeting featured a variety of reports from volunteers including WYTU Chair Calvin Hazlewood, WYTU Treasurer Dave Sweet and NLC Representative Jim Broderick. Informative staff reports and presentations were given and those on hand heard from new Sportsmen Conservation Project Director Greg McReynolds, Wyoming Water and Habitat Program Director Cory Toye, Science and Technical Advisor for the Sportsmen’s Conservation Project Cathy Purves and new Intermountain Communication Director Brett Prettyman.
The WYTU executive council would like to remind all Trout Unlimited chapters in Wyoming that all Federal tax returns for each chapter must be filed by February 15, 2016. Most chapters will be able to file an easy to complete form. For more information or assistance with filing your tax return, please contact WYTU Treasurer Dave Sweet by calling (307) 899-9959 or e-mailing him at: davidps@tritel.net.
NEWS NOTES
Tasha Sorensen hired as new Trout Unlimited Sportsmen’s Conservation Project field staffer
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Spring council meeting to be held in Cheyenne — date to be determined The Wyoming Trout Unlimited spring council meeting will be held in Cheyenne next spring. While a date has not yet been set, the meeting will be held tentatively in mid-April. Watch for more details and information as they become available over the next couple months.
Do you have an item for “WYTU News Notes?”
WYTU NEWS NOTES
Send your information via e-mail to Mike Jensen at: trouthut@gmail.com
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A great friend of Yellowstone Lake... By DAVE SWEET Yellowstone Lake Special Project Manager for Wyoming Trout Unlimited
The Yellowstone Lake Working Group met on December 2, in Livingston, Montana, to review the results of the lake trout suppression efforts from 2015 and to review plans for 2016. The Working Group is composed of representatives from Trout Unlimited (TU) and the TU councils of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho along with members from Yellowstone National Park Fisheries and Natural Resource Center, USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Research Center, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association, Yellowstone Park Foundation and several universities who are serving as contractors in the studies. A full report on the information shared during that day will appear in a future edition of The Trout Tale. Wyoming Trout Unlimited has been the key fundraising organization that supports the telemetry study on the lake. Funds that we have raised have been used to provide information to the National Park Service fisheries crew on lake trout movements and especially on the location of lake trout spawning beds. To date, WYTU has raised just under $1,000,000 with about 75 percent of that money coming from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust (WWNRT). Private individuals, TU chapters and corporations have contributed the rest and are vital to provide a “match” to the WWNRT funds. One of the key individuals that has contributed significantly to this effort has been Dick Crysdale of Littleton, Colorado. Dick is the author of the book Yellowstone, Cutthroats, and Me, which is a chronicle of his life as a fishing guide on Yellowstone Lake in the late 1950s and his subsequent “love affair” with the lake, the fish and the ecosystem that it supports. Dick’s book was awarded first-place for non-fiction from the Wyoming State Historical Society. During the meeting, Dick presented the group with his most recent donation — a check for $1,500 — which brings his total donations to $20,000 to help save the cutthroats in
update
Author Dick Crysdale, left, presents a check for $1,500 to Yellowstone Lake Special Project Manager for Wyoming Trout Unlimited Dave Sweet during the recent Yellowstone Lake Working Group meeting held in Livingston, Montana. Crysdale is the author of the book “Yellowstone, Cutthroats and Me” and has donated a total of $20,000 to help save the cutthroats in the Yellowstone ecosystem. COURTESY PHOTO/Dave Sweet
this system. Dick donates 100 percent of the proceeds (not just the profit) from the sales of his book to our fundraising cause. In addition, Dick has traveled all over the Rocky Mountain region and his native midwest talking about the plight of the Yellowstone cutthroat to any group that will listen. His passion and devotion has persuaded many others to donate to the cause as well as informing thousands about the situation. You can help “Save the Yellowstone Cutthroats” and get a copy of his book by sending $35 to Dick Crysdale, 4268 W. Lake Circle S., Littleton, Colorado 80123 or by calling him at (303) 795-9148. Dick will even pay for the postage to send it to you.
blogs WORTH CHECKING OUT STEVEN BRUTGER: www.stalkingtheseam.com WALT GASSON and FAMILY: www.threeelkmeadow.blogspot.com TOM REED and CO: www.mouthfuloffeathers.com
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classifieds WYTU EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Wyoming Coordinator for Trout Unlimited Trout Unlimited (TU) is the nation’s largest coldwater conservation organization with over 150,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. TU is currently seeking a dedicated and self-motivated individual to serve as its Wyoming Coordinator. TU has several high-profile campaigns in Wyoming — most notably the Western Water and Habitat Program (WWHP) and the Sportsmen’s Conservation Program (SCP). These campaigns are most successful when the staff is able to work effectively with a strong, grassroots base. The Wyoming Coordinator position will work closely with regional and state TU volunteers as well as national TU staff to: 1) Build organizational and grassroots capacity. 2) Develop and implement communication strategies. 3) Cultivate and develop new partnerships. 4) Act as a liaison between national programs and the state council and local chapters. 5) Help develop funding for the coordinator position in years to come. 6) Provide guidance, support and financial input for chapter and council projects. The Wyoming Coordinator is not intended to replace the Wyoming Council. It is intended to supplement, further strengthen and work with the strong council to maximize the benefits to the members and Wyoming’s coldwater fisheries. Key actions for this position include: Work with WWP, SCP and the Science and Watershed Program staff to identify grassroots advocacy and engagement needs, as well as opportunities for each national campaign or project, and coordinate execution of grassroots activities across the campaigns and projects to ensure that they are complementary. Work with Wyoming volunteers to meet conservation goals as described in the TU National, Wyoming Council and local chapter strategic plans; establish sustainable funding sources for state level efforts; build support networks and resources for chapters; and continue to enhance organizational capacity at the state and local levels. Continue existing and develop new communication tools — including social media — between TU staff and Wyoming membership; facilitate regular council meetings and conference calls to assist in communication. Build increased volunteer capacity within the state of Wyoming; develop new chapters in locations where appropriate; strengthen existing
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but weak chapters through leadership development and organizational planning; and guide successful and functioning chapters to maximize coldwater fisheries conservation. Work in collaboration with TU National programs (such as the WWP telemetry research and Adopt-A-Trout Program) with an educational component; coordinate statewide youth involvement and education programs and membership expansion. Assist the Council with the development of Wyoming chapter strategic plans that are grounded in science and integrated with national conservation programs to achieve basin-scale conservation objectives. Assist the Wyoming Council and chapters in identifying restoration projects and fundraising to support such projects. Communicate with neighboring TU state councils concerning projects and programs of mutual interest. Requirements: • Bachelor’s degree, advanced degree or equivalent professional experience. • Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to work with a wide range of partners. • Ability to work independently. • Excellent written and oral communication skills. • Understanding of regional politics and how to develop winning conservation strategies. • Knowledge of Wyoming and critical coldwater conservation issues. • Experience with federal and state grantwriting processes. Also, the ability to generate other fundraising opportunities and sources that support our coldwater fisheries work in Wyoming. • Passion for protecting and restoring coldwater fisheries in Wyoming. • Ability to organize and develop grassroots members into self-sustaining and operational chapters. • Willingness and ability to travel. • Professional experience in areas such as: natural resource management, volunteer coordination, private and public fundraising, GIS, public outreach, media, campaign advocacy, knowledge of coldwater ecosystems and trout a big plus. The position is located in Lander, Wyoming, (although other Wyoming locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis), and will report directly to the director of the Wyoming Water and Habitat Program with a strong working relationship with the chairman of the Wyoming Council and its executive committee. The position is a full or part-time, one-year contract position with a potential opportunity for long-term employment. Pay will be commensurate with experience. If you think you would enjoy an incredible team atmosphere that comes from working for a
growing organization with a strong volunteer base and broad conservation mission; if you want to ensure that the Wyoming trout streams you love remain intact for future generations; and you’re excited to share this passion with others then e-mail your resume, cover letter and list of professional references to: Katie Becker at: kbecker@tu.org by January 15, 2016, and include “Wyoming Coordinator” in the subject line. Trout Unlimited is an Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action Employer pursuant to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act & Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistant Act. Trout Unlimited hires staff without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.
MISCELLANEOUS NEW! GREAT LOOKING WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED HATS. Everybody is talking about them and everybody wants one! Get your great looking blue WYTU ball cap today for only $20. Order yours now by simply going to: www.wyomingtu.org and click on the WYTU Store button.
TU BUSINESS MEMBER BECOME A TROUT UNLIMITED BUSINESS PARTNER! TU Endorsed Businesses are partners with TU in helping anglers experience the passion of fishing and the peace of being out on the water. As the professionals of the fishing industry, their influence is unmatched in sustaining a community for anglers to share and learn more about fish and fishing. Perhaps most importantly, these businesses actively share TU’s commitment to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds for future generations. TU offers two types of business memberships: The TU Endorsed Business membership for outfitters, lodges, fly shops and other fishingrelated businesses and the TU Endorsed Guide membership for independent guides. To learn more about this program or for more information, call Director of Endorsed Business Walt Gasson in Cheyenne, Wyoming at (307) 630-7398.
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A new year brings new opportunities. New projects. New waters. New members. New enthusiasm.
Amazing photography. And so much more. Russ Schnitzer is a professional editorial, commercial and documentary photographer based in Denver, Colorado. Russ is a previous employee of Trout Unlimited and is a longtime friend. Russ and his amazing work tell compelling stories about conservation, fishing and people. Check out his website for some amazing photography!
Best wishes for a terrific 2016!
www.schnitzerphoto.com
From your WYTU executive committee... Calvin Hazlewood, Cole Sherard, Dave Sweet, Jim Broderick and Mike Jensen
WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED 409 Lincoln Street Lander, Wyoming 82520
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: n Snake Headwaters Home Rivers Initiative to put new staffer in Jackson Hole area! n Author Dick Crysdale, a true friend of Yellowstone Lake and cutthroats! n People’s Canal diversion on Henry’s Fork actually a good thing! n Chapter updates from Upper Bear River, Popo Agie Anglers and East Yellowstone chapters! n Bear Basin Adventures, the real deal in back-country adventure! n Much more! 409 Lincoln Street Lander, Wyoming 82520
WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED