Forest Service TU partnership delivers for the Bighorn Basin

By LARRY TIMCHAK Wyoming Council Conservation Chair

When you think about the coldwater fisheries across Wyoming, most of the streams and rivers originate on the five national forests that span the state. My home forest, the Shoshone, is headwaters to iconic rivers including the North and South Fork of the Shoshone, the Greybull and Wood, the Clarks Fork of theYellowstone and the Wind River. With the strong connection between the national forests and our favorite trout streams, our local East Yellowstone TU Chapter (EYTU) was happy to hear about the new partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and Trout Unlimited.

The five-year, $40 million partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and Trout Unlimited resulted from the recent passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and JobsAct (IIJA). This five-year National Watershed andAquatic Restoration Initiative aims to increase the pace and scale of watershed restoration on national forests and grasslands. “It is heartening to see the bipartisan infrastructure law’s resources being put to good use,” said Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “This agreement builds on a long and productive partnershipÊbetween the Forest Service and Trout Unlimited.

While our local chapter was happy to hear about the national partnership, we were ecstatic when we learned that TU’s Wyoming Water and Habitat Program Director Cory Toye and Northwest Wyoming TU Program Manager Leslie Steen leveraged the new funding to create a partnership with the Shoshone National Forest. The partnership resulted in a long-sought position to re-establish the TU Bighorn Basin Project Manager position. The position will focus on habitat and restoration needs on national forests as well as other lands across the Bighorn Basin.And there is a lot to do.

The new Project Manager is Brittany Swope.A Cody native, Swope has strong ties to the Bighorn Basin. She attributes her passion for fisheries to her experiences fishing theAbsaroka Range with her grandfather. She is excited about the opportunity to work in the Basin improving fish passage and aquatic habitat.As an undergraduate at the University of Wyoming, she studied the evolutionary history of Nile Perch,Yellowstone cutthroat trout spawning, and compiled 100 years of fish stocking records for the North Fork of the Shoshone River.After graduation, Swope returned to Cody to work for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department as theAquatic Habitat Technician. Most recently, she worked for the Cody Conservation District as the Conservation and Outreach Specialist. Since her return, she has been involved in several aquatic habitat improvement projects, sediment reduction efforts, and community outreach. Swope enjoys spending her free time on the water fishing and rafting, as well as pursuing upland game, photography and spending time with family.

Toye is happy to have some help to work on the many potential projects across the Basin.

“TU is fortunate to have Brittany on the Wyoming team. Her local connections, motivation and passion for the resource is apparent and already creating new partnerships and project opportunities. We are already so impressed with her attention to detail and ability as a project manager, grant writer and allaround good person. If you are in the Big Horn

Basin, keep an eye out for her – she’s busy doing great things!”

Casey McQuiston, Shoshone National Forest North Zone District Ranger, looks forward to results from the new partnership. “The Shoshone National Forest has really appreciated the strong partnership with Trout Unlimited and the habitat restoration and improvement work that has been accomplished as a result. The fish ladder on the Wood River, aquatic organism passage in numerous locations, and fish screens on the North Fork are a few examples of the benefits of this partnership. We look forward to working with Brittany on similar projects in the future.”

With financial resources potentially available through the infrastructure law, and with willing partners, there may never be a better opportunity to address long-standing restoration and habitat improvement needs across the Bighorn Basin.

The final word from Brittany: “Let’s get to work to restore and maintain the many great fisheries across the Bighorn Basin.”

 Angling Destinations

Clark Smyth Sheridan, WY 82801 (307) 672-6894 clark@anglingdestinations.com www.anglingdestinations.com

 Arrow Land and Water, LLC

Chad Espenscheid Big Piney, WY 83113 (307) 231-2389 chadespen@gmail.com

 Dunoir Fishing Adventures, LLC

Jeramie Prine Lander, WY 82520 (307) 349-3331 jlprine@gmail.com www.dunoirfishing.com

 Fish the Fly Guide Service & Travel

Jason Balogh Jackson, WY 83001 (307) 690-1139 jb@fishthefly.com www.fishthefly.com

 Fly Shop of the Bighorns

Clark Smyth Sheridan, WY 82001 (307) 672-5866 clark@anglingdestinations.com www.sheridanflyfhishing.com

 Frog Creek Partners

Brian Deurloo Casper, WY 82601 (307) 797-7720 brian@frogcreek.partners www.frogcreek.partners

 Frontier Brewing Company & Tap Room

Shawn Houck Casper, WY 82601 (307) 337-1000 frontierbrewingcompany.com

 Grand Teton Fly Fishing

Scott Smith and Mark Fuller Jackson, WY 83002 (307) 690-4347 ssflyfish@rocketmail.com markwfuller@gmail.com www.grandtetonflyfishing.com

 Graylight Outfitters

David Collom Elsinore, UT 84724 (435) 720-7440 graylightoutfitters@gmail.com www.graylightoutfitters.com

 Guild Outdoors

Adam Guild Afton, WY 83110 (307) 799-6409 guildadam@yahoo.com www.guildranchwyoming.com

 Jackson Hole Fly Company

Greg Epstein Jackson, WY 83001 (800) 346-4339 support@jacksonholeflycompany.com www.jacksonholeflycompany.com

 JD High Country Outfitters Jackson, Wyoming 83001 (307) 733-7210 scott@jdhcoutfitters.com www.highcountryflies.com

 Live Water Properties

Macye Maher Jackson, WY 83002 (866) 734-6100 macye@livewaterproperties.com www.livewaterproperties.com

 Maven Brendon Weaver Lander, WY 82501 (800) 307-1109 customerservice@mavenbuilt.com www.mavenbuilt.com

 North Fork Anglers

Tim Wade Cody, WY 82414 (307) 527-7274 tw123r4w@yahoo.com www.northforkanglers.com

 North Platte Lodge

Erik Aune Alcova, WY 82601 (307) 237-1182 info@northplattelodge.com www.northplattelodge.com

 The Red Rock Ranch

Steven Stimmel Kelly, WY 83011 (307) 733-6288 info@theredrockranch.com www.theredrockranch.com

 Rock Creek Anglers

Clark Smyth Sheridan, WY 82801 (307) 684-7304 (888) 945-3876 clark@anglingdestinations.com www.rockcreekanglers.com

 Sunlight Sports

Wes and Melissa Allen Cody, WY 82414 (307) 587-9517 info@sunlightsports.com www.sunlightsports.com

 Sweetwater Fishing Expeditions, LLC

George H. Hunker III Lander, WY 82520 (307) 332-3986 george@sweetwaterfishing.com www.sweetwaterfishing.com

 Thin Air Angler

Bob Reece Cheyenne, WY 82009 (307) 256-2741 coach.bobreece@gmail.com www.thinairangler.com

 TroutHut Net-Worx

Mike Jensen Cheyenne, WY 82009 (307) 421-3188 trouthut@gmail.com

Trout Unlimited Business members are TU ambassadors in protecting, restoring, reconnecting and sustaining North America’s coldwater fisheries.

L Guides Lodges

 Turpin Meadow Ranch

Ron Stiffler Moran, WY 83013 (307) 543-2000 gm@turpinmeadowranch.com www.turpinmeadowranch.com

 Two Rivers Fishing Company

Josh Hattan Pinedale, WY 82941 (307) 367-4131 info@tworiversfishing.com www.tworiversfishing.com

 Ty Outdoors

Ty Hallock Casper, WY 82609 (307) 315-8287 ty@tyoutdoors.com www.tyoutdoors.com

 West Laramie Fly Store Brandon Specht Laramie, WY 82070 (307) 745-5425 flystore@flystore.net www.flystore.net