On Nov. 20, Trout Unlimited will launch the Wild Steelhead Initiative, an ambitious and hopeful project to protect and restore wild steelhead and the incredible fishing opportunities they provide throughout their native range in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Whether you reside in a steelhead state, or like many, venture cross country to chase this elusive fish, we hope you will get involved in TU’s newest venture.
The heart of the Initiative will be a new community, Wild Steelheaders United, which is being established to inform, organize and activate anglers (regardless of preferred gear type) to protect and recover wild steelhead. In short, Wild Steelheaders United is a home to anyone who believes in the common quest to protect these fish and the incredible fishing opportunities they provide.
The Initiative will focus on river systems that have high potential to support robust, fishable wild steelhead populations, while accepting that properly managed steelhead hatcheries may be appropriate to provide fishing and harvest opportunity in rivers that no longer have the capacity to support wild steelhead. This effort will begin in the Western states and as it grows, expand eastward into the Great Lakes region as funding and resources permit.
The Initiative will address both habitat protection/restoration and steelhead policy and management so that all of the “Hs” (habitat (including hydro), hatcheries, and harvest) are aligned so that wild steelhead can thrive.
Please join us to kick-off the Initiative at simultaneous events in all five “steelhead states” at the locations listed below. The events are free and open to the public.
More information to come soon! Stay tuned to tu.org, the TU Facebook and Twitter pages to learn more about their newest effort.
