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$240,000 Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant - Minnesota
 Governor
Pawlenty signed off on the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota
Resources (LCCMR) recommendations, which includes a $240,000 grant to
Trout Unlimited for promoting and restoring coldwater streams in
Southeast Minnesota including Dakota, Goodhue, Wabasha, Olmsted, Winona,
Fillmore and Houston Counties. This project will enable Trout
Unlimited to accelerate streambank stabilization and restoration on six
miles of stream in Southeast Minnesota while building the capacity of
area government agencies and private citizens to implement future stream
restoration projects. This appropriation is available until June
30, 2011.
» More about how
the LCCMR works in Minnesota
Trout Stream/Riparian Corridor Enhancement Monitoring
Cold-blooded Species - Wisconsin
TU chapters will be implementing over $830,000 in Wildlife Habitat
Incentives Program (WHIP) dollars over the next three years. One of
the requirements for accepting the funds is that besides streambank
stabilization and trout habitat, practices be installed that benefit
non-game species like frogs, snakes, turtles and birds. In May,
Trout Unlimited hired Dan Nederlo, local herpetologist to do some
preconstruction monitoring of cold-blooded species on the DNR property
(Neprud property). Funding for the monitoring was provided by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Trout Unlimited. Monitoring will
be conducted in the fall of 2009 and spring of 2010. Dave Vetrano,
La Crosse Area Fish Manager is working with other Wisconsin DNR
professionals, University of La Crosse, and the local Vernon County
Conservation Field office on monitoring of birds, macro invertebrates,
fish, and mammals.
»Wisconsin
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program information
Driftless Area Restoration Project to be a Stand-Alone Project
 In a
unanimous decision, the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) Board
decided not to support a NFHAP staff recommendation to encourage
combining of the Driftless Area Restoration Effort (DARE) Fish
Habitat Partnership with the Fishers and Farmers (Upper Mississippi)
Candidate Fish Habitat Partnership (FFP). In a joint letter to the
NFHAP board, the partnerships emphasized that the FFP is primarily
focused on improving upland agricultural practices to benefit water
quality and warm water fish species in prairie streams. DARE has a
stronger emphasis on stream habitat restoration to benefit coldwater
brook and brown trout and coolwater species of concern. Both
partnerships felt strongly that they should be able to maintain their
distinct partner identities because of the different boundaries,
landscapes, resource challenges, and fisheries.
» DARE information on the National Fish Habitat Action
Plan website
Third Annual Fall Symposium
This year’s fall symposium will be a joint effort between the four
state DNR agencies, TU, USF&WS, USGS, TNC, DAI, NRCS, SWCD and other
local and private groups. TU has agreed again take the lead on
organizing the two-day event starting on Friday, October 3, and ending on
Saturday, October 4 at noon. The symposium will focus on stream ecology,
riparian corridor restoration and management and watershed health.
Those interested in the health and protection of Driftless streams and
rivers are invited to the two-day event at the Eagle Bluff Environmental
Learning Center near Lanesboro, Minnesota. Among specific topics to be
explored are fish and invertebrate populations in the Driftless, habitat
enhancement, dam removal, invasive species, habitat for non-game species,
global warming, ground water movement and community relationships.
The planning committee has sent out a "call for papers" and
registration.
» More information at
www.tu.org/driftless
Hay
Creek "Hands-on" Habitat Improvement Workshop-August
16th & 17th
 The
Twin Cities Chapter of Trout Unlimited in conjunction with the
Hiawatha TU Chapter, Trout Unlimited Driftless Area Restoration Effort
(TU DARE) and the Minnesota DNR, would like to invite you to a two-day "hands-on"
in-stream habitat workshop. Trout anglers, stream
enthusiasts, conservationists and fans of clean watersheds will have an
opportunity to install LUNKERS, sky-hooks, vortex weirs, and other
habitat improvements on Hay Creek. All participants will receive a
free stream restoration manual (with trout and non-game habitat designs)
and a DVD developed from past projects on Trout Run. This year’s
hands-on workshop is on Hay Creek, just south of Red Wing,
Minnesota. The project received partial funding from the
Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources from the Minnesota
Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (LCCMR). This will be
an opportunity for you to watch or participate as habitat is installed to
improve Hay Creek.
We’ll need to get a handle on how much food to order, so let me know
before the 8th of August if you are plan on coming one or both days.
Please email me: jhastings@tu.org.
All you need to bring is a pair of waders and gloves. I’d also recommend
a change of clothing or seat covers for your car, if you plan on
participating in the in-stream work.
» See more
pictures at www.mntu.org/Projects.php
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TU
TV: On The Rise to Film in Driftless
Area
On The Rise, TU's television program hosted by Frank
Smethurst, and airing on the Outdoor Channel are planning to film an
episode in the Driftless Area in September.
» On The Rise trailer
and program information
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Illinois
DNR Conducts Stream Surveys
In July, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with
the assistance of TU, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and several
volunteers surveyed Coon, Clear and Kinnikinnick Creek in
Northwest Illinois…results in next issue.
» Illinois DNR
website
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Driftless
In The News
» Eau Claire Leader-Telegram article:
"Conservation helps fish, anglers and economy"
» Rochester Post-Bulletin article: "John
Weiss: Pressure, time create flowing jewels"
» Rochester Post-Bulletin article: "Trout
Unlimited says streams are economic engine"
» Chicago Sun-Times article:
"Field of streams"
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