Over the past few months, our little Eugene Trout Unlimited Chapter has grown from a few guys sitting around a conference table to groups of up to 20 folks at the shop, with guest speakers. The organization has always had around 300 members turning in dues, but not much participation. Now that participation is up, we’re getting lots of questions regarding what it is that TU Chapter 678 does, and what are our priorities. So here they are:
TU 678 is involved in native coldwater fisheries conservation in the Willamette Valley.
CONSERVATION PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES:
Willamette River restoration Whilamut Natural Area: TU volunteers are working with the Eugene Stream Team to restore native riparian vegetation in the Whilamut natural area of Alton Baker Park on the Willamette River. What began 2007 as a blackberry thicket has been transformed into an area where native vegetation may again thrive. TU Chapter 678 hosts regular blackberry removal and replanting sessions.
Carmen Smith Hydropower relicensing: Spearheaded by Trout Unlimited’s Kate Miller, our chapter entered into negotiations with EWEB to provide greater environmental protections and enhancement actions while allowing EWEB to continue to operate the Carmen Smith Hydropower Project. The agreement is a positive step for restoring endangered spring chinook salmon and bull trout populations in the Mckenzie basin while allowing EWEB to utilize a clean, non-polluting energy resource.
Green Island restoration: TU 678 teamed up with McKenzie River Trust (MRT) to work on the organization’s ongoing Green Island Project. This island, over 1,000 acres in size is located at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers and was purchased by MRT. Once an active floodplain, the previous owners built up flood control levees around the property to keep flood waters and migrating channels from inundating the agriculture fields. TU 678 helped fund the notching of one of these structures, reconnecting the island to the rivers and improving the riparian habitat for juvenile native salmonids, while removing habitat for invasive warmwater species. The chapter also works to plant trees on the property.
Upper Willamette Bull Trout habitat enhancement: In 2006 TU Chapter 678 secured a $10,000 grant from Trout Unlimited to fund habitat restoration in the Upper Willamette watershed to improve spawning habitat for bull trout. The Chapter also worked on the monitoring and follow up to this project. The chapter is currently working to secure more funding for habitat restoration in this area.
McKenzie River Bait Ban Coalition: Would you support a bait ban regulation on the McKenzie River to protect wild trout? TU 678 is participating in a coalition of guides, local businesses and conservation groups are spearheading an effort to get a bait ban for trout on the McKenzie River. This regulation would maintain the current salmon and steelhead bait regulations, while making the entire river artificial flies and lures only for trout.
Stopping the WOPR: As anglers who care deeply about the health of our coastal salmon and steelhead, we can’t sit quietly by as the Bureau of Land Management puts local rivers at risk. The Western Oregon Plan Revision (WOPR) is the BLM’s attempt to ramp up logging and dramatically reduce riparian protections on 2.6 million acres of land in the western part of the state managed by that agency. TU Chapter 678 has lead the charge against this plan, as so many of the rivers in our area would be effected, including the Siuslaw, the Umpqua, the Alsea, the Rogue, and the Smith.
TRIPS:
TU 678 hosts a handful of recreational fishing outings a year, including trips on the Lower McKenzie for the March Brown hatch, wilderness backpacking trips into the Cascade High Lakes, and roadtrips to southern Oregon to fly fish for chinook salmon on the Elk and Sixes Rivers.
FUNDRAISERS:
TU Chapter 678 relies almost entirely on local fundraising efforts. We do not receive operating funds from TU National or the Oregon State Council. We host an annual McKenzie River Two-Fly Tournament (October 10, 2009). We also host an annual auction, bring fly fishing movie events to the Eugene area, and created an Oregon Bull Trout T-shirt to fund upper watershed bull trout habitat restoration (COMING SOON!).
MEETINGS:
TU Chapter 678 meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm at The Caddis Fly Shop, 168 West 6th Ave., Eugene, OR 97401. Each month we host a conservation speaker/leader from the area. Meetings are open to the public.
OFFICERS AND CONTACTS:
Al Avey, President: 541-431-0328
Todd Mullen, Vice President: 541-343-0695
Karl Mueller, Conservation Officer: 541-915-2411
Matt Stansberry, Outreach: mattstansberry@gmail.com
Brent Ross, Communications: brentross@gmail.com
Hope to see you on Wed. for guest speaker Charley Dewberry.
We are open to and want do more now that participation is up. Come to the meetings and share your ideas!
Whose that guy in the green in the middle of the photo from the Whilamut planting?
That’s from the Green Island planting. He sure looks familiar…
Right. I had Whilamut on the bran.