Chapter honors Tom Walsh with a grant to Chatham University (10-11-2020)

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Tom Walsh was the chair of our Conservation Committee until his untimely death last year. Tom’s love for (Little) Pine Creek in the North Hills was unmatched. He organized work parties, stocking, and children’s fishing derbies. Your Board has chosen to honor him by donating $2500 each year for 5 years to support one or more upper-class students at Chatham University who is (are) in the BS Biology program with a focus on “sustainability”. Chatham has an entire campus in the North Hills dedicated to sustainable living (including a trout rearing facility!). Bryan Mathie is working to establish a relation between PWWTU and this aspect of Chatham’s efforts.

Tom was a superior human being and this Memorial Grant will help his name and good works live on.

Steelhead Log for the Tribs (10-3-20)

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If you’re planning trip(s) to the tribs to hunt the wily steelhead this year, consider helping the people who manage the fishery by recording information about your trip: location; stream; weather, stream flow, catch, species, number of anglers, time on the water, which lure, etc. Click here to find out more about the program and sign up to receive a log book (pictured above). Good service, good fun.

PATU and National TU oppose Pennsylvania legislation that would alter many PA environmental policies pertaining to clean water. (10-2-2020)

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As a head’s up: The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is considering a bill (SB619) that changes many aspects of our efforts to ensure clean water in PA. PATU has sent a LETTER to the PA House of Representatives urging them not to go down this road. Click Here for a link to the letter.

John Arway, Retired Executive Director PAFB Commission to speak October 6 (9-17-20)

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Pittsburgh North Area Environmental Council is hosting John Arway in a ZOOM conference on October 6 at 7pm.
John calls it like he sees it and is always an entertaining speaker. You must be registered to attend. Click Here for all the details.

Conservation Opportunity: Keystone 10 M trees Initiative (9-3-20)

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Pennsylvania is sponsoring an effort to plant TEN MILLION TREES. Trees are critical to life as we know it. This project aims to preserve existing trees and plant new ones alongside streams, streets and other sensitive landscapes. Help, of course, is needed. Click Here to go there.

Pebble Mine project suffers a setback (8-30-2020)

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The Trump administration, acting through the Army Corps of Engineers, has put a serious roadblock in the way of the Pebble Mine Project. The Corps of Engineers is requiring that Alaska issue a “certificate of reasonable assurance” that the Pebble Mine will comply with federal and state water quality laws. The Corps cannot issue a wetlands permit to Pebble without having Alaska sign off on it. Click here for an August 28 article from the Alaska Public Media.

URGENT action needed on Pebble Mine permit decision (8-21-20)

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National TU is urging members to rejoin the fight against the Pebble Mine in Alaska. Many of you have supported the resistance to this huge and potentially dangerous project in the past. Action is needed now because our President is considering issuing a permit that would move the mine closer to reality. Click here for a link that will allow you to register your concern.

Chris Wood, President of TU, seeks your input on the proper role of stocking in fisheries management (8-15-20)

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A Note to Trout Unlimited’s volunteers and members from Chris Wood, President: 

Trout Unlimited is developing a new strategic plan, and our approach to fisheries management is an important issue. A review of our approach to stocking is part of the process. While TU’s founding principles on the topic of stocking are clear and have been reaffirmed and expanded upon by the North American Salmonid Policy, there’s room to reconsider our position.

Let’s start with our vision:

Trout Unlimited’s Vision: By the next generation, Trout Unlimited will ensure that robust populations of native and wild cold-water fish once again thrive within their North American range, so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries in their home waters.

Let’s end with Chris’s current Bottom Line:

TU has a reasoned priority that is based on science —native fish are paramount, wild fish come second, and stocked fish only belong where they do not harm wild and native salmonids and other native species.

Chris would like to hear from you on the fisheries management challenges you face in your area and how you see them aligning, or not, with TU’s approach to hatcheries. Email Chris Wood ([email protected])

Click Here for more information.

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National TU Conservation Update (7-15-2020)

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Our parent organization is please to provide updates about major conservation efforts that are underway on a national level. “Protect, reconnect, restore, sustain”. Two web-based updates are coming up in July:

July 21 – Pacific Coast & Alaska TU Conservation Highlights (2PM)

July 29 – Interior West TU Conservation Highlights (12:30PM)

These sessions are designed to educate and inspire local TU leaders, but the information they contain is certainly relevant to local conservation efforts as well.

Leave ’em be (7-15-2020)

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Torrid temperatures and lack of rain in Western PA have combined to deliver a “perfect storm” of bad conditions to the fish in our streams and lakes, especially the trout. Trout like it cold, in part because there’s more oxygen in the water. Trout tolerate water temps in the 70’s but are living on the edge. Being hooked, played and landed may be a fatal event for a trout these days. So fish for bass and other warm water species or put the rods away, and get out the golf clubs. Leave ’em be till the weather cools off and we get a lot of rain…probably ’till Fall. -ED & Bob Heil