Posted by pdobbyn on November 17th, 2009

Trout Unlimited Alaska’s Savor Bristol Bay event in Seattle this week generated a swirl of media interest.

After the Associated Press wrote a story about it, the former Alaska Speaker of the House and Pebble mine proponent Gail Phillips called for a boycott of the Seattle restaurants participating in Savor Bristol Bay, a weeklong celebration of the wild sockeye salmon that spawn in this pristine region of Southwest Alaska where the Pebble Partnership wants to develop one of the world’s largest copper and gold mines.

The AP did another story about Phillips’ boycott call, that was picked up by more than 200 media outlets around the country, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and other large-market dailies.The story quoted Seattle food writer, Ronald Holden, as saying, “Seriously Ms. Phillips, are you nuts?”

Supporters of Bristol Bay wild salmon are asking what they can do to help. If you’re in the Seattle area, plan to eat at one of the restaurants listed below, and find out more at http://www.savebristolbay.org

• Art of the Table
• Chiso
• Emmer & Rye
• Etta’s Seafood
• Flying Fish
• Palace Kitchen
• Persimmon
• Ponti Seafood Grill
• Rover’s Restaurant
• Steelhead Diner
• Tilth Restaurant
• Tilikum Place Café
• The Pike Brewing Co.

Posted by chunt on November 9th, 2009

Attorneys representing TU and a host of other conservation groups reported last week  there is still no settlement in a dispute over the legality of the August 2008 natural gas leases atop the Roan Plateau. To further complicate the situation, Bill Barrett Corp., which owns a 90-percent interest in the leases, announced earlier this year it plans to drill up to 3,200 gas wells on the Roan, or 15 times the number of wells the BLM originally planned atop the plateau.

TU’s interest in the Roan is simple–it’s home to two genetically pure and distinct populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout that could be wiped out in the event of any spill or seepage into the hundreds of springs atop the Roan. These fish are special in that they evolved in the harsh climes on the plateau–losing them is not an option for TU.

In addition to the trout resources, the Roan is a sportsmen’s paradise–trophy herds of mule deer and elk roam public land on the plateau, as do huntable populations of blue grouse, ruffed grouse, mountain lion and black bear.

TU and its partners are currently in court-ordered negotiations with industry, but, considering the number of wells Barrett wants to drill, and the potential impact those wells could have on irreplacable native trout resources, talks have not progressed much, as reported recently in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.

Stay tuned … we’re not giving up on the Roan. We hope you won’t either.

Posted by chunt on November 4th, 2009

The popular fly fishing website and blog, Moldy Chum, is hosting a poll for steelhead anglers who ply the waters of Washington state. Moldy Chum, whose founders are avid steelheaders, wants to provide some data to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding wild steelhead and their hatchery cousins.

TU, too, is interested in this survey, as well as the opinions of TU members living in Washington. Give the survey a read, and let the good folks at Moldy Chum know how you think when it comes to wild fish vs. hatchery fish swimming in the waters of Washington.

Posted by pdobbyn on November 3rd, 2009

A recent survey of Bristol Bay, Alaska, residents shows widespread disapproval of the proposed Pebble Mine. Meanwhile, Alaska Native groups are stepping up their calls for mining
companies to abandon the project. Read more:

Posted by rscholfield on October 30th, 2009

Check out the new TU film about Teton River canyon in Idaho, a unique natural treasure that’s threatened by a proposal to rebuild Teton Dam–yes, the same dam that failed spectacularly back in 1976, killing 11 and inundating several communities downstream. The film, “Teton Canyon: A Wild Legacy at Risk,” showcases the rugged natural beauty of the 25-mile canyon, one of the last remaining strongholds for Yellowstone cutthroat trout.  Just say no to this big, bad idea!  Watch the video.  And see TU’s Teton Canyon web page to take action.

Posted by chunt on October 30th, 2009

TU’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project’s efforts to keep Colorado’s Roan Plateau free from drilling rigs and the associated industrial development are highlighted this week in print and video by the New York Times. The SCP accompanied Times reporter Patrick Farrell to the Roan last summer, where he got the chance to speak with TU volunteers Keith Goddard and Ken Neubecker (Ken is the president of the Colorado Chapter of Trout Unlimited) about the impacts natural gas extraction could have on the plateau’s fragile native Colorado River cutthroat trout population.

In case you missed it, check out the SCP’s video, shot earlier this year atop the Roan featuring Goddard, a hunting and fishing guide based out of Rifle, Colo., which is situated at the base of the plateau.

The future of the Roan is today in the hands of a court–it was leased in August 2008, but TU and several of its partners are challenging those leases in court. A decision in imminent.

Posted by chunt on October 29th, 2009

TU's Tom Reed with a westslope cutthroat caught in one of the proposed wilderness areas in southwest Montana.

Why is TU working in Montana to support the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act?

Sen. Jon Tester’s bill is first and foremost a ‘made-in-Montana’ solution to solving Montana’s long wilderness drought (the last wilderness bill in the Treasure State was vetoed by President Reagan). Yes, it promotes forestry designed to restore forests and protect communities from wildfire.But more importantly, it permanently protects nearly a million acres of spectacular backcountry throughout western Montana, including nearly 700,000 acres as wilderness. This includes some 25 spectacular places conservationists have fought hard to protect for decades–places of accute interest to hunters and anglers who have a deep desire to pass their sporting heritage on to the next generation.

From a trout perspective, this landmark piece of legislation will protect the headwater streams of some of the nation’s most famous trout fishing destinations, such as the Madison and Big Hole rivers.

This unique solution to decades of divisiveness is supported by a broad coalition of Montana business owners, loggers, sportsmen and conservationists. Groups supporting the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act include Trout Unlimited, Wilderness Society, Montana Wilderness Association, National Wildlife Federation, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Montana Wildlife Federation, Yaak Valley Forest Council, Campaign for America’s Wilderness as well as former Congressman Pat Williams, Montana rod-and-gun clubs and many others.

The bill is the result of hard work from Montanans of all walks of life. Sen. Tester united three community-driven efforts to better manage Montana national forests. These areas include the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, the Lolo (Seeley Lake Ranger District) and the Kootenai National Forest (Three Rivers Ranger District.) Each of these community efforts will reduce local fire danger and create jobs for communities such as Drummond, Seeley Lake, and Troy, while protecting backcountry access and the special places we love for their fishing and hunting resources.

Posted by Scott Laeser on October 27th, 2009

Last Friday, with the release of an updated version of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, the US Senate took another step in passing climate change legislation similar to what passed the House of Representatives in June of this year.  This week, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold hearings to examine the bill and some of the issues surrounding it.  The proposed legislation will reduce carbon emissions over the coming decades to a level scientists believe will allow us to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.  It also provides important investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, consumer protection, and natural resources protections that will help the country transition to a new energy economy and seek to protect natural resources and communities from the unavoidable impacts of climate change.

The Senate has elected to keep funding for natural resources protections at the same level as that included in the House Bill; 1% of allowances beginning in 2012, 2% beginning in 2022, and 4% beginning in 2027.  This money will be available to help federal and state agencies better understand and plan for the impacts of climate change on fish and wildlife and engage in projects and management activities to enhance important habitats and better protect species and ecosystems.  While this funding is critical to protecting trout and salmon populations and their coldwater habitats from climate impacts, TU and many other conservation organizations believe we will need much greater investment in natural resources protections going forward.

In order to protect trout and salmon species for the future, we need to both reduce carbon emissions to minimize the worst impacts of climate change and work to protect fish and wildlife and ecosystems from the unavoidable impacts of climate change.  The current bill takes strong steps in the right direction on both of these fronts,  and TU will be working to strengthen the protections for natural resources as we move forward.  You can read the full bill or a summary of it here, and we encourage you to contact your Senators about this important legislation.

Posted by Scott Laeser on October 23rd, 2009

Posted by pdobbyn on October 19th, 2009

National Jeweler has a new story about Tiffany and Co.’s chairman and chief executive, Michael Kowalski, taking a lead role in the campaign to protect Alaska’s Bristol Bay from the massive Pebble mine project.  Tiffany’s board has agreed to boycott Pebble if the mine is eventually developed and is running an ad in jewelry trade publications encouraging other jewelers to follow suit. Among those that have heeded the call so far include Ben Bridge Jeweler, Birks and Mayors, Commemorative Brands Inc., Hacker Jewelers, Helzberg Diamonds, Herff-Jones and Chicago independent Leber Jeweler.

Read the article here:  http://tiny.cc/4gDY0