BUCKET BRIGADE: THE VIDEO
PROJECT HEALING WATERS
The Kanawha Valley and the Mountaineer Chapters are actively participating in the Project Healing Waters programs dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. For more information contact those Chapters directly or visit Project Healing Waters on the web.
THE WEST VIRGINIA STREAMSIDE JOURNAL - PODCAST
The West Virginia Streamside Journal is a podcast that brings you audio interviews from individuals who've made an impact on TU, trout conservation, or trout fishing. Sometimes it may be information about TU programs and other times it may simply be fishing stories from grizzled old anglers. For information about the podcast contact Philip Smith.
Episode 1: Youth Programs with Jerry Workman 
Episode 2: Money Equals Oxygen
Episode 3: The Hunt For Native Salmonids
Episode 4: Fences and Fishes with Gary Berti
MARCELLUS SHALE MONITORING
 These ten inch water withdrawal lines near Big Laurel Creek in Nicholas County are used to withdraw water for Marcellus Shale drilling. This could easily remove all flow from this native brook trout stream.
WVCTU remains concerned about potential impacts to trout waters with Marcellus Shale gas drilling activities in the state. There is well documented sedimentation problems from Marcellus well activities in the region that come from pad activity, improperly designed and maintained roads, pipelines, poor buffer areas and other activity. There are additional concerns that we are monitoring. The WVCTU Marcellus Shale Committee is developing a sampling program for collection of data on impacted streams.
WVCTU is a member organization of the Sportsmen Alliance for Marcellus Conservation. The Sportsmen Alliance is an affiliation of sportsmen and women working together to identify and mitigate the impacts of Marcellus Shale gas drilling on hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor sporting activities. For more information contact the Marcellus Shale Committee - Randy Kesling, Chair: rkesling@ma.rr.com TU Comments on Proposed Bureau of Land Management Rules on Horizontal Drilling
TU Comments on Proposed Legislative Rule on Horizontal Drilling in West Virginia
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TALE OF THE POOL
The West Virginia statewide TU newsletter is known as Tale of the Pool. This award winning newsletter is our primary means of communication with membership. If you are interested in advertising please contact Lee Orr, editor.
Chris Shockey, Forestry Committee Chair, is hard at work finding native brook trout in the wilds of Pocahontas County.
WVTU ADVOCACY & ACTION ALERTS_We are actively involved in monitoring and influencing policy on behalf of the West Virginia Sportsmen and women who place great value on trout fishing and trout habitat. WVCTU representatives are commonly found in the state and nation's capitol ready to advocate for the best possible scenario for anglers.
WVCTU continuously monitors policies as they impact our trout waters. We keep in close contact with and monitor policies of the WV Department of Environmental Protection, WV Department of Natural Resources, US Forest Service, National Park Service, NRCS, Municipalities and any other government entity or organization that develops policy or activities regarding the coldwater fisheries of West Virginia. If you have concerns about specific localized impacts you should bring those to the attention of a local TU Chapter in that area. Advocacy concerning statewide impacts that affect multiple chapters are generally decided by the State Council and should be brought before WVCTU. Any specific Action Alerts will be posted here and through direct email communication with all membership. 
Philip Smith, Council Chair, lobbying on Capitol Hill for West Virginia Trout Unlimited. Making and maintaining relationships with Congressional Delegation and State Legislators is critical for sound sportsman and conservation policy.
WVTU Support for the "Birthplace of Rivers National Monument"
On May 19, 2012 the West Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited officially became supporters of the proposed Birthplace of Rivers National Monument that if passed by Congress or by Presidential Proclamation, would be in the Monongahela National Forest and encompass headwater streams on the Elk, Gauley, Williams, Cranberry, Cherry and Greenbrier Rivers. Our support for this Monument is contingent that it continue to be managed by the USFS and fisheries by the WVDNR and that no additional lands be managed as Wilderness that would impair or prohibit stream restoration access. You can read the WVTU Support Document by clicking below. We will continue to be a major player in the shaping of this very important proposal to be sure of the best possible outcome within our mission statement as well as to work toward making this proposal as non-controversial for all stakeholders as possible.
LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCEWVCTU tries to assist with Officers and Rangers to find efficient means and tools to carry out the mission of protecting our trout from poaching and illegal angling. We are interested in developing relationships and assisting law enforcement officers.
For more information contact the Law Enforcement Committee - Robb Dittmar, Chair: rldittmar@frontier.com FISHERIES MANAGEMENTWVCTU works with fisheries managers to advocate for the best possible and practical solutions for wild trout management. The Fisheries Management Committee monitors scientific research on fisheries management, specific options for habitat improvements, regulatory needs and any other function regarding fisheries. Examples of things developed by this committee are the Didymo signs to educate anglers on the problems with this invasive algae and the Native Brook Trout Voluntary Catch & Release signs to educate anglers on the importance of native brook trout.
For more information contact the Fisheries Management Committee - Lee Orr, Chair: orrwhat4@frontier.com FORESTRYWe support responsible forestry management through monitoring specific timbering activities and management plans on public and private lands. Improper logging practices can increase sedimentation dramatically in our headwater streams. Sedimentation is one of the most damaging environmental impacts to our trout as the silt smothers out the insect populations that support trout and the eggs from reproducing trout are likewise destroyed. The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture identified forestry as the number two largest negative impact to our state fish, the native brook trout behind poor land use practices.
If you have information regarding major sedimentation on a trout water of WV please contact the WVDEP, WV Division of Forestry and/or Trout Unlimited. For more information contact the Forestry Committee - Chris Shockey, Chair: chris.1.shockey@gmail.com |
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