Water withdrawal legislation.
Proper implementation of the state’s new water withdrawal legislation is critical to trout and the coldwater habitat they depend on. Bryan Burroughs, Michigan TU’s Executive Director, spent hundreds of hours this year ensuring that this happens. Michigan TU’s involvement helped identify and correct a significant malfunction in the groundwater assessment tool that would have allowed illegal amounts of damage to our coldwater fisheries. Michigan TU has also been advocating against the Governor’s Executive Order that terminated the Water Resources Conservation Advisory Council, the volunteer group that is charged by statute to ensure proper implementation of Michigan’s water withdrawal law. Additionally, Michigan TU with several other conservation partners provided free educational seminars on the new water law across the state.
Dam removal.
Michigan TU continued to lead the way this year in understanding the impacts that 2,500 dams in this state have on coldwater habitat and the effects of dam removal. Working independently and in partnership with other organizations, Michigan TU has participated in efforts on the Boardman, Black, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Muskegon, and Pigeon watersheds. A statewide strategic plan to deal with Michigan’s dams is being developed to help ensure that these efforts will have the greatest effect on coldwater habitat.
Trout fishing regulations.
Michigan TU played a leading role this year in advocating a sensible re-write of the first revision to the state’s trout regulations in nearly ten years. Michigan TU earned a seat at the table with MDNR to ensure that sound science and comprehensive input from anglers are represented in the new regulations. The way has been paved to finally utilize the full 212 miles of special regulation waters authorized by the Michigan legislature; and a good partnership with MDNR to have the new regulations in place by the 2011 trout season.
Stream Monitoring.
Michigan TU’s brand new Stream Keepers volunteer stream monitoring program is already going strong. This program will provide quantified knowledge of the state’s trout streams, forming a foundation of information for protecting and restoring coldwater habitat. Seven chapters are involved in the program, and many more will be ready by next spring. In its initial season, over 100 volunteers have contributed more than 400 hours getting trained in the program and collecting data. Thanks to a grant from the Joyce Foundation, Kristin Thomas is now our full-time coordinator for this important new program.
Pigeon River dam failure.
Michigan TU joined the State of Michigan’s lawsuit against Golden Lotus Inc. Bryan and Pete Gustafson, our pro bono lawyer from the Schems Chapter and Pigeon River Country leader, have represented us well in the potential litigation involving the dam failure on the Pigeon River that killed hundreds of thousands of trout. Michigan TU is working hard to ensure that this dam will be removed, and the Pigeon River will gain 18 more miles of high quality trout habitat.
TU 50th Anniversary.
Hundreds of Michigan’s TUers celebrated this important milestone in the founding of Trout Unlimited here in our state fifty years ago. A small army of volunteers enthusiastically gave their time and talents to put on a summertime celebration in July where Art Neumann, a TU founding father, joined us in celebrating his stewardship vision; and then helped host TU National’s Annual Meeting in August when hundreds of TU visitors participated in Conservation and Fishing Tours where they experienced TU’s birthplace.
Merger of MDNR and MDEQ.
Governor Granholm’s recent Executive Order has combined the two former agencies into the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. While supporting the idea of the merger (if done correctly, synergy and efficiencies can result), Michigan TU is greatly concerned with several elements of “how” it proposed to do so. We have been working with our conservation partners to understand the motivations, limitations, and politics surrounding these, and how to get them corrected.
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