FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: June 3, 2008

Trout Unlimited works with Huron Pines to improve coldwater streams

There are nonprofit organizations that work on projects. There are nonprofit organizations that strongly advocate for what they believe in. There are nonprofit organizations that provide funding for projects. And then there’s the Paul H. Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

This TU Chapter, based out of southeast Michigan, takes all three approaches to conservation in their effective effort to improve and protect coldwater streams in northern Michigan.

Helping in all three areas is a rarity among organizations, but the chapter shows up time and again to work in the streams, financially support innovative new conservation projects, and always put the resource first. What’s not known to many is the level of effort the organization puts forth to make a difference for stream restoration. The recipient of the 2006 Huron Pines Award, the Paul H. Young Chapter has once again stepped forward with actively making a difference. In recent years they have put thousands of dollars and volunteer hours into projects throughout the Au Sable River Watershed. This past weekend they volunteered up on the Ocqueoc River in Presque Isle County to help reduce streambank erosion.

“The work weekends, a long standing tradition with the Chapter, provide an opportunity for volunteers to get their hands dirty protecting and preserving Michigan’s coldwater resources. The commitment and dedication of the work weekend volunteers inspires others to become involved in other Chapter activities,” Chapter President Bob Thorsen stated.

“The PHY work weekend projects are performed in joint partnership with HP. The coordination and expertise of HP is the key to the success of the work weekend projects,” Thorsen added.

The volunteer work events help Huron Pines with efforts to improve the water quality and fishery for streams in northern Michigan. The projects are important and result in real benefits, as noted by Huron Pines staff.

“As always, the TU folks came out, worked hard, worked fast, and made a major improvement for the river,” Huron Pines Project Manager Patrick Ertel stated.

Just prior to the Ocqueoc project, the Paul Young Chapter of TU further demonstrated their commitment to water resource protection in Northern Michigan by making the following grant awards:

Grayling Stormwater: $1,500 (this is in addition to $19,000 of project construction funding already provided by the group)

Hodges Creek road-stream crossing (Thunder Bay River): $1,900

Water quality monitoring funding: $1,100

Huron Pines AmeriCorps Program: $500

General watershed protection fund for Huron Pines: $1,000

North Branch Au Sable River Watershed Plan: $1,100

Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee: $1,000

The group’s dollars have been leveraged with many other contributions and ensured that several key coldwater stream improvement projects have been implemented, according to Huron Pines Executive Director Brad Jensen.

“The dollars from this Trout Unlimited Chapter are always directed to projects that are large in scale or serve as demonstration projects to be duplicated in other areas. Their funding helps generate additional support from many other sources,” added Jensen.

The continuing partnership between the Paul H. Young Chapter of TU and Huron Pines is a good one, because TU’s goals of protecting and enhancing coldwater resources can be furthered by the coordination of projects through Huron Pines. Huron Pines works to conserve the forests, lakes, and streams of Northeast Michigan. This effort, through an 11-county service area, is accomplished by building partnerships between the public sector, landowners, resource professionals, and groups like the Paul H. Young Chapter of Trout Unlimited. For more information about conservation projects in Northeast Michigan, visit www.huronpines.org.