Green Bay Trout Unlimited | Take care of the fish and fishing will take care of itself

The Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Northeast Regional meeting is a very unique event. There is nothing like it in the state and probably very few, if any, like it nationally.

The TU chapters that make up the region (7-8 of them) get together to listen to funding requests by agencies/departments that plan to do trout stream habitat work in the area. This year 4 groups; the Wisconsin DNR in Antigo and Lakewood plus the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF) and Trout Unlimited Great Lakes Stream Restoration (TU-GLSR) were seeking $40,000 for towards their trout stream efforts.

In true TU fashion we delivered !

What makes this setup so important is this…the TU chapters north of us have the trout stream resources but do not have a lot of dollars. In the Green Bay Chapter we do not have the coldwater resources (Brown and Door Counties); however we raise more revenue than our neighbors. Many of our members and their family/friends fish these waters. We also partner with these agencies for most of our work project days in the summer.

The bottom line is the fact that we get together as “One TU” to do what’s best for the resource is very special indeed.

Here is a breakdown of the funding requests by agency, what they need the funding for, each chapter commitment and total amount committed by each chapter…

WDNR – Lakewood (Seeking $15,000 for a 3-person habitat crew)

• GBTU – $9000 ($2000 of which will be applied for through WI TU Friends Grant)
• Marinette TU – $2000
• Oconto River TU – $2000
• Wild Rivers TU – $2000

WDNR – Antigo (Seeking $17,000 for a 2-person seasonal habitat crew and Kabota ATV)

• GBTU – $3500
• Antigo TU – $7000 ($2000 of which will be applied for through WI TU Friends Grant)
• Marinette TU – $2500
• Oconto River TU – $1500
• Wild Rivers TU – $500
• Wolf River TU – $1000
• Oakbrook IL TU – $1000

TU – Great Lakes (Seeking $5000 to go towards intern program)

• GBTU – $1000
• Antigo TU – $500
• Marinette TU – $1000
• Northwoods TU – $1000
• Oconto River TU – $500
• Wild Rivers TU – $1000

US Forestry Service (CNNF) (Seeking $3000)

• GBTU – $1000
• Antigo TU – $500
• Wild Rivers TU – $1500

Total donation figures are as follows…

• GBTU – $14,500 ($2000 through Friends Grant)
• Antigo TU – $8000 ($2000 through Friends Grant)
• Marinette TU – $5500
• Wild Rivers TU – $5000
• Oconto River TU – $4000
• Northwoods TU – $1000
• Wolf River TU – $1000
• Oakbrook, IL TU – $1000

A huge thank you to the agencies/departments and the work they do. Another big thanks to the TU chapters who help make this possible. And a final thanks to GBTU members Kim McCarthy, Paul Kruse and Gary Gillis for joining myself (Adrian Meseberg) at the meeting !