March 2026| View Upcoming Events

March 2026 Newsletter

It’s March, and it seems that that mother nature can't wait to get to summer with temperatures already hitting the 90's.

Welcome to the Zane Grey Chapter March 2026 newsletter. March celebrates the beginning of Spring, March Madness, Mardi Gras, Spring Baseball, and it is when our activities really start ramping up.

In February we had two Salt River Saturdays, one with Arizona Flycasters Club (AFC) and one with Desert Fly Casters Club (DFC). Both events were well attended.

We have two additional Salt River Saturdays planned for March. One on March 7th and the second on March 21st. Please come out and join us to clean up the Salt River, coffee, donuts and to catch up.

March is a wonderful time of the year in Arizona. It is also an opportunity for you to volunteer and help!

Our upcoming activities are varied, and we need volunteers for all these activities. Among the activities are:

• AZ Fly Shop Spring Fling AZTU-ZGTU host a table – March 21
• Salt River Saturday, March 7th & March 21st
• AZGFD Outdoor Expo – March 28-29 with AFC, DFC, AZ Fly Shop, we’ll have our casting games as well as some swell SWAG. Come out and see us.
• Native and Wild Trout Conference, AZGFD HQ, 9-4, April 23

We encourage you to join us for these many activities. Volunteer by completing our volunteer sign-up here.



Should you have questions about these projects please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I can be reached at president@zanegreytu.org.

Tom Goodwin

Chapter President

Conservation

Trout Unlimited has a significant number of stream restorations projects underway. Nate Rees, Trout Unlimited's Arizona State Lead, has compiled a brief description of each project and it's current funding status. These projects are listed in priority order.

As you can see many of these projects require additional funding to be completed. If you would like to donate to help fund these projects you can do so here

Arizona stream project list and 2026 current status – organized by priority

Thompson-Burro Meadow

Wet meadow restoration and floodplain reconnection that will benefit Apache trout and downstream users. This project is broken into three phases: phase 1: in-stream structures; phase 2: elk exclosure; phase 3: riparian planting. Phase 1 was completed in December 2025, and Phase 2 started in Jan 2026. 

·        Project costs: $40,000 needed for phase 3 riparian plants 

·        Funds secured: $0

·        Funds needed: $40,000

Bear Wallow Wilderness Fish Barrier Removal

An ineffective rock gabion fish barrier has been in place for 50+ years. We are looking to remove or reroute the stream around the barrier before the structure receives historical protections. We have contracted the assessment and design and are working with the Forest Service to complete all the necessary paperwork to conduct this project in the wilderness and remove it with explosives.

·        Project costs: $150,000

·        Funds secured: $30,000

·        Funds needed: $120,000

-Upper East Verde River

21 simple instream habitat structures will be installed throughout the upper portions of East Verde over multiple years, similar to what TU did four years ago. Volunteer opportunities are coming this year and in subsequent years.

·        Project costs: $1,000 each year for logs or field training from NCD

·        Funds secured: $0

·        Funds needed: $1,000 each year

Chase Creek headwaters restoration project

The stream habitat needs to be improved for a recovery population of Gila trout, and the invasive blackberry needs to be removed. NCD has assessed the project site and is under contract with TU for the engineering designs. TU has already contracted and completed the heritage study. 

·        Project costs: $400,000

·        Funds secured: $270,000

·        Funds needed: $130,000

Deep Creek

An engineering assessment and design have been completed to improve/ replace eight culverts on Deep Creek, located on White Mountain Apache Tribal Lands. This project will enhance Apache trout fish passage.

·        Project costs: $3,000,000

·        Funds secured: $600,000

·        Funds needed: $2,400,000

South Fork Little Colorado River

AZGFD has contracted the design for this Apache trout habitat restoration project. TU has contracted and completed an archaeological study. Now we are waiting on the Forest Service to complete the CE NEPA process, and then construction. Need funds for construction 

·        Project costs: $400,000

·        Funds secured: $0

·        Funds needed:$400,00 

-Home Creek wet meadow restoration

TU has contracted the engineering assessment for this project that will utilize low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) techniques to increase floodplain storage, restore stream function and natural flow regimes, address erosion processes, restore channel stability, increase surface water-groundwater exchange and floodplain connection, and make the landscape more resistant to impacts from wildfire and drought. This is a multi-year, multi-phase project.

·        Project costs: $1,000,000

·        Funds secured: $0

·        Funds needed: $1,000,000

-Boggy Creek wet meadow restoration

TU has contracted the engineering assessment for this project that will utilize low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) techniques to increase floodplain storage, restore stream function and natural flow regimes, address erosion processes, restore channel stability, increase surface water-groundwater exchange and floodplain connection, and make the landscape more resistant to impacts from wildfire and drought. This is a multi-year, multi-phase project.

·        Project costs: $2,500,000

·        Funds secured: $0

·        Funds needed:$2,500,000

-Centerfire Creek wet meadow restoration

TU has contracted the engineering assessment for this project that will utilize low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) techniques to increase floodplain storage, restore stream function and natural flow regimes, address erosion processes, restore channel stability, increase surface water-groundwater exchange and floodplain connection, and make the landscape more resistant to impacts from wildfire and drought. This is a multi-year, multi-phase project.

·        Project costs: $2,500,000

·        Funds secured: $0

·        Funds needed: $2,500,000

-Hayground Creek

We are constructing an exclosure on 104 acres of riparian habitat and 1.76 miles of Hayground Creek. After the exclosure is constructed, we will plant native vegetation along the riparian corridor and thin the encroaching ponderosa pine trees.

·        Project costs: $400,000

·        Funds secured: $350,000

·        Funds needed: $50,000

Dude Creek Blackberry removal and riparian planting

Remove blackberry throughout the perennial stretch of Dude Creek. And conduct riparian plantings on the AZGFD project site and TU project site to stabilize banks.

·        Project costs: $35,000

·        Funds secured: $0

·        Funds needed: $35,000

-Canyon Creek

Last season's runoff ripped out the original habitat structures. TU is under contract with an engineer to conduct an assessment and then design a restoration project from the headwaters down, so that the stream is reconnected to the floodplain and the energy of these high-flow events is dissipated there. 

·        Project costs: $70,000 for assessment and design 

·        Funds secured: $25,000

·        Funds needed: $45,000

Paradise Creek

This project is shovel-ready and has gone out to bid to improve three culverts on Paradise Creek, located on White Mountain Apache Tribal Lands, to enhance Apache trout fish passage. Construction will start June 2026

·        Project costs: $980,000

·        Funds secured: $980,000

·        Funds needed: $0

Salt River Saturday Clean Up March 7th and 21st!

The Zane Grey Chapter of Trout Unlimited is co-hosting with the local chapter of the national sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated. Last year’s event was extremely well attended with parents, children, and other concerned and engaged participants from our Phoenix community. This year’s event will feature numerous interpretive organizations on site providing information about the area and promoting wildlife, ecosystem, fishing and conservation practices. In addition, all participants can put their conservationist’s hat on and help clean up the area around the Salt River. All clean-up materials will be provided. Additional overflow parking is directly across the street at the Pebble Beach Recreation Site. The event is free, but the purchase of a Tonto NF day pass is recommended. Hope you can make plans to attend.

Club Meetings

Arizona Flycasters Club (AFC) is holding its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 10th at 6pm. Speaker is Jeff Currier, Renowned Speaker, Artist, Fly Fisherman, Chasing Species and How it Makes you a Better Angler. Meeting is at the Arizona American Italian Club, 7509 N 12th St, Phoenix, AZ.

Desert Fly Casters Club (DFC) DFC's monthly meeting is March 11th 6:30pm. at the Elks Lodge in Chandler.

And, if you need to renew your TU membership you can do it here easily. This link should take you directly to the renewal page.

AZTU FISHCAMP

Registration is now open to youth 13-18 years old who want to spend a week in cabins among the tall pines and streams above Payson, AZ June 22-28. This camp is a hands-on immersive educational adventure offered by the Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited. Participants will learn the skills necessary to select and tie the proper fly, plenty of fly-casting practice, and fishing. In addition, campers will get their feet wet learning entomology, watersheds, stream health, trout biology, conservation practices, and being stewards of their environment. Instructors learn from experienced anglers, biologists, and conservationists. Campers will cultivate a lifelong love of fishing, conservation, and the outdoors.  Campers return with newfound knowledge, confidence, cooperation, and leadership skills.

More information and registration at  https://az-tu.org/fish-camp/ 

February Meeting Summary

The AZ Council of Trout Unlimited Public Policy Committee (AZ TU PPC) held its normal monthly meeting on February 12, 2026, at 7:00 pm. Our guest speaker was Patrick Sigl who is a Director, Water & Natural Resources Law with Salt River Project. He spoke about the Wild & Scenic River designation as it applies to the Upper Verde River. He provided background about the process and the current status for the Upper Verde River. He stated there is broad support for the designation, and the neighboring municipalities and Tribes are in favor of the designation for the Upper Verde River. He explained that this designation would not provide any restrictions on the use of the land adjacent to the river. They are in the process of meeting with certain Cattlemen's associations to address their concerns over the Wild & Scenic River designation for the Upper Verde River.

Legislative Update

The state legislature is in its regular 2026 session and the lawmakers are working on over 2,000 bills. TU will be engaging and educating certain legislators about why AZ TU objects to public land sales and to the rescission of the Roadless Rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. AZ TU is supportive of HB 2197 regarding camping within one-fourth of a mile from a natural water hole or a man-made watering facility if the camping denies access to wildlife or domestic stock. AZ TU is following HB 2162 regarding membership on the AZ Game & Fish Commission Board, and HB 2147 regarding landowner permits. AZ TU is also following HB 2758 regarding groundwater that is discussed below.

In June 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its intention to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. The rescission notice was posted on August 27, 2025, in the Federal Register. Without the Roadless Rule, 45 million acres of National Forest land across the country, impacting fish and wildlife habitat, will be open to harmful development! The Forest Service has nearly $11 billion of deferred maintenance currently on 370,000 miles of roads in our National Forests; do we really need additional roads? TU National is now encouraging all state Councils and chapters to start a mailing campaign from TU members to congressmen and congresswomen to stop the discontinuance of the Roadless Rule.

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) reported in a recent newsletter that in December 2025, the Modernizing Access to our Public Water Act was signed into law by the President. The TRCP stated that the "MAPWATERS Act is A Big Win for public access".

The National Office of Trout Unlimited has created a new TU Advocacy Champions online community group. If you are interested in receiving the periodic emails from the Advocacy Champions, please email Doug Agee at doug.agee@tu.org and request to be put on the email list.

Groundwater Management in Rural Arizona

Tom Osterday - Past Chair AZ TU PPC

The Rural Water Working Group will be hosting our annual Lobbying Day at the Capitol on March 11th. We will be meeting with state senators and representatives to advocate for legislation that will protect groundwater in rural Arizona and opposing legislation intended to make it harder to enable rural communities to manage their groundwater. If interested in participating, Please contact me at tgosterday@gmail.com .

There are a number of bills currently moving through the legislature that threaten rural groundwater. One of particular concern is HB 2758. This bill authorizes McMullen Valley Basin water to be transported to Phoenix, Tucson or Pinal to benefit the private equity firm, Water Asset Management (WAM). WAM has purchased thousands of acres, not to farm them, but to sell the water associated with the land. While this transfer is a concern, the bigger concern is that this could become the new standard for taking water from rural communities to support growth in metro areas.



Upcoming Public Policy Events

The next regular scheduled AZ TU PPC monthly meeting will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 7:00 pm. Our meeting will have a guest speaker: Jim Strogen, an AZ TU PPC member, will be our speaker and will provide an update on Lake Powell and the Lee's Ferry trout fishery.

The AZ TU Public Policy Committee hosts a virtual meeting on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm. If you are interested, please contact Ron Stearns at PublicPolicyChair@az-tu.org.



March has two Salt River Saturday Clean ups scheduled. One on the 7th (which will be co-hosted with the Arizona Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority!

We've set our dates for the cooler season! Please come out and join us for some coffee, camaraderie and clean up! Bring your fishing rod you don't want to pass up a chance for some great fishing, do you?

The Arizona Council consolidated the Arizona Trout Unlimited chapters. Effective January 1, 2025, much of eastern and southern Arizona, Kingman and Navajo County east and south including White Mountains: Show Low, Greer, etc., is becoming a part of the Old Pueblo Chapter based in Tucson.

The Mogollon Rim, and areas west of Kingman, including Flagstaff, Lees Ferry and the Colorado River down to Yuma become part of the "new" Zane Grey Chapter based in Phoenix. The below map will give you some idea of the new alignments. The Green areas are the new Zane Grey Chapter, while the Blue areas are the Old Pueblo Chapter's new alignment. The non colored areas are National parks, Military reservations, or other government areas, do not have postal delivery Zip code, and few if any residents.

The Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC) license plate fund is derived from the sale of wildlife conservation license plates and member organizations as well as non-member organizations are eligible to apply for those funds. 

The Arizona TU Council and Chapters have received funds over the past thirteen years to support the Annual Native and Wild Trout Conferences, Fish Camp, Trout in the Classroom program and various conservation projects.

The next time your registration comes up for renewal, choose the conservation license plate option at registration to show your support for conservation and our projects. 

Social Media: 

Check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/zanegreytu Check out the Instagram page for

Arizona of Trout Unlimited: @Trout_Unlimited_Arizona

If you're more traditional, try signing up for the private Facebook group: Arizona Women of Trout Unlimited.

Below is a list of fishing organizations in Arizona. Feel free to join, explore, visit their websites or attend a meeting to find out more information:

Make sure to follow our Instagram @Trout_Unlimited_Arizona