"It is impossible to grow weary of a sport that is never the same on any two days of the year." - Theodore Gordon
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Message From The President |
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May 2022 Newsletter
Welcome to the May 2022, ZGTU newsletter.
We had a busy April with Arizona Game & Fish Department (AZGFD) Outdoor Expo April 1st & 2nd and a Sun City Grand Fishing Club Merit Badge clinic April 9th; a dozen youth attended this great event. We also hosted tables at the Mesa Arbor Day Event, and we hosted a table at the AZ Fly Shop First Anniversary Celebration. There were great crowds at all of these events, and some lucky participants won a free Trout Unlimited membership. We will notify the winners soon.
Be sure and check out the Orvis Give-Back Days. Donate $10 to Orvis on behalf of the Zane Grey Chapter and receive a $10 store credit. All proceeds go to Zane Grey Chapter, and we’ll use the proceeds for various youth education and conservation activities. Please see the article below.
And, speaking of conservation, next Friday and Saturday, May 6th and May 7th, is Arizona Council Trout Unlimited R-C Pond workdays. Register by clicking here. More details are further down in the newsletter.
Additional Volunteer opportunities include:
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Staffing for AZTU – GCC Fish Camp, See details here. There are three sessions: June 5-10; June 12-17; and June 19-24. Note: We need an entomologist for one-day each session. Please contact Bill Laudenschlager 602-391-8857(M) or me, Alan Davis, 925-785-5583(M).
We look forward to a great summer and hope you’ll be able to join us for some of our upcoming events. Everyone is also invited to join in our board meetings each and every month!
Board meetings - We’ve gone virtual!!!!
Please join us for our monthly board teleconferences the
First Thursday of each month @ 7:00 – 8:45 PM
Microsoft Teams meeting:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Or call in (audio only) +1 323-676-6261,,231619436# United States
Phone Conference ID: 231 619 436#
Until then,
Tight Lines.
Alan Davis
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Help Wanted Needed!
Tired of doing crossword puzzles and 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzles? Then consider volunteering for a position with your chapter board. We are currently looking for a STREAM Keeper leader, and a board member at-large. If interested, contact any board member, or me.
Here are some of the articles in this month's Newsletter.
- Your Zane Grey Chapter of TU has a great Instagram! Follow us here!
- Arizona TU (@trout_unlimited_arizona)
- Volunteer Opportunities and Updates:
- See above in the President's Message
- Arizona Fish Camp (after Conservation below)
- Orvis Give Back Days are Back!
- Education:
- 13th Annual Native and Wild Trout Conference - Virtual Presentation
- Earth Day Event - Sunland Village
- Forest Service Guidance for E-Bikes
- TIC - Hatched and Doing Well!
- Conservation: R C Pond Workdays
- National Leadership Council
- Focus on Healthy Water
- Fly Girls Women's Initiative
- Ladies Fall Lees Ferry Trip
- Virtual (ZOOM) Book Club: Book TBD
- Citizen Science Opportunity at Lee's Ferry Fishery
- Public Policy
- Arizona and Federal Legislative Update
- 4FRI and Pinyon Plain Mine Updates
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May Meeting, Thursday, May 12th at 7:00 PM (details below)
- Fishing: Arizona Statewide Fish Stocking Schedules
- Other Angling organizations
- ZGTU and affiliates calendar
- Follow ZGTU on Social Media
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Orvis Giveback Days Are Back! |
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Looking for some new gear, or want some new clothes? Need something for the dog? If so, checkout this great offer from Orvis. The Phoenix Orvis Store is partnering with your Zane Grey Chapter of Trout Unlimited, to help further our important projects such as conservation, youth, women, and diversity initiatives. When you donate at the store, your name will be displayed on the window to highlight your support. Or, you may donate to the Trout Unlimited Embrace A Stream program here. Either way, this May, when you give $10, you get a $10 Orvis Savings Card! Not a bad return on investment...so hurry, this offer is good only through May, and only through the Phoenix Orvis Store.
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The 13th Annual Native and Wild Trout Conference was held virtually on April 21st due to the continuing caution for the COVID pandemic. The 90+ minute conference/webinar was well attended with lots of great information and questions.
Distinguished Service Awards were once again presented. The Apache Trout Award recognizing organizations for their support of a wide range of efforts to protect and restore native and wild trout were presented to the New Mexico Gila/Rio Grande Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the New Mexico Mesilla Valley Flyfishers. Joe Miller, of Arizona, was honored with the Gila Trout Award which recognizes an individual who has shown remarkable leadership and commitment to conserve and restore ecosystems focusing on water, trout and other wildlife and their habitats.
A recording of the event and presentations can be found at 13th NWTC.
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Members of the Arizona Council showed up for an Earth Day Event at Sunland Village Community in Mesa to impart our love of conservation on those attending--young and old alike! |
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And, here are some pictures from the AZGFD Outdoor Expo, AZ Fly Shop, and some recent conservation work at R-C Scout Ranch. |
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Forest Service Guidance for E-Bikes |
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Here’s how the use of this new technology will be managed on national forests and grasslands and what it means for public land hunters and anglers
If you talk with hunters and anglers about electric bikes, or e-bikes, you will get a mixed response. Some embrace the obvious utility of e-bikes for accessing remote areas and for hauling gear and game. Others worry that widespread use of e-bikes—by dramatically increasing the ability of the average person to travel further into the backcountry—could potentially have a negative impact on our big game herds. Such concerns are warranted: Research clearly shows that high-volume trail use displaces big game, and in some areas high motorized route densities are associated with excessive elk harvest. Elk are particularly susceptible to these impacts, as they require large secure areas far from heavily used roads and trails to thrive.
On March 31, 2022, the Forest Service announced its final internal guidance on how e-bikes will be managed on national forests and grasslands. The long-anticipated update reaffirms the existing policy that e-bikes are now, and will continue to be, managed as a motorized use—that is, e-bikes will be allowed on all currently authorized roads and trails open to motorized use and not allowed on roads and trails closed to motorized use, seasonally or otherwise. At the same time, the guidance also outlines a process for the agency to evaluate requests for expanded e-bike access and establishes a new “e-bike only” trail category.
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What's New With the Fish?
After only two months from hatching, students and teachers report the trout are growing quickly and becoming very active in their environments.
As schools begin to conclude another year, we are already preparing for the 2022 - 2023 school year program.
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ARIZONA COUNCIL TROUT UNLIMITED
May 6 & 7th: R-C Pond Work-Days
What?
Project Overview:
Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited is helping restore the fishing pond on the R-C Scout Ranch near Payson, AZ. The pond provides youth recreational fishing and conservation opportunities
Volunteers are needed to complete numerous projects in and around the pond. The various R-C Pond improvement projects include:
· Erosion Control
· Creating a gravel walkway
· Install a new pond outlet chute
· Improve pond overflow drainage
When?
Friday & Saturday May 6-7, 8AM - 5PM (We'll get you home for Mother's Day)
WHO & WHAT TO BRING
We need many volunteers, no expertise or skills required ... just a willingness to help.
Lunch is provided for volunteers.
In addition, various volunteer scout troops from the Grand Canyon Council BSA, are also helping us.
What to bring (if you have them): Shovels, rakes, landscape rake, wheelbarrows, tree/bush trimming tools, gloves.
Helping both Friday & Saturday? Camping is available on site. More information to follow.
QUESTIONS:
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Where?
R-C Scout Ranch,
19887 E AZ Highway 260,
Payson, AZ 85541
20 miles E of Payson off SR260, mile post 271.5
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Want to get away this summer? |
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The Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited (AZTU) with the Grand Canyon Council, BSA (GCC) are hosting the third-annual Arizona Fish Camp June 5-25, 2022. Each camp is limited to 12 campers, age 13-18, and is open to both boys and girls. These one-week, limited enrollment, extra-cost sessions, are designed for the camper who is looking for something else in their summer camp activities. Fish Camp offers these additional opportunities.
We’re looking for experienced anglers that can help teach and instruct these campers in various activities.
More information is here, and you can signup or request more information here.
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National Leadership Council Spotlight |
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Everyone relies on healthy water.
But, it takes everyone to chip in and do their part to repair and renew rivers, streams and all waters on which we depend. Trout Unlimited’s Strategic Plan for the future has a goal to bring together diverse people and interests to help us accomplish our mission of maintaining and rebuilding cold, clean fishable—and drinkable—water.
How can you help? We’re glad you asked!
• Gift a membership to a like-minded friend or colleague
• Plan a clean up in your area and let us know about it so we can help
• Engage in state-level advocacy – check out the Arizona Council Public Policy
• Thursday, May 5 at 7 PM, attend (in person or via Zoom) a conversation moderated by KJZZ Radio about the future of water in Arizona. To RSVP, sign up HERE
• Share facts, concerns and solutions with family and friends
• Read and share Trout Unlimited’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan Summary HERE
Trout Unlimited is hopeful for our future. We believe in the wisdom of nature; the power of community and people; and we know that problems can be solved through hard work.
If you would like to learn more about Trout Unlimited’s mission and goals, please contact Arizona’s NLC representative, Susan Geer, at the link below.
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ONLY THREE SPOTS LEFT! Ladies Fall Lees Ferry Trip
October 7-9, 2022
AWOTU is pleased to announce a ladies’ guided fall fly fishing trip to Lees Ferry! Described as “The World’s Largest Spring Creek,” Lees Ferry offers fly fishing in crystal clear tailwaters surrounded by sandstone cliffs, making for a spectacular and unforgettable experience. Come meet other women anglers, learn from top guides and enjoy a weekend getaway to this world-renowned trophy trout fishery, located in our own backyard.
All levels welcome!
Details: Check into the lodge on Friday, October 7 and enjoy a welcome happy hour with the group at the restaurant on-site. We will start early on Saturday and enjoy a full day on the water, wading and boat fishing. Depart on Sunday at your leisure.
8 spots guaranteed, with 2 fly fishers per guide boat. We will run a wait list and add more if possible.
Cost: $550, SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY (double occupancy less but there is an additional 3% fee if using a credit card.) Included in cost: Happy hour, 2 nights lodging, full day of guided fishing with boat (two anglers per boat), including lunch.
At participant’s own expense: Tip for your guide (15-20% of fee is customary), other meals, beverages and purchases. Fee to get in/park at the Glen Canyon Recreation Area (see below). Transportation to and from Marble Canyon.
Park Fee: The launch site is a short drive from the lodge, located inside Glen Canyon Recreation area. The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle/4 occupants. If anyone has an America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass or Senior Park Pass, please BRING IT and maybe we can carpool.
Lodging/Rooms: Lodging is at Cliff Dwellers Lodge is located at Mile Post 547 N Hwy 89A in Marble Canyon, AZ. We have reserved enough rooms for each person to have her own room, or you may double up with a friend. Queen and Full rooms include two beds. King rooms have one bed. Please specify preference when reserving and indicate if you plan to share a room. Room allocations will be made first-come, first served.
Amenities/Other activities: A restaurant and a fly shop are located on site. There are no other stores in the immediate area, so you will want to pack accordingly. In addition to sightseeing, other activities in the area including kayaking, SUP and boat rentals. Learn more at https://cliffdwellerslodge.com
About Lees Ferry: “…Described as “The World’s Largest Spring Creek,” the Colorado River at Lees Ferry is a massive, clear running tailwater fishery. The river runs 15.5 miles from the outflow of Lake Powell at Glen Canyon Dam to the upper end of the Grand Canyon. …
RESERVATIONS/QUESTIONS: Please contact Eileen at ekleinaz@gmail.com to RSVP and make a deposit of $300 to claim your spot!
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Social Media:
Check out the Instagram page for
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Citizen Science Opportunity at Lees Ferry! |
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Help AZGFD better understand the Lees Ferry trout fishery
Jan Boyer, Fisheries Biologist, Arizona Game & Fish Department
The Lees Ferry area of the Colorado River is a truly unique fishery. The construction of Glen Canyon Dam in the 1960s created a cold, clear tailwater in the muddy Colorado, and now anglers can fish for trout beneath towering sandstone walls.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) manages the Lees Ferry fishery in cooperation with the National Park Service.
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We manage this fishery according to a fisheries management plan for Lees Ferry, which has goals for fish abundance, size structure, and angler catch that we try to meet in order to maintain a quality rainbow trout fishing experience. We are able to learn about size and numbers of fish in the river from our electrofishing surveys and can monitor angler catch rates with our creel surveys. However, our surveys cannot measure the sizes of fish anglers catch, which makes it difficult to know if we are meeting our goals for a quality rainbow trout fishery. That’s where you can help!
We are asking anglers to measure the fish they catch while fishing at Lees Ferry, record these lengths, and share the length measurements with us. These data will help evaluate whether we are meeting angler catch rate goals for each size class of rainbow trout, and guide management decisions to improve rainbow trout size structure if we are not meeting our goals. We’ve been collecting length data from anglers for a few years and have been able to determine that the fish anglers are catching at Lees Ferry are smaller (2021 average: 12”) than what we hope to see based on the Lees Ferry fishery management plan. We’ve also observed that for fish over 8”, the size distributions from angler catch and AZGFD electrofishing catch are very similar, so whatever flies and techniques anglers are using are catching all of the sizes of fish out there. AZGFD does catch a lot of very small fish (1.5” to 8”) that anglers rarely catch though!
If you want to participate, print out the datasheet via the link in the picture or here (print double sided, then cut into 4 sheets along the gray lines). We can also mail you datasheets printed on water resistant paper if you send us an email with your mailing address. There are instructions for measuring fish, recording data, and returning data to AZGFD on the back of the datasheet. We’ve tried to keep things as simple as possible for you–the datasheets are small enough to fit in a shirt or wader pocket so you can keep them on you while fishing, and you do not need to mail them to us, at the end of the day you can simply take a photo of the completed datasheet with your phone and text or email it to us (jboyer@azgfd.gov or 928-275-1062).
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Legislative Update - Nate Rees
The 2022 legislative session has exceeded the 100-day-duration constitutional target, and there are still many open issues, including the state budget! Nate and the Public Policy Committee (PPC) membership are meeting with AZ legislators and testifying at committee hearings during the 2022 Session.
Here are some current AZ legislation that we’re still working on:
-SB1270 would dedicate five million dollars annually to the Arizona Heritage Fund. This fund pays for park / trail maintenance, historical site preservation and much more. Funding comes from the AZ lottery fund. Currently this bill has passed the Senate floor, House Land / Ag. and Rules committee. Next stop is the House Rules Committee. TU supports this bill.
-HCR2024 is a resolution opposing the global 30x30 initiative that aims to conserve/ restore 30% of our lands and waters by 2030. This bill has passed the House, Senate Natural Resource and Senate Rules committee. Next stop is the Senate floor. TU opposes this resolution.
-HCR2038 is a resolution supporting proper forest management, highlighting the need to thin and prescribe burn our overgrown forests. This bill has passed the House, Senate Natural Resource and Senate Rules committee. Next stop is the Senate floor. TU supports this bill.
Federal Legislation:
RAWA - The Recovering America's Wildlife Act. We strongly support this legislation. Here's why:
1) RAWA keeps species OFF the Threatened and Endangered lists.
2) RAWA keeps control in the hands of local and state experts (in our case AZGFD biologists primarily)
3) It adds $31M/yr to AZGFD budget. That's on a total budget of about $120M/yr, so it's a huge benefit.
Here's a document with more information on RAWA's Benefits in AZ, courtesy of the Arizona Wildlife Federation: RAWA Arizona Fact Sheet
4FRI Gets $160M in Funding!
Great news!!! The US Forest service announced that the 4 Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) will receive $12M in 2022 to begin forest thinning work on 100K acres to make them more resilient in the event of wildfire. The total funding from 2022 through 2024 will be $160M to work on 300K acres. The money is coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 4FRI was selected as one of 10 projects prioritized for funding because so much planning and preparation work has been done that work can begin immediately, "shovel-ready". Many people contributed to that progress, but I want to acknowledge our Joe Miller who fought hard to get aquatics its due attention. Our focus now is on keeping stream protection and restoration in the active work plan. Jim Strogen, Dave Rozema and Bill Davis are our representatives to the 4FRI Working Group. And Here is a link to the Forest Service's News Release: 4FRI Funding News Release from the US Forest Service
ADEQ Issues Permit for Pinyon Plain (Canyon) Mine
ADEQ Announcement 4/28/22: "ADEQ has reached a decision and issued an Individual APP Permit (P-100333) to Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (EFRI) for the Pinyon Plain Mine. This decision and the Individual APP Permit conditions are a direct result of Tribal Consultation, public comments received and ADEQ’s comprehensive review of the extensive technical record for the Mine." (APP is an Aquifer Protection Program permit.) Tom Osterday submitted comments opposing this action during the comment process, along with Chapter presidents and individual PPC members. This isn't a big surprise, since ADEQ made it clear in their original communications that they were required by law to issue the permit if EFRI delivered a viable plan. We will continue to oppose uranium mining near the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River by supporting the Grand Canyon Protection Act. Here is the executive summary which provides lots of detail and helpful history: ADEQ Permit for Pinyon Plain Mine Executive Summary
Upcoming Events
May Meeting, Thursday, May 12th at 7:00 PM: Rafael Rosa from the American Conservation Experience (ACE) will be our guest speaker.
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The AZTU Public Policy Committee (PPC) hosts a virtual meeting on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 until 8:00 PM. If you are interested, please contact Tom Osterday at publicpolicychair@zanegreytu.org
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Arizona Fish Stocking Schedules – Statewide and Community |
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The statewide stocking schedule link includes all waters receiving catchable-sized trout from AZGFD hatcheries. The dates listed on the trout stocking schedule represent the Monday of the week the stocking will occur. Stockings can take place any day throughout that stocking week. These schedules are tentative and subject to change due to weather or conditions at the sites. Consult the Weekly Fishing Report before you go.
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Looking for a Fishing Opportunity? |
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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: |
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AZ Flycasters Club
@ The American Italian Club
7509 N 12th St
Phoenix, AZ 85020
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Fly-Fishing Social Event night - 2nd Tuesday of each month. Great speaker and awesome raffle. Donations support our Community outreach partners from Veterans to Youth activities.
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Desert Fly Casters
Check website for details.
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General meeting 2nd Wednesday of each month. Social Event 6-7 Meeting @ 7PM Great speakers; check website for details.
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AZFISHBOOK offers a variety of social activities. Listed below are some of the activities available.
Check out the AZFISHBOOK Groups at:
Looking for buddy to fish with?
Signup for AZFishBook Newsletter:
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Join Trout Unlimited Today!
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REMEMBER:
Your Conservation License Plate Supports TU Programs
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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 seven years in support of the Annual Native and Wild Trout Conferences and the Trout in the Classroom programs.
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.
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Committed to
Protecting, Connecting and Restoring Arizona's watersheds and fisheries.
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Combined Calendar
AZ Trout Unlimited & Chapters, Arizona Flycasters Club and several other area fishing and conservation calendars
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You may access our calendar here.
Zane Grey Trout Unlimited
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Protect. Reconnect. Restore. Sustain. Conserving coldwater habitat in the desert southwest. |
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