CONSERVATION
Grassroots Activist Network
At the center of TU’s efforts to raise the profile of coldwater
conservation is the Grassroots Activist Network – TU
members who have volunteered to contact their members of
Congress, Governors, members of state legislatures and natural
resource agencies on issues of importance to trout and salmon.
Grassroots Activists receive brief summaries or
Action Alerts
of
issues pending before government decision-makers that could
harm or help coldwater fisheries, and guidance on how to be an
effective voice for trout and salmon.
As we work to protect fish and their waters, we need your
support and involvement to carry the conservationist message.
To join the Grassroots Activist Network, please send an email
containing your mailing address
to
grassrootsactivist@tu.org
Joe Fagan needs volunteers for Sport Fishing
Programs!
OPTU member, Joe Fagan,
Sport Fishing Educator
for the
Arizona Game and Fish Department is in need of
volunteers to assist with various fishing programs in
Tucson and other towns in southern Arizona. E-mail Joe
(
JFaganFishEd@Gmail.com
), call him on his cell phone
(520-730-6398), or speak to him at OPTU meetings. He
can provide you with a volunteer packet to complete. The
AZGFD office on Greasewood Road (across from Pima
Community College) can do your fingerprints, essential for
certified volunteers. Calendars of Fishing Program events
will then be mailed to you. Joe can inform you of
programs he’ll be doing any time.
State Report from AZTU
A scoping report was recently published for Pena
Blanca Lake Cleanup. If you have any concerns about the
mercury levels at Pena Blanca please go to
www.optu.org
look in our conservation section and read the letter I
received and a summary of the scoping report. You can
voice your opinions using the information provided in
these documents.
Pinalenos(Mt. Graham) Update
With the scoping report complete and in the rebuttal
stage; several AZGFD personnel attempted to do a fish
survey on the three major streams, Ash, Frye, Marijilda
and it's tributaries on April 6-7. Bad weather quickly came
in and they were able to only cover a portion of Marijilda
and a small lower portion of Ash Creek. They learned both
are superb back country trout streams with both
supporting some large pools of up to 15 foot depths.
Marijilda had scattered debris due to the fire several years
ago and will probably need some cleanup. Ash has a
rugged trail along its entire 17 mile plus length with hybrid
apache/rainbow up to 14" in length. The stream above
Frye Mesa is loaded with scattered debris from the fire but
the stream appears to be in good shape. Information was
discovered that Frye Creek was stocked with Gila trout
back in 1969 and Marijilda was stocked with Rainbow back
in 1967. This would make for some "wild" fish if they
survived all this time.
AZGFD is looking for volunteers willing to brave the wild
country to help with fish and stream surveys on June 17-
19 in the Pinalenos. This is just before our first White Mtn
workday which is scheduled for June 21. Please let me
know if you plan to make either of these workdays.
Imagine the extreme fishing trips in the near future when
you can fish for wild native Gila Trout in the Pinalenos and
Wild Apache Trout in the White Mountains knowing that
you were a part of this success story. Hopefully in the
coming years we'll have fishing opportunities in other
Southern Arizona locales like the Chiriquawas and the
Huachucas and possibly fishing for wild Native Yaqui
Trout. We can make it happen with help and support from
our membership. Contact Jeff Collins if you plan to attend
workdays or have any questions, 520-403-4062.
MISCELLANY
Sharing Your Fishing with OPTU Members
Would you be willing to provide a fishing slideshow and
discussion at an upcoming OPTU meeting. We are always
looking for speakers who have power point or slides and
stories to tell. We have the equipment for showing. If
interested please contact John Murphy at
murphy@pharmacy.arizona.edu
to set up a month.
WIN A HAT
As you know Trout Unlimited is a conservation organization
dedicated to the protection and maintenance of our cold water
fisheries in this country. Each month we offer one of our newly
designed OPTU hats to the member submitting the best water
saving tip for use in and around our homes. You can submit the
tip to me by email @
czhernandez@comcast.net
. The winner will
be notified by email each month and announced in the next
newsletter. The winner will receive their hat at the next monthly
meeting.
Photography Contest
We are holding a photography contest for OPTU members.
Bring a copy to a meeting of at least 5 x 7 or email it to John
Murphy
murphy@pharmacy.arizona.edu
for display onscreen or
on our website. Three categories: Nature (no people), Fish
without people, and “My favorite fish picture" (you and cool fish).
Prizes will be determined later for the winners.
A BARGAIN!
-
If you are over 70, and have lived in
Arizona for 25 years you can get a Pioneer Fishing License
3
