Servicing MA / RI Chapters of Trout Unlimited

Dedicated to Coldwater Conservation Issues

Click here to find Trout Unlimited Chapters in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

New England Regional TU Meeting - April 24th 2010 – Conservation Center - 464 Abbott Avenue - Leominster, MA  01453 >>Details

Indian Hollow TU Council Meeting - May 21-23, 2010 >>Details (please bring no firewood - see details!)

Attend / Promote Cape Cod TU's Annual Fly Fishing School (May 14-16, 2010)

Massachusetts Acquires 245 Acre to Expand Mass Wildlife's Red Brook Wildlife Managment Area >>Read More

MA / RI TU Council Meeting Jan 31, 2010, Audubon Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center, Worcester >>Directions

January 2010 Letters from Joe Overlock, Chairman - and Peter Schilling, Former Chair

Check out our Calendar for Other Events

Blackstone River Restoration Project Groundbreaking Ceremony Sept 20, 2009 >>Read More

Recent Update on the Westfield River and the Russell MA Waste to Energy Plant that is potentially being sited there >>Update Here

July 13, 2009 - Zebra Mussels Found in Laurel Lake, Berkshire Count, Lee /Lenox MA.

Please take deliberate steps detailed below to help avoid spread of this invasive shellfish.

Read: Department of Fish and Game Takes Action to Prevent Possible Spread of Invasive Zebra Mussels

May 2009 - Local TU Chapters Win $ 18,000 in Grants for State Supported Stream Restoration Projects >> More

The Southeast Massachusetts Chapter received $8,800 toward the restoration of Red Brook in Wareham and Plymouth, and the Hoosuck Chapter was awarded $10,000 toward the restoration of Thunder Brook in Cheshire. Funding support comes from Trout Unlimited’s Embrace-A-Stream program, which provides assistance to local chapters engaged in work to restore coldwater streams.

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We need your help to restore native trout and native trout habitat at Sturbridge Village by June 2, 2009. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

Peter Schilling, Chair of MA / RI Council of Trout Unlimited suggests members personally write letters of support. View background of issue and copies of same >>Here

Events:

Learn to Spey Cast! - Member Walt Geryk teaches Spey Casting on the Deerfield River June 6, 2009

Annual Indian Hollow Weekend (May 15-18) and Council Meeting 10 AM May 16, 2009 >> Details

Read MA RI Council Chairman Peter Schilling's letter of support for the designation of the Upper Housatonic as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) >> ACEC Details

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern are places in Massachusetts that receive special designation because of the quality, uniqueness and significance of their natural and cultural resources..Visit the MA ACEC Page here.

Taconic Chapter Launches New Website: www.taconictroutunlimited.org

Our Anglers Guide to Trout Fishing in Massachusetts makes a great gift for anyone who loves fly fishing and wants to know how to fish the secret spots!

Read more about the book here ... >>Anglers Guide to Trout Fishing in Massachusetts

Updates:

Westfield Mass Biomass Wood Burning Proposal

The Council, Pioneer and Taconic Chapters and TU National are closely watching the biomass wood burning power plant being proposed along the banks of the Westfield River in Russell, MA. Many actions and hearings have taken place to express our concerns about the withdrawal of water and thermal pollution of water that is used for cooling and then returned to the river.

Read updates from The Concerned Citizens of Russel for the latest on this critical issue.

Eel River

Update on the Plymouth Eel River Restoration Project  >> Eel River Report

HIGHLIGHTED NEWSLETTER OF THE MONTH :

The Greater Boston Chapter (www.gbtu.org) has some good stuff going on. They'll be needing volunteers to do stream surveying in the Sawsheen and Assabet River and tributaries to identify wild trout and salmon habitat. >>Read more here.

GBTU's newsletter also calls to attention the presence of Didymo in NH and VT streams.

Read more: New Hampshire Didymo | Vermont Didymo

The Fall Crop of Newsletters is in with Naragansett, Central Mass, Taconic and Pioneer Valley heard from (here) - Chapter Leaders - please send them along as you can!

Sept 10 , 2008 - TU, Mass Riverways and TTOR to Remove Second of 4 Dams from Red Brook

Red Brook Habitat Restoration Continues With Dam Removal, Phase two underway for overall restoration of coldwater stream – home to one of the last native sea-run brook trout populations in Massachusetts >>More

Also view these pages and pictures on Mass Riverways and our page showing the before and after dam removal >> More

Paul Knauth (Taconic Chapter) named Berkshire County League Sportsman of the Year >> More

Read Excerpts from the Environmental Bond Bill that passed in July 2008 >>More

Read about TU Dam Removal Projects in Western MA >> Dam Removal

Fly fishermen may remember 2007 as the year the invasive algae known as 'rock-snot' showed up in US waters.
Let's hope it doesn't make into Massachusetts / Rhode Island!! >> Didymo

Dec 07 - TU Council Votes to Fund Trout Radio Frequency Tagging Project >> PIT Tagging Research

Read up on the doings of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture >>More

Want to learn more about fly fishing, or get a touch up on your fly casting or fly tying techniques?

Come to a meeting! TU Meetings are listed >>Local MA / RI / TU Chapters

Some chapters feature free fly tying classes as a part of their regular meeting.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES :

Read TU's Excellent report on The New England Brook Trout, Protecting a Fish, Restoring a Region here.
 
The Council is taking a serious look at the Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program which TU national is endorsing. Expect to see more about TIC in local schools in Massachusetts soon!

There are Embrace-a-Stream (EAS) projects going on all over the state, and much, much more.    

The Council welcomes a new chapter based in Northern Rhode Island. View their site >>here

The Narragansett Chapter is busy working on projects on the Wood-Pawcatuk River. View their projects >> here

Check out Casting For Recovery which ran again this summer.  >>Click here for more about Casting for Recovery.

Again this year, Mass/RI Council of TU sponsored the Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) program in conjunction with Mass Wildlife. There are openings available. For more information, you should check out the website as there is too much info on different programs and outings to be published here. Your contact body is Roger Moore. C’mon Gals...show us what you got !!!!!

The Angler Education Program (AEP) has several components designed to foster public appreciation and understanding of our aquatic resources. The main components of the program are: 
                

                 family fishing festivals                                    freshwater fishing clinics
                 basic freshwater fishing classes                        basic ice fishing clinics

Volunteer instructors, in Workshop Groups across the state, teach people of all ages about fish, fishing and the value of aquatic resources. The program's main goal is to stimulate public interest in our aquatic outdoors, through participation in sport fishing. Co-sponsored by MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited. Contact Jim Lagacy, Program Coordinator at 508/792-7270 or email him at Jim.Lagacy@state.ma.us.  Click on MassWildlife Calendar for a current schedule.

>> Support our Favorite Fly Fishing / Fly Tying Vendors

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Read about Back The Brookie - TU's Eastern Wild Trout Intiative