TU Launches Wild Steelhead Initiative

On Nov. 20, Trout Unlimited launched the Wild Steelhead Initiative, an ambitious and hopeful project to protect and restore the wild steelhead and the fishing opportunities they provide throughout their native range in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.  This is a major deal, as the nation’s leading coldwater conservation organization (with the largest budget, grassroots network, and national staff) is focusing efforts on the wild steelhead cause in a big way.

The heart of the Initiative will be a new community, Wild Steelheaders United, which is being established toinform, organize and activate anglers (regardless of preferred gear type)—and anyone who cares about these incredible fish—to protect and recover wild steelhead.  In short, Wild Steelheaders United is a home to anyone who believes in the common quest to protect these fish and the incredible fishing opportunities they provide.

The Initiative will focus on river systems that have high potential to support robust, fishable wild steelhead populations, while accepting that properly managed steelhead hatcheries may be appropriate to provide fishing and harvest opportunity in rivers that no longer have the capacity to support wild steelhead.

The Initiative will address both habitat protection/restoration and steelhead policy and management so that all of the “Hs” (habitat (including hydro), hatcheries, and harvest) are aligned so that wild steelhead can thrive.

TU kicked off kick-off this initiative with five simultaneous events in Seattle, Portland, Juneau, Santa Cruz, and Boise.  AT attended the Seattle event, and it was a full house, with plenty of positive mojo…

What Can You Do?  Get on board, and encourage your customers to do the same.  It costs nothing more than a simple online pledge.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a Michigan steelheader (like I am) or an aficionado of the Pacific Northwest.  We need to make a statement that wild fish matter.  This is the next big movement in the industry…