Category: News

Late last Friday afternoon, Alaska’s Governor Dunleavy announced that the State of Alaska will file an appeal in attempt to overturn the permit denial for the proposed Pebble Mine.

After the permit was denied in November 2020, Pebble quickly responded saying it planned to appeal the decision. Now, Alaska’s own governor is working on behalf of the disgraced Canadian mining company at the expense of Alaskans. 

Trout Unlimited is urging members across the nation to make their voices heard to stop the mine, which would irreparably damage the fishery in and around Bristol Bay. Those who live outside of Alaska are asked to send a note to your elected officials and ask them to support permanent protections for Bristol Bay.

We will be joining Mianus TU and Candlewood Valley TU for Tie One On at 8 p.m. Tuesdays on Zoom.

Each week a fly, paired with an adult beverage, will be demonstrated.

A schedule can be found, and registration is requested, by clicking on the buy tickets link on the schedule page. There is no charge.

The Jan. 19 fly is a Klinkenhammer, tied by Mark McBeth and paired with Bells Two Hearted IPA.

On Jan. 26, tie “Pheasant Tails 57 Ways” with Dave Surowiecki.

Trout Unlimited is inviting all to celebrate the denial of the Pebble Mine permit with bonfires Friday night, Dec. 11.

Meghan Baker of TU wrote:

This permit denial didn’t happen easily. It was only possible thanks to strong science that you elevated by making calls, writing your elected officials, calling out Pebble’s lies, and giving generously to our work. Thank you for helping stop Pebble.  

Any other time, you know we’d be having a big ‘ole party to celebrate this momentous milestone for Bristol Bay. But until we can gather safely, we encourage you to have a bonfire for Bristol Bay at your fire pit this Friday evening to commemorate the accomplishment we achieved together. (Follow local fire regulations.)

Email a picture of your bonfire (or tag @SaveBristolBay on social media) to be entered to win some sweet prizes!

Our fires will be lit to celebrate the win we’ve accomplished, but also to pause before we double down on the work ahead. We hope this bonfire will be a celebration for each of you, but that it will also reignite our spark for achieving durable protections so that Pebble can’t come back to threaten Bristol Bay in the future.

If you’d like to contribute to our next chapter for Bristol Bay as we pursue long-term safeguards for the region, please consider giving today. 

Thank you again for your generosity of time, energy and resources. We hope your Friday fire keeps you warm, makes you feel connected to thousands of other Bristol Bay enthusiasts nationwide, and gives you hope for the future of the most prolific wild sockeye salmon fishery on the planet.

About two hours away from us is one of the most historic, pristine and productive trout fisheries in the world.

Learn about the history, people and angling in the Catskills Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. on Zoom when Bruce Concors, producer of the 2019 film “Land of Little Rivers,” shares a glimpse at what makes the area and its people special. Click here Tuesday to join the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88052287953

According to the website for the film, landoflittlerivers.com:

Land of Little Rivers is a full length Documentary film focusing on the origins and modern era of fly fishing for trout. It is centered around the Catskills of NY State, its rivers and towns, as well as filming in the Adirondacks, Vermont and Pennsylvania. Going back to the late 1800’s and Theodore Gordon ( The father of American dry fly fishing), the film takes you to the early fisherman , fly tiers, rod makers, gin mills (such as the famous Antrim Lodge) and assorted characters who helped shape the sport. The past includes Theodore Gordon, Roy Steenrod, Rube Cross, Ed Hewitt, Sparse Gray Hackle, Harry and Elsie Darbee , Walt ,Winnie and Mary Dette, Art Flick, Lee Wulff and of course Joan Wulff and others who share their insights on the past, present and future of fly fishing. Also included are Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, President Jimmy Carter, Paul Volker and president John Adams.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Wednesday that the permit for the proposed Pebble Mine, which threatened irreparable harm to Bristol Bay in Alaska, had been denied.

Meghan Barker of Trout Unlimited wrote:

Citing irreversible and unacceptable impacts to wetlands and water resources, the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision follows the high standards of the Clean Water Act, longstanding science and the overwhelming opposition that Alaskans and the American people have wielded for nearly two decades.

This permit denial happened because YOU stood up, spoke out, and made sure everyone from Alaska to Washington, D.C. knows that Pebble is a bad idea. Thank you. 

Our work is not done. Now, we secure much need permanent protections for the region. If you can, please commit to this next, critical phase today with a donation. Click here. 

Trout Unlimited has always had two goals when it comes to Bristol Bay: First, prevent the proposed Pebble mine from obtaining this permit. Then, secure up-front, permanent and community supported protections against large-scale mining for the region. Today, we check number one off our list and celebrate, and commit to doubling down on number two.

To achieve permanent protections that ensure this special place, and all the communities and people who depend on it, can continue to thrive will involve more hard work and collaboration. We need your continued support. Please chip in to seeing this through today.  DONATE NOW. 

Our team would like to give each and every one of you a big ole bear hug for continuing to take action and stick with us over the years. This effort, this movement, and this win happened because people stood up and spoke up alongside the people of Bristol Bay relentlessly. Let’s keep up the effort and make sure Bristol Bay gets the protection it deserves.

We’ve shown our strategies work. If you can, please chip in to show you’re committed with us to achieving the long-term, community supported protections Bristol Bay deserves. Please donate today.  

Wishing you a warm and safe Thanksgiving with so much gratitude,

Meghan and Trout Unlimited’s Save Bristol Bay team

While the Pebble Mine proposal that threatens to forever harm the pristine salmon waters of Bristol Bay has been sent back to the drawing board, the project is not yet dead.

According to the National TU site, “The President has an important decision to make in the next 4-8 weeks on whether the Canadian-owned, massive proposed Pebble mine will get its key permit to advance in Bristol Bay, Alaska.” Click here to learn more about the mine proposal.  

After loud and clear calls from hunters and anglers this spring and summer to stop Pebble, the Trump Administration’s Army Corps of Engineers took a closer look at the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the project and found “under section 404 of the Clean Water Act the project, as proposed would likely result in significant degradation of the environment and would likely result in significant adverse effects on the aquatic system or human environment.” They announced on August 24, 2020 that the current Pebble proposal would not be permitted.

While the announcement sends the project back to the drawing board and up against major hurdles in order to advance, Pebble is still a threat, and we still need President Trump to deny the key permit. Please use the form below to send a new letter reminding President Trump that he must stop Pebble to safeguard American jobs and unparalleled sporting opportunity.

Click here to sign the form.

On behalf of the Board of Directors we what to thank you for your generous support for our Mill River project.

Between the Embrace a Stream grant and the funds raised during the challenge crowd funding week, we raised all we need to move forward.

This includes a $3,500 TU Embrace a Stream grant and $3,200 from 73 individual donors! And we earned a $1,000 match from TU’s CT Council and another $1,000 in matches and prize money from Orvis.

We also want to thank our generous neighbor to the north, Candlewood Valley TU, for their contribution.

Anyone interested in working with the vendor to create the plan, please contact me at rhrosen@aol.com.

Rich Rosen