From the President

Chapter news Board of Directors activity:   Some board members have been actively working with the Wisconsin DNR to identify potential habitat projects for 2015 and beyond…..a long range plan.  Dan Wilcox, Randy Arnold, and I recently spent two days trudging through the snow to look at a dozen stream stretches.  In most cases the DNR either owns the land or has fishing easements.  A few others are sorely in need of erosion control but cannot be done unless easements are acquired.  The list will be pared down by the committee and a short list recommended to the board for the 2015 project year.  The remainder will remain on the back burner.  We might get involved in soliciting easements; that is yet to be decided. RIPRAP:  After several years, Scott Hanson is stepping away from editing & publishing RipRap.   His growing family is absorbing increasing amounts of his time and energy.  During his time as editor we were honored with TU National’s Bollinger Award (2010) as the best TU newsletter in the nation.  Thank you, Scott. Greg Meyer is taking over as editor / publisher of RipRap, with enthusiasm.  Based on other work he has done I believe that he will do an excellent job.  We can help him by writing stories and articles. In this digital age other media are increasingly important, particularly to the younger generation that we encourage to become active in TU.  Allison Jacobs has enthusiastically taken responsibility for our Facebook and Twitter communications. Habitat Projects:  Hans Jung, Randy Arnold, and I walked the length of the work sites on the Trimbelle below highway W with John Sours of the DNR.  Many loads of rock have been staged on the east side of the river; the west side is too wet.  When work commences in mid-summer the crew will create a few crossings to enable moving materials across; those crossings will become the base for riffles later.  The stream has a gradient of 27 feet per mile in this reach so the design will incorporate cross-stream barriers and drops into plunge pools to prevent future down-cutting.  Final width will be roughly ten feet on average.  Many springs and seeps are visible and there must be many more below the surface.  With proper placement of gravel the spawning habitat should become excellent.  Stabilizing the stream bed and banks will enhance the habitat for insects.  We are very optimistic about the future of this headwaters reach. Fishing prospects:  As this is written on April 16, the streams are below bank-full condition and continuing to drop and to become clear.  Don’t forget to purchase your license(s) and park sticker(s).  With the delayed snow melt the hatches may be delayed.  Be ready. Unfortunate:  There have been reports of manure-related fish kills on a couple of area streams.  The long winter and late spring have been difficult for area farmers because they have had to store an extra month’s worth of this unwanted by-product. Last month’s meeting:  52 names on the sign-in sheet for the fly tying meeting.    A record? Next meeting:  Wed  May 1.  Speaking will be Marty Engel, biologist with the Wisconsin DNR. Summer break:  No general meetings scheduled for June – July – August.  Next is September 4.  The board and various committees will continue to work as needed through the summer.  Watch for volunteer work notices, and come help when you can.    National Banquet The national banquet will be held in Madison this year September 20-22 and the state council is looking for volunteers, mainly for folks to set up auction items and collect money. If you are interested,please contact a board member for more information.    Project Activity Board member and stream project coordinator Randy Arnold has been scheduling days for brushing. Please check the web site for updates and watch for emails.   Welcome new members:   Jennifer Armstrong,   Osceola Gail Beher,  Spring Valley Bob Butterbrodt,   St Paul Bob Christenson,  River Falls Jerry Solum,  River Falls Tom Henderson  Kiap-TU-Wish Chapter President