[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E878-E879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO THE AU SABLE ANGLERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2007

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of the most 
effective, well organized and long standing conservation groups in the 
State of Michigan, the Au Sable Anglers. This organization, which has 
done so much to preserve the Au Sable River, celebrates its twentieth 
anniversary on Saturday.
  The Au Sable River is located in northern Michigan's Lower Peninsula. 
The river winds from Lake Huron inland running approximately 140 miles 
to the center of the peninsula. This picturesque river and its 
surrounding wetlands are a favorite fishing spot for Michigan residents 
seeking brown trout as well as for fishing enthusiasts who travel from 
across the country each year for some of the best fishing in the 
nation. The river has faced many threats, but the Au Sable Anglers have 
remained stalwart champions of the river, helping to preserve this 
wondrous natural resource for future generations of trout anglers and 
outdoorsmen.
  The Anglers of the Au Sable was born out of efforts to prevent a 
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) policy from being 
rescinded. The State's 1986 Catch and Release fishing policy was at the 
time being challenged. To thwart efforts to rescind this policy, a 
local businessman named Rusty Gates, whose fishing lodge and tackle 
shop abuts the banks of the Au Sable River, rallied supporters.
  In May of 1986, Mr. Gates began culling a mailing list from his lodge 
guests and patrons of his fly shop to organize allies and protect the 
catch and release policy. In September of 1986, six anglers--Rusty 
Gates, Dan Drislane, Ed McGlinn, Dennis Potter, Vic Prislipski and Gene 
Ballou--met in the Gates Au Sable Lodge. This organizational meeting 
was the genesis of the Au Sable Anglers. In August of that year, the Au 
Sable Anglers held their first annual members meeting with 75 
conservationists in attendance.
  While the Au Sable Anglers were originally formed to address the 
issue of the Department of Natural Resources' Catch and Release policy, 
they rapidly expanded their areas of interest to face down an array of 
threats to the Au Sable River.
  When the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission initiated its re-
licensing process for scores of hydroelectric dams in Michigan, 
including six on the Au Sable River, the Anglers helped ensure that Au 
Sable River would be protected. In the early 1990s, the Anglers 
discovered illegal water regulation at a dam on the Au Sable that was 
causing extremely low water conditions. After pressure from the 
Anglers, the owner of the dam abandoned this environmentally damaging 
practice. The Au Sable Anglers were also involved on issues surrounding 
gas exploration near the river.
  Although the Au Sable Anglers are active on public policy and 
environmental issues affecting the Au Sable River and its ecosystem, 
they are not afraid to roll up their sleeves to help remediate 
pollution and keep the river clean. Over the years they have helped 
restore scores of soil erosion sites and funded the repair and 
restoration of hundreds of fish habitat sites. Every year since 
September of 1996, they have held an annual river clean up, in which 
hundreds of volunteers walk more than 100 miles of river, filling trash 
bags with waste and debris. Since its inception, the annual river clean 
up has evolved into an event that rallies the entire Au Sable River 
community together. Not only do volunteers from the Anglers pitch in, 
but local property owners along the river open their land to the trash 
collection teams and help guide the teams from point to point.

  The organization has also lent its financial resources towards 
engaging young people in conservation studies. Over the years, the 
Anglers have underwritten several graduate biology students to 
investigate soil erosion and other problems impacting the Au Sable 
River and its habitat.
  Today, after twenty years of hard work to preserve the Au Sable River 
for future generations, the Au Sable River Anglers remains a vibrant 
and effective organization. The group boasts over 600 conservationists 
as dues paying members and remains involved in local environmental 
issues and in river remediation efforts. Rusty Gates continues to serve 
as the organization's President. Like the organization's founders and 
board members, he should be commended for dedicating so much of his 
personal time to building the organization and protecting the Au Sable 
River.
  Madam Speaker, the Au Sable Anglers provide an inspiring example of 
how ordinary citizens can band together to protect and improve their 
local environment. While the Au Sable Anglers have not won every battle 
they have fought, their collective, tireless efforts have done much to 
preserve one of northern Michigan's great locations for fishing, 
canoeing and outdoors life.
  Twenty years ago, six outdoorsmen gathered to discuss how they could 
protect and improve a northern Michigan river that they cared for 
greatly. Today, twenty years later, thanks to that initial meeting, the 
Au Sable Anglers remains a vigilant defender of the Au Sable River.
  Madam Speaker, as this local, grassroots organization observes its 
twentieth anniversary, I would ask that you and the entire U.S. House 
of Representatives join me in thanking the Au Sable Anglers for their 
work and in saluting them for their stalwart advocacy on behalf of the 
Au Sable River.

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