[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 125 (Tuesday, September 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TROUT UNLIMITED

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 8, 2009

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the national Trout 
Unlimited on the group's Anniversary celebration. Throughout the past 
50 years, members of Trout Unlimited have shown continued dedication 
toward conserving, protecting and restoring North America's coldwater 
fisheries and their watersheds.
  In 1955 former auto executive and conservationist George Mason 
approached George Griffith about starting an organization dedicated to 
fly-fishing and natural trout reproduction. In September 1959, 16 
fishermen and conservationists gathered in Grayling, Michigan at 
Griffith's Fishing Lodge, ``The Barbless Hook,'' to hold the first 
Trout Unlimited meeting.
  The next year, 300 people attended an organizational meeting for 
Trout Unlimited at the American Legion Lounge and Lanes in Grayling. 
Over the past 50 years, membership in Trout Unlimited has grown to 
140,000 members with more than 400 chapters around the country. The 
organization continues to be guided by the principle if we ``take care 
of the fish, then the fishing will take care of itself.''
  Today, the education and conservation efforts of Trout Unlimited span 
from Southern California steelhead, to sockeye salmon in Alaska's 
Bristol Bay, to the headwater spring chinook streams of central Idaho, 
then east to Maine Atlantic salmon and south to Georgia brook trout. 
Trout Unlimited volunteers have done everything from installing habitat 
improvement structures, fencing out cattle, replacing stream banks and 
implementing educational campaigns. This work amounts to 125,000 
volunteer hours and $1,500,000 in restoration work each year.
  Trout and salmon set the standard for the overall health of an eco-
system--a standard that benefits all living creatures and plants that 
share it, including humans. From birth to death they serve as a 
critical part of the food chain that sustains us and wildlife far 
beyond the streams and rivers in which they live. They provide food for 
animals such as bald eagles, bear, and other fish and their carcasses 
contribute rich nutrients to the water and nearby trees and plants. 
Because of their actions, the continual conservation efforts of Trout 
Unlimited have positive repercussions for critical eco-systems far 
beyond the salmon and trout themselves.
  During its 50-year history Trout Unlimited has carried out hundreds 
of local stream restoration projects; updated and reformed the use of 
hatcheries to recover imperiled fish populations; worked with 
landowners, government agencies, Native American tribes, and other 
conservation groups to repair damaged fish habitats; protected 
remaining health habitats; revised harvest practices to support 
sustainable trout and salmon populations; and, worked through the 
federal licensing process and negotiated with private landowners to 
ensure dams cause minimal harm to fish runs.
  Madam Speaker, the determined efforts of all members of Trout 
Unlimited have shown that restoring a river can result in stronger 
local communities as well as stronger aquatic environments. For their 
work to preserve and protect not only trout and salmon, but coldwater 
fisheries and watersheds across North America, I would ask, Madam 
Speaker, that you and the entire U.S. House of Representatives join me 
in recognizing Trout Unlimited on its 50th Anniversary.

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