National Trout Unlimited

Trout Unlimited History

Trout Unlimited (TU) is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving freshwater habitats like streams, rivers, and associated uplands for the benefit of trout, salmon, other aquatic life, and people. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the organization was founded in 1959 on the banks of Michigan's Au Sable River by a group of 16 anglers who sought to protect trout in popular fishing rivers like the Au Sable. Among the founders were Art Neumann, the organization's first vice president, and George Griffith, creator of the popular Griffith's Gnat fly pattern. Dr. Casey E. Westell Jr. served as the first president of Trout Unlimited, which has since grown into a national organization with over 150,000 members and around 400 local chapters across nearly every U.S. state. With an annual budget of approximately $50 million and a 93% rating from Charity Navigator, Trout Unlimited employs about 220 staff today, including 25 at its Arlington, Virginia headquarters and the rest dispersed across regional offices. The staff oversees departments like Volunteer Operations, Science, Government Affairs, and Marketing. To guide conservation efforts, the organization utilizes tools such as the Conservation Success Index for assessing cold-water fish health and the Brook Trout Portfolio Analysis, which applies GIS technology to identify key brook trout habitats.

Activities

Trout Unlimited undertakes restoration, advocacy, and education projects at the local chapter and national levels. In 2017, TU volunteers contributed over 734,000 hours on initiatives like stream restoration, citizen science programs, policy advocacy, educational outreach, fishing events, and programs for youth, women, and veterans. The organization's quarterly magazine TROUT features notable angling authors and is distributed to all TU members.

Local stream restoration activities, informed by TU scientists and government research, aim to improve trout habitat by planting vegetation, adding protective boulders and trees, and addressing barriers like dams and culverts. Trout Unlimited has publicly opposed threats to critical habitats like the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska's Bristol Bay. The organization also trains volunteers to monitor water quality in areas impacted by natural gas extraction and pipelines.

Trout Unlimited's youth education programs include Trout in the Classroom, where students raise trout from eggs with teacher supervision, supporting science curricula and teaching the importance of clean water. TU also engages veterans through dedicated programming and promotes diversity in conservation and fly fishing.