Trout Unlimited is a national conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
It is a science-based, and reasonable voice for conserving and managing fisheries resources, and has been so for 50 years.
The
Long Island Chapter of Trout Unlimited was chartered in 1973. L.I.T.U., early on, made fund-raising for Conservation, public advocacy
and introducing the community to troutthe major focuses of the organization. Stream restoration was added to the agenda as we grew.
Fundraising:
L.I.T.U. was one of first chapters to participate in Trout Unlimited’s National Conservation Banquet Program. In 2010, L.I.T.U.’s
37th year, our chapter will sponsor its 29th Annual National Conservation Banquet. These banquets have been a major fund-raiser for
both the national organization and the local chapters. Through this program, L.I.T.U. has been able to donate over $60,000 to the
national organization’s conservation efforts.
Education: For over 20 years L.I.T.U. has been sending 2 teenagers for one
week to the D.E.C. Environmental Camp at
Public Advocacy: We have conducted letter-writing
campaigns and donated funds to legal funds and conservation efforts ever since we began. About a decade ago, we worked with the Dept.
of Transportation to rethink the way it builds roads, giving thought to road run-off and its potential to harm sensitive streams .
Safety, water recharge basins, parking lots, and the smart handling of run-off were major features we fought for and won here on
Stream Restoration:
This focus on fund-raising does not mean that we have not gotten our feet wet over the years. L.I.T.U. has helped with stream cleanup
after hurricanes, participated in a Meerfoerellen Brown Trout stocking project, helped build wing dams, participated in Project Access:
handicapped Fishing Days, and Casting for Recovery. We have done several stream cleanups and improvement projects in conjunction with
the Audubon Society on Milburn Creek right here in
We Need YOU: From the beginning, Trout Unlimited has built its reputation as an organization of conservation-minded
anglers who promote quality trout and salmon fisheries both for their intrinsic value and as critical components of watershed health.
According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, there are approximately 10 million Americans who fish for trout
and/or salmon. But unfortunately there are only about 140,000 members in Trout Unlimited. This is why T.U. needs you. For T.U. to
get its message across to the powers-that-be, it needs a much louder voice. And the only way to turn up the volume is through membership
growth. Politicians will only listen to organizations with large memberships. Please join and become a part of this long and worthy
history.
On the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Trout Unlimited, past board member, Tom McCoy, has compiled a historical timeline
of our Chapter throughout the years. To do this, Tom interviewed some of our longstanding members, retrieved from storage all of our
newsletters, consolidated notes from our scrapbook, and provided some of his own commentary. Click the link below to save the pdf
of the project. Anyone wishing to contribute to this document please email Tom at tfm97@optonline.net.