Volume 19, No. 3 Summer 2013

A Passion for Scienceand a Passion for Trout:

Silvia D’Amelio’s10 Year Anniversarywith Trout Unlimited Canadaby Jack Imhof, National Biologist,Director of Conservation Ecology

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all of her life, especially in her chosen field of

freshwater and fisheries biology and ecology.

Silvia was hired in June 2003 as a Research

Biologist to conduct a major project for TUC.

The research project focused on the investiga-

tion of the environmental requirements, habi-

tat and movement characteristics of coaster

brook trout in Lake Superior and its tributaries.

This research evolved from an interest by TUC

in this distinct population of large brook trout

and Silvia’s previous masters research explor-

ing the genetics of coaster brook trout. Results

of Silvia’s M.Sc. research suggested that coast-

ers were not genetically different than resident

stream trout in adjacent streams within Lake

Superior watersheds. The next logical step was

to determine if environmental and habitat cues

created the desire to become a coaster.

Within two weeks of joining TUC, Silvia

hired three summer staff, pulled together all

equipment and materials for the three month

project and finalized the preliminary study

HONORING CHAMPIONS THANKING FRIENDS AWARDING EXCELLENCE

Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 1

T en years ago this past June Silvia

D’Amelio, TUC’s Ontario Program

Manager, joined Trout Unlimited Can-

ada. TUC is proud to have such a competent,

consummate, personable and professional

working for our organization. Silvia is an ac-

complished fisheries and rehabilitation biolo-

gist as well as talented pianist, fine arts painter,

cake designer, angler, photographer and fly tier

extraordinaire. Her interest and passion for the

natural world has captivated Silvia for almost

Currents: Volume 19, No. 3 • Summer 2013

SILVIA D’AMELIO’S TEN YEAR

design. Silvia and her crew then left for the

Nipigon region of Northern Ontario. The first

field season she and her summer crew lived

in tents in the middle of nowhere contend-

ing with high water, temperature extremes

ranging from freezing to sweltering, clouds

of blackflies, the occasional bear and even a

pack of wolves. These experiences didn’t deter

Silvia. In the following two years she rented a

small cabin for her and her crew to increase

security and improve productivity. The coaster

research continued until the latter part of 2005

when Silvia completed the field component of

the research.

In late 2005 Silvia was promoted to Ontario

Biologist. As Ontario Biologist, Silvia was re-

sponsible for the management of TUC corporate

projects in Ontario including the identification

of research, rehabilitation and/or monitoring

programs consistent with TUC’s conservation

programs along with the execution of projects

and programs by local chapters. Silvia also had

the task of ensuring all field staff hired to moni-

tor and gather data were efficient, reliable and

followed safe work practices. Silvia’s new role

also involved working with local chapters. Pro-

viding them with the expertise, information,

advice and the tools needed to be successful.

Silvia enthusiastically jumped into her job with

both feet. She developed a strong monitoring

program focusing on key watersheds of inter-

est to both TUC and the local chapters. Under

Silvia’s direction, TUC’s Ontario office now

has the capability and equipment to monitor,

aquatic invertebrates, fish, habitat, water tem-

perature and over 40 water parameters (includ-

ing E. coli). As of this year, TUC now annually

monitors 20 watersheds within Ontario for a

variety of parameters. This information is used

by our staff, local chapters and government

agencies and is summarized in a series of tech-

nical reports Silvia helped to create. In order

to ensure quality assurance and control of the

data collected, Silvia provides week long train-

ing for students that work for TUC in electro-

fishing, benthic assessment, temperature log-

ger deployment, water quality monitoring and

habitat assessment. All training protocols are

to Provincial or National methodologies and

standards. Over the last 10 years TUC has em-

ployed over 30 summer staff, all trained by Sil-

via. It is no accident that Silvia’s students leave

There is no “try”. .. there is only “do” — Yoda

W e all face constant choices. What

to eat? What to wear? What to

believe? What to do? Whether to

continue cheering for a favorite team, even

though they can’t buy a win?

How do you choose between giving your

hard-earned money, signing a petition, vol-

unteering your time, writing a letter, clicking

on something on-line to show your support

or joining a protest or conducting some other

kind of active civil disobedience? Or should

we all just go fishing? Probably best not to an-

swer that question.

It’s not my place to give you advice on the

bigger of these questions, but I will tell you

what organizations like TUC need the most

and how you can best help.

TUC is a registered charity. We work effi-

ciently and we are very careful with the funds

our donors entrust us with. But the hard cold

reality for us is that because we are a charity,

we are completely dependent on donations

to do our work. We receive very little gov-

ernment funding and what we do receive is

earmarked for specific things such as hiring

summer students.

We strive to be transparent. Our full fi-

nancial audited statements are posted on our

website www.tucanada.org (under “About

TUC” and then under “Financial Informa-

tion”). In 2012 our gross income was approx-

imately $2.1 million dollars, down $360,000

from 2011. More than half of our revenue

came from the great support we receive at

our fundraising dinners. Just under a million

dollars came from donations and grants. We

spent $1.2 million directly on conservation

projects and education. We spent $444,297

on running the organization (salaries for the

people doing the work, rent, insurance and

the other direct costs of doing business). In

years like last year when our revenue drops

we do our best to reduce some of these costs

but many things are not really adjustable in

the short term.

The most effective and efficient way a sup-

porter can help TUC is by providing a direct,

undesignated donation. Some of the ways

you can help are:

• You can make a tax deductible cash dona-

tion on our website or by calling our office;

• You can support us by attending one of our

fundraising events or by making a dona-

tion to support the event;

• You can designate TUC as a beneficiary

under a life insurance policy or in your

will.

Our work is expensive. The need for what

we do continues to be great. Our biggest

limitations are financial. Once the core costs

of running TUC are covered, each addition-

al dollar that is donated goes straight into

achieving TUC’s mission to conserve, protect

and restore Canada’s freshwater ecosystems

and their cold water resources. We appreci-

ate and thank you for all that you do to help

us do our work.

As always, if you want to discuss anything

about TUC, including our funding or how

our resources are used, you can contact me

directly at jsurtees@tuc.org or by phone at

1-800-909-6040.

What’s Going On?by Jeff Surtees

TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL

TUC CEO Jeff Surtees. TUC photo.

Continued from Page 1

2

Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 3

University highly trained and

sought after by government

agencies and the private sector.

Silvia was also asked to

ensure that sound technical

direction was provided to the

Ontario chapters. She has sup-

ported a variety of projects with

our North Bay, Middle Grand,

Happy Trout, Greg Clark and

Speed Valley chapters. All of

the Ontario chapters benefited

from her professional support,

passion and dedication to the

cause of science-based coldwa-

ter rehabilitation.

With the finalization of

the National Conservation

Agenda (NCA) in 2006, TUC

embarked on a refocusing

of our program structure to-

wards larger scale programs

focused on applied research

and improving watershed

connectivity. TUC biologists

assisted in the implementa-

tion of the NCA. Silvia helped

coordinate and develop the Bronte Creek Wa-

tershed Renewal Program including partner-

ship development, fund raising and program

implementation. As part of this process Silvia

also launched a six year study of the efficiency

and effectiveness of a natu-

ral designed fishway at the

Palgrave Dam. This study

included the development of

improved methods to install

special tracking devices (PIT

tags) and the creation of an

electronic monitoring array

to detect movement of fish towards, through

and past the fishway. This was accomplished

while Silvia continued to provide chapter sup-

port, launch a watershed program and assist

with other large scale projects.

In November 2012, Silvia was promoted to

the position of Ontario Program Manager. Sil-

via is now responsible for the development and

management of major rehabilitation and moni-

toring programs, development of new partner-

ships, funding along with maintaining and

expanding collaborations with government

Program, the launch and successful imple-

mentation of the Bronte Creek Watershed

Renewal Program, assistance with the Lake

Ontario Atlantic Salmon Program (OFAH and

MNR); and development of a new proposed

watershed renewal program on Duffins Creek,

located east of Toronto.

During her ‘spare time’, Silvia has evolved

into an expert fly fisher and fly tier, provid-

ing seminars and demonstrations to a variety

of audiences. Her passion for angling shone

through when she formed a successful team to

compete in the Canadian Fly Fishing Champi-

onships held few years ago on the Grand River.

Most recently, Silvia and her angler/biologist

husband, Dave Green, discovered a passion for

saltwater flyfishing to complement their pas-

agencies, conservation authorities, corpora-

tions and businesses. Her proficiency, manage-

ment capability, scientific expertise, social and

organizational skills will be critical to TUC’s

future growth in Ontario.

In addition to her research and study of

coaster brook trout, Silvia has amassed a

number of major accomplishments including:

acquisition of Gapens Pool to protect coaster

brook trout spawning, removal of two major

dams on Whitemans and Marden Creek, the

successful rehabilitation of Bronte Creek in

Lowville Park (a project that has won two ma-

jor environmental awards) and the first TUC

Ontario Chapter Symposium. Silvia has also

played a major role with TUC staff in the de-

velopment of the Aquatic Renewal Education

ANNIVERSARY WITH TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA

In addition to her study of coaster brook trout, Silvia D’Amelio has amassed a number of major accomplishments including: acquisition of Gapens Pool to protect coaster brook trout spawning, removal of two major dams, the successful rehabilitation of Bronte Creek — a project that has won two major environmental awards — and the first-ever TUC Ontario Chapter Symposium.

Some days you just never know what will turn up. Silvia D’Amelio holds a huge carp taken during a dam removal in 2012.

Currents: Volume 19, No. 3 • Summer 2013

TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL10 YEARS WITH TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA

Our Yellow Fish Road™ Award Winner is...

C arson Fournier, a Grade 6 student

at Calgary Science School was the

proud recipient of TUC’s Yellow Fish

Road™ Award at this year’s Calgary Youth Sci-

ence Fair. Carson’s research focused on testing

five different household deicers by conducting

two tests: one to see which deicer melted ice the

sion for trout fishing, proof positive that you

can both work and play with the animals that

you find interesting.

horse or goat

meat chased

down with fer-

mented horse

milk—perhaps

the ultimate At-

kins Diet! The

crowning mo-

ment involved

a call I made to

Silvia on Canada

Day to find that

she was stuck

in the middle of

a riot during a

field work break

in Ulan Bator.

The first riot in

300 years!

It has been my pleasure to be Silvia’s man-

ager. I have watched her develop, evolve and

grow in competence and expertise as a profes-

Silvia demonstrates a passion for conservation, watersheds and the coldwater animals that live in them, and continues to make a real difference to TUC and to Canada’s freshwater ecosystems.

Perhaps the best Silvia story surrounds her

Mongolia adventure. Six years ago, Silvia ap-

proached me with a request. Having always

been fascinated by international sal-

monid work Silvia discovered that

the International Asia Foundation

selected several professionals per year

to assist the Mongolia government

with research on water quality, aquat-

ic habitat and coldwater fish species

such as the lenok and taimen. Silvia

researched the organization and its

projects and requested an unpaid

leave after being selected by the Asia

Foundation to work in Mongolia for

two months in the summer of 2008.

We felt the international experience

was worth it to both Silvia and TUC.

Just trying to get to Ulan Bator was

an adventure unto itself, followed up

by weeks in the middle of nowhere,

trapped on the wrong side of swollen

rivers, with all male crews. In some

cases the only food choices were yak,

sional biologist and manager in her own right.

Silvia demonstrates the passion and comit-

ment found in all who work for TUC. A pas-

sion and com-

mitment for

conservation,

w a t e r s h e d s

and the ani-

mals that live

in our cold-

water rivers,

streams and

lakes. Silvia

continues to

make a real

difference to

both TUC

and Canada’s

freshwater eco-

systems and

their coldwater

resources.

fastest and one to see which deicer was the most

environmentally friendly. Carson chose a com-

mon houseplant, the schefflera, for testing the

environmental effects of the deicers.

Carson measured the time it took for each

deicer to melt five blocks of ice by pouring ½

cup of each product onto each ice block. He

recorded his observations and took photos to

show how quickly the ice melted. His plant

test involved spraying a 50:50 mixture of each

deicer and water onto five schefflera plants for

a period of four weeks. The results were pho-

tographed and observations of three different

parameters (damage, color change and salt

build-up) were charted.

Carson’s results showed that while Safe T Salt

melted ice the best, and Green Grip caused the

least amount of damage to plant life, the best

overall ice melter—one which melted ice in a

reasonable amount of time (third) while being

safer for plants (second)—was Meltz All.

The Yellow Fish Road™ program would like

to thank Carson for his thorough research and

Carson Fournier, YFR™ award-winner. TUC photo.

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4

Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 5

TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL

caring for the environment. Carson’s project il-

lustrated how we can all make a difference to

the environment by making wise choices with

the chemicals we use and how we use them.

Also at the Calgary Youth Science Fair, two ex-

ceptional young women and regular volunteers

with TUC’s annual Fish Rescue Project won the

Alberta Wilderness Association award for their

project, “Do Fish Go with the Flow?”. Grade 8

students Leah Zaitlin and Magda Storkova ex-

amined data collected by TUC during previ-

ous Fish Rescues and looked for relationships

between river flows and the size, species, and

life history of fish captured from irrigation ca-

nals during the project. Leah and Magda found

that in the canal with the strongest correlation

between river flow and the number of fish cap-

tured is the Highwood River’s Women’s Coulee

Diversion. As expected, during years with low

river flows and proportionally large volumes of

water diverted for irrigation, more fish were en-

trained. TUC plans to conduct the annual Fish

Rescue project again in 2013 in an effort to res-

cue fish from draining irrigation canals, collect

data regarding fish losses to canals, and to pro-

vide a hands-on education opportunity to hun-

dreds of volunteers such as Leah and Magda.

Lynn Rob: TUC Director of Conservation Education

Red Deer Watershed Alliance Recognizes the Yellow Fish Road™ Program

O n May 17, 2013, Lynn Robb, Di-

rector of Conservation Education

with Trout Unlimited Canada was

invited to the Red Deer River Watershed Alli-

ance (RDRWA) Ambassador Breakfast. Lynn

presented a program detailing Trout Unlimited

Canada’s Yellow Fish Road™ program. TUC’s

Yellow Fish Road™ program is recognized as

a fun and interactive water education program

that engages and inspires Canada’s youth as an

extension of Trout Unlimited Canada’s mis-

sion, “To conserve, protect and restore Canada’s

freshwater ecosystems and their coldwater re-

sources for current and future generations.”

Lynn’s message reinforced the fact that even

though Canada is known for its clean fresh wa-

ter and healthy aquatic ecosystems, our present

generation is faced with a new reality that we

cannot take water for granted. Pollution, urban-

ization, over-use and poor water management

threaten water quality. We all are part of the

same community and must act as effective wa-

ter stewards. The Yellow Fish Road™ program

builds on a culture of caring for our waters and

mentoring young people to take action, because

we all live downstream.

The RDRWA recognized Lynn and presented

her with a Watershed Ambassador Award for her

directorship for the Yellow Fish Road™ program

h e l p i n g

Canadians

understand

that storm

drains are

the door-

ways to our

rivers, lakes

and streams.

Preventing

pol lutant s

e n t e r i n g

our storm

drains is critical to protecting and improving

our watersheds, water quality and our aquatic

habitat.

TUC Participates in the Development of New Tools to Improve Local Watershed Governance

F rom May 5-7 of this year, Jack Imhof,

TUC’s National Biologist and Director

of Conservation Ecology, participated

as one of the partners in a major study and

workshop examining and developing new

ways to assess and build the resiliency of com-

munities to manage their watersheds. The re-

search project, funded through the Social Sci-

ence and Health Research Council (SSHRC)

is being led by Dr. Ryan Plummer, Director,

Environmental Sustainability Research Cen-

tre, Brock University with collaboration of

Dr. Michelle-Lee Moore, Department of Ge-

ography, University of Victoria. The research

project is a component of the Water, Economic,

Policy, and Governance Network (WEPGN), a

network of over 25 researchers across Canada.

The workshop focused on the communities

and watersheds of the St. John River in New

Brunswick and was hosted by the Canadian

River Institute at the University of New Bruns-

wick in Fredericton.

In addition to Trout Unlimited Canada other

partners included, the WWF-Canada (who has

chosen the St. John River as one of their Living

Rivers Initiative), the POLIS Project on Ecologi-

cal Governance and the Stockholm Environ-

mental Institute/Stockholm Resilience Centre.

Workshop participants reviewed studies,

examined the results of facilitated workshops

with local groups and met with these groups

to examine how these new methods and ap-

proaches assist local non-profit organizations.

The workshop intent is to provide better tools

for organizations to explore their strengths,

weaknesses and resilience in their actions to

protect and conserve their local watershed.

Trout Unlimited Canada along with the other

partners and researchers are exploring the mer-

its of the approaches and providing advice on

how to refine these tools to help other organiza-

tions to better take care of their local watersheds.

The preliminary results of these studies demon-

strate the quality of the ideas and methods being

developed and tested by the research team from

Brock University and the University of Victoria.

They truly want to make a difference!

Jack Imhof: TUC National Biologist, Director of

Conservation Ecology

28th Annual Edmonton National Conservation Dinner

O n Thursday, May 2, the 28th Annual

Edmonton National Conservation

Banquet and Auction was held at the

Chateau Lacombe Hotel. Led by Dinner Chair

Richard Iwaniuk from BioWare and the Edmon-

ton Dinner Committee, this year’s dinner was a

tremendous success as both a fun-filled evening

for the many guests and as a fundraiser for Trout

Unlimited Canada’s programs and projects.

With gross revenues in excess of $120,000, the

dinner continued its successful run as a major

contributor to TUC’s projects and programs.

Financial boosts were received from Gra-

ham Construction as a Bronze Dinner Sponsor

($2,500), as well as donations from Orion Drilling

Company of Corpus Christie, Texas, John Mitch-

ell, Millar Western Forest Products, Sentry Select

Capital Corp., Wesclean Equipment Cleaning &

Supplies, Jack Fuller, Scott Builders, Polar Securi-

ties, ACM Advisors Ltd., Bill Lywood, Picton Ma-

honey Asset Management, and Ron Pearson.

Lynn Rob in Red Deer. TUC photo.

Currents: Volume 19, No. 3 • Summer 2013

TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL

There was something for everyone in the

live and silent auctions: a wonderful ar-

ray of art work, jewelry, trips, equipment

and more. The Live Auction featured out-

standing trips offered by www.canmore.com,

Murphy Sportfishing, Arctic Lodges, Corpus

Christie DU Chapter, the Old House Village &

Spa, Kluane Wilderness Lodge and lake fishing

at Stoney Lake Lodge.

The ‘Lucky 13’ auction set the tone for the live

auction. Thirteen unique scotch tasting boxes

were made specifically for the dinner. Each box

contained two scotch glasses, whisky stones

and a bottle of 15 year old Glenfiddich. These

were a tremendous hit with the auction guests.

Bucket and special raffles allowed many of

auction guests to go home as winners. The big

winners for the evening, however, were definite-

ly Canada’s trout and the coldwater resources

they and we need to survive.

TUC wishes to thank everyone who helped

make Edmonton’s 28th annual conservation

banquet and auction a tremendous success.

Central Alberta Chapter Honors Long Time Members

L ike-minded people from the corporate

community, fishermen and persons

concerned about our local fisheries,

fish habitat and the need for clean water came

together on April 25, 2013 for a fun filled

evening as Trout Unlimited’s Central Alberta

Chapter hosted a fundraising dinner and auc-

tion. The organizing dinner committee’s hard

work resulted in a successful event that raised

over $20,000, funds that will be used to fuel

the chapter’s cold water initia-

tives.

Since its inception in 1986,

the Central Alberta Chapter

has completed many field proj-

ects throughout central Alberta.

Much of this work has been

completed by people who have

a deep passion and respect for

our fisheries and the environ-

ment. The dinner committee

felt that it

was time

to honour

two of the

chapter’s

c h a m p i -

ons, Don

Andersen

and Barry

Mitchell. Through their personal sacrifice and

volunteerism from the beginning, Don and

Barry have earned the respect of friends, col-

leagues, government officials and many other

people affiliated within the fishing community.

During his address to dinner patrons, Central

Alberta Chapter secretary Doug Pullan spoke of

Don and Barry’s commitment to conservation—

commitment that formed the backbone of the

many projects the chapter has undertaken. Don

and Barry’s long term dedication and hard work

have provided a solid foundation by which the

chapter continues to build on. Their relent-

less passion for fish and fish habitat nurtured

a strong voice in developing policies surround-

ing their local fisheries. Over the years Don and

Barry’s field experience coupled with their lob-

bying efforts have achieved success. The fight

is not over. There is still much work to be done.

The issues that face our fisheries and habitat

still need to be addressed but Don and Barry

have paved a road everyone can follow. A road

paved with passion, dedication and most of all,

respect and admiration. The chapter recognizes

the importance of honoring their past, celebrate

what they have achieved today and continue to

plan and build for the future.

Central Alberta Chapter President Bob

Vanderwater stated, “You will not find two more

passionate men who believe that our fresh waters

need to be protected, conserved and restored.”

Central Alberta Chapter Honors a Champion

T rout Unlimited Canada’s Central Alber-

ta Chapter has a history of recognizing

and honoring members within its com-

munity who have made significant contribu-

tions to the chapter.

TUC members along with fellow outdoor

sports writers gathered recently to honor Bob

Scammell for his contribution to the hunting

and fishing community advocating conserva-

tion and good stewardship of nature’s fragile

environment.

Bob’s lifelong passion for the outdoors has

allowed him to fish extensively throughout

Canada and the United States. These experi-

ences have given life to his many writings. His

wordsmithing skills using cleverly crafted wit,

humour and insightfulness has afforded him

the respect of many organizations that he has

been affiliated with for almost five decades.

Bob was a leader, volunteer and held execu-

tive positions in many important conservation

organizations. He has served as president of the

Alberta Fish and Game Association and was

involved in the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Bob was one of the founding members of the

Alberta Conservation Association and was a di-

rector from 1988 to 2002. He has been a strong

supporter of Trout Unlimited Canada since its

inception. Bob’s volunteer spirit travels through

his passion for the outdoors and right into the

Red Deer community volunteering with the

Red Deer Regional Public Library for many

years and the Legal Aid Society of Alberta.

During his fishing adventures Bob has

crossed path with other passionate fish-

ing conservationists including John Gierach,

Roderick Haig-Brown and Joe Brooks. These

champions, like Bob, have challenged our

thinking and raised our consciousness regard-

ing important issues threatening our fish re-

sources, fish habitat and their surroundings.

Bob’s writings have appeared in numerous

magazines as well as three published books.

As a former Alberta Plant Watch observer, Bob

discovered a predictable correlation between

major insect hatches and the budding and

flowering of local wildflowers. This correlation

led to the publication of his most famous book,

The Phenological Fly.

TUC’s Don Pike (r) presenting one of the ‘Lucky 13’ scotch tasting sets (inset) to a happy winner. TUC photos.

6

Trout Unlimited Canada’s National Newsletter 7

TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL

Bob authors an outdoor column that has

been published in Alberta newspapers for over

45 years, and has earned a number of presti-

gious awards including several outdoor writer

awards from both Outdoor Writers of Canada

and the Outdoor Writers Association of Amer-

Creek Watershed Renewal Program, initiated in

2009. Located in South West Ontario, the Bronte

Creek watershed drains into Lake Ontario and

is part of TUC’s National Flagship Program—

one of six watersheds across Canada selected for

their ecological significance and potential.

Within the Bronte Creek Watershed resi-

dents have responded positively to the program,

becoming engaged in the health and rehabilita-

tion of the creek. Events such as TUC’s Family

Fun Day engage new members of the commu-

nity and bring awareness to what individuals

can do to protect their watersheds, water qual-

ity and aquatic habitats.

Trout Unlimited Canada Presented with Conservation Halton’s Award of Excellence

O n Thursday, June 13, Trout Unlim-

ited Canada was presented with

Conservation Halton’s Award of

Excellence in the Community category for the

Bronte Creek Watershed Renewal Program.

Conservation Halton annually presents awards

of excellence in several categories including

personal and community based activities that

reflect exceptional work to preserve the natu-

ral environment of Halton’s watersheds. TUC’s

National Biologist, Director of Conservation

Ecology, Jack Imhof was on hand to accept the

award. The City of Burlington also received an

award for their participation as a major partner

in the Lowville Creek demonstration project of

the Bronte Creek Program. Accepting the award

for the City of Burlington were Tom Eichen-

baum, the Director of Engineering, Cary Clark,

Manager of Development & Environmental En-

gineering, and Teresa Giangregorio, Engineer-

ing Department, City of Burlington.

The Bronte Creek Watershed Renewal Pro-

gram is one of TUC’s five Watershed Renewal

Programs underway in Canada, working with

selected watersheds and local communities to

conserve and restore clean, cold water, habitat

and healthy aquatic communities. The pro-

gram emphasizes assessment and monitoring,

community engagement, youth engagement,

on-the-ground work and major demonstration

programs. The Bronte Creek Watershed Pro-

gram has been underway for four years and has

completed one major demonstration project in

OUR MISSION: To conserve, protect and restore Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and their coldwater resources for current and future generations.

OUR GOALS:• to conserve and protect Canada’s freshwater

fish and their ecosystems and restore their coldwater resources to a healthy and produc-tive state;

• to develop and apply effective, science-based and measurable coldwater conservation solu-tions in the field;

• to inform the public about coldwater conserva-tion issues and educate communities about their watersheds;

• to build and sustain a healthy organization.

Help us help the trout! Visit tucanada.org

Lowville Park that rehabilitated approximately

one km of stream and shoreline area. The res-

toration work included rebuilding riffles and

pools, narrowing the stream channel and plant-

ing over 6,000 shrubs and trees along the creek.

In addition to the demonstration project

the program has engaged numerous landown-

ers for private property rehabilitation, hosted

a series of community education workshops,

family fun days, along with ongoing assess-

ment and monitoring initiatives.

In the nine years of monitoring on Bronte

Creek, and in Lowville Park specifically, both

young of the year and yearling brook trout were

found in this section last summer—the first

time in 55 years that brook trout have been re-

corded in this section of Lowville park.Left to right: Doug Pullan, Bob Vanderwater, Jim McLennan, Bob Scammell, Neil Waugh, Don Pike and Dr. Bill Young. TUC photo.

Jack Imhof (r) accepting the Halton award on behalf of TUC. TUC photo.

ica. Bob was recently inducted into the Alberta

Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

Don Pike presented Bob a certificate of

appreciation on behalf of Trout Unlimited

Canada, thanking him for his long term con-

tributions to the fishing community as well as

his continuing support to the Central Alberta

Chapter of TUC. His photography and books

have always been items in high regard at fund

raising dinner auctions.

Crazy Casting, Amazing Aquatic Bugs, Fabulous Fish

T rout Unlimited Canada’s Bronte Creek

Family Fun Day is getting kids and par-

ents alike excited about aquatic ecosys-

tems. This free annual event provides a day of

learning, fun and engagement with the com-

munity’s local creek. In the Bronte Creek wa-

tershed, Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) hosted

two Family Fun Days this year, welcoming 300

people and taking them through nine activity

stations.

Activities offered included: aquatic bug touch

tanks, fishy crafts, viewing tanks containing

live native fish species, an obstacle course based

on migrating salmon and casting lessons. This

year’s Family Fun Day also debuted a new activ-

ity, ‘Wonderful Water’s Edge’, a creek side scav-

enger hunt where kids explore this important

and unique habitat.

The Family Fun Days events are part of the

education/outreach component of TUC’s Bronte

Currents: Volume 19, No. 3 • Summer 2013

TUC NEWS FROM NATIONAL

Help us help the trout — join today! Visit us at tucanada.org

TROUT UNLIMITED CANADA

Jeff Surtees Chief Executive Officer jsurtees@tucanada.org

Kimberly Davidson Director of Member and Chapter Relations membership@tucanada.org

Dean Orlando Director, Finance and Administration dorlando@tucanada.org

Jack Imhof National Biologist and Director of Conservation Programs jimhof@tucanada.org

Don Pike Director, Special Events dpike@tucanada.org

Lynn Robb Director of Conservation Education lrobb@tucanada.org

Phil Rowley Marketing & Communications prowley@tucanada.org

Brian Meagher Alberta Provincial Biologist bmeagher@tucanada.org

Silvia D’Amelio Ontario Program Manager sdamelio@tucanada.org

Lesley Peterson Project Biologist lpeterson@tucanada.org

Stacey Stevens Ontario Office Coordinator sstevens@tucanada.org

Mary Finch Bronte Creek Watershed Project Biologist mfinch@tucanada.org

Beth Anne Fischer Bronte Creek Watershed Project Biologist bfischer@tucanada.org

National Office: Ste. 160, 6712 Fisher St. SE Calgary, AB T2H 2A7 Tel: 403-221-8360 Fax: 403-221-8368 1-800-909-6040

Ontario Office: Rm. 273, Axelrod Building, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Tel: 519-824-4120 ext. 56588 Fax: 519-780-1696

tuc@tucanada.org tucanada.org

Currents layout: David Soltess, dsdesign@shaw.ca

2013. A couple

months before-

hand, these ener-

getic and en-

v ironmental ly

minded young

girls located at

least a hundred

storm drains suitable for Yellow Fish symbols

within the town site. Busy spring schedules of

schoolwork and sports activities made it dif-

ficult to coordinate, but despite the conflicts,

these girls would not give up their goal. As wa-

ter stewards for their community they took ac-

tion, painting over 75 storm drains.

Whistler is a popular destination and many

visiting tourists asked the girls lots of good

questions, and lots of pictures were taken of

the girls in action. The girls hope to be fea-

tured in a Girl Guide photo contest for the Ca-

nadian Girl Guides website.

Lynn Rob: TUC Director of Conservation Education

An excited young recruit to the Stewardship License Pilot Project — participation made possible through the generosity of TD Friends of the Environment, the Alberta Conservation Association and Devon Canada. TUC photo.

TUC appreciates the support of its partners in

the Bronte Creek Watershed Renewal Program

including the City of Burlington (Engineering

and Parks and Recreation), the Hamilton-Hal-

ton Watershed Stewardship Program and Con-

servation Halton.

Another major demonstration project is

scheduled over the next several years for up-

per Bronte Creek in Courtcliffe Park (within the

village of Carlisle, City of Hamilton). With the

initiation of this new demonstration program

TUC welcomes new partnerships with the

Courtcliffe Park Citizens Association and the

City of Hamilton.

Stewardship License Project Receives Financial Boost

R ecently, TUC was awarded a $2,500

grant from TD Friends of the Environ-

ment, which will go towards the Stew-

ardship Licence Pilot Project—a collaboration

between TUC and Fish and Wildlife, Alberta

Environment and Sustainable Resource Devel-

opment. These funds, plus financial support

from the Alberta Conservation Association’s

Grant Eligible Conservation Fund and Devon

Canada, allowed TUC to expand volunteer par-

ticipation within the Stewardship License Proj-

ect.

To date, nearly 200 anglers—more than half

of them new to the program this year—have

written the required fish identification test. An-

glers who successfully pass the fish identifica-

tion test and complete a supervised outing are

issued a Fish Research Licence allowing them

to harvest an unlimited number of non-native

brook and/or rainbow trout in selected streams

in Alberta’s East Slopes. Removal of these non-

native fish helps facilitate the recovery of native

cutthroat trout and bull trout.

For more information about the project, or

to participate, contact Brian Meagher (bmea-

gher@tucanada.org) or Lesley Peterson (lpeter-

son@tucanada.org).

Yellow Fish Road™ News

W histler, BC’s Coast Mountain Girl

Guides had great fun painting the

town with ‘Yellow Fish’ on June 13,

8