2017 Annual Conservation Banquet

We invite you to join us
at the 2017
Annual Conservation Banquet!
The Southwestern Vermont Chapter
of Trout Unlimited is hosting its
Annual Conservation Banquet

Saturday, April 22nd
The Equinox Resort, Manchester, Vermont
5:00pm – 9:00pm

As a non-profit conservation organization, we have relied on this event over the years to support the Chapter’s local river conservation projects and youth education programs. Help us celebrate all we have accomplished together and support our continued work to restore and protect our local trout streams and educate the next generation of river stewards.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!

$45 per person and must be purchased in advance. Payment can be made by cash, check, or by using a credit card through the PayPal button below. Please be sure to tell us the names of each ticket holder, as tickets will be picked up at the door.

You can also mail your payment to:
Southwestern Vermont Trout Unlimited
PO Box 88
Manchester, VT 05254

This event will sell out! Tickets must be purchased in advance, so don’t wait until the last minute.

WHEN:
Saturday, April 22nd, 2017
We will have a cocktail hour from 5-6pm with a cash bar. Dinner will begin at 6:30pm and we will have a door prize, raffles and a silent auction. We are very excited to host our special guest speaker, Louis Porter, Commissioner of VT Fish & Wildlife.

WHERE:
The Collonade
The Equinox Resort | Manchester, VT
www.equinoxresort.com

WHO:
This fun night out is open to the public! Bring your friends!

Raffle and Silent Auction Items
We have started to receive some very exciting donations! Cash, check, and credit cards accepted as payment for silent auction items and raffle ticket purchases.

If you would like to make a donation to the raffle or auction prizes, please contact Jackie Kutzer at tuswvt@gmail.com

Vermont’s Trout in the Classroom Program

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EXPERIENCE OUR TIC PAGE HERE:

http://vermonttroutintheclassroom.weebly.com/

Shown here: Students from the Middletown Springs.

Restoration on the Battenkill

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Here is an Outdoor Journal special on restoration work the Batten Kill Watershed Alliance (BKWA) has been doing on the Battenkill. The story is from 1:30-12:50.

This is a Vermont PBS production. Editing or modifying is prohibited.

http://video.vpt.org/video/2365170731/

Trout populations are back on the rise since the start of BKWA’s restoration work on the Kill.

A combination of large trees with root wads and stone have been carefully placed at each site to create more cover and shelter for trout.

Southwestern VT TU are proud to have partnered with the BKWA on a multi-stage project at the Dufrense Pond site on the East Branch of the Battenkill.

SWVT TU President Jackie Jordan getting her hands dirty

Our Tree Planting Project on the Battenkill’s East Branch

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NOTE: We are looking for volunteers to help with our next planting on Sunday, October 5th, at 10am. Please bring work gloves, shovels, and appropriate clothing for the weather. If you have a pry bar or pick, please bring it to help with any rocks we encounter. Please email us at info@tuswvt.org if you are interested. Directions to the site can be found at the bottom of this page.

Last summer the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department removed the dam at Dufresne Pond on the East Branch of the Battenkill in Manchester, VT. The state-owned structure was in poor condition, creating a safety hazard, and repairing it would have cost a great deal of money. Expected benefits from its removal include aquatic organism passage and sustaining cooler water temperatures during summer in the downstream stretch.

VT F&W is committed to making the re-established channel at the Dufresne access site a high quality recreation opportunity in the restored condition. This year VT F&W planned to get started planting along the new banks to help with stabilization, and the Batten Kill Watershed Alliance and our Southwestern Vermont chapter partnered to help. Once the new channel has settled, habitat restoration will take place through installation of cover and shelter structures.

The below photos show a site meeting with Ken Cox, fisheries biologist from VT FWD, Cynthia Browning of Batten Kill Watershed Alliance, and SWVT TU board members on May 21st.

State Fisheries Biologist, Ken Cox sharing his vision for the site restoration.

Planning meeting with Ken Cox and Cynthia Browning. The group is standing where the removed dam existed.

Looking upstream of dam removal site.

Here is the natural river channel, with the lower and upper terrace evident on the far bank.

The first round of planting took place along the lower level of the far bank on May 24th, with over 100 dogwood and willow whips that were provided by BKWA were planted by TU volunteers. The plan is to plant larger native tree species on the far higher bank in the Fall of 2014 and Spring 2015. Once all the in-stream habitat restoration has been completed, we’ll begin to vegetate the near side of the river.

A huge “Thank you!” to all the volunteers helped with this effort

SWVT TU President Jackie Jordan getting her hands dirty

We also took a fun time lapse video of everyone’s hard work on the site and posted it on our Facebook page [be sure to like us on Facebook and share with your friends]. Click here to see the video on Facebook.

If you want to visit the site you will be able to find directions to the State access here. If you look across the river you will see the lower and upper terraces where we have begun plantings.

More year round fishing opportunities will be available in SW Vermont starting in January

New Fishing Opportunities in 2014

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VERMONT FISH & WILDLIFE Press Release:

MONTPELIER, Vt – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says anglers will have several new fishing opportunities in Vermont beginning in January when a recently enacted regulation goes into effect.

Eleven new river sections will have catch-and-release trout fishing with artificial flies or lures outside of the normal trout fishing season, opening over 70 miles of river to year-round trout fishing.

A section of the Walloomsac River in Bennington is added to the trophy trout streams stocked with two-year old brown or rainbow trout with a daily limit of two trout per day.

Bass catch-and-release open water angling with artificial flies and lures (not ice fishing) outside the normal bass season will include all lakes, ponds and reservoirs not listed as “seasonally closed waters.” The list of seasonally closed waters is posted on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Under Fishing, click on “Law Digest and Guide.”

“The department has made it a priority to increase opportunities for fish and wildlife-based recreation in which there will not be a biological impact,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry. “This new fishing regulation will greatly expand angling opportunities and help promote open-water fishing during more of the year.”

The sections of streams listed below are open to trout fishing year round according to the following rules:
• Only artificial flies or lures may be used, except during the open season for trout (2nd Sat. in April – Oct. 31).
• Catch and release only (trout must be immediately released where caught), except during the open season for trout.
• During open season for trout, follow normal size restrictions, daily limits and possession limits.

–– Black River: From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the Howard Hill Road Bridge in Cavendish.
–– Deerfield River: From the Woods Road (Medburyville) bridge in Wilmington upstream approximately 2 miles to the VT Route 9W bridge in Searsburg.
–– East Creek (Rutland City): From the confluence with Otter Creek upstream (approximately 2.7 miles) to the top of the Patch Dam in Rutland City.
–– Hoosic River: From the Vermont/New York border upstream to the Vermont/ Massachusetts border.
–– Lamoille River: From the Lake Champlain boundary (top of Peterson Dam in Milton) upstream to the top of the Cady’s Falls Dam in Morristown.
–– Lewis Creek: From the Lake Champlain boundary upstream to the State Prison Hollow Road (TH#3) bridge in Starksboro.
–– Missisquoi River: From the top of the Swanton Dam in Swanton to the top of the Enosburg Falls Dam in Enosburg Falls.
–– Moose River: From the confluence with Passumpsic River upstream to the downstream edge of the Concord Avenue bridge in St. Johnsbury.
–– Ompompanoosuc River: From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the Union Village Dam in Thetford.
–– Otter Creek: From the Lake Champlain boundary upstream to the Danby-Mt. Tabor Forest Road bridge (Forest Road #10) in Mt. Tabor..
–– Passumpsic River: From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the top of Arnolds Falls Dam in St. Johnsbury.
–– Waits River: From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the top of the Central Vermont Power Dam in Bradford.
–– Walloomsac River: From the Vermont/New York border in Bennington upstream to the top of the former Vermont Tissue Plant Dam (downstream of Murphy Road) in Bennington.
–– West River: From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the Townshend Dam in Townshend.
–– White River: From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the bridge on Route 107 in Bethel.
–– Williams River: From the Connecticut River boundary upstream to the top of the dam at Brockway Mills Falls in Rockingham.
–– Winooski River: From the Lake Champlain boundary upstream to the VT Route 2/100 in Duxbury and Waterbury.

Mettawee River Project

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Our SWVT Chapter has been working with the US Forest Service and Poultney Mettawee Natural Resources Conservation District on restoring fish habitat in the Mettawee River. Working on one section at a time, the group has successfully un-channelized and stabilized sections of the river, as well as created new fish habitat through the placement of tree, root wad, and stone structures.

We will be continuing our on-going collaboration with this effort, so please check back often for volunteer opportunities!

In progress, 2012

Population survey at School site, 2013

Trout in the Classroom

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A flagship program of Trout Unlimited’s Youth Education efforts, Trout (or Salmon) in the Classroom (TIC or SIC) is an environmental education program in which students in grades K-12 .

raise trout from eggs to fry.
monitor tank water quality.
engage in stream habitat study.
learn to appreciate water resources.
begin to foster a conservation ethic.
grow to understand ecosystems.

Most programs end the year by releasing their trout in a state-approved stream near the school or within a nearby watershed.

During the year each teacher tailors the program to fit his or her curricular needs. Therefore, each program is unique. TIC has interdisciplinary applications in science, social studies, mathematics, language arts, fine arts, and physical education.

Check out the Trout in the Classroom website for more information.

Post Irene – Impacts to Wild Trout Populations

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The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife has posted a report on their website to help us better understand the potential impact to wild trout populations after the traumatic events following Hurricane Irene. In previous studies, research has found that wild populations tend to rebound quickly after major flood events, usually within a year or two. Of more concern is the unknown impact of flood recovery activities on aquatic habitat, largely channelization and excessive streambed excavation. To view the full report, click here.

SWVT’s Joe Mark and the VT TIC program featured on PEG TV!

April 20, 2016Leave a comment

A great look into Middletown Springs Elementary School’s TIC program. A whopping 38 classrooms throughout Vermont are involved in TU’s Trout in Classroom program!

Click HERE to take a look at Vermont’s TIC website.

2016 Annual Conservation Banquet!! 4/30/16

March 3, 2015May 19, 2016Leave a comment

We invite you to join us at the
2016 Annual Conservation Banquet!

The Southwestern Vermont Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting its Annual Conservation Banquet on Saturday, April 30th, at The Equinox Resort in historic Manchester, Vermont. As a non-profit conservation organization, we have relied on this event over the years to support the Chapter’s local river conservation projects and youth education programs. Help us celebrate all we have accomplished together and support our continued work to restore and protect our local trout streams and educate the next generation of river stewards.

Tickets:
$45 per person and must be purchased in advance. Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card through the PayPal button below. Please be sure to tell us the names of each ticket holder, as tickets will be picked up at the door.

You can also mail your payment to:
Southwestern Vermont Trout Unlimited
PO Box 88
Manchester, VT 05254

This event will sell out! Tickets must be purchased in advance, so don’t wait until the last minute.

When:
Saturday, April 30th, 2016
We will have a cocktail hour from 5-6pm with a cash bar. Dinner will begin at 6:30pm and we will have both raffles and a silent auction.

Where:
The Colonnade
The Equinox Resort | Manchester, VT
www.equinoxresort.com

Who:
This not-to-be-missed event is open to the public! Everyone is welcome.

Special Guest Speaker
This year we are excited to have special guest speaker, Gordon Batcheller, a career wildlife professional.

Gordon Batcheller
Executive Secretary,
Northeast Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

Door Prize!
Just by joining us, you will be entered to win an Orvis 8′ 4-weight Superfine Carbon Outfit!

Raffle and Silent Auction Items
We have started to receive some very exciting donations from both near and far.

A local fishing trip with Tom Rosenbauer.
Custom wooden cigar caddies from Al Swanson
Framed painting from George Van Hook.
A float trip with Shawn Combs, Orvis’ lead rod developer and Tom Rosenbauer.
A pair of tickets to The Paramount Theater
Dinner for two at The Blue Cat Bistro
Orvis Safe Passage Sling Pack.
Orvis Safe Passage Carry-It-All.
Orvis Safe Passage Rod & Reel Cases.
$150 gift certificate to Table 24.
Custom caricature by Kathy Ehlers.
Danforth trout money clips.
Orvis Upland Sling Pack.
Kast XL MX Pro Gloves.
One Year Membership to Wonderfeet Kids Museum.
Overnight Stay for Two at the Applewood Manor B&B.
XL Thermacell Wireless Rechargeable Heated Insoles.
“Lifetime Supply of Dry Flies”.

The list goes on and on! There is SO MUCH MORE!!! Get your tickets now.
Cash, check, and credit cards accepted as payment for silent auction items and raffle ticket purchases.

If you would like to make a donation to the raffle or auction prizes, please contact Jackie Jordan at jordanj@orvis.com

Trout In The Classroom featured on WCAX!

February 10, 2015May 19, 20161 Comment

Our own Joe Mark, dedicated Board Member and Vermont’s TIC Coordinator, took to the snowy roads this past January to personally deliver trout eggs to all the TIC classrooms in our region (and a bit beyond).

He was 1 volunteer. 9.5 hours. 221.8 miles. 5 schools. 1 slice of pizza. 1 thermos of coffee. 1 liter of water. 900 eggs!!

Way to go Joe! SWVT TU and all participating TIC classrooms across Vermont thank you for all your hard work and dedication to this program.

Click HERE to see the Castleton Village School’s TIC program featured on WCAX!