The Middle River Group, LLC

fly fishing, conservation and politics.

tenkara, conservation, communications, politics

Key grip and trout wrangler at the Middle River Group, LLC. Playing Doc Holliday to the Wyatt Earps of the fish and wildlife conservation world. Deputy Director, Marine Fish Conservation Network. Guide and instructor, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Freelance outdoor writer.

Smith Creek watershed honored

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On a recent, beautiful June afternoon local farmers, federal, state and local officials, conservation organizations and area residents gathered for an announcement by the United States Department of Agriculture naming the 67,000-acre Smith Creek watershed as Virginia’s Chesapeake Showcase Watershed.

The announcement was made on Gary and Ellen Lohr’s Valley Pike Farm overlooking the Valley in Broadway as part of the implementation of the Obama administration’s “Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed” released last May.

Ann Mills, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, made the announcement.

“Making these announcements from a local farm is more than a symbolic gesture,” Mills said. “Nearly 75 percent of the land in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed is in private farms and forests. The showcase watersheds strengthen USDA’s commitment to funding priority conservation practices in places that will do the most good for water quality in the Bay and its tributaries.”

In May 2009, President Obama signed The Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration Executive Order declaring the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure and requiring a coordinated strategy for restoration and protection.

The executive order directed federal agencies to “define environmental goals for the Chesapeake Bay and describe milestones for making progress toward attainment of these goals.” The strategy focuses on achieving four essential priorities for a healthy Chesapeake ecosystem — restore clean water, recover habitat, sustain fish and wildlife and conserve land and increase public access.

One of the goals in the strategy that caught my attention and led to my attending the announcement on the Lohr’s farm was to, “Sustain healthy populations of fish and wildlife, which contribute to a resilient ecosystem and vibrant economy”.

One of the outcomes for that goal was “restoring naturally reproducing brook trout populations in headwater streams … by 2025.” Because of my involvement with the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture I was thrilled to see brook trout recovery efforts as a key outcome for Cheasapeake Bay Watershed efforts.

Eighteen months ago I wrote about the efforts of the EBTJV and the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, noted the work at Smith Creek and what it means to the Valley. At the time I wrote “Working cooperatively with ten diverse partners, the project is helping restore riparian habitat at the headwaters of Smith Creek. This project connects to Mountain Run in the George Washington National Forest as well, providing additional spawning habitat for those Brook Trout.”

Smith Creek also gained national attention in 2007 as one the first of the NFHAP “10 Waters to Watch”.

Now Smith Creek will be getting additional attention and funding and can serve as a model for other efforts across the state and country. Of course having Smith Creek as a Showcase Watershed adds additional incentive for implementing the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

The NFHAP can build upon the successes of Smith Creek and the two other Showcase Watersheds, the 23,000-acre Upper Chester River Watershed in Maryland and the 34,000-acre Conewago Creek Watershed in Pennsylvania and leverage those models into additional aquatic habitat conservation across the country.

Now is the time for Federal agencies with responsibility managing aquatic habitat to increase their efforts to implement the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. Coordination among those agencies will promote stewardship and improve the health of our Nation’s aquatic habitat.

Perhaps it is time for an Executive Order to implement the NFHAP.

If the administration leads the way then maybe Congress will get the message and pass the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act.

It should come as no surprise and serve as a point of pride that conservation efforts here in the Valley get national recognition. There is a long and treasured tradition of stewardship and respect for the land and the natural resource bounty it provides.

That tradition and the connection to the land were never more evident than on the Lohr’s farm last week.

You can read more of my columns at the News Virginian.com.

The Big Fish interview

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One of the more entertaining parts of my trip to Australia was being interviewed by Scott Levi, host of The BigFish program on ABC (Australia) at the Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum. Scott MC’d the panel discussion I participated in. Scott is a really enjoyable guy and we had a few laughs during the panel discussion and the interview. We chatted about fishing, fish habitat and tenkara style fly-fishing after the panel discussion that evening.
You can give a listen to the interview here if you are interested. My conversation with Scott starts about 3 1/2 minutes into the program.

Fishers for Fish Habitat Tour and Forum in Australia

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I was in Australia for the past couple of weeks. During the first week my wife and I had a chance to visit some of New South Wales; the South Coast, Snowy Mountains, Lake Jindabyne, Kosciusko National Park, Cooma and Cowra. We tried to stay away from the large urban areas and see as much of the more rural parts as we could.

The second week, we had the pleasure of spending 5 days with Craig Copeland and Charlotte Jenkins of Industry and Investment New South Wales. They took my wife and I on a tour of some of the fish habitat projects they have been working on. It was a great opportunity to see how our Australian colleagues are dealing with the challenges of dwindling fish habitat. We went to sites in the Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central West, Hunter Valley and wound up at Lake Macquarie for the forum.

I also had a chance to be part of a panel discussion with some notable Australian recreational fishing pros and give a presentation on fish habitat activity in the U.S., especially the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture.

F4F recreational fishers panel
i sound smarter with a beer in front of me....

I even managed to get a little press coverage of my visit:  US expert says conservation is give and take.

It was a wonderful opportunity to see Australia both on our own and with some liked minded conservationists and to trade ideas and stories about two things I really enjoy, fishing and conservation.

To work hard at work worth doing…

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The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership today announced that they have selected Whit Fosburgh as the new President and CEO.

Having had the pleasure of working with Whit during his tenure at TU, he is an outstanding choice to lead the TRCP.

His quote speaks volumes.

“I am honored to play a leading role in promoting the TRCP mission to guarantee all Americans a place to hunt and fish – and in so doing, as Roosevelt himself stated, ‘to work hard at work worth doing.’”

Good show TRCP and congratulations Whit!

The TRCP press release follows:

News for Immediate Release May 12, 2010

Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, kmckalip@trcp.org

TRCP Names Whit Fosburgh New President/CEO

Policy expert and conservationist to lead the sportsmen’s group in its mission to secure high-quality hunting and fishing for all Americans

WASHINGTON – The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership today announced that Whit Fosburgh has been named president/CEO of the national sportsmen-conservation group. Formerly the vice president for program development at Trout Unlimited and director of TU’s Coldwater Conservation Fund, Fosburgh is a widely respected authority on fish and wildlife conservation policy with a broad range of experience in the nonprofit arena and natural resources management.

“We at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership are very pleased that Whit Fosburgh is taking on leadership of our group,” said Jim Martin, chairman of the TRCP board of directors. “Whit’s expertise and breadth of experience within the sportsmen-conservation community will ably serve the TRCP, the national policy issues we seek to advance through our mission and the millions of hunters and anglers in whose interests we labor. The TRCP board of directors looks forward to working alongside Whit to drive fish and wildlife conservation in the name of American sportsmen and in the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt.”

Fosburgh joined Trout Unlimited in 1995 and played a critical role in that organization’s evolution into a conservation powerhouse, bringing to TU a wealth of experience centered on conservation policy, fundraising and program development. Prior to his time with TU, Fosburgh served as fisheries’ director for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, was chief environment and energy staff person for Sen. Tom Daschle and was a wildlife specialist for the National Audubon Society.

“The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership has set a new standard of accomplishment within the sportsmen’s community on conservation policy matters of crucial importance to our fish and wildlife populations and hunting and angling traditions,” said Fosburgh. “I am honored to play a leading role in promoting the TRCP mission to guarantee all Americans a place to hunt and fish – and in so doing, as Roosevelt himself stated, ‘to work hard at work worth doing.’”

“Whit’s reputation for strong leadership and innovative thinking, combined with his extraordinary knowledge of conservation issues important to hunters, anglers and all citizens, make him an ideal choice to direct the TRCP,” said Diane Craney, TRCP interim president/CEO. “Under his guidance, we can ensure that sportsmen-conservationists are more effectively engaged in the TRCP’s vital policy work, further the responsible management of America’s shared resources and perpetuate our unique outdoors heritage.”

Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, the TRCP is a coalition of organizations and grassroots partners working together to preserve the traditions of hunting and fishing.

Conservation equals recreational opportunity and that equals economic activity

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Last month three important events for fisherman took place in Washington.

The first was the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors, second was the 2010 Recreational Saltwater Fishing Summit hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and third was the Jim Range National Casting Call sponsored by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association.

Nancy Sutley, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Ken Salazar, secretary of the Interior, Tom Vilsack, secretary of Agriculture and Lisa Jackson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency hosted the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors at the Department of Interior.

The conference was held so the invited participants, who came from a very diverse group of public and private landowners and users could discuss the challenges facing land conservation in America. They were also given the chance to offer their thoughts on the most critical conservation challenges and offer suggestions for addressing those challenges.

The conference served as the launch for the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. The administration plans to hold a series of large and small listening sessions around the country.

The highlight of the conference was the speech by President Obama. The president made the point that I have repeatedly made in this column, conservation creates recreational opportunity and recreational opportunity drives economic activity.

“We’re launching this strategy because it’s the right thing to do — because, as TR [Theodore Roosevelt] said, we must not mar the work of the ages. But we’re also doing it because it’s the right thing to do for our economy. It’s how we’re going to spur job creation in the tourism industry and the recreation industry. It’s how we’ll create jobs preserving and maintaining our forests, our rivers, our great outdoors”, Obama said.

From there I went to the two-day 2010 Recreational Saltwater Fishing Summit hosted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The summit fulfilled another of a series of commitments made by NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco to the saltwater angling community back in July of this year.

More than 100 recreational anglers spent two days in facilitated discussions looking for possible courses of action to solve the myriad of vexing challenges facing the saltwater recreational fishing community.

“Whether for life’s pleasure or life’s work, we can all agree on one thing, recreational fishing is good for the Nation’s soul and good for the Nation’s economy,” said Lubchenco. “The excellent turnout at this summit tells me that you want to be heard. And I am here to tell you that NOAA is not only listening, but we are also ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work with you.”

Having worked directly with the folks at NOAA, I take Dr. Lubchenco’s words at face value. She has kept her commitments and I expect she and her team will continue to.

One event that actually involved fishing for shad on the Potomac River was the Jim Range National Casting Call. The event, hosted by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

The event highlights the success of collaborative fish habitat conservation and showcases the growing number of successes coming from the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. The NFHAP works through public-private partnerships like the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, to protect, restore and enhance fish habitat and fisheries around the country.

A timely reminder how important our land and water is was brought home by the British Petroleum oil spill fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico. We put our outdoor economy at risk all too often and without sufficient thought of the consequences. We need to do better.

As a general rule, I would much rather be in the Valley fishing our mountain streams then going to Washington. Fortunately these three events were worth the trip. The message that conservation equals recreational opportunity and that equals economic activity has taken hold. It’s about time.

You can read more of my columns at the News Virginian.com.

NOAA announces New National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries

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Eric Schwabb, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, announced today that he was appointing Russell Dunn as NOAA Fisheries National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries. He also announced the appointment of 22 members from the recreational fishing community to the Recreational Fisheries Working Group of NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee.

Schwabb’s actions are another step toward making good on a promise by NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco to create a better working relationship with America’s saltwater angling community.

At a time when concerns are being raised by the recreational fishing community about the focus and intention of NOAA and the Obama Administration with regard to fishing these announcements are both timely and welcome.

Here is Schwabb’s statement:

Statement from Eric Schwaab, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries – Announcing Russell Dunn to new position of National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries

Today, I am pleased to appoint Russell Dunn as the NOAA Fisheries National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries and to appoint 22 members of the recreational fishing community from around the nation to a Recreational Fisheries Working Group to provide expertise on saltwater recreational fishing to NOAA’s Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC).

These actions fulfill a pledge made by NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco to the recreational fishing community to put in place the national advisor to help lead NOAA’s efforts to create a stronger and more productive partnership between NOAA and America’s saltwater angling community.

As national advisor, Russell Dunn will work with anglers to address their interests as we build and implement an action agenda to provide for the long-term health of fish stocks and work to protect and enhance the significant social and economic benefits fisheries provide to anglers and to our coastal communities. Russell will report directly to me.

Russell, who begins the job on March 28, brings 14 years of public and private-sector experience in national and international marine fisheries policy. He is respected for his experience and dedication by leaders of the recreational fishing industry. He has been the branch chief of NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species Management Division, served as a policy advisor to the U.S. Delegation to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, and worked as director of government relations at the National Audubon Society on its Living Oceans Campaign. He also worked for then- Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. An avid angler, Russell will be based in St. Petersburg, Fla, in the heart of the nation’s largest recreational fishing region. He will serve as the national point of contact for the saltwater fishing community, and coordinate closely with both NOAA Fisheries national and regional staff.

His first duties will include helping Dr. Lubchenco and me to bring together over one hundred recreational fishing constituents and representatives from around the country, including the members of MAFAC’s recreational working group, to a national summit on April 16 and 17 in Alexandria, Va. At the summit, we will explore issues important to recreational fisheries, and identify priority actions for moving forward.

Russell takes over for Gordon Colvin who has been serving as interim Senior Policy Advisor for the past 6 months.  I would like to thank Gordon for his extraordinary service.

Please join me in welcoming Russell to this new and important role.

Eric C. Schwaab

NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

For media inquiries, contact Connie.Barclay@noaa.gov or Monica.Allen@noaa.gov, (301) 713-2370.

For all other inquiries contact Laurel.Bryant@noaa.gov, (301)713-1276.