Why TU? A Five Rivers Perspective

Trout Unlimited is dedicated to preservation and conservation of our coldwater fisheries and has played a leading role in protecting our nations trout and salmon populations  for over forty years.

TU is made up of 450 chapters in the United States.  The Five Rivers Chapter represents Durango and the surrounding area.  We are part of the grassroots efforts vital to the mission of TU National.  The Chapter's four core functions are education, conservation, advocacy and cooperative fundraising.

In the area of education, our web site, http://www.fiveriverstu.org  and a monthly newsletter are our main vehicles for communicating with our members and the local community.  In addition, we have plans to implement a youth education program in 2002.

On the conservation front, we participate in public education programs,  pursue habitat improvement and restoration when and where appropriate, and serve as the voices for our precious trout and salmon when threats exist.  We received an Embrace-A-Stream grant in 2001 to go with other grant funds for habitat improvement on the Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir.

On the state level, Colorado TU, our State Council, serves to tie all the state chapters together and provide important leadership for TU in a state blessed with abundant and precious coldwater fisheries.

Finally, our fundraising and efforts to increase awareness and membership provide resources to support TU's conservation efforts.  The majority of the funds raised stay in this area.  The work of the State Council is important to our area as well as the rest of the State and will also benefit from our fundraising efforts.  In the event our membership and the Board of Directors feel that National TU's efforts need our additional support, an appropriate donation will be made.

On the local level, our coldwater fisheries are the focus of many, many tourist dollars flowing into our area.  It goes without saying that we all have a stake in the conservation of this precious resource.