Learn About the Differences in Federal Land Designations
If you are a hunter, angler, camper, hiker, wildlife watcher, or live anywhere in rural Arizona, you are well acquainted with the treasure of Federal public lands in our State. It’s almost a certainty that one of your favorite places is located on these public lands. It is also very likely that you have been confused at some point by land designations (e.g., National Conservation Area, National Park, National Monuments, National Forest, National Recreation Areas, Wilderness, National Historic Site, and many more). Learn more about these differences and what they mean for outdoor recreation by clicking the LEARN MORE button. You will be redirected to a great article that Brad Powell, the former president of the Arizona Wildlife Federation, has written.
Four Forest Restoration (4FRI) Initiative
Four national forests – the Kaibab, Coconino, Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto – are actively managed in a collaborative initiative to carry out landscape-scale restoration of the ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona. Various types of restoration work including wildlife habitat improvement, grassland restoration, watershed maintenance, spring restoration, stream channel restoration, trail and road maintenance, road decommissioning as well as thinning and prescribed burning are part of this vast initiative. Arizona Trout Unlimited supports many of these efforts to create sustainable ecosystems hand in hand with sustainable industries.
Arizona Trout Unlimited Tracked Conservation Projects:
Upper East Verde River Watershed Restoration
Working in partnership with Arizona Trout Unlimited, Gila Trout Chapter of TU, Tonto National Forest and Arizona Game and Fish Department, Gila Trout protections are being implemented to ensure the native trout’s recovery.
Christopher Creek R – C Scout/Summer Camp
The overall goal of this project will create a model desert fish habitat and refuge populations of native roundtail chub and longfin dace in the R-C Scout Ranch pond. Once established, this refuge population of Roundtail chub will provide youth recreational fishing opportunities, and nature study. Additionally, we are restoring native Gila Trout in nearby Christopher Creek. These projects will provide improved youth fishing and conservation education opportunities for both the summer campers, as well as Mogollon Rim area youth. The camp is also used for various environmental youth camps, including STEM programs, American Cancer Society, and others.
Black River Landscape Restoration
In the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, Arizona Trout Unlimited is working to advance forest resiliency and maintain a healthy ecosystem on the Alpine and Springerville Ranger Districts.
Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Plan
The Upper Colorado Basin requires ongoing monitoring and protection of endangered species. Arizona Trout Unlimited is helping to utilize science to identify best practices to manage the land, foster relationships with tribal entities and create a balanced plan of stewardship to ensure a harmonious relationship between recreation and environmental concerns.
C. Craigin Watershed (formerly Blue Ridge Reservoir) Protection
Reducing the risk of wildfire and reestablish a fire adapted, resilient, diverse and sustainable forest ecosystem surrounding the City of Payson’s primary water supply. This project is a combined effort between Salt River Project, the Town of Payson, Bureau of Reclamation, Coconino National Forest, National Forest Foundation and Arizona Trout Unlimited to provide actionable mitigation of the risks to the watershed and the surrounding resources.
Native Trout Catch/Release and Recovery Stream Signage
In conjunction with Arizona Game and Fish Department and the US Forest Service, AZTU is working to place informational signage informing anglers of efforts to protect our native trout species.
Position On Native And Wild Non-Native Salmonid Management
Arizona is fortunate to have historic populations of native trout species (Apache, Gila) and many well-established populations of several wild (naturally reproducing) non-native salmonids (Rainbow, Brown, Brook, and Grayling). The conservation of all Arizona’s native trout and wild non-native salmonids is a priority of the Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited (AZTU) and we believe that both native and wild non-native fishes of all salmonid species are important components of the state’s aquatic communities. Both native and wild non-native salmonids have important cultural, recreational, scientific, economic and legacy values.
The Conservation Committee
The Conservation Committee is a project oriented committee and meets as often as necessary to ensure meetings have a purpose and are a valuable use of our members’ time. To be alerted to upcoming Conservation Committee meetings or for more information, please contact ConservationChair@az-tu.org.