The Mason Griffith Founders Chapter of Trout Unlimited is pleased to announce it is sponsoring a “Trout in the Classroom” project at the Grayling Middle School. Trout in the Classroom is a 6 month, hands-on project promoted by Trout Unlimited that involves raising trout from eggs right in the classroom. The program is designed to motivate students to take an interest in cold water resource conservation by providing teachers with basic lessons involving biology, water chemistry, and conservation. Seventh grade science teachers Joel Gabriel, Brad Wagner, and Carrie Wilkinson, from Grayling Middle School, will be conducting the program in their science classrooms where donated funds have allowed for the purchase of an aquarium, pumps, filter, and cooling system.
The project will began this January when 300-400 eyed brown trout eggs will be purchased from Cedarbrook Trout Farms in Harrisville. Once place into the aquarium, students will be able to observe the development of the embryonic trout. In the weeks to follow, students will learn more of the life cycle of the trout and what environmental conditions in our watershed can affect their survival. After hatching, the fry will be reared to a fingerling stage. From this point, students will end the project by releasing the trout into a designated location in the Grayling area. Throughout the few months between egg and release, many resource professionals will be visiting with the students to speak to the class on topics relating to the project. Guests from Trout Unlimited, USGS Water Division, and the Michigan DNR fisheries department will be coming in to discuss topics such as aquaculture, fisheries management, stream ecology, and conservation.
By making the project personal to the students, we hope to foster a life-long sense of stewardship for the river and its inhabitants.
Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter Kids Camp
Written by MGFC
The Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter will once again be sponsoring our annual Youth Fly Fishing Camp. Our fly fishing camp is designed for youths who want to become informed and independent fly anglers. The format and schedule (likely May) for this year’s camp is in the process of being updated and revised. Please check our website, www.masongriffithtu.org for details as they become available. The 2010 Youth Fly Fishing Camp will be the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter’s tenth such camp. Over the years our camp has included casting, knot tying, rod/reel/line set-up, fly tying, stewardship, regulations, aquatic insect collecting and identification, and a fish shocking demonstration. We would like to extend our very special thanks to Gates Au Sable Lodge for providing waders for all the kids who needed them at our previous camps.
If you have any questions, if you have a child that you think would like to attend our camp or if you think you’d be able to help out please contact Bob Andrus at 989-390-2814.
Fly Tying Classes
Written by MGFC
The Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter will again be offering an 8-week Beginners Fly Tying Class this winter. The class will be held on Tuesdays at the Devereaux Memorial Crawford County Library beginning on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. You don’t need to bring anything unless you want to - all fly tying materials and the use of vices and other equipment are included in the $20 class fee. In addition, we’ll provide a free membership in Trout Unlimited ($35.00 value) for anyone that is not currently a member. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to get going tying your own flies.
For more information call Mark Hendricks at 989-348-1987 or Bob Andrus at 989-390-2814.
2009 Au Sable Volunteer Work Projects
Written by MGFC
In 2009 the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of Trout Unlimited teamed up with the Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee to organize two very successful volunteer projects. Repair work to fencing at six Crawford County Road Commission river/road-ends was completed in June. The fencing directs river users to the river and protects bank vegetation from abuse. In October volunteers went to the Au Sable’s North Branch where they repaired the two heavily used road-end docks that are used as boat and canoe launches at Dam Four and Morley Road.
The twenty-six volunteers represented several of the Restoration Committee’s partners including the Upper Au Sable Preservation Association, North Branch Restoration Committee, William B. Mershon Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Au Sable Big Waters, and the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Ken Reid of Huron-Pines supervised the rebuilding of dock repairs.
The Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee is a partnership made up of thirty-five agencies and river advocacy groups dedicated to the restoration, improvement, maintenance, and protection of the Au Sable River Watershed. The Committee develops the river’s watershed management plan and coordinates the plans implementation, initiates projects and assists the partners and riparian land-owners in projects and studies that are in keeping with the management plan. Since its formation in 1989 the Committee and its partners have implemented projects costing over five million dollars. Notable achievements over the past twenty years include the stablization of over 300 eroding stream-bank sites, replacement of numerous bridges and culverts, control of storm water, and placement of large woody debris throughout the watershed. For 2010, the Restoration Committee has two projects being developed that will be completed primarily with volunteer help. Three hundred and fifty miles of the Au Sable’s main stream and its five major tributaries will be re-inventoried for stream-bank erosion. An invasive species project that focuses primarily on purple loosestrife eradication is also being expanded to the entire watershed.
If you would like to volunteer for one of these projects or would like to have your name placed on the Restoration Committee volunteer list for future projects, contact Bob Andrus at 989-390-2814.
GOVERNOR ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER #2009-45
Written by MGFC
On October 9, 2009, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed Executive Order # 2009-45 which, among other things, combined the Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality into a new department called the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE). The EO also eliminated some advisory boards, among them the Water Resources Conservation Advisory Council. While most conservation organizations in the state applaud the reuniting of the DNR and DEQ they were dismayed, if not appalled, at the portion of EO which allows for the direct appointment of the DNRE director by the governor, instead of that appointment being made by the Natural Resource Commission. This single provision increases the political nature of natural resource management to an unprecedented level in the state of Michigan. It will insure that resource decisions will be made behind closed doors, with little or no public input on such things as the Kennecott mine, the Savoy well proposed for the Mason Tract or any other of a myriad of issues that effect YOU and YOUR natural resources. The Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited has taken a stand against the direct appointment of the DNRE director by the governor. Testifying before the Senate Natural Resources & Environment Committee and the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Natural Resources, representatives of MCTU requested the legislature utilize their constitutional authority to override the governor’s order. They made it very clear that they support the reuniting of the departments, but are against the direct appointment of the director. MCTU also testified against the elimination of the Water Resources Conservation Advisory Council. The Board of Directors of your Chapter have endorsed this stand and have joined other like minded organizations in signing on to a letter, from the Michigan United Conservation Clubs Conservation Coalition, to the governor asking her to revise Executive Order 2009- 45.
The Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter will again be offering an 8-week Beginners Fly Tying Class this winter. The class will be held on Tuesdays at the Devereaux Memorial Crawford County Library beginning on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. You don’t need to bring anything unless you want to - all fly tying materials and the use of vices and other equipment are included in the $20 class fee. In addition, we’ll provide a free membership in Trout Unlimited ($35.00 value) for anyone that is not currently a member. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to get going tying your own flies.
In 2009 the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of Trout Unlimited teamed up with the Au Sable River Watershed Restoration Committee to organize two very successful volunteer projects. Repair work to fencing at six Crawford County Road Commission river/road-ends was completed in June. The fencing directs river users to the river and protects bank vegetation from abuse. In October volunteers went to the Au Sable’s North Branch where they repaired the two heavily used road-end docks that are used as boat and canoe launches at Dam Four and Morley Road.