2015 Annual Report - Montana Trout Unlimited

MONTANA
TROUT
UNLIMITED
2015 Annual Report
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Montana Trout Unlimited and our nearly 4,000 members and 13 chapters across the state have
completed another year of effective work on behalf of coldwater fisheries. Our efforts directly
benefit anglers, as well as farmers and ranchers who rely on sustainable stream flows for delivering water to crops. Importantly, Montana TU’s efforts also greatly benefit business people like
me whose livelihoods rely on clean water for Montana’s sustainable tourism industry. In a political
environment increasingly dominated by fact-free sound bites, I’m proud to report that Montana TU
remains focused where it matters the most, on the ground. This year alone, we invested more than
$40,000 in grants for on-the-ground projects undertaken by nine of our 13 chapters. These dollars
were leveraged with tens of thousands of dollars more from other sources. The habitat restoration
and research that benefitted will pay dividends for generations. I was asked recently, “What is
Montana TU’s biggest strength?” The response was easy: We are willing
to work with everyone, which isn’t always popular, but it shows that our
focus first and foremost remains on end results. From defense of our
best-in-the-country stream access laws, to promoting common-sense
land management and implementing popular and effective youth
education, Montana Trout Unlimited continues doing what it does best:
Lead. Thanks for being part of our team.
Chris Schustrom, Chairman
OUR MISSION:
To conserve, protect and restore Montana’s
coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
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Courtesy of John Lambing
Courtesy of JanieOsborne.com
Courtesy of BillMcDavid.com
FISH
WATER
Montana TU continues fighting the scourge
of illegal fish stocking, a problem that has
plagued more than 600 waters in the state
in recent years, including the October 2015
discovery of illegally planted walleyes in
Swan Lake, one of the West’s premiere
bull trout fisheries. We have now offered a
$20,000 award for information leading to
conviction of the persons responsible for
this and similar acts of vandalism. Coupled
with a civil penalty, a reward of this size
could turn out to be one of the most effective tools for preventing future incidents
of this criminal activity.
Montana TU played a key role in the development (and ratification by the Montana
Legislature) of the landmark water compact
between the State of Montana and Confederated Salish-Kootenai Tribes. The accord now
protects instream flows in wild and native
trout waters in the Flathead and Kootenai
regions, while benefitting the often-dewatered upper Clark Fork River.
During the 2015 Montana Legislative session, Montana TU convinced lawmakers to
increase license fees for angling and hunting,
while also upping the appropriation available
for the State’s hugely successful program that
provides grants for fishery habitat improvements. These increases provide necessary
funding to rectify recent shortcomings in
fishery management and habitat restoration.
Working with TU national, Montana TU
helped ensure industry opponents and
Congress didn’t undermine the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s rule clarifying
that headwater streams necessary for late
season flows and spawning habitat are protected under the federal Clean Water Act.
Cover image courtesy Mark Aagenes 3
HABITAT
One of Montana TU’s top priorities is to
protect the Smith River from a proposed
copper mine in its headwaters. We co-produced an award-winning video highlighting
Montanans’ love for the Smith, revamped our
website where the public can get the latest
Smith-related content at www.smithriverwatch.
org, contracted with a highly talented cadre
of mining, chemistry, hydrology and fishery
experts to evaluate and submit critiques of the
mine proposal to state regulators, and kicked
off a national outreach and media campaign
aimed at educating the public about the risks
posed by the mine proposal.
PEOPLE
Helping foster new trout conservationists is a
priority of Montana TU. To this end, we sponsored our 10th Conservation and Fly Fishing
Camp this year. The 2015 camp was a huge
success, as 20 Montana youngsters learned
about angling techniques, fly tying, fish and
aquatic insect biology and the importance
of conservation.
We increased our efforts in 2015 to improve
the effectiveness of TU chapter volunteers in
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Courtesy of FishEyeGuyPhotography.com
Montana by providing programs for membership meetings, working with chapter leaders
on financial management, and providing
technical consultation for chapter and local
conservation projects and issues.
Montana TU’s Chapter Mini-Grant Program
and partner funding provides essential
resources for habitat improvement, fishery
research and conservation education.
In 2015, Montana TU contributed nearly
$60,000 in grants to its chapters and partners
to help fund trout research, youth education,
native fish restoration, habitat improvements,
prevention of the spread of aquatic invasive
species and improvements to fishing access
sites. This funding benefitted wild and native
trout in the Kootenai, Blackfoot, Bitterroot,
Missouri, Madison, Big Hole, Beaverhead,
Swan, Yellowstone, and Sun River watersheds.
Critically, these funds helped leverage hundreds of thousands of dollars more from
other sources, while motivating additional
private and public interests to become
project partners.
FINANCIAL REPORT 2015
OCT. 1, 2015 – SEPT. 30, 2015
Use of Funds
Source of Funds
Total: $393,819
Total: $393,819
Fundraisers and Merchandise | 37%
Individual Donors | 28%
TU Chapters & Members | 7%
Foundations | 9%
Other | 1%
Businesses | 1%
Special Projects | 17%
Habitat Restoration & Enhancement | 27%
Operations & Administration | 10%
Fundraising | 16%
Communications & Conservation Education | 15%
Conservation Advocacy | 32%
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Montana TU counts on the generosity of individuals, foundations and businesses and gratefully
welcomes current cash gifts, as well as stocks, securities and estate gifts.
• Cash and checks can be sent via post to Montana TU, P.O. Box 7186, Missoula, MT 59807
• Credit card donations, either one-time, or recurring can be made online at www.montanatu.org.
Contributions to Montana TU are tax deductible and used in Montana. For more information,
to discuss designating a gift to a specific effort, or for planned gift assistance, please contact
Kelley Willett at 406.543.0054.
Montana TU’s financial statements are reviewed annually by Boyle, Deveny & Meyer PC, an independent CPA firm
in Missoula, Montana.
THANK YOU to the donors and supporters who
contributed between October 1, 2014, and September 30, 2015.
Businesses,
Foundations &
Organizations
AlphaGraphics
American Fly Fishing
Trade Association
The Amgen Foundation
Staff Giving Program
The Baldwin Foundation
The Baltimore Family Fund
Bank of America
Charitable Foundation
Big Blackfoot TU Chapter
Big Hole Lodge
Bitterroot TU Chapter
The Cinnabar Foundation
Costa Del Mar
Drake & Associates, Inc.
The Paul B. Dykstra & Karen K.
Dykstra Foundation
The Fanwood Foundation
First Interstate Bancsystem
Foundation, Inc.
Flathead Valley TU Chapter
Healing Waters Lodge
Joe Brooks TU Chapter
Madison-Gallatin TU Chapter
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Donors & Supporters continued
Magic City Fly Fishers
TU Chapter
Maki Foundation
Merlin Foundation Inc.
Missoula Osprey
Professional Baseball
The Norcross Wildlife Foundation
Out in the Cold Productions
PartnersCreative, Inc.
Pat Barnes-Missouri River
TU Chapter
R & R Enterprises
Roundtable on the Crown
of the Continent
Ruby Springs Lodge
Simms Fishing Products
Snowy Mountain TU Chapter
Soka Piiwa Foundation
Sweetwater Travel Company
Trout and Salmon Foundation
Western Cafe of Bozeman Inc.
WestSlope TU Chapter
The Wildwood Foundation
Individual Donors
Jim Abel
Charles & Susan Abell
A.D. Ackels
Ingrid E. Akerblom
Rosanna Akland
Heather Almquist
Bill Anderson
Anonymous
Lynn Antill
Wil Avril
Louisa Axelrod
Glen Babcock
David Baltimore & Alice Huang
Craig & Patricia Barfoot
David James Barger
Steven Beasley
Mark Berggren
James & Mary Ann Bigelow
Marshall & Tonia Bloom
James Borowski
Jim Bowerman
Tim Bozik
Glenda & Stan Bradshaw
Gregory Bratcher
Diane Bristol
Eric Brody
Carolyn & Curtis Brown
Bill Bruzek
Dr. Marcia Bull
Robert Bungarz
Gilbert Burdett
Jeff & Jennifer Camp
Robert Carl
Blanche & Mike Chapman
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David Cleveland
Janet Colombo
Mark Connell
John P. Connors
David & Patricia Constable
Carole & Gary Conway
Steve Conway
Stan Cook
Shirley Courser
Gordon Cox
Kathy & Tim Crawford
James Day
Ron De Armond
Walter Dec
Jerrold Depner
Tom Deveny
Bob & Sue Dickenson
Earl Dorsey
Sarsfield & Teresa Dougherty
Patricia Dowd
Buddy Drake
Robert Dunnagan
Kenneth Dyrud
Lisa Eby
James G. Edmiston
Jeffrey Edmunds
Ken & Linda Edwards
Thomas Ehlert
Gayle & James Eidson
Clay Ellison
Daniel Ellison &
Elizabeth Fournier
Mark Engle
Clara & Ron Erickson
W. K. Erickson
Stan Falkow & Lucy Tompkins
Bruce Farling
Garrett Fawaz
Craig Fellin
Caleb Fey
Paul Fickes
Richard Fisher
Karin Flint
Robert Flynn
Ethel & Mark Fogelsong
Susan Fox
William Fraser
Rich Furber
Gabriel Furshong &
Lauren Caldwell
Daniel Gallacher
Travis Garner
Mike Geary
David Genter
Margaret & Paul Gierach
William R. Gilchrist
Paul Gingras
Keith Glaes
Wallace Gram
John H. & Mary D. Grant
Kate & Will Grant
Randy Gray
Mitzi Griffin
Jack Grover
Mary Anne Guggenheim
David Guhlke
Nicholas Hagan
Carl Haggar
Edward Hale
C. Barrows Hall
Patricia Hammick
Michael Hanford
Tom Harding
James Hartung
Charles Hash
Stanley Hastings
John & Kris Hauck
Denise Hayman
A. Bruce Hemmings
Jeffrey Herbert
Timothy Herman
Carl & Fenia Hiaasen
Richard & Suzanne Hildner
Debbie Hill
Marilyn R. Hill
Robert E. Hill
Ira Holt
Barry Hood
Donald Hossack
Jan Janura
Jim Johnson
Richard Kacin
David & Julie Kahl
Robert Kensinger
Charles Ketterman
Donald Kiely
Mark Kilen
Steve King
Carol R. Krumm
Edward V. LaBudde
Michael Lancaster
Benjamin Larcombe
Walt Largent
Dr. Richard Lauritzen
Michael Lebwohl
C. Stephen Lewis
James Liedle
Land M. Lindbergh
Joanne & Tim Linehan
Robert V. Little
Clint Loomis
Jim Lowe
Fred Lowenfels
Fred Lurie
Corey Mack
Charlie Maetzold
Stephen Mahrer
Matthew Mallow & Ellen Chesler
Christine Marozick
Patrick Marx
Craig & Jackie Mathews
Brian May
Byron & Carole McBride
Mick McCorcle
Andrew McDougall
Donald McLellan
Tana Meeds
Christopher Merker
Gregg Messel & Anita Declue
Curt Meyer
Kirk Meyer
Jane & Stan Meyer
Carol & Doug Milender
Dan Miller
Harry M. Miller
Peter Mills
Mary K. Mitsos
Thomas Mocilac
Kim & Jeff Montag
Colleen Moore
Edwin & Linda Morgens
Lauren Morgens
Paul Moseley
Dan Mullan
Edward Murphy
Harry & Rebecca Murphy
Deborah & Steven Muth
Eric Myers
Kent Myers
Daniel & Tammera Nauts
Janet & Wesley Nelson
Greg & Ryen Neudecker
Alan & Nancy Nicholson
Kathi Nickel
Patrick Nolan
Roy & Susan O’Connor
Terry O’Connor
Michael Oldstone
Allen D. Olsen
Dan & Jeanne Olson
Paul Olson
David Paoli
Reno Parker
Daryl & Sherrie Parker
Robert Pearcy
Ben Phinney
Harry D. Piatt
Patti & Sam Pleshar
Cindy & Harry Poett
John Porter
James Posewitz
Wesley Presnell
John Puckett
Don & Sandy Putnam
Dean Randash
Peggy & Robert Ratcheson
John Ratliff
Bruce & Paula Rehwinkel
Gregory Rider
Bill & Penny Ritchie
Craig Roberts
Sandra Roe
Patrick & Virginia Rogers
Carolyn Laws-Roos & Paul Roos
Marjorie & Richard Rothermel
Clarence Sanders
Rob Santa
Leonard & Marlene Sauer
Jack Sauther
Kenneth Scalzone
Gerald Scheetz
Carey & Sam Schmidt
Steve Schombel
Jennifer & Tony Schoonen
Margaret & Tony Schoonen
Jeff Schroeder
Chris Schustrom
Bob Scott
Dana & Grace Scott
Kinney Scruggs
Lance Sears
Barry Selle
James G. Shennan, Jr.
Howard Sheridan
Don Shiver
Dan Short
Paul Sihler
Brian Sippy
Farwell Smith & Linda McMullen
John Snively
Grant Snyder
Cheryl Sokoloski
Kris Spanjian
Marolyn & Paul Stanley
Alec Sternberg
John Stewart
Jim & Karen Stutzman
David Stuver
Scott Sutherland
Harold H. Tearse
Matthew Thiel
Robert Thurman
Larry Timchak
Mark & Vickie Tischendorf
Greg Tollefson
F.B. Tossberg
Bruce Turlington
Lynne Van Horn
Hernando Velez
Dan Vermillion
Pam & Sandy Volkmann
Ann & Robert Von Pentz
Frank & Jeanine Walker
Dave & Lynn Waller
Collin Watters
K.L. Weaver
Willard Weaver
John Webster
Ann & Irv Weissman
Jeff Welch
Roy A. Wells
Tracy Wendt
Tom Wenke
Anne Colston Wentz
Tim Whaling
Steve Wickliffe
George Widener
Barbara Willett
Frank Willett & Arleen Boyd
Kelley Willett
Carrie & Mike Willett
James Williams
John Wilson
Richard & Robin Wolcott
Steve Wonacott
Hugh Zackheim
In Memoriam
Steve Bryant
John Dale Linduska
Dan Merrick
S. Daryl Parker
Carolyn Laws-Roos
Leonard & Sandy Sargent
In Honor
Monte Dolack & Mary
Beth Percival
Dr. Jeremy Jacobson
Executive Committee
Chris Schustrom, Whitefish, Chairman
Sharon Sweeney Fee, Livingston,
Vice Chairwoman
Lyle Courtnage, Billings, Secretary
Brian Neilsen, Great Falls, Treasurer
Doug Haacke, Billings, Past Chairman
Dan Short, Kalispell, National TU Leadership Council Director for MT
Dan Vermillion, Livingston, National
TU Trustee
Scott Gordon, Seeley Lake
Big Blackfoot Chapter
Larry Timchak, Whitefish
Flathead Valley Chapter
Rich Day, Butte
George Grant Chapter
Amy Schilling, Livingston
Joe Brooks Chapter
Mike Rooney, Libby
Kootenai Valley Chapter
Mike Geary, Twin Bridges
Lewis & Clark Chapter
Mark Peterson, Bozeman
Madison-Gallatin Chapter
Monte Dolack
Artist
Dr. Stanley Falkow
Professor of Microbiology
Seeley Lake
Ryan Neudecker, Program Coordinator
Lyle Courtnage, Billings
Magic City Fly Fishers
Paul Considine, Great Falls
Missouri River Flyfishers
Lee Ricks, Helena
Pat Barnes-Missouri River Chapter
Mike Chapman, Lewiston
Snowy Mountain Chapter
Jamie Short, Missoula
WestSlope Chapter
Presidents and
Chapters
Montana TU
Stewardship Directors
Roy O’Connor
Rancher, business owner
& conservationist
Drs. Robert & Peggy Ratcheson
Professor of neurosurgery,
Anthropologist & anglers
Paul Roos
Outfitter & conservationist
Paul Stanley
Retired business owner
K.C. Walsh
CEO, Simms Fishing Products
Ross Rademacher, Corvallis
Bitterroot Chapter
Dr. Marshall Bloom
M.D. and scientist
Montana TU Staff
Missoula
Bruce Farling, Executive Director
Mark Aagenes, Conservation Director
Kelley Willett, Development Director
Kate Grant, Program Manager
Kendra Sawitzky, Outreach Assistant
Big Blackfoot Chapter
of TU Staff
Jerry Lappier
Co-owner, The Trout Shop
Bud Lilly
Noted angler and author
Craig & Jackie Mathews
Conservationists, anglers and author
Tom Morgan
Flyrod, reel & boat designer/builder
Paul Moseley
Owner, Ruby Springs Lodge
Dr. Irving Weissman
Professor of pathology, angler
& conservationist
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ABOUT US
Founded in 1964, Montana Trout Unlimited is a statewide grassroots organization
dedicated to conserving and restoring Montana’s coldwater fisheries and their
watersheds. Montana Trout Unlimited comprises 13 chapters and approximately
3,900 TU members. As a TU affiliate, we work closely with our national organization
on conservation priorities. Montana TU is financially independent of TU National
and is governed by directors from each of the state’s TU chapters. All contributions
to Montana TU support conservation, protection and restoration efforts in Montana.
Courtesy of Casey Hackathorn
www.montanatu.org
Montana Trout Unlimited
P.O. Box 7186, Missoula, MT 59807
Phone: 406-543-0054, Fax: 406-543-6080
bruce@montanatu.org
www.tu.org
printed on recycled paper