Partners in Conservation

Founded by the Woodwell Climate Research Center and Fishpond, Science on the Fly seeks to further our understanding of changing watersheds around the world through long term, world-class river science. With a growing list of partners and supporters, we aim to bridge the gap between science and public policy, and to activate and inspire a broad community of river stewards to take ownership of that process.

Science on the Fly harnesses the enthusiasm, geographic reach, and conservation ethic of the fly fishing community to strategically increase the number of rivers globally that are subject to long-term studies of water quality and watershed health. As a community, we’ve recognized a risk to the places that have inspired our passion for the outdoors. In response we are taking urgent and action-oriented steps toward understanding that risk.

www.scienceonthefly.org

Fishpond is a proud partner with Western Rivers Conservancy, whose slogan is, “Sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it.” Of course, you can’t actually buy a river, but you can buy the land along it—and that’s exactly what WRC has been doing for 30 years. The goal: permanently conserve fish and wildlife habitat and create public access for anglers, boaters, hunters, hikers and others. WRC goes after properties that matter the most, and then they transfer them to the best steward possible, from the US Forest Service to state park systems. What does that mean for anglers and the rivers we love? Healthier habitat and better access for good. To learn more about WRC, sign up for their newsletter to stay in the loop with their projects.

We feel that Western Rivers Conservancy has such a unique approach to conservation to raise money that goes to purchase large pieces of land in order to protect habitat. Then that land gets protected and opened up to to the public! Their work ranges from our backyard here in Colorado and reaches all the way to the West Coast with the protection of critical salmon habitat. We like this model so much that we have created products that directly fund their work. With the purchase of the below products, we at Fishpond make a direct donation back to Western Rivers. The support from the Fishpond Tribe last year we were able to write them a check for over $10k to fund their work, see the story here.

www.westernrivers.org

The cold, clean waters where trout and salmon swim are important to everyone, anglers or otherwise. Of course, Trout Unlimited is about protecting, reconnecting, restoring and sustaining trout and salmon habitat that is the foundation of fly fishing. The vast majority of fly anglers in North America fish for trout, and a good percentage of them started with trout. (What was your first species on a fly?)

However, these fish are also critically important bellwethers of healthy aquatic ecosystems, and the impacts on our headwater lakes and rivers are felt for many miles downstream in all directions—from places where we fish for sport, to communities that want clean drinking water.

While there are a number of worthy organizations that advocate on issues like public lands, climate change, and clean water (as does Trout Unlimited), no other group has the actual “boots-in-the-water” bandwidth to get projects planned and implemented like TU. TU has a staff of scientists, attorneys, policy experts, communicators, and others who direct grassroots programs from Alaska to the Appalachians.

More importantly, Trout Unlimited has over 300,000 members and supporters nationwide who volunteer the resources and efforts needed to get stuff done. In the past 10 years, TU volunteers spent $92,524,260 to implement its mission locally, including over 11,000 unique conservation projects, and over 15,300 youth education projects. Last year alone, the TU community donated 734,824 volunteer hours, and protected three million acres of habitat, reconnected 737 river miles, and restored another 361 river and stream miles.

https://www.tu.org/

Since 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has supported 1,299 projects benefiting fish habitats in all 50 states. The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 regionally-based Fish Habitat Partnerships.

Through on-the-ground conservation projects, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has reconnected 4,711 miles of rivers and streams, restored/rehabilitated 1,124 miles of rivers and streams, protected 11 miles of streams and rivers, protected 13,261 acres of habitat, and restored/rehabilitated 43,170 acres of river, lake, riparian, upland, estuary, and wetland habitat from 2006-2021 across the United States.

In 2022, The National Fish Habitat Partnership and its partners provided more than $53.2 million to support 78 fish habitat conservation projects across 37 states. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  provided $5.4 million, with non-governmental organizations, state resource agencies, and other partners contributing an additional $47.6 million. These projects represent a 9-to-1 leveraged funding match for federal funding with partnership project funding from other sources.

www.fishhabitat.org

First Descents provides life-changing, outdoor adventures for young adults impacted by cancer. 

First Descents is a recognized leader in outdoor experiential programming. Through outdoor adventures, skills development, and local adventure communities FD improves the long-term survivorship of young adults impacted by cancer.

Our participants experience free outdoor adventure programs that empower them to climb, paddle, and surf beyond their diagnosis, reclaim their lives, and connect with others doing the same.

www.firstdescents.org