The deadline to notify the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) that the Groundwater Protection Rule is failing to prevent nitrate pollution in our trout streams and groundwater is Thursday, March 12. At a minimum, the agency needs to hear from you and your friends that: The current Rule is not adequate to...
The U.S. Senate vote on the Joint Resolution that would overturn the 20-year ban on mining upstream of the Boundary Waters has been delayed. You still have time to contact your senators and urge they vote “no”. You can phone the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and a switchboard...
Volunteer Spotlight on Mike Madigan Both my mother and father were fly fishers. They gave me my first fly rod when I was 7, a seven-foot Fenwick glass rod. For the first few years, I spent a great deal of time extricating my flies from the trees and bushes that lined...
Our assistant director, Kristen Poppleton, often says “teamwork makes the dream work.”As I reflect on my first two years with Minnesota Trout Unlimited, I have a new appreciation for the phrase. The culture of service and commitment to conservation through boots and shovels on the ground by MNTU volunteers and...
May 2025 FEDERAL ACTION TO PROTECT THE BOUNDARY WATERS The House Natural Resources Committee recently passed its reconciliation bill that dismantles Boundary Waters protections from sulfide-ore copper mining. These efforts open the door to toxic copper mining within the watershed of the Boundary Waters, a world-class recreational fishery and home to native...
On Monday, April 20, 2025 Minnesota Trout Unlimited members joined an informational hearing on SF3083, a bill to regulate neonic treated seeds. In an informational hearing votes, amendments, or other actions aren't taken on bills, but they are an excellent way to demonstrate support, connect with others...
Minnesota Trout Unlimited 2-16-2023 After nearly 7 months, the state agencies investigating the Rush Creek fish kill today suggested that rainfall is likely to blame for killing over 2,500 fish. Nonsense. It rains regularly across the state and our rivers are not constantly filled with dead fish. Human actions in...
January 2023 Public Access – Permanent DNR easements along streams ensure fishing access, the ability to restore habitat, and protection of riparian corridors. Loss of “informal” access is accelerating. Substantially increased funding is needed now to seize generational opportunities before lands are sold and subdivided, or posted. Better signage and policy...
What do the Whitewater, Vermillion, Straight and Sucker Rivers all have in common, besides being popular trout streams? They all suffer from one or more impairments caused by pollution or degradation. This week the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released its Draft 2020 Impaired Waters List identifying more than 500 additional stream...
