December 31, 2012

Greetings,

As the TU Madmen Chapter finishes up another year, I would like to personally THANK everyone who has helped support our chapter. We logged 1641 volunteer hours through various projects and outreach programs, which included initiating two new programs – Trout in the Classroom (TIC) and Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHW). Special thanks go to Dr. Don Dean, and school teacher, Spencer Reames, for establishing TIC in Benjamin Logan Schools and to John Davis for coordinating the PHWFF program in Columbus. Also, thanks to ODNR-Division of Wildlife for providing trout eggs and assistance for the TIC program. Below I have included a summary of our 2012 accomplishments following TU’s Conservation approach: PROTECT, RECONNECT, RESTORE and SUSTAIN.

PROTECT

-         Supported watershed protection in coordination with the Mad River Watershed Joint Board and Advisory Group as well as the Scenic Mad River Committee (SMRC).

-         Supported ODNR’s 4 year Ohio Brown Trout Study and provided data to the ODNR from 2 fishing surveys.

-         Conducted 4 stream monitoring events at 6 locations within the Mad River Watershed.

-         Held 4 stream clean-ups as well as workdays for trail maintenance; we are working to improve the Adopt-A-Bridge/Stream Watch Program.

-         Supported efforts to protect Ohio’s native brook trout and Ohio’s steelhead fishery.

-         Involvement with national TU workgroups in an effort to protect cold water fisheries.

RECONNECT

-         Continue to work on establishing ground water monitoring in the Mad River watershed.

-         Continue to evaluate opportunities to protect Mad River headwaters and potential spawning areas.

RESTORE

-         Removed log jam upstream of the Pimtown Road Bridge; logs are being used to create in-stream habitat downstream.

-         Received plan approval and began “In-stream Habitat Improvement Project” on over 400 feet of river below Pimtown Road Bridge.

-         Planted willow cuttings at State Route 36

SUSTAIN

-         Assisted in establishing the “Trout in the Classroom” program in the Benjamin Logan School District as well as adding Graham and West Liberty-Salem  School Districts for 2012-2013.

-         Helped sponsor screening of CONNECT in Columbus with all proceeds going to Casting For Recovery (CFR).

-         Helped sponsor the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) in Columbus with all proceeds going to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF).

-         Currently working to establish PHWFF with the Columbus VA.

-         Assisted in the PHWFF event at ODNR’s Castalia Hatchery. (Watch the Video Clip)

-         Held a Stream Team Workshop in Urbana in cooperation with The Miami Conservancy District.

-         Worked with Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and students in both Champaign and Logan Counties.

-         Supported and coordinated with other Ohio TU Chapters, fly fishing clubs and conservation groups and organizations.

As you can see, the Madmen Chapter has as alot going on, so please consider getting involved in 2013. Keep checking the web site calendar for upcoming events and activities. The coming year should be just as good as 2012. Once again the year’s activities will begin with Buckeye United Fly Fishers’ (BUFF) Greater Cincinnati Fly Fishing Show. This year the show will be at the Oasis Conference Center in Loveland, Ohio. The show will be on Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. For more information as well as directions to the show please check out the following link: www.buckeyeflyfishers.com/EXPO/default.html.

Also, our Annual Membership Meeting will be in March at the Champaign County Historical Society Museum. Once we have the details for the Membership Meeting we will post them on our web site as well as send out the information through TU.

Thanks again for your continued support and I wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Take care,

Don Boysel, President

TU Madmen Chapter