|
About Us
The TGF Conservation Fund
The TGF Conservation Fund is dedicated to
• The preservation and enhancement of coldwater fisheries in the Catskills and Croton watersheds and elsewhere in the tri-state area, to provide public opportunities for the enjoyment of angling and to support self-sustaining wild trout fisheries where possible.
• Habitat improvement, so that streams provide pool structures and holding waters and tributaries provide protection from warm water and good spawning conditions.
• Protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources, so that hydro and transportation facilities are developed and operated in a manner that does not contribute to degradation of coldwater fisheries.
• Adoption of special angling regulations to encourage catch and release, fly-only angling, particularly in streams capable of supporting self-sustaining wild trout fisheries.
• Education of the public on the critical social and economic importance of clean water, not only for public health and safety, but also for economic growth, recreation and quality of life.
• Working with other angling and conservation organizations and governmental agencies on matters of mutual concern.
Activities and Sample Projects
• Preservation of coldwater fisheries.
• TGF has received national recognition for its Wild Trout Initiative, a conservation effort to promote reconsideration of stocking policies and enhanced angling experiences. The TGF Conservation Fund's resources would be used to support activities that continue this effort.
• The TGF Conservation Fund will provide funds to study reservoir water releases, particularly from the Cannonsville Reservoir, where changes in release patterns could enhance stream life while also providing adequate water for public consumption.
• Where streams are capable of supporting a self-sustaining wild trout population, the Conservation Fund will support classification of the stream as a fly-only, no-kill stream and encourage no stocking. The Conservation Fund will support studies of other streams so that they can be rated and stocking policies can be developed to encourage that only lower rated streams are used for put-and-take angling for hatchery fish.
• TGF has long been associated with an annual Project Access day, in which volunteers construct paths to provide angling opportunities for the disabled. The Conservation Fund will continue this valuable work.
• Habitat improvement.
• TGF has a long history of participating in interim A rock-rolling @ projects to ensure trout access to tributaries for spawning. The Conservation Fund will continue to support these channel clearing activities to ensure access during periods of warm water and spawning seasons.
• Restoration of streams to natural flows where channeling, flood control or other projects have caused damage. One such project is Hazel Brook, which one study submitted to TGF suggests was diverted long ago to follow a course that is not its natural course. The Conservation Fund will evaluate this project and determine whether restoration of the stream to its natural course would be useful to provide refuge from summer water and to facilitate spawning. Bennet Brook and Stewart Brook, both feeder streams of the Willowemoc, also merit further study.
• To increase the amount of quality angling waters, the Conservation Fund will (subject to DOC approval when required) participate in the construction of point bars, the addition of boulders and other streambed improvements to develop pool structures. TGF has already completed such a project in the Neversink, the success of which has encouraged us to study other activities.
• The Conservation Fund will promote streambank planting to prevent or cure flood damage and to limit excessive turbidity, especially on streams such as the Batavia, where exposed clay banks are believed to be contributing to turbidity in the Schoharie Reservoir and ultimately Esopus Creek.
• Protection of the environment.
• In many places in the watershed roads have been constructed and culverts installed without regard to their effect on access by migrating or spawning fish. The Conservation Fund will be used to encourage replacement of these culverts and, where public funds are not available and resources permit, fund the replacement.
• TGF has been a principal plaintiff in the litigation to eliminate the release of turbid water from Schoharie Reservoir into the Esopus Creek. In addition to its support of habitat improvement projects aimed at restoration of banks, the TGF Conservation Fund would continue to support efforts to eliminate pollution of coldwater streams.
• Continued monitoring of the construction of the Millennium Pipeline to avoid digging through the beds of the East & West Branches of the Delaware or construction that would cause excessive disruption of stream conditions, especially during spawning runs.
• Monitor changes in Route 17 as it is converted to the new Interstate 86.
• Redesign road runoff with improved filtration and opportunity for cooling before entering streams.
• Special regulations.
• Much of regulation of angling in the tri-state area consists of uniform regulations that do not take into account particular stream characteristics. The Conservation Fund will favor classification of streams so that special regulations apply to the highest quality wild trout waters.
• The Conservation Fund's resources will be used to encourage increased enforcement of special regulations for high quality waters. All of such waters should be governed by fly-only, no-kill regulations.
• Education
• Studies of reproduction.
• Biological and ecosystem studies, including studies of the effects of warm water runoff, siltation and turbidity.
• Possible land acquisition for environmental and conservation studies.
• Cooperation with other conservation organizations and governmental agencies.
• TGF has worked with the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum on Project Access and other projects, with several TU chapters on the Esopus Creek litigation, and with other groups such as the Federation of Fly Fishers and the Friends of the Connetquot. The Conservation Fund will enhance TGF's ability to work with these groups.
• TGF's autumn stream-clearing projects and spring Project Access path construction projects have always been done with the cooperation of the DEC. The DEC has participated in the funding of TGF's Trout in the Classroom Program. Representatives of TGF also participated in meetings called by NYAG's Watershed Inspector General regarding problems in Esopus Creek.
• TGF's relations with these regulatory agencies have been sound; while not without conflict, the relations have been based on mutual respect.
• The Conservation Fund contemplates an enhanced role in conservation efforts in the tri-state area, and the Fund expects to continue to work with and enjoy the cooperation of governmental agencies.
|