CONSERVE
CONSERVING, PROTECTING AND RESTORING OUR COUNTRY'S COLDWATER FISHERIEIS AND THEIR WATERSHEDS
Partnerships
FVTU works with a wide array of partners building relationships to achieve scale in terms of commitment to conservation goals and objectives. These include funding, skills and ideas for solutions, capabilities to achieve objectives, and influence events aligned with TU’s mission.
The benefits from our partnerships are best viewed by the achievements of the last 9 years: FVTU raised approximately $500,000 through grants and contributions, which when combined with our partners, totals nearly $2 Million for 4 major habitat improvement / restoration projects in the Central Region.
FVTU has a long and proud history of partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for promoting coldwater conservation. Some other partners that FVTU works with are TU Chapters and TU Professional Staff; State, County, and Community governments, Conservation organizations, and private individuals.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Our project planning, Habitat Improvement Days, and prioritization of chapter resources all require input and facilitation with WDNR to ensure our practices are best implemented, efficient, and follow conservation and regulatory standards following sound science. In return, FVTU annually contributes funds to the local fisheries staff for LTE positions that directly fund year-round habitat improvements and fishability work in the streams we fish.
Priority Waters is a National TU Program in which TU chapters identified their local watersheds deemed in most need of funding and resource support for the protection, restoration, and enjoyment of trout fisheries. FVTU and their partners have identified six Central Wisconsin watersheds as Priority Waters.
The Mecan River Watershed was selected as the first of six watersheds to initiate the program. FVTU obtained a DNR Watershed Management Planning Grant, with matching funds from FVTU and CWTU, for a total of $10,000 to fund the management plan project.
Merjent, Inc., an environmental consulting firm, was hired to lead the project and will develop the watershed management plan for the Mecan Watershed in August 2025 with input from all of us.
13th Avenue Dam Removal Project
This project removes a dam, replaces a road crossing integrated with the dam, and restores brook trout habitat along 3.1 miles of stream. The dam blocks aquatic organism passage upstream and forms an impoundment discharging water exceeding brook trout thermal tolerances for a distance of 0.85 miles at the headwaters of the West Branch White River (WBWR).
The 13th Avenue Dam removal project arose out of FVTU’s essential community partnerships. When approached by the Town of Wautoma, FVTU saw an opportunity to enhance the roadway project to augment the crossing for trout passability on the West Branch of the White River and integrate downstream instream habitat work into the project.
FVTU, with TU CARES, has helped the Town secure funding for the dam removal, crossing structure, and downstream habitat. The project is awaiting additional funding for the road replacement at this time.