FISH RESCUE PROGRAMS

Every year thousands of trout and other species of fish which live in the Big Wood River migrate into irrigation diversions and canals never to return to the river. At the end of each irrigation season when the water flows are shut off, the fishbecome trapped and die. In 2021 we rescued 23,00 fish, If you want to know more about this program please go to our website http://hemingwaytu.org. The Rescues often occur with little notification resulting in times and locations changing at the last minute. If you would like to volunteer for this meaningful and fun program please email me a apilgram@cox.net with your email address and phone number. I will put you in a list that gets contacted when we do the rescues. I look forward to hearing from those of you who are interested. Ed Northen: apilgram@cox.net, mobile: 949-246-9372

BOX CAR BEND CLEAN-UP & MAINTENANCE

The Hemingway Chapter of Trout Unlimited has been partnering with The Wood River Land Trust since 2006 on this annual project. Each year we provide maintenance to the accesses and trails at Box Car Bend on the Big Wood River. Participants of all ages helped pull invasive weeds, clean trails from overgrowth and crab grass, put down wood chips on the trails and maintain the erosion control barriers. A few hours of hard work are followed up by a BBQ lunch and snacks.

Volunteers should bring appropriate clothing including hats, sun glassess, and work gloves.Tools to bring: garden rakes, scoop shovels, hoes, Wheel Barrows. Contact for this project is Carmen Northen at flyfishngirl@cox

FISH ACCESS MAINTENANCE

One of the ongoing projects the Hemingway Chapter is involved in, is marking and maintaining access to the Big Wood river. We have been doing this for over a decade and Board Member Dave Spaulding, has been the lead on this effort. In 2011 we began posting fishing regulation and access signs in English and Spanish on almost all of the Big Wood river accesses. We continue to maintain the accesses clearing them of overgrowth and making them visible. This year we will again provide maintenance to these accesses and ensure regulation and access signs are posted. Usually the project is done by 4 to 6 people over several days. This year members of the TU Board gathered together to clear the access at the two Flying Heart access points. These two parking have been closed down by the homeowners association. Blaine County Commissioners, Silver Creek Outfitters and TU Hemingway Chapter are in the process of trying to resolve this issue. We parked just off of the highway and walked into the access sights and cleared the trail . We will be sending out notices of the dates for this project, once we have them scheduled. Volunteers are needed to participate in one day or all of them.

ERC CLEAN SWEEP

Each spring since 2017 the Hemingway Chapter supports and participates with a team in the ERC "clean sweep" of the Wood River Valley. Volunteers join together and clean up the river and banks along the Big Wood River at River Run access up and downstream. We have found and removed a chaise lounge, burnt up guitar, a muffler system and lots of beverage bottles and cans, road cones and general debris. Our team has won the "best spirit" award and "most unusual find" awards. This is a fun event and accomplishes our goal of protecting our rivers.