Trout unlimited serves as coordinator of the driftless area restoration effort (dare) partnership

This $170,000 Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Fish Habitat Partnership (CFDA 15.686) program supports the Driftless Area Restoration Effort (DARE) led by Trout Unlimited, Inc. The grant funds will be used to coordinate conservation activities with partner organizations across a four-state region to reduce sediment and nutrient inputs, conserve and restore aquatic habitats, and increase fish populations and recreational opportunities in the Driftless Area. Key activities include organizing field days and workshops, providing financial and technical assistance for habitat restoration projects, educating landowners, soliciting and reviewing proposals for the DARE grant program, hosting an annual symposium, and conducting outreach and education through websites and social media. The grant period runs from June 2024 through September 2026. Trout Unlimited, Inc. will serve as the lead organization, working closely with its parent organization 21 Schrems West Michigan and other conservation partners to deliver these services.

Funds authorized by the americas conservation enhancement act are used to coordinate, collaborate, and carry out supporting activities with conservation partners that help reduce sediment and nutrients inputs to driftless area rivers and streams conserve, restore and expand habitats that will increase the natural abundance, diversity, and health of riverine fishes and other aquatic life increase the quantity and quality of angling and other recreational opportunities and increase awareness about driftless area resources and the importance of aquatic conservation and restoration through outreach and education. Over the past 17 years, trout unlimited has fostered and strengthened relationships among county, state, and federal agencies, trout unlimited chapters, conservation organizations and educational institutions. Trout unlimited will increase conservation in the driftless area through our own practices and capacity building among our partners to implement in-stream and riparian restoration projects. Trout unlimited will: 1) organize and host field days and workshops engaging local conservation offices, volunteers, landowners and contractors increasing their knowledge and abilities to carry out habitat projects 2) provide financial and technical assistance to state fish habitat crews, TU chapters and other conservation organizations to increase the extent and quality of practices conducted on public easement areas 3) educate provide technical assistance to farmers landowners on target streams to cultivate restoration activities 4) initiate and complete annual request for proposals solicitation, review and score proposals and enter them into nfhp database 5) coordinate and host the annual driftless area symposium to share the latest science, research, habitat projects and management needs of cold-water riparian areas across the 4-state region 6) provide assistance to partner groups and potential applicants for the dare national fish habitat partnership grant program 7) provide educational outreach opportunities with youth and schools on water quality, trout biology or habitat restoration and 8) maintain a dare website, facebook and youtube channel sharing the uniqueness of the driftless area, upcoming events, and materials for our annual request for proposals.