RiverStewards – Making a Difference
Trout Unlimited – High Desert Anglers Chapter (Northeastern, Utah)
RiverStewards is thrilled to showcase some of the organizations we have partnered with to help support their ongoing initiatives, one of those organizations is Trout Unlimited, specifically the High Desert Anglers Chapter.
Trout Unlimited is a non-profit organization that was founded by a band of Michigan anglers in 1959. Since then, they have become a national organization with 400 different chapters, one of them being the High Desert Anglers Chapter, which was formed in 1972. The organization focuses on conserving, protecting, and restoring North America’s cold-water fisheries and their watersheds. The High Desert Anglers Chapter consists of all volunteers, where all proceeds made go directly to Utah Fisheries.
The High Desert Anglers Chapter is led by Travis Mold, who serves as their President, and his wife Holly Mold, who serves as their Treasurer and Secretary. Travis has served as the chapter’s President since 2018, and both have been involved in the organization for over a decade. Their Vice President, Jeff Tanaguchi was the original founder of the chapter in 1972.
Over the past few years, the High Desert Anglers Chapter has taken on several projects to benefit both the public as well as their environment. One of these projects was in collaboration with the US Forest Service and Utah BLM (Bureau of Land Management) to improve an 8-mile stretch of walkway in Flaming Gorge. This walkway will provide people with better access from the Flaming Gorge Dam down to Little Hole. This project has been active for the past three years and will be finished this year.
Another project they completed in the past year was adding J Hooks to boat ramps one and three at Little Hole, which is on the Green River. This provides easier access for boaters to take boats in and out of the water. With funds from RiverStewards, they will be updating the boat ramp on Section C of the Green River next year. Guides and rafters have expressed appreciation of these improved launches, as it makes it more accessible for people.
High Desert Anglers also have another project in the works with the US Forest Service and Utah BLM to carry out a restoration project from Simplot Mine down to Brush Creek. This project will help restore the stream conditions, better the fish structures for spawning, and improve the fisheries.
Each year, they do one major fundraiser called Single Fly, this is an event where teams from all over come receive one fly and are permitted to fish all day. The event also includes a banquet in the evening that has an award portion as well as an auction. With the proceeds they raise from this event, 100% of it gets donated back into Utah fisheries.
For more information regarding Trout Unlimited and the High Desert Anglers Chapter, visit their website by clicking this link and be sure to check out their Facebook page by clicking here.
