By Topf Wells
On a warm, sunny June 25th afternoon, the DNR Board met on Gordon Creek just downstream of the second Sandy Rock Road bridge to begin its discussion of Wisconsin’s inland trout management. They started by learning about one of the most successful stream restorations in the history of Wisconsin trout stream management – Gordon Creek indeed.  Bradd Sims, DNR fish biologist, discussed the history in some detail and a DNR crew shocked the stream to show the Board the trouty results of all the easement and habitat work. 

SWTU was prominent in that discussion.  SWTU was central, pivotal, fundamental, essential, crucial to the restorations that occurred in that two miles of stream.  Cutting to the chase, it would not have happened without us.  The Chapter won over $250,000 in grants, held several easements to enable the DNR to take them, and constructed over 100 LUNKERs.  This occurred as a result of thousands of hours of meeting with landowners, the DNR and other agencies and writing grants and reports.  Among the leaders of this extraordinary effort were Mike Schmidt, Jim Gentry and Jim Kanvick.  The complexities of this project were a challenge for the officers, board members, and the organizers of the project.  Hundreds of anglers, thousands of trout (and lots of other critters) are thankful they persevered.