If you trout fish locally, you’ve enjoyed the results of her work
Sara Rigelman, a land acquisition specialist and park planner for the Dane County Land and Water Resources Department (LWRD), received the Robert Hunt Award honoring a conservation professional for important contributions to Wisconsin trout resources. SWTU was happy to nominate Sara to recognize her achievements in protecting, enhancing and securing permanent, public access to many miles of trout streams.
Dan Wisniewski, Jim Hess and Topf Wells were just a few of the many SWTU members on hand to congratulate Sara.
In short, the stream easements, protections and restoration work that you see happening locally traces back to Sara. A decade ago she was charged with creating and running the Dane County trout stream easement program. And boy has she!
Sara has secured dozens of easements covering over 20 stream miles on at least 10 different trout waters. Many miles of these easements are on major trout streams such as the Sugar River, the West Branch of the Sugar, Kittleson Creek, and Gordon Creek that can support heavy fishing pressure. Her collaborative work with landowners and partner organizations (like SWTU) has made a new, blue ribbon fishery available to trout anglers.
Sara is not stopping. 2019 will see the implementation of a $165,000 restoration of another half mile of the Sugar River on County land open to the public for all forms of outdoor recreation. Sara spent 2018 working with the DNR, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, other County staff and SWTU in planning a comprehensive restoration that will dramatically improve stream habitat, protect and enhance springs, and restore wetlands and prairies. She also has just secured yet another easement on a small spring tributary of the West Branch of the Sugar River with a hitherto undiscovered population of wild brook trout.
These few paragraphs say plenty, but barely scratch the surface of Sara’s impressive, impactful work.
Congratulations, Sara! We look forward to working with you to continue the dramatic improvements in the health of and public access to the trout streams of Dane County.
Also awarded …
In addition to Sara’s award, we want to note our delight in Terry Cummings receiving the Unsung Hero Award. Terry is now a member of Northwoods TU, which nominated him, but many of us recall Terry’s unflagging energy and optimism when he was a member of SWTU for over 20 years. Hardly an event or initiative took place without Terry’s participation. Congrats!
Impressive and Generous Fly Tyers
The State Council meeting is also a major fundraiser that does a tremendous amount of good for our cold water resource. This includes an auction, for which SWTU was asked to donate some flies. As you can see in the photo, our members came through IMPRESSIVELY. Many thanks to John Gribb, John Strauss, Andy Morton, Leroy Ebert, Tom Thrall, Dan Wisniewski, Bob Selk, Jim Beecher, Scot Stewart, Pat Hasburgh, Tom Mulford, Mark Rhinerson and Ben Lubchansky for their time and talents.
Sara Rigelman Wins State Council Award (and other updates from State TU)
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Last Updated: February 8, 2019 by Drew Kasel
If you trout fish locally, you’ve enjoyed the results of her work
Sara Rigelman, a land acquisition specialist and park planner for the Dane County Land and Water Resources Department (LWRD), received the Robert Hunt Award honoring a conservation professional for important contributions to Wisconsin trout resources. SWTU was happy to nominate Sara to recognize her achievements in protecting, enhancing and securing permanent, public access to many miles of trout streams.
In short, the stream easements, protections and restoration work that you see happening locally traces back to Sara. A decade ago she was charged with creating and running the Dane County trout stream easement program. And boy has she!
Sara has secured dozens of easements covering over 20 stream miles on at least 10 different trout waters. Many miles of these easements are on major trout streams such as the Sugar River, the West Branch of the Sugar, Kittleson Creek, and Gordon Creek that can support heavy fishing pressure. Her collaborative work with landowners and partner organizations (like SWTU) has made a new, blue ribbon fishery available to trout anglers.
Sara is not stopping. 2019 will see the implementation of a $165,000 restoration of another half mile of the Sugar River on County land open to the public for all forms of outdoor recreation. Sara spent 2018 working with the DNR, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, other County staff and SWTU in planning a comprehensive restoration that will dramatically improve stream habitat, protect and enhance springs, and restore wetlands and prairies. She also has just secured yet another easement on a small spring tributary of the West Branch of the Sugar River with a hitherto undiscovered population of wild brook trout.
These few paragraphs say plenty, but barely scratch the surface of Sara’s impressive, impactful work.
Congratulations, Sara! We look forward to working with you to continue the dramatic improvements in the health of and public access to the trout streams of Dane County.
Also awarded …
In addition to Sara’s award, we want to note our delight in Terry Cummings receiving the Unsung Hero Award. Terry is now a member of Northwoods TU, which nominated him, but many of us recall Terry’s unflagging energy and optimism when he was a member of SWTU for over 20 years. Hardly an event or initiative took place without Terry’s participation. Congrats!
Impressive and Generous Fly Tyers
The State Council meeting is also a major fundraiser that does a tremendous amount of good for our cold water resource. This includes an auction, for which SWTU was asked to donate some flies. As you can see in the photo, our members came through IMPRESSIVELY. Many thanks to John Gribb, John Strauss, Andy Morton, Leroy Ebert, Tom Thrall, Dan Wisniewski, Bob Selk, Jim Beecher, Scot Stewart, Pat Hasburgh, Tom Mulford, Mark Rhinerson and Ben Lubchansky for their time and talents.
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