By Andy Morton

The annual Cross Plains Lions Club “Trout Days” celebration along Black Earth Creek in Zander Park was a real team event. The Black Earth Creek Watershed Association (BECWA), Capitol Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC), Groundswell Conservancy, and your very own SWTU made May 6 a memorable day for the scores of attendees.

The “Bugs on the Creek” demo was again conducted by Bobbi Peckarsky (BECWA), along with Mike Miller (WDNR)—along with a couple of his friends—Laurie and Ethan—were a great help!!.   Mike Rupiper (CARPC) discussed the Green Infrastructure project with visitors to the exhibit;  while Tony Abate (Groundswell) met with attendees to go over their land protection program.

BECWA  board members Deb Weitzel, Mary Devitt, and Barb Borns were on hand to discuss the how of BECWA facilitates integrated management of watershed activities and provides valuable information on watershed issues and concerns.

SWTU members conducted a fly casting class, went over needed equipment (what to bring besides your rod, reel, line, flies and license), and a lesson on “reading and fishing the water.”

The event was so much fun – and even better, it provided a great opportunity to network and talk about managing and protecting this precious resource.

Thanks to the following TU participants (hope we didn’t leave anyone out):

Jim Hess                      Mark Maffitt                  Don Golembiewski

Henry Haugley              Jim Beecher                  Tom Thrall

Paul Williams                Henry Nehls-Lowe         Dave Fowler                  Topf Wells

Our thanks go to the Village of Cross Plains and the Cross Plains Lions for making this event possible.

Photos provided by Jim Beecher.