Mid Missouri Trout Unlimited November 2026 Newsletter

Travis Figg
4 days ago
8 min read

President’s Message

Dear Mid-Missouri Trout Unlimited Members,

Our annual holiday meeting will be on Tuesday December 2at Rock Quarry House. We will have a potluck, bring an entree, sidedish or desert and if you like something to drink. The Chapter will provide disposable plates, utensils and cups as well as soft drinks. We will have our usual photo contest, with a $5 entry fee per photograph. Please send the photos to me. Put “PHOTO CONTEST” in the subject. If you don’t get an acknowledgment from me before December 1 please ask if I got your photos.

In the News: On November 17th, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army announced a proposed rule to clarify the definition of the “Waters of the United States (WOTUS)”. This definitions is the basis on which waters are protected. You can find information here https://www.epa.gov/wotus. The new rule was published in the Federal Register on November 20th. Under the new rule federal jurisdiction will be reduced by excluding ephemeral streams (which flow only in response to precipitation) and wetlands that do not have a "continuous surface connection" to a relatively permanent body of water. Given how recent all this is I expect we will hear more about this.

Hope to see you at the annual holiday meeting.

Tight lines everyone.

Doug Grove

Ozark Council and NLC News:

The council met November 18 and I will send minutes and NLC updates in a combination to everyone in our council. It will have more information input to the National Conservation Agenda, surveying stream crossings and priority waters items.

40th Anniversary Banquet:

Talk to Curt to learn more about it and plan to attend this special banquet next February. The committee is already at work and if you want to donate or help in some way, please contact Doug.

October MMTU Meeting Minutes

The Mid-Missouri Chapter of Trout Unlimited met on November 4 at Rock Quarry House. Fourteen members attended. It was noteworthy that five attendees were under the age of 45!

The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Travis Figg at 6:25 p.m. The program was a Zoom presentation on youth activities by Cecily Nordstrom and Cliff Watson. Cecily described the programs for younger people including stream girls/stream keepers, conservation camps, and family friendly events including fly tying nights, river cleanups, fishing days and movie screenings. Cliff followed by describing the Five-Rivers program for college students, high school and middle school student clubs, and youth engagement by having a board member with designated responsibilities for youth engagement including activities and social media. There was lively discussion about local opportunities following the formal presentation.

Leftover post cards advertising the 2026 Fundraising Banquet and chapter’s 40th birthday party were distributed for members to place at local businesses. Curt had produced stickers of the 1986 Missouri Trout Stamp (the year that MMTU was founded) and they were attached to the cards.

Bill reported on a proposed Ozark Council project in which all road crossings over coldwater streams would be assessed for restriction to fish movement. John Thomas, Council Conservation Chair, is leading the project in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservatiaon. It would be an excellent opportunity for broad involvement of members.

Curt reported on the 2026 chapter Driftless trip scheduled for May 13-17 with lodging near Reedstown, WI. Contact Curt for more information.

Bill reported on a possible trip swap for a fundraising banquet prize. A winter trout fishing in Missouri including lodging and informal guiding/hosting by MMTU members would be exchanged for a similar trip in MI/WI/MN.

Bill also reported on the success of the Embrace-a-Stream project proposal. Partial funding of the project was awarded and there is an opportunity for additional funding through donations to “Give Where You Fish” in which donations go directly to specific EAS projects. The MMTU project involves production (by Green Writers Press) of a children’s book on historic challenges faced by heritage brook trout in Lowery Creek in WI (see Trout magazine September 2025, “A Shining Success in Wisconsin”), development of educational materials to accompany the book, and distribution of it to second grade classrooms in the Driftless region in cooperation with Driftless area TU chapters. Each donation of $20 will allow us to reach students in an additional classroom. Donation can be made at https://go.tulocalevents.org/easchallenge25/t/midmissouri. Donations made from December 1-9 will count toward prizes for the chapter. Jeff Holzem made a motion for the chapter to donate $1000 to the project, the motion was seconded by Travis Figg and passed without opposition.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:40.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Lamberson

Secretary

CONSERVATION

Stand up for clean water and healthy fisheries

The U.S. Forest Service recently announced its intent to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This action would remove protections for 58.5 million acres of national forest land across 39 states that are home to irreplaceable fish and wildlife habitat.

Roadless areas provide some of the most important habitat for trout and salmon in the United States. They are destination locations for hunters and anglers. Roadless areas provide the spawning and rearing grounds for some of Alaska’s most robust salmon and steelhead runs and serve as the headwaters for the majority of Blue Ribbon trout streams in the West. In the Midwest and East, roadless areas also conserve important trout fisheries. For example, 64 percent of roadless areas in Michigan and 90 percent of roadless areas in New Hampshire provide habitat for native trout.

This issue affects trout and salmon fisheries across the country and anglers need to speak up for these important public lands. Right now, your members of Congress need to hear from their constituents how important these public lands are for our outdoor traditions. Later this summer, the U.S. Forest Service will begin the process of repealing the Roadless Rule – at that time sending messages to the agency will be crucial. https://www.tu.org/conservation/action-center/?vvsrc=/campaigns/129227/respond&utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=none&_zs=hW5wb&_zl=Nn1j4

ADVOCACY

HARD AT WORK IN THE DESERT

While we don't often think of rivers with trout in the desert, our Arizona team's hard work is making this state an unlikely case. study for trout conservation.

https://troutunlimited.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT00NTY5NTMyJnA9MSZ1PTQwNzAyMjM0OSZsaT01Mzc1MzQ4MA/index.html

KEEPING ACCESS FOR ANGLERS

The fight for public lands is not over, and on the Truckee River, TU and partners are working diligently to preserve access.

https://troutunlimited.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT00NTY5NTMyJnA9MSZ1PTQwNzAyMjM0OSZsaT01Mzc1MzQ4NA/index.html

Watch films about Trout Unlimited's vital work happening across the country.

The Golden Trout Project, https://prioritywaters.tu.org/the-golden-trout-project/?_zs=hW5wb&_zl=bSdi4. I had a chance to backpack and fish in this beautiful area and catch very colorful wild fish. They are California’s state fish.

Horses and High Water is about restoration projects in the West. https://troutunlimited.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT00NTYwMTk0JnA9MSZ1PTQwNzAyMjM0OSZsaT01MzU4NjgxNg/index.html

Angling for Hope tells of a vision to improve a creek https://www.tu.org/magazine/conservation/barriers/dam-removal/angling-for-hope/?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=none&_zs=hW5wb&_zl=dSdi4#watchnow

Missouri Stream Team Updates.

Congress Declares Management Plans Null and Void

Overturning Land Management Plans Could 'Jeopardize Effective and Balanced Public Land Stewardship’ National Wildlife Federation

Paying Farmers for Colorado River Conservation

Nevada Current: Paying Farmers Proves Most Cost Effective Way to Conserve Colorado River, Study Says

Maven’s Notebook

Louisiana Pulls Plug on Coastal Projects

Louisiana pulls the plug on another of its largest coastal projects

Fox8Live

White River Contaminated by Sewage

White River contaminated by 1.2 million gallons of raw sewage from Bull Shoals sewer failures

Mountain Home Observer

Water Supply for Southwest MO

A glass half-full: The Ozark Plateaus aquifer, Stockton Lake and a source for water in a developing region

KSMU

Winter Trout Season Now Underway

Winter Trout Season is Now Underway at MDC-Stocked Lakes in the St. Louis Area

MDC

Environmental Statement for Proposed Mine Approved

Cottage Grove City Council OKs Environmental Statement for Proposed Mine in Mississippi River Bed

Twin Cities Pioneer Press

Iowa Farmers Embracing Water Quality Initiatives

Iowa Farm Bureau

‘Game Changing’ Water System Overhaul

Arizona Plans ‘Game Changing’ Water System Overhaul

Planetizen

Some Rivers are Soaking Up Carbon Instead of Releasing it

earth.com

Are Data Centers driving need for New Water Treatment Plant

Kansas City Proposes New $2 Billion Water Treatment Plant. Is It Connected to Data Center Development?

KSHB

Train Derails Over Turkey Creek

Train Derails Over Turkey Creek in Joplin, MO

KY3

From the Army to Packrafting

How a South St. Louis County Man Returned from the Army and Found Packrafting

STLmag

Building a Cleaner, Greener St. Louis

River des Peres Trash Bash: Building a Cleaner, Greener St. Louis

NEXTSTL

Runoff Raises Environmental Concerns

Runoff From Atalco Alumina Refinery Into Mississippi River Raises Environmental Concerns

Louisiana Illuminator

Rare Scientific Look at Effects of Storms

Oceanographer Provides Rare Scientific Look at Effects of Storms on Biscayne Bay

Plastics in the News

I Set Out to Quit Buying Groceries Sold in Plastic, and Ended Up Saving $40 a Month Along the Way

The Kitchn

Budgeting is so boring. I swear just thinking about ways to cut my grocery bill makes the resulting food I buy taste a bit meh. Plus, I'm

The plastic inside us: how microplastics may be reshaping our bodies and minds

The Guardian

Microplastics have been found almost everywhere: in blood, placentas, lungs – even the human brain. One study estimated our cerebral organs alone may contain…

Common male cancer linked to hormone-disrupting chemicals, scientists warn

US Right to Know

Chemicals found in everyday products—from plastics and pesticides to cosmetics and non-stick cookware — interfere with the body’s hormone systems…

Microplastics Found Deep Inside Human Bones, Scientists Warn

Science Alert

Microplastics are now so ubiquitous we're drinking, eating, and inhaling them. As a result, they're showing up in our poop, placentas, reproductive organs, and brains.

Plastic’s triumph was no accident. It built an economy addicted to throwaway living

Mongabay

When Saabira Chaudhuri began covering consumer goods companies for The Wall Street Journal, she expected stories about marketing and product launches. Instead, she uncovered a deeper pattern...

TROUT TIP - DETECTING STRIKES

While nymphing, knowing when a fish strikes is difficult, so check out these tips to help. https://troutunlimited.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT00NTY5NTMyJnA9MSZ1PTQwNzAyMjM0OSZsaT01Mzc1MzQ5Nw/index.html

TROUT TIPS - UNSTICKING A ROD

It's about time to wrap up the season and put away our gear, so deal with stuck fly rod ferrules properly with these tips.

https://www.tu.org/magazine/fishing/trout-tip-how-to-get-a-fly-rod-unstuck/?utm_source=informz&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=none&_zs=hW5wb&_zl=qn1i4

TROUT TIP - SELECTING NYMPHS

Dry fly season is all but over, so try out these tips from Orvis on how to select nymphs.

https://troutunlimited.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT00NTY0NTIyJnA9MSZ1PTQwNzAyMjM0OSZsaT01MzY2MTkxMQ/index.html

Bob Luck’s Book on the Driftless

Last year I reached out to Bob,who was at that the the Twin Cities chapter president. I contacted him to ask that he support a man from MN who wanted to serve as their Climate Change Coordinator. It turned out that Bob had fished and written about Forestville Creek where several of us planned to camp and fish. We met up camped and fished with Bob and other members from his chapter. We all had a great time and planned to meet on our next trip up north.

Bob recently emailed about his new book set in the Driftless Area, Woolly Buggers Don’t Lie. It is essays that are part how-to guide, part travelogue and part fishing stories, with a few Dad jokes thrown in.

If you are interested in the book, you can find ordering information and a free sample on his website, pocketwaterpress.com.

President

Doug Grove

573 999-5114 Douggrove@yahoo.com

Vice President

Travis Figg

Travisfigg@gmail.com

Past President

John Wenzlick

573 8216813

Jdwenzlick@gmail.com

Secretary