Submitted by dkearford on Tue, 2018-06-12 06:32 New York City - 447 Vote Up Down +3 + Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Chapter meetings, tree plantings and annual Catskills trip this spring, and to our speakers, hosts, and everyone else who made it all possible. As we wind things down over the summer, we’re in the process of lining up some more guest speakers and activities for the fall, with meetings starting up again in September and plans for another joint tree planting with the Croton Watershed Chapter. In the meantime, in addition our Facebook page, you can now follow the Chapter on Instagram @nyctrout. If you have photos you like to share with other members, or would like to see what other members are up to, use the tag #nyctu. Highlights from the last couple of months: March Chapter meeting: Carmans River 20180320 Chapter Meeting 675.jpg Art Flick Chapter members RVP George Costa, President Tony Ertola and Gary Sandford joined us at our March Chapter Meeting at Urban Angler and gave a tremendous presentation on the history and current conditions of the Carmans River. We usually do this in conjunction with our attendance at the Art Flick Chapter’s annual stream clean-up on the Carmans. Unfortunately, this year’s project was cancelled on account of a hellacious Nor’easter that rendered the stream and park conditions untenable. But we’ll be back there again next year. April Chapter Meeting: Save the Smith 20180419 Save the Smith Presentation 675.jpg We held our April Chapter meeting at Orvis NY, and in conjunction with Theodore Gordon Flyfishers and Orvis, hosted a presentation and discussion with David Brooks, the Executive Director of Montana Trout Unlimited, on the threats of the proposed copper mine slated for development on the headwaters of the Smith River. The Smith, for those who haven’t experienced it, is truly a bucket list fly fishing adventure on a fabled 65-mile long box canyon that is devoid of roads, buildings, bridges, and other intrusions on five-day-four-night float trips with long days of fishing to native rainbows and browns. Montana TU, as part of a nation-wide effort, is attempting to accomplish a “ballot initiative” that would prevent the construction of hard rock mines in pristine places such as the Smith. You can learn more about the effort, and what you can do to help, on the Montana TU Smith River Watch website. Amawalk / Muscoot River tree planting 20170505 Muscoot DEP 675.jpg Photo courtesy of NYC DEP We had another great day planting 250 root stock trees on the Muscoot River on May 5 together with the Croton Watershed Chapter and NYC DEP. Thank you to everyone that joined. This was our second planting here and we’re looking forward to future conservation efforts on the Muscoot River so you’re interested in joining us next time, let us know or keep an eye out on our Facebook page for opportunities to get involved. Catskills trip and Horse Brook tree planting 20180519 Horse Brook Tree Planting 675.jpg A few weekends ago we held our annual Chapter trip to the Catskills, staying at the bunkhouses behind the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum. While the weather was a bit hit and miss, and rivers high and turbid, we were able to get 100 bare root saplings of Speckled Alder and Pussy Willow in the ground at Horse Brook, adding to the 200 trees that we planted at this site two years ago—all of which you will be glad to hear are going strong, with some already over 6ft tall. 20180519 Horse Brook Tall Trees 675.jpg A big thank you to Tracy Brown, TU Northeast Restoration Coordinator, and New York State DEC for providing the tree stock, and everyone who helped out on the day. Our work on Horse Brook is a continuation of the project initiated by Trout Unlimited and several other organizations three years ago to install the current single span bridge replacing the antiquated culverts that were undersized, perched and a barrier to fish passage to 2.3 miles of higher-quality headwater habitat. We look forward to seeing you on the river this summer and at the Chapter activities in the fall.