TU Rocks the Garden State

Quick – the Raritan River. Where is it? If you had asked me that question a few years ago, I would have been stumped. Here’s a hint: It’s home to some of the best fly fishing you never heard about. Give up? OK, here’s the answer: New Jersey.

Not long ago, I was over the tops of my waders in misconceptions and stereotypes about the Garden State. I mocked the home state of our very own beloved CEO Chris Wood with my jokes about “Jersey Shore” and Tony Soprano and all the rest of it. But I stand both corrected and repentant on this topic. No more Jersey jokes from this old westerner. Why? Because I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’ve seen great people like Jim Holland and the great staff of Shannon’s Fly and Tackle in Califon, NJ go the extra mile to work with a small army of great folks to make great water and great fishing happen in New Jersey.

Like Jim says, “We have amazing human resources here, people who are dedicated and ten chapters statewide that do some extraordinary work. I've seen that when people get involved and their work gets noticed, more people want to get out and help too. People are stepping up. There are more river restoration projects being planned. Bill Kibler and Cindy Ehrenclou from Raritan Headwaters Association have been just great at getting the message out. And there is another dam being removed on the nearby Musconetcong River thanks to the Musconetcong Watershed Association and numerous other partners including TU. It’s a team effort all the way. If people and agencies work together including government departments, NGO's and private landowners along with volunteers some impossible things can become possible.”

Holland was recently recognized by the Raritan Headwaters Association at their “Our River Runs Through It” fundraiser when Holland was honored with the “Ken Lockwood River Hero” award. Named for the New Jersey environmental journalist whose "Out in the Open" column in the Newark Evening News covered outdoor topics for 35 years, Lockwood’s lasting legacy is the Ken Lockwood Gorge, the beautiful Hunterdon County wildlife management area through which the South Branch of the Raritan flows.

Another longtime TU stalwart, Dan Ely of Mendham Township was recognized as an outstanding protector of the Raritan Headwaters region. Ely received the “Ian Mackay River Hero” award, named for the late Ian Mackay – a transplanted Scotsman, avid catch-and-release angler and dedicated watchdog of the North Branch. "Dan Ely has spent the majority of his life living along the North Branch of the Raritan River," said Cindy Ehrenclou. "He is the real deal – a true conservationist and one of Raritan Headwaters' strongest advocates. In fact, you might call him passionate."

Passion – collaboration – hard work. That’s the TU spirit. That’s what makes this organization so unique and so rewarding. So when you hear them talking about the fishing on the Raritan, know not only that it’s in New Jersey. Know as well that these guys and gals are the real deal. Well done, my friends. As we say in Wyoming, “You done good.”