Projects and Activities
The Trout Unlimited graphic above illustrates how we go about fulfilling our mission. Below are annual activities we do and/or support each year, as well as information about current and past conservation projects.
We also actively support the Warner River Designation into NH’s Rivers Management Protection Program. More information can be found here.
Annual Programs
Trout in the Classroom
Connecting Students with their Watersheds
Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a TU national program run in NH by the Watershed Education Program of New Hampshire Fish and Game. TU chapters, including Basil Woods, support about 80 TIC programs throughout the state—2800 students and teachers participate. Our chapter has supplied 8 aquarium chillers (at $750. each) and hundreds of volunteer hours in support of this great program.
Elementary through High School students get involved with coldwater fisheries by raising trout eggs to the fry stage. Teachers build lessons around ecology, environment, and the specific needs of brook trout as students take ownership of their fish. The day the fry are released is a big day for the fish but a bigger day for the students.
To learn more about our NH TIC program watch our video here.
If your school is interested in participating, please contact:
Judy Tumosa
Watershed Education Specialist
NH Fish and Game Department
11 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03301
# 603-271-0456
judy.l.tumosa@wildlife.nh.gov
Hope on the Rise
Our TU chapter supports Hope on the Rise financially and materially. Hope on the Rise is an organization that supports women with cancer by creating life experiences that help women find renewal and healing. Its goal is to help women find support and hope in new friendships, new adventures, and in the bounty and beauty of nature.
Find out more at the Hope on the Rise website: http://www.hopeontherise.org/
Basil Woods TU Fly Fishing 101 Classes
If you have always wanted to be a fly fisher, or know someone who wants to, here is your chance! Depending on demand, Basil Woods TU may host a series of four night classes at the Concord Public Library this winter. Casting instruction will be provided in the spring.
Our expert fishermen / instructors cover the basics – rods, reels, lines, leaders, knots, flies, accessory equipment, and of course casting. We’ll get you started in the world of fly fishing. All class equipment will be provided – all you need to bring is your desire to learn. AND best of all it’s FREE. Class size is limited to 12.
Fly Tying Classes
Basil Woods TU chapter members periodically conduct fly tying demonstrations and instruction at local schools in conjuction with the Trout in the Classroom program and at community events throughout the year. Lessons are taught by experienced and enthusiastic fly tyers from the chapter with free materials and equipment loaned as needed.
If you are interested in having us come to your school or community, please contact us.
Youth Fishing Day
Every April, just at the start of Trout Pond Fishing Season, the chapter sponsors Youth Fishing Day. We hold the event the same day as NH Fish and Game’s Discover Wild NH Day at Merrill Park Pond in Concord where we supply rods and reels, worms, advice, help, and encouragement for any young person wanting to have the experience of catching a trout or two. We supply 150 brook trout and the NH Fish & Game donates another 150 brookies so there are plenty of hungry fish to go around! We have a food tent and always enjoy doing what we can to introduce fishing to the next generation.
Concord Youth Fly Fishing Venturing Program
The Concord Venturing Crew, a coed arm of Scouting, is open to teens aged 14 through 20. The Crew focuses heavily on fly fishing and related subjects, such as tying, conservation, ecology, etc. Our Chapter assists by providing fly tying equipment, materials and instructors. This program gives kids a chance to hone their fishing skills as well as make new friends and plan fishing trips.
The crew meets on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30pm at St. Paul’s Church, 21 Center St, in Concord. If you know a teen that would benefit from this program, please contact Phil Donovan at pdonovan@gmail.com.
NH Trout Unlimited Youth Trout Camp
The NH Youth Trout Camp is run by the NH TU State Council and its member chapters. Its director is Phil Donovan assisted by numerous volunteers. Campers gain an appreciation for and learn about stewardship of cold water fisheries through the art and science of fly fishing. Streamside and classroom sessions provide more than just casting and fishing lessons—they also strive to educate youth about the complex issues behind the restoration and protection of our streams and rivers. Cost of the camp is subsidized by the state TU Council, individual NH Chapters and the Dr. Richard J. Schilling Scholarship Fund. Financial assistance for families is possible from the Basil Woods chapter.
Last year Trout Camp served 21 kids and this year we anticipate 28, so if you know of any kids 13 – 17yrs old who might be interested please let us know. The Tier 1 camp for new campers will be held August 8-12. For more information click the following links: Brochure | Application
Contact Phil Donovan, the camp director, if you have questions (pdonovannh@gmail.com)
Checkout the 2018 NH Youth Trout Camp video!
Ongoing Projects & Activities
Warner River Watershed Conservation Project
Warner River Project 2019 Update (PDF)
Brook Trout & Habitat Quality Surveys
In 2012, the Basil W. Woods, Jr. Chapter, in partnership with New Hampshire Fish & Game and the Warner Conservation Commission, initiated the Warner River Watershed Conservation Project.
This project has two goals: (1) ensure the sustainability of wild brook trout (a “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” in the NH Wildlife Action Plan) by fostering local landowner and citizen stewardship and by implementing sound conservation measures, and (2) strengthen the Chapter‘s conservation focus, while building chapter membership and leadership, and expanding partnerships.
Many streams were surveyed using electrofishing to temporarily capture fish which were identified, inventoried, and returned unharmed to the water. In addition, we sampled water quality (dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature) and inventoried aquatic macroinvertebrates (bugs!).
The project has been so successful that we expanded our data collection to the Upper Warner River, Lane River and Andrew Brook sub-watersheds. With completion of these surveys, we found two-thirds of the streams surveyed contained wild brook trout, indicating high water quality in the watersheds.
Culvert-Stream Crossing Assessments
After completing the brook trout and water quality surveys, road-stream (culvert and bridge) crossing assessments were done throughout the entire Warner River Watershed. After completing these assessments, and with the assistance of TU national, we conducted Two Flood Resiliency workshops for the watershed towns. By teaming up with towns to replace problem culverts we can enhance flood resiliency and expand wild brook trout habitat. Learn more here.
Land Conservation
As part of TU’s mission to protect watersheds with cold water fisheries, we partner with others to permanently conserve land with valuable streams providing high quality brook trout habitat.
In 2016, we joined NH Fish and Game, and many others to assist the Forest Society in purchasing and conserving a unique parcel with a pristine brook trout stream in North Sutton. This parcel adjoins Black Mountain and provides Kearsarge Regional High School Students another valuable living outdoor classroom. Read more about this project here.
Warner River Nomination and Designation to the Rivers Management & Protection Program (RMPP)
After learning that two-thirds of the streams in the Warner River watershed contained wild brook trout, the Warner Conservation Commission initiated a multi-town effort to have the Warner River adopted into NH’s Rivers Management Protection Program. Thanks to a seed grant from the New England Grassroots Foundation, representatives from the five towns along the river with the assistance of NH Fish & Game, Basil Woods TU, and the Central NH Regional Planning Commission, spent two years writing the nomination and conducting outreach.
In June 2017, the completed nomination was submitted to NHDES to begin the formal state process. The nomination was accepted by NHDES, and Senate Bill 445 was drafted and forwarded to the NH Legislature. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and passed the House by a strong majority. On August 7, 2018, Governor Sununu signed the bill into law and RSA 483 was amended to include the Warner River. As a result, the Warner River Local Advisory Committee, composed of community representatives, was formed. Learn more here.
Other NH Projects
The chapter has contributed funds for brook trout population and environmental studies in the Piscataquog Watershed to our south, and in the Magalloway, Dead Diamond, and Swift Diamond Watershed in northern New Hampshire.
DNA studies from the northern work shows that wild populations of brook trout exist with no indication of interbreeding with hatchery lines.
Learn more about our conservation approach on TU National’s website.
The many TU projects going on in NH can be accessed by using TU’s Project Finder page here.