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In the Arena: Jillian Tisdale
TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who, as Theodore Roosevelt so famously said, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation.
Jillian Tisdale
Hometown: Born in Gainesville, Fla.; seven-year resident of the Florida Keys
Occupation: Operations manager at Seven Mile Fly Shop
Conservation credentials: Tisdale is the Florida Keys outreach & engagement coordinator at Captains For Clean Water
A Florida native, Tisdale’s chief sporting passion lies with pursuing tarpon for the physical and mental challenge. She’s also known as an expert rigger and knot-tier who fishes for snook, bonefish, and other flats fish, and has hunted for turkeys and whitetail deer when she’s had the opportunity to spend time in the woods. Outside her regular job managing a fly shop in Marathon, where she is tightly embedded in the Florida Keys fly fishing community, Tisdale is an angler member of the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association and Lower Keys Fishing Guides Association and focuses her energy on local conservation. She handles outreach throughout the Keys for TRCP partner organization Captains For Clean Water, helping address the need for Everglades restoration. She strives to restore and protect South Florida’s aquatic ecosystems to ensure that everyone can benefit from them.
Here is her story.
I grew up fishing occasionally with my father, for redfish in the Big Bend of Florida and bass in the lakes surrounding my hometown in north Florida. I began offshore fishing in the Gulf of Mexico when I was 18. When I was in my early twenties, my father was diagnosed with stage four small cell lung cancer. He passed away after a very short, harrowing battle.
This was a very sudden and difficult loss for me, as he was my biggest supporter and the person that I looked to for advice at every transition in my life. It was then that, thankfully, I was introduced to sight fishing and hunting, and I fully immersed myself in the outdoors. It was the outlet that I desperately needed to get through that time of my life and I clung to it. There was absolutely no looking back.
I’ve since been very blessed to hunt and fish in some of the most incredible places with some of the best outdoorsmen in the country. I remember hunting in north Alabama one morning. I had hiked through a bunch of flooded timbers to get to my tree stand well before sunrise. I watched the woods awaken with the sun, but the water below me was dead calm, reflecting every single thing above it so that I couldn’t even make out a horizon until a big buck came in chasing a doe, creating ripples in the water as far as I could see. I’d never felt so enveloped and vulnerable at the same time.
Also very memorable was catching my first tarpon on a fly. I’d spent a whole lot of time in the Everglades, conventional fishing and fly fishing, for redfish, tarpon, snook… zigging and zagging through mangrove tunnels and across massive open bays. After a couple of days targeting big, rolling tarpon deep in the Everglades, getting bite after bite and breaking every single one off, I finally got one to stick. I managed to clear the line without wrapping it around a hand or foot and learned very quickly exactly what I wanted to dedicate my time to for the foreseeable future.
Large tarpon are my favorite fish to target, so a trip to Gabon (on the west coast of Africa) is at the top of my bucket list. That being said, I live in one of the most diverse fisheries in the world, and it also happens to be home to plenty of big tarpon. I feel very fortunate to have the Everglades, Florida Bay, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary at my fingertips, which together are home to the largest seagrass meadow in the world. While it is one of the most challenging places in the world to fly fish for bonefish, permit, and tarpon due to angler pressure and habitat loss, it is certainly the most rewarding for me and many other people. Plus, the tarpon migration down here is second to none.
“The intense love that I have developed for the Everglades… exists only because many people before me used their voice to advance Everglades restoration.”
Conservation is the only reason my passion for the outdoors is possible and will be the only reason I am able to continue fishing. The intense love that I have developed for the Everglades and the extraordinary fish that live there exists only because many people before me used their voice to advance Everglades restoration and defend those fish. As the saying goes, everything flows downstream – and with respect to the Everglades, that stream actually starts north of Lake Okeechobee, in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. The Everglades are home to hundreds of different fish and wildlife species (including alligators AND crocodiles) and it is the centerpiece of the largest hydrologic restoration project in the United States – the Comprehensive Everglades Reservation Plan (CERP) – which aims to restore historical flows from Lake O and send more clean water south through the “River of Grass,” to Florida Bay.
The state of Florida is suffering from a million paper cuts: overpopulation, nutrient runoff, red tides, the list is long. But I feel that Everglades restoration is one of the most important solutions to our water quality issues in South Florida. Currently, there is a power struggle over the operation of Lake Okeechobee. Special interests want to keep lake levels high to use the water at their discretion, resulting in high-volume discharges to the east and west, and cutting the Everglades system off from the clean freshwater that it needs to balance out high-salinity issues that cause massive seagrass die-offs and algae blooms. Returning the adequate flow of clean water south, the way it historically flowed, is paramount to preserve the habitats and ecosystems to east, west, and south that enable our fish and wildlife to flourish.
Utilization of natural resources for recreation and my livelihood bears with it an inherent responsibility – my responsibility to protect it. In my opinion, there is nothing more important than the water quality of the Everglades, Florida Bay, and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. People come from all over the world to see the natural wonders surrounding the state of Florida. It is our responsibility to protect them, and that includes educating visitors and residents alike about the issues we are facing as well as the science-based solutions that are in place, so that everyone can use their voice to advocate for those solutions.
The next generation of hunters and anglers have already proven to be even more educated and adamant about conservation than myself and prior generations. I admire their passion, and hope that they continue to fight with the tenacity they have today to protect the wild places that are left for the generations that follow us.
TRCP Announces New Development and Conservation Leadership
Key positions filled to strengthen conservation and development programs
Today, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announces changes to leadership positions that will help the organization achieve its mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.
Al Clark joins TRCP as the organization’s chief development officer, bringing over 21 years of development and conservation experience to the organization. In his most recent role as national director of development of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Clark advanced the nonprofit’s fundraising activities and major gift development. His professional background includes development leadership roles at Ducks Unlimited as well as in higher education at Furman University and Wofford College.
At TRCP, Clark will lead a talented team of development managers for growth in philanthropic and foundation giving, build corporate partner relationships, and oversee the organization’s hallmark annual event, the Capital Conservation Awards Dinner.
TRCP is also proud to announce the promotion of tenured staff to two senior leadership positions in the conservation program.
Joel Webster will serve as the Bill and Linda Demmer Chief Conservation Officer. In this role, he will work with TRCP’s policy team, external partners, and decision makers to further conservation and access priorities for private lands, public lands, marine fisheries, and water.
Webster has helped advance TRCP’s conservation portfolio since 2007 and is a member of the federal Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council, where he advises the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on habitat and access policy. He also serves as the vice chair of American Wildlife Conservation Partners, a coalition of 50 leading hunting and wildlife conservation organizations.
Madeleine West will lead as vice president of western conservation. First joining TRCP in 2019, West will work to advance a wide range of federal and state policies, including those focused on wildlife migration and winter range conservation, forest management, backcountry area conservation, energy policy, special places conservation, and expanded public access.
“I am pleased to announce these additions to TRCP’s leadership team. Al, Joel, and Madeleine each bring a strong passion for conservation and the TRCP mission and are proven leaders in our conservation community,” said Joel Pedersen, TRCP president and CEO. “I look forward to working with them as TRCP continues to build on our past successes. They will provide excellent stewardship to TRCP’s partners and community of hunters and anglers as we continue to advance America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access.”
Learn more about TRCP’s leadership HERE.
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
Hunters & Anglers Celebrate Temporary Oil and Gas Withdrawal in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains
The Sportsmen for the Rubies Coalition encourages strong collaboration as the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service seeks public input
Today, Nevada hunters and anglers celebrate the Bureau of Land Management’s announcement of a two-year oil and gas leasing moratorium on 264,000 acres in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The BLM manages the subsurface minerals, including oil and gas, beneath the national forest. This moratorium is a significant first step toward long-term conservation of crucial habitat for big game and coldwater fish species located within the Ruby Mountains.
The federal segregation notice, which was issued today by the Department of the Interior, removes the Ruby Mountains from oil and gas leasing for two years while the department further considers whether to implement a longer-term oil and gas withdrawal for the area. The Sportsmen for the Rubies Coalition understands resource extraction plays an important role in Nevada’s economy and provides jobs for its residents. However, the U.S. Geological Survey classifies the Rubies as having very low to no energy potential. The Rubies are far more valuable for hunting and fishing than speculative oil and gas development.
The Sportsmen for the Rubies coalition applauds this action and thanks Nevada Representative Amodei and Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen for being champions of conservation efforts in the Rubies for many years. The coalition urges Congress to pass the bipartisan Ruby Mountains Protection Act in the 119th Congress in order to make these temporary conservation measures permanent.
“This is a major victory for mule deer and everyone that loves to hunt them,” said Jim Rackley, president of Nevada Muleys. “We’ve been working for nearly a decade with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and political leaders in Nevada to conserve this landscape, and we sincerely appreciate everybody, particularly the hunters, who have stepped up for one of Nevada’s most iconic mule deer landscapes.”
“The Rubies are one of Nevada’s most iconic landscapes,” said Carl Erquiaga, Nevada field representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “From the trophy mule deer to the native Lahontan cutthroat, this range provides hunters and anglers with coveted opportunities. We look forward to working with the state and BLM to maintain the excellent hunting and fishing qualities of the Rubies.”
“The Rubies offer sheep, mountain goats, and many other animals some of the best habitat in the state,” said Marc Selph, president of Elko Bighorns Unlimited. “This announcement is the first step in ensuring that those animals will remain there for generations.”
“The alpine lakes and streams in the Ruby Mountains provide high-quality habitat for trout,” said Russ Meyer, president of Trout Unlimited’s Sagebrush Chapter in Nevada. “The range is home to the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout, as well as thriving populations of four other trout species that furnish important recreational opportunities. The Rubies are an angler’s paradise in the most arid state in the nation, and their riparian areas contribute habitat for many non-aquatic species as well. We thank Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen and Representative Amodei for their continued support of these conservation efforts.”
“Sportsmen consider the Ruby Mountains as the ‘Crown Jewels’ of our mountain ranges, being one of the rare places that host Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, mule deer, and the rare Himalayan snowcock in breathtaking scenery,” said Larry Johnson, president of the Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife. “With the ever increasing development pressure by man, the Rubies deserve every degree of protection that it can be afforded.”
“From the iconic big game species such as the mule deer and bighorn sheep to coldwater fish species and wild chukar and Himalayan snowcock, the Rubies are the crown jewel of northeast Nevada,” said Russell Kuhlman, Executive Director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation. “Hunters and anglers, bipartisan politics, and the support of these federal agencies has resulted in a decision that lays the groundwork to conserve this region for generations. And our coalition will be there every step of the way.”
“Nevada’s Ruby Mountains are truly a public lands treasure enjoyed by hunters and anglers. We thank the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management for their action to conserve this landscape for the next twenty years and we share our appreciation with Nevada’s congressional delegation for their leadership in advocating for the permanent protection of the Rubies,” said Dallas Hatch, Board Member for the Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Elko County resident. “This incredible landscape supports all kinds of wildlife and alpine lakes that hold fish such as the native Lahontan cutthroat trout. High on the mountain peaks, you may find mountain goats, bighorn sheep, Himalayan snowcocks, and even the occasional pika. Lower down the mountains, there are herds of mule deer and elk, as well as a growing population of Shiras moose, the newest game species to be found on the Nevada landscape.”
The Sportsmen for the Rubies Coalition includes Trout Unlimited, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Nevada Muleys, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited, Nevada Waterfowl Association, Coalition for Nevada’s Wildlife, Nevada Sporting Dog Alliance, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Midas Chapter, Nevada Bighorns Unlimited Fallon Chapter, Nevada Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Nevada Chukar Chasers, Ruby Mountain Fly Fishers, Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn, Elko Bighorns Unlimited, and the Nevada Wildlife Federation.
Photo Credit: J. Harsha
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
A Last-Minute Farm Bill Extension Fails America’s Hunters and Anglers
TRCP urges Congress to pass a Farm Bill in 2025
After years of partisan gridlock, Congress once again missed an opportunity to do right by hunters and anglers, not to mention farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and rural communities. We at the TRCP have spent over two decades demonstrating the value of Farm Bill conservation programs. There are simply no better federal tools to encourage conservation on private lands, and for years, around four times as many agricultural producers have been trying to use them than funding allows. Congress had a chance to meet more of this demand and just plain blew it.
In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act using the budget reconciliation process. It was admittedly a partisan bill at the time, but the funds it allocated to Farm Bill conservation programs have since gained bipartisan support, especially among representatives of rural states and Congressional districts. In fact, both versions of the Farm Bill introduced this year this year (by House Ag Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), respectively) would have brought those funds into the Conservation Title baseline, making them permanent.
As late as last week, Ag Committee leadership from both parties had reached an agreement to incorporate these funds into the baseline as part of a one-year Farm Bill extension. As the week went on, this deal fell apart, jeopardizing a generational opportunity to invest in agricultural conservation. Congress did pass a last-minute farm bill extension as part of a larger continuing resolution package, but one without a boost to conservation programs and without any funding at all for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program.
There is plenty of blame to go around, and we won’t parse it out here, but this was a clear example of partisan politics and unwillingness to negotiate causing a widely supported, bipartisan proposal to fail. The hunting and fishing community should be disappointed, as has been articulated by our partners, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever here, and The Nature Conservancy, here.
But as our namesake, Theodore Roosevelt, said: “Complaining about a problem without proposing a solution is called whining.” It’s too late to get this done this Congress, so what can legislators do now?
Pass a Farm Bill Now.
It’s now been six years since Congress completed a comprehensive update of our nation’s ag policy. In 2025, the Ag Committees will be working with new leadership, new members, and a new budget, but both Republicans and Democrats put forward Farm Bill text in 2024, so we don’t have to start from scratch. Congress can get a practical, bipartisan Farm Bill that invests in conservation done quickly if they can find a way to work together. If they don’t, we will see another year of partisanship and missed opportunities. Both habitat and access will pay the price.
In the face of gridlock, conservation is, and should be, a shared priority regardless of party affiliation or ideology. Congress needs to hear that this is important to you. Stay up to date at trcp.org/farm-bill.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
TRCP has partnered with Afuera Coffee Co. to further our commitment to conservation. $4 from each bag is donated to the TRCP, to help continue our efforts of safeguarding critical habitats, productive hunting grounds, and favorite fishing holes for future generations.
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