ITA Dr Carolyn Mahan
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TRCP and Conservation Coalition Rally Support for WaterSMART Investments Critical to Western Watersheds
Together, we’re urging Congress to fully fund WaterSMART Programs to advance smart, proven solutions to safeguard water, wildlife, economies, and outdoor traditions
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), along with more than 100 partner organizations, is urging congressional appropriators to support programs that are essential to sustaining critical fish and wildlife habitat and enhancing resilience to prolonged drought conditions in Western watersheds.
It’s difficult to overstate the ecological and economic importance of the Southwest’s major river systems, such as the Colorado and Rio Grande. These rivers are a lifeline for the region – they supply drinking water and power to tens of millions of Americans, irrigate crops that are distributed nationwide, and support fish and wildlife habitats that sustain thriving hunting and fishing opportunities as well as the 1.2 trillion-dollar outdoor recreation industry. However, as heat, drought, and weather extremes intensify across the West, the health of these rivers, and the communities, economies, and ecosystems that depend on them, are increasingly at risk.
For this reason, it is crucial that Congress fully fund the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART programs before these lifelines reach a breaking point.
Click HERE to urge your elected officials to support the WaterSMART program.
While Congress finalizes appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year, TRCP is uniting and amplifying the voices of hunting, angling, and conservation minded stakeholders to advocate for continued investment in these vital programs. In a letter submitted this month, TRCP and 103 national, regional, state, and local organizations, representing a wide range of stakeholders across the Colorado and Rio Grande basins, urged Congress to fully fund the WaterSMART program.
The popular WaterSMART program provides cost-shared funding for projects that protect fish and wildlife habitat while building ecological and community resilience to drought. Since 2010, it has supported 2,364 projects and studies in the West, resulting in an estimated 1.7 million acre-feet of freshwater savings per year, enough to supply 4.6 million people annually. Additionally, the program has helped leverage $8.75 billion in non-federal investments, significantly expanding the reach and impact of water conservation projects.
WaterSMART funds have advanced proven water-saving solutions, such as upgraded irrigation systems, groundwater storage, and water reuse – all critical tools for communities across the West. These investments also support nature-based solutions that work to mitigate drought and wildfire impacts while enhancing fish and wildlife habitat. Many of the program’s projects offer the dual benefit of water conservation and habitat restoration, providing high returns on investment and helping to prevent emergency water crises, particularly in the Colorado and Rio Grande River basins.
Highlighted WaterSMART Programs and On-the-Ground Impact
$15.017 million for Basin Studies
The Basin Studies Program supports collaborative planning to help partners address imbalances in water supply and demand. For example, the Rio Grande Basin Study, supported by more than 36 signatories, focuses on developing strategies to increase water management resilience under climate change scenarios.
$8 million for the Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP)
CWMP helps communities form watershed groups to plan and implement projects that improve watershed health and fish and wildlife habitat. One such example is the Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative in Tucson, Arizona, who used CWMP funding to strengthen local drought response efforts and increase water resilience while protecting habitat for numerous species such as quail and javelina.
$6.5 million for the Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program
The Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program provides cost-shared funding to states, Tribes, and stakeholders for large-scale aquatic restoration projects. In Nevada, the Southern Nevada Water Authority used funding to build erosion control structures and in-stream habitat in the Lower Las Vegas Wash within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This project benefits multiple species, including the federally endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, the Yuma Ridgway’s rail, and the threatened, yellow-billed cuckoo, while improving spawning habitat for the razorback sucker.
$54 million for WaterSMART Grants
WaterSMART Grants fund a variety of water supply solutions, including the Environmental Water Resources Program (EWRP), which supports nature-based projects that deliver sustained water savings and ecosystem benefits. For example, the Chama Peak Land Alliance used EWRP funding to thin approximately 2,150 acres of forest to protect key source watersheds for the San Juan-Chama Project and the headwaters of the Rio Chama and Rio Brazos—efforts that also mitigate future wildfire impacts.
As drought conditions in the West grow more severe, consistent annual funding for WaterSMART programs is more important than ever. TRCP and its partners across the Western U.S. are urging Congress to make this critical investment in our water future, for the health of our communities, ecosystems, and economies.
Take action below and urge your elected officials to support the WaterSMART program.
2024 Gulf Menhaden Bycatch Study Offers Insights into Number of Fish Killed
Data suggest 22,000 or more mature redfish and a host of other sportfish, forage fish killed annually by pogy boats off Louisiana
(BATON ROUGE, La.)— A 2024 study on bycatch in the industrial Gulf menhaden fishery indicates that approximately 22,000 breeding-size redfish, tens of millions of non-target forage fish, and scores of other species were killed by the industry off Louisiana’s coast last season. The study findings, presented by researchers today to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, revealed that 45 or more species, including black drum, seatrout, and cownose rays, were observed and counted in pogy boat nets.
Also of note, the study estimated approximately 81 million croaker and 25 million sand seatrout, known by local anglers as “white trout,” were killed and retained by the Gulf menhaden reduction industry in 2024. Both species are targeted by recreational anglers and serve as important “forage,” or a food source, for a host of sportfish and other wildlife.
Recreational angling in Louisiana provides $3.7 billion annually in economic contributions. A large portion of that is due to redfish, as one of the most targeted recreational species in the state and its only saltwater gamefish.
“This very thorough examination of the pogy industry is the best science gathered to date on the effects of the extensive industrial fishing on fish like redfish, black drum, white trout, croaker, and many other important gamefish and sportfish and the food they eat,” said Chris Macaluso, director of the Center for Fisheries and Mississippi River Programs for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and a life-long, avid Louisiana angler. “The results are concerning, especially given the efforts underway for the last year to make Louisiana’s redfish population healthier by ending the recreational harvest of large, breeding size redfish. Louisiana’s sportsmen and other conservation advocates applaud the Louisiana legislators, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries staff, the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, and the researchers who conducted the study for ensuring it was a rigorous and thorough effort and for being transparent with the results.”
The study, funded by the Louisiana Legislature in 2022, administered by the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, and conducted by LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc., during the 2024 fishing season, was designed to determine the scale of impacts that the Gulf menhaden fishery has on non-targeted species that eat and live in the same waters as menhaden – a small, abundant baitfish also known as pogies – such as redfish and speckled trout. Specifically, researchers assessed how many non-target species, known as bycatch, were killed after they were netted while feeding on menhaden schools or simply due to swimming among pogy schools.
The study focused on the 2024 menhaden fishing season, during which the reduction industry made 13,144 nets sets, a relatively low number when compared to the average number of sets made by the industry in recent years. Researchers gathered samples from just over 3 percent of sets made (418 of the 13,144 sets). They also used a combination of direct observation and cameras to view the entire pogy fishing process. They counted the number of predator and other species caught as bycatch in nets and recorded which of those continued through the harvesting process, which includes suctioning fish out of the net, through a chute, and into the ship’s hold. The team determined bycatch mortality rates by holding experiments and dart-tagging surviving fish that were released alive from the nets.
Redfish bycatch data have been of particular interest to recreational angling and charter boat operators due to restrictions in place for the past year. Anglers have been prohibited from harvesting bull redfish, or individuals over 27 inches in length, since June of 2024 to help rebuild declining redfish populations. Louisiana’s redfish slot limit was tightened and the creel limit reduced from five to four fish as well.
“This close examination of industrial menhaden fishing has been desperately needed to help understand the full extent of redfish and forage fish mortality,” said Richard Fischer, CEO for the Louisiana Charter Boat Association. “Charter captains’ conflicts with the menhaden purse seining boats aren’t just about places to fish but also the redfish and other sportfish and forage fish being killed, which our members, unfortunately, often see firsthand. The number of redfish killed annually is especially concerning since recreational fishermen have seen limits reduced and have ended the harvest of breeding-sized redfish in Louisiana to help strengthen redfish populations. The Louisiana Charter Boat Association thanks the Louisiana Legislature, the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, and LGL Ecological Research Associates for supporting and conducting this thorough study.”
Of the 3.2 percent of total sets that were observed throughout the 2024 season, 865 redfish were caught as bycatch but remained inside the net and were later released, or “rolled over” with approximately 17 percent of them dying as a result of being trapped in the net. An additional 671 redfish were extracted from the water during the suctioning process and ran through a chute designed to separate larger bycatch. Approximately 98 percent of these “chute bycatch” fish did not survive.
For reference, “rollover bycatch” refers to non-target fish that remain in the water in the seine net after the main catch is pumped out, and before the net is opened for them to swim away. Generally, these fish are too large to be sucked into the hose. “Chute bycatch” refers to non-target fish that have been extracted from the net via a suction hose, sent up a chute and are then separated from the main catch by a large grate and released back into the water before they would end up in the hold. Generally, these fish are too large to pass through the grate. “Retained bycatch” refers to non-target fish that pass through the grate and end up in the hold along with the main catch; these fish experience 100 percent mortality.
An overview of the bycatch study findings can be viewed here. More information about the ecological and recreational importance of Gulf menhaden is available on TRCP’s Forage Fish Recovery Page.
Banner image courtesy David Mangum
TRCP Applauds Order Establishing Make America Beautiful Again Commission
Make American Beautiful Again Commission will seek to advance initiatives that are key priorities for hunters and anglers
On Thursday, July 3, President Donald J. Trump announced the creation of the Make America Beautiful Again Commission by Executive Order. The commission aims to implement a strategic approach to conservation and recreation while seeking to ensure that federal agencies take action to revitalize America’s lands and waters.
“By aligning efforts across agencies, states, conservation organizations, and private partners, we can better deliver outcomes that benefit fish and wildlife habitat, recreational access, working forests, water quality, and our public lands,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “We thank President Trump for recognizing that land and water priorities are vital to sustaining outdoor traditions for future generations. We look forward to working with the administration to ensure its implementation.”
The Commission will be chaired by the Secretary of the Interior with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy serving as Executive Director and include the following officials or their designees: the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, and other members of the Administration invited to participate, at the discretion of the Chair and the Executive Director.
Among other directives, the Make American Beautiful Again Commission will seek to advance initiatives that are key priorities for hunters and anglers, such as protecting water resources, restoring forests and natural habitats, recovering America’s wildlife, enhancing hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation on public lands.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation, TRCP is encouraged to see this administration recognize that conservation and management of our public lands and natural resources remain one of the greatest American privileges.
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.
A Win for Public Lands, Thanks to You
You helped defeat a series of troubling public land sale proposals— proving the power of a united hunting, fishing, and conservation community.
Thanks to your engagement and advocacy, a series of troubling proposals in the budget reconciliation package—ones that would have mandated millions of acres of public land sales across the West—have been defeated. This outcome is a direct result of the overwhelming support from hunters, anglers, conservationists, and public land advocates like you—and we’re truly grateful.
At TRCP, we’ve long believed that public lands are a defining part of our national identity and outdoor heritage. When the proposed land sale surfaced, the response from the sporting community and beyond was swift and clear: we must stand for our public lands now and for future generations. And for me, that belief is deeply personal.
Growing up in Nebraska, many of my most formative experiences happened outdoors—fishing rivers and ponds, chasing pheasants through tall grass, and discovering new places through the Boy Scouts, often on public lands. Those early adventures sparked my passion for the outdoors, and as I ventured farther afield, the value of public land for hunting, fishing, and recreation became even clearer. From my time in Scouts to the public lands I still explore today in pursuit of fish, game, and solitude, that connection has not only grown, but it has also shaped my outdoor life and solidified a lifelong commitment to safeguarding the places that made it possible.
Public lands gave me those opportunities, and today, I feel a deep responsibility to ensure future generations can create memories of their own in these wild, shared spaces. They’re not just places we visit—they’re where traditions begin, values are passed down, and connections to nature are forged. From Saturday mornings in the field to fishing with family to the thrill of discovering new places, these moments are more than pastimes—they are the threads that connect us across generations, and they deserve our protection.
We were proud to stand with our partners – 44 leading hunting, fishing, and conservation organizations – and more than 64 respected hunting and fishing brands—including Orvis, SITKA Gear, and Vortex Optics—and a diverse network of grassroots advocates who voiced their concerns. Influential figures like Joe Rogan, Steven Rinella, Randy Newberg, and Cameron Hanes helped amplify the message, underscoring just how much these lands mean to Americans from all walks of life.
We’re also deeply appreciative of the bipartisan group of public land champions in Congress who listened and acted. In the House, we thank Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Troy Downing (R-Mont.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), and Susie Lee (D-Nev.), and many others who worked tirelessly to defeat this proposal.
In the Senate, we’re grateful for the leadership and thoughtful opposition expressed by Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). And we extend thanks to Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) for playing a pivotal role in elevating this issue, alongside Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).
This outcome reflects what’s possible when public voices are heard, and lawmakers work together to find common ground. It’s a reminder that, while our public lands may occasionally face challenges, they continue to unite Americans across geography, ideology, and generation. When we unite, we win.
This is a moment worth celebrating, but it’s also a reminder that our public lands are never guaranteed. We must stay engaged and united to ensure these places are safeguarded and well managed for the next generation of hunters, anglers, and adventurers.
Thank you for standing with us and with our public lands.
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.
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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