Montauk striper blitz with anglers lighthouse-Credit Sergio Diaz-800

Stewardship on America’s private lands

With 70 percent of U.S. lands in private hands and many of our best hunt and fish opportunities occurring there, investing in voluntary conservation on working lands safeguards access, strengthens habitat and water quality, and ensures resilient landscapes.

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by: Ryan Lockwood

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June 23, 2026

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by: Jaclyn Corbin

posted in:

June 18, 2026

AZ State Budget a Win for Fisheries & Wildlife, But Highlights Future Needs for Water Protections

Bipartisan budget approved for 2027 after weeks of negotiations between state lawmakers and the Governor

After a challenging negotiation period, the Arizona State Legislature and Governor Hobbs agreed on a budget for the next fiscal year which includes some major wins for the hunting and fishing community and highlights avenues for future state investment in water and habitat conservation for fish and wildlife. Here’s a quick rundown.

Funds for Fisheries, Wildlife Crossings

One of the greatest wins in this year’s budget was the approval of $11.55 million to improve and modernize fish hatcheries throughout the state. The Arizona Game and Fish Department will use these funds to repair critical fish hatchery infrastructure and install technologies which will improve water use efficiency, prevent disease in hatchery populations, and increase fish production. The outcome of this investment will result in more healthy fish stocked in the state’s fishing ponds, streams, rivers, and lakes, bolstering rural economies and improving opportunities for Arizona anglers for generations to come.

In a separate win for wildlife connectivity, $700,000 was included in the state budget for wildlife crossing implementation and planning, which will improve habitat connectivity and increase motorist safety. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) was allocated $10 million for wildfire suppression funding. This funding will also help address the need for vegetative fuels mitigation to improve forest and watershed health.

In a tight budget year, several other wins came in the form of avoiding cuts to critical departments that support natural resource protection, such as the Arizona Department of Water Resources and DFFM.

Action for Water Protection, but Room for Further Funding

Given the dire state of decreasing water levels in the Colorado River Basin, the West facing one of the lowest snowpacks on record, projected high wildfire risk this season, and ongoing drought, further financial commitment by the state to protect water supplies and fish and wildlife habitat is now more crucial than ever.

With ongoing negotiations among the seven Colorado River states, there was a notable budget win for water, with $9.5 million included to maintain the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s water protection programs that protect aquifers and ensure safe drinking water. Yet given the extreme drought conditions across the Basin, there is more work to be done.

A recent poll highlighted the ongoing water shortage crisis as the number-one issue of importance for Arizona voters. Despite this, several proposed budget items, such as creating a Colorado River Protection Fund (which the poll also indicated was strongly supported by voters) and funds for invasive salt cedar removal in riparian areas, which both had the potential to safeguard water and habitat resources in the state, were left out in budget negotiations.

The federal government has recently made its position clear: Addressing the effects of drought on Colorado River water supplies and Arizona’s economy must be a shared financial responsibility. Federal funding is likely available in the near term to assist Arizona water users to respond to drought, and as a path forward, Arizona should reduce its water usage and commit to durable solutions to address the Colorado River crisis in partnership with the other Basin states. Investing state dollars toward Colorado River water conservation is a viable avenue for establishing a good-faith water reduction plan while encouraging the other Basin states to do the same.

Looking Ahead

We can all celebrate the wins of this state budget cycle, but rest assured that TRCP will continue to urge decision makers to invest state resources to protect the land and waters we all depend on.

by: Dan Morgan

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Senate Committee Advances America the Beautiful Act, Aiming to Renew Critical Funding for Public Lands

Reauthorization of the Legacy Restoration Fund would mean better access and infrastructure for America’s hunters and anglers

Yesterday, hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts joined the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership in commending the Senate Environment & Natural Resources Committee for unanimously re-authorizing the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) through the America the Beautiful Act (S.1547).

The bipartisan legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Senator Angus King (I-ME), and 63 Senate co-sponsors and is aimed at addressing the $43 billion maintenance backlog on America’s public lands across several federal agencies.

“The America the Beautiful Act wouldn’t just fund maintenance on our national parks, forests, and refuges – it would require federal agencies to prioritize public access. That means better water infrastructure on refuges for waterfowl hunters, passable trails for turkey and big game hunters, and improved access points for anglers,” said Joel Webster, chief conservation officer at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “TRCP joins sportsmen and women in thanking Senators Daines and King for their leadership in introducing this bipartisan legislation and the efforts of Senators Lee and Heinrich in moving it through the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.”

The Legacy Restoration Fund was originally established in 2020 through the Great American Outdoors Act, a landmark bipartisan conservation bill. The fund expired in 2025, leaving a critical gap in addressing the $43 billion maintenance backlog on America’s public lands. With the reauthorization provided by the America the Beautiful Act, the Legacy Restoration Fund would deliver $1.9 billion annually over the next five years to rebuild the roads, trails, campgrounds, staff housing, and ADA-accessible infrastructure that hunters, anglers, and all public lands users depend on.

The America the Beautiful Act now heads to the Senate floor for a full vote before moving to the House and ultimately to the President’s desk.

by: Noah Davis

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The Only Way is Forward

TRCP communications manager Noah Davis shares how exploring a new creek parallels the path of conservation work

My dad and I haven’t waded this far up the creek before. The rising cutthroats keep pulling us higher. At every stretch that looks a little shallow, at every chance we could scramble up out of the water, we see another pool that makes us forget how far we already have to hike out, the plans we made back in town, and the desire to fish the big river that evening.

The pools are dug into the rock or deepen in front of logjams. The water is clear and colored by the red and blue stones that cobble the bottom. Currents welcome our flies and float them gently to the trout that wait to strike at the depth change. The white posts of our parachute flies disappear in white splashes and we are tied to trout after trout.

It reaches the point that when a drift goes uninterrupted, our eyebrows raise and we look at each other in surprise.

“Not good enough for them, huh?” I say as Dad false casts.

“Getting picky all of a sudden.” He lays down an offering that is accepted quickly.

“I guess not that picky yet!”

The cutthroats are healthy and beautiful. Their oranges slashes flash and the many spots on their tails shimmer as we release them. The water is cold enough for us to shake our hands after submersions, but the air is warm enough that we feel comfortable wet wading.

I’ve long felt that when entering public lands, whatever I carry—rod, rifle, or bucket for berries or mushrooms—is a kind of key. We as Americans are blessed with hundreds of millions of acres of federal public lands where the only admission is the wheels, hooves, or boots to reach them. Once we arrive, these mountains, prairies, creeks, canyons, and lakes offer more than a lifetime of experiences. The tools we carry can unlock them.

My favorite mule deer ridge was found because I was carrying a rifle. I discovered the sweetest huckleberries I’ve ever tasted because I was chasing early season dusky grouse. My go-to morel patch is along a stream where brown trout nail streamers in the high, spring water. What we love to do helps us fall deeper in love with the places that offer us these opportunities.

The higher we climb, the steeper the walls become, until finally we are in a canyon. Dad wades back a hundred yards then scales a spring seep to look ahead. When he returns, he says he can’t see how long it goes.

“No reason to leave these fish,” I say.

“Just means we’re committed,” he replies.

We wade up and turn the corner. Suddenly we are fully blocked in. We know the way down, but the way up is a mystery, fresh fish and undisturbed pools are all ahead.

A healthy cutthroat trout moments before release.

I bow-and-arrow my purple haze on the far side of a run and a cutthroat comes up from between two large stones to porpoise on the fly. It’s a take that gives the angler all the advantage. The fish goes down on the fly while the angler pulls up on the line and the two competing directions usually result in a set hook and a fighting fish.

When the trout comes to hand, the belly is heavy and I look around and see dozens of stonefly shucks clinging weightlessly to the rock walls. I release the cutthroat back into the pool and wonder when the last time the fish saw a human.

We continue to pick up trout, and the sky narrows above us. The world feels funneled here and Dad and I are following the canyon as if we were bobsledders following the track.

“How much longer do you think?” I ask.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Dad says, again prepping to cast.

“I think we’re too far in to turn back now.”

“Only way to go is forward. We’ll see how long it takes.”

We as Americans are blessed with hundreds of millions of acres of federal public lands where the only admission is the wheels, hooves, or boots to reach them.

How do we reach the elk in the morning? How do we hike to the lake to hit the bass bite in the evening? How do we get out of a canyon? It’s the same way that we safeguard our public access and public lands: one step in front of the other, moving forward.

TRCP is made up of dedicated hunters and anglers who direct their passions for chasing deer, pheasants, ducks, redfish, and stripers into their work for conservation. They know that success doesn’t happen in a day, and that the work to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish is a long-term mission but still understand that every step counts.

And that’s why we need all hunters and anglers to be involved in speaking up for the public lands and waters that make our passions possible. Sign up for our weekly newsletter below to stay updated on conservation news and opportunities to engage with decisions that influence where you hunt and fish.

Two hours later, we arrive in a flat blooming with beargrass. The canyon is behind us, and an old horse trail is visible crossing the creek.

“I think it will be quicker getting out than getting in,” Dad says.

I look upstream and see a small falls digging a pool. The light is slanting, but I think we still have an hour of light left. Our headlamps have batteries.

“I think I want to try that pool up there. Three casts at most.”

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.

by: Jaclyn Lunaas

posted in:

June 16, 2026

It’s Time for Menhaden Quotas to Follow the Fish

New petition and video call for more equitable Atlantic menhaden commercial catch allocations to East Coast states as the ASMFC considers initiating a reallocation process in November

Atlantic menhaden are one of the most important fish on the East Coast. They feed striped bass, bluefish, tuna, whales, ospreys, and countless other predators. They provide bait for commercial fisheries harvesting lobster and crab as well as for recreational fisheries, sustaining coastal economies from Maine to Florida.

But while New England’s stake in the menhaden fishery has grown, the system used to allocate harvest access among Atlantic states has remained largely unchanged.

That’s why the TRCP has launched a new petition and companion video calling on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to establish a more equitable allocation of Atlantic menhaden catch quota when it considers reallocation this November.

Fueling Marine Food Webs, Fishing Economies

Atlantic menhaden are often called the “most important fish in the sea” because they serve as a critical base for the marine food web. Healthy menhaden populations support some of the Atlantic coast’s most iconic recreational and commercial fisheries, while providing essential forage for marine predators.

In recent years, menhaden have become increasingly abundant in New England waters, possibly due to climate change, migration patterns, or other factors. Regardless of the cause, as a result of more menhaden (or “bunker”) in the region, anglers are seeing more striped bass and tuna feeding on the large schools. Whales are appearing closer to shore. And commercial bait fisheries are benefiting from greater availability of this important resource.

This shift matters beyond fishing opportunities. Where menhaden are available determines where predators can feed, from striped bass and bluefish to humpback whales and seabirds. Yet despite these changes, harvest access remains concentrated in a system built around historical fishing patterns from decades ago.

A Quota System Out of Step with Today’s Fishery

For nearly two decades, the ASMFC’s state allocation system for the menhaden fishery has given over 75 percent of the coastwide quota to a single state – Virginia – where most of that harvest is taken by a single, foreign-owned reduction fishery that processes menhaden into fish meal and fish oil. These products benefit interests far from local communities where the menhaden are harvested, such as foreign aquaculture production and livestock feed.

Meanwhile, New England states and other regions where menhaden abundance has increased continue to face quota constraints despite growing ecological importance and economic demand. In many cases, bait suppliers and fishermen in the Northeast rely on quota transfers from other states just to meet the needs of lobster, commercial, and recreational fisheries.

For many coastal communities, access to menhaden bait directly supports lobster fisheries, charter businesses, tackle shops, marinas, and other jobs tied to recreational and commercial fishing. More balanced state allocations would strengthen bait supply, reduce dependence on temporary quota transfers, and better distribute the economic benefits of this resource along the Atlantic Coast.

The current state allocation formula was established primarily using historical landing data. Because quotas are tied to past harvest patterns, rather than current ecological distribution or economic dependence, it reinforces a fishery structure that no longer reflects present-day conditions on the water.

The result is a growing disconnect between where menhaden are most abundant, where they are needed to support coastal economies, and where harvest access is allocated.

A Critical Opportunity This Fall

This November, the ASMFC will consider whether to initiate a process to reallocate state menhaden quotas. This upcoming action represents a rare opportunity to address longstanding inequities in the fishery and create a more balanced allocation system moving forward.

The Commission has the authority to revise quota allocations among states, meaning this is not just a debate – it is a decision that will directly determine Atlantic states’ access to a shared public resource. Future changes to the coastwide total allowable catch will make those allocation decisions even more important.

A fairer allocation framework would better recognize New England’s growing role in the fishery, support working waterfronts and bait-dependent businesses, and ensure that the benefits of this public resource are more equitably shared across the Atlantic Coast. Without action, the current allocation structure could remain in place for years, even as the ecological and economic center of gravity for menhaden continues to shift northward.

Make Your Voice Heard

Atlantic menhaden belong to the entire Atlantic Coast. They fuel world-class recreational fisheries, support coastal economies, and sustain marine ecosystems from New England to the Chesapeake Bay and beyond. This upcoming process will help shape how the benefits of this critical resource are shared for years to come.

Atlantic menhaden are a shared public resource. Tell the ASMFC to redistribute the Atlantic menhaden quota so that states with growing ecological and economic dependence on the resource receive a fairer share of harvest, and to relieve pressure on the Chesapeake Bay.

Watch the video, sign the petition, and tell fisheries managers that Atlantic menhaden management should reflect today’s realities – not the conditions of decades past.

Banner image of shark and menhaden courtesy Joanna Steidle

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