It is no secret that climate change poses a significant threat to our public lands and coldwater fisheries. Increasing water temperatures, uncharacteristic wildfire, and increasing frequency and severity of weather events are all challenges we must all address. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and a fundamental shift in to low-carbon energy technologies is critical, but the effects of climate change on coldwater fisheries and their watersheds are already present. As any angler knows, “hoot owl” restrictions and fishing closures now apply to numerous waters across the West during the heat of most summers.  

Because of this, it is also critical that Americans  work to make landscapes more resilient to the effects of climate change and to do so in a way that benefits wild and native cold-water fisheries. Public lands are the source of cold, clean water that’s the life blood of trout and salmon fisheries. In the face of climate change, public lands are only going to become more vital and the more we can do to protect these lands, the brighter the future for America’s sporting heritage. Everything that Trout Unlimited has accomplished and its goals for the future help to meet this challenge.  

It is no secret that climate change poses a significant threat to our public lands and coldwater fisheries. Increasing water temperatures, uncharacteristic wildfire, and increasing frequency and severity of weather events are all challenges we must all address. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and a fundamental shift in to low-carbon energy technologies is critical, but the effects of climate change on coldwater fisheries and their watersheds are already present. As any angler knows, “hoot owl” restrictions and fishing closures now apply to numerous waters across the West during the heat of most summers.  

Because of this, it is also critical that Americans  work to make landscapes more resilient to the effects of climate change and to do so in a way that benefits wild and native cold-water fisheries. Public lands are the source of cold, clean water that’s the life blood of trout and salmon fisheries. In the face of climate change, public lands are only going to become more vital and the more we can do to protect these lands, the brighter the future for America’s sporting heritage. Everything that Trout Unlimited has accomplished and its goals for the future help to meet this challenge.