Title: Grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin
1Dave Kumlien Executive Director TUs Whirling
Disease Foundation
- Grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin
- Graduated Macalester College, St. Paul, MN 1972
- Moved to Bozeman 1973
2Dave Kumlien Executive Director TUs Whirling
Disease Foundation
- Founded and owned Montana Troutfitters fly shop
1978-1998 - Founding Director of the Whirling Disease
Foundation 1995
3Whirling Disease Foundation
- Established in 1995 in Bozeman, Montana
- Managed by a 11 member Board of Directors
- Staffed by an Executive Director and Science
Coordinator
4Mission
- To manage the threat of whirling disease to wild
trout, salmon, char, and steelhead.
5In October 2007, the Whirling Disease Foundation
merged into the Trout Unlimited Cold Water
Conservation Fund (CCF)
- Merger Points..
- Continue mission of the Whirling Disease
Foundation
6Merger Points
- Utilize whirling disease model to develop Aquatic
Invasive Species program for TU
7AND.
- Dave must go fishing at every opportunity! ?
8Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
9Aquatic invasive species directly impact TUs
mission to conserve and protect North Americas
trout and salmon!
10The Plan!
- Two pronged approach to reduce the AIS threat to
TUs mission - Support sound scientific research into AIS
- Integrate AIS into TUs Conservation Success
Index (CSI) - Utilize TUs education and outreach capabilities
to reach membership and the public to educate
them about the AIS problem and provide
information regarding what they can do to help
reduce the AIS threat.
TU Science
11Education and outreach is an important tool in
the AIS battle and represents the initial focus
in the TU effort.
- Utilize TUs powerful communication network to
spread the AIS message to its 140,000 members
12Education and outreach is an important tool in
the AIS battle and represents the initial focus
in the TU effort.
- Utilize state council, local TU chapters, and
grassroots membership to spread the message to
the public
13 AIS was not a part of the TU culture. Take care
of the water and the habitat and the trout will
take care of themselves. The Challenge Craft
a simple and understandable message that will
engage TU members in the AIS issue.
14No Felt Soles by 2011!
This policy was announced at TUs 2008 Annual
Meeting in Salt Lake City and at the Fly Fishing
Retailer Trade Show in Denver in September 2008
15No Felt Soles by 2011!
A policy carefully considered by TU Science
staff and based on science.
16No Felt Soles by 2011!
Felts soles most likely piece of angling
equipment to transport AIS. In a study
titled Movements of Resident and Non-Resident
Anglers in Montana Implications for Transferring
Whirling Disease among Drainages in the Greater
Yellowstone Ecosystem by Kiza K. Gates,
Christopher S. Guy, Alexander V. Zale, and
Travis B. Horton of the Montana Cooperative
Fishery Research Unit and Montana Fish, Wildlife,
and Parks
17No Felt Soles by 2011!
It was discovered that. The average angler in
the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is carrying
22.10 g of sediment on their boots and waders.
Anglers in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are
capable of transporting detectable quantities of
sediment between access sites.
18No Felt Soles by 2011!
It was discovered that. The potential for
this sediment transport to move aquatic nuisance
species that may be found in the sediment among
drainages in Montana is of concern.
19No Felt Soles by 2011!
- A formal request was received from Utah Div. of
Wildlife
20No Felt Soles by 2011!
asking TU to take the lead in educating anglers
in dangers of using felt and encouraging the use
of alternatives.
21No Felt Soles by 2011!
- The no felt soles policy also followed the
actions of other state and federal agencies
including, NY DEQ, AK Fish Commission, and MD
Department of Inland Fisheries and the country of
New Zealand which has banned the use of felt
soled waders and boots.
22No Felt Soles by 2011!
- The no felts soles by 2011 position has created
a lot of interest in the fly angling community
and in the fly fishing industry.
23No Felt Soles by 2011!
At the September 2008 Fly Fishing Retailer Simms
Fishing Products Company announced no felt soles
in the Simms line by 2010.
24No Felt Soles by 2011!
- Created LOTS of buzz!
- Article in Winter 2009 issue of TROUT magazine
- To date, over 40 articles have appeared in fly
fishing magazines and major newspapers across the
country.
25No Felt Soles by 2011!
..and LOTS of blog and chatroom activity talking
about the AIS problem and the no felt sole
recommendation
26No Felt Soles by 2011!
Bill Says I applaud TUs call to manufacturers
and anglers to seek alternatives to felt soles by
2011. I am sure all anglers would readily replace
soles if an alternative that meets felt
performance is developed.
27No Felt Soles by 2011!
Bill Says But it is very important to look at
the bigger picture that shoes are only one part
of addressing the invasive species issues.
Invasives ride along in shoe laces, mesh, between
the insole and shoe, gravel cuffs, boats, and
gear. Bottom Line is we need to fundamentally
change anglers thinking and behavior in how they
treat gear after every use.
28Common question from the public So, we
eliminate felt soles, what about the rest of my
fishing gear?
29Considerable discussion with AIS and fish health
professionals produced numerous and varied
suggestions and approaches to equipment care.
30- Consensus
- No single treatment controls all AIS.
- Many recommended treatments require the use of
harsh and dangerous chemicals. - Considerable concern expressed regarding the
cleaning of equipment and the publics use of
chemicals in riparian zones.
31- Consensus
- There is a VERY low probability of the public
implementing complicated treatments. - KISS (keep in simple) approach is best.
32Trout Unlimited joined with the Center for
Aquatic Nuisance Species and the Federation of
Fly Fishers in recommending the Clean Angling
Pledge "I pledge to inspect, clean and dry my
gear. I am committed to protecting our
fisheries resources from aquatic nuisance
species.
33- "Simple steps can be taken to reduce the spread
and introduction of harmful ANS invaders. - Inspect your gear for any plants, or dirt.
- Clean your gear with clean water.
- Thoroughly dry your gear.
- Never transport any fish, plants or animals from
one body of water to another.
Please join in the fight against aquatic nuisance
species by taking the Clean Angling Pledge
at www.tu.org or www.cleanangling.org
34No Felt Soles by 2011!
Will these actions eliminate the risk of
spreading AIS by anglers? No, but they will help
reduce the risk of the spread of AIS, and
35No Felt Soles by 2011!
maybe even more importantly, this policy and
action has helped to shift the paradigm of
thinking and impact the behavior of fly fishing
anglers regarding their role in spreading AIS!
36Thank You!
dkumlien_at_tu.org 406-570-0023