Listed below are the nonprofit and conservation organizations that received a donation from the Flycasters Conservation Committee, which was done on behalf of the club using proceeds from the annual fundraiser held in January.

The committee also recommends that club members consider becoming members of one or more these organizations or supporting them in other ways.

These mostly local or State organizations do vital work to protect and enhance the fishing opportunities of our members and ensure the future of our sport.

 
California Trout (http://caltrout.org/)   


California Trout was formed in 1971 and remains the only organization focused exclusively on protecting and restoring wild trout, salmon, and steelhead in their native waters throughout California. CalTrout played a pivotal role in establishing the California Wild Trout Program, which resulted in the designation of Hat Creek as the state’s first protected Wild Trout Area. Today, the Wild Trout Program protects over 1,000 miles of trout streams. Other major accomplishments over the course of its history include: winning two landmark court cases in the battle to save Mono Lake and protect the flows in its tributaries such as Rush Creek; crafting the Heritage Trout Program within the California Department of Fish and Game, which protects California's eleven native trout species; and, on the Klamath River, contributing significantly to the negotiations that led to the decision to remove 4 dams on the river in 2020.

 

Trout Unlimited (https://www.troutunlimitedca.org/)  


Trout Unlimited (TU) is the largest fisheries conservation organization in the nation. It was started in 1958 in Michigan and has grown into a national organization focused on trout and salmon. In 2017, its members contributed over 734,000 hours of volunteer work; TU worked on 1,103 projects; and, the organization conducted 1,682 youth education sessions. TU has spent $92M on projects to improve trout and salmon fisheries and to strengthen the angling community.   In the past two years, our club has donated money to support a project led by TU's Truckee Office to improve the habitat of a section of the Truckee River known as the DFG Loop, which is just west of the exit that leads to Boca Reservoir.


CHEER (http://cheercentral.org/)  



CHEER is a based in Gilroy and was started by Herman Garcia in 2003 for the purpose of restoring steelhead in the Uvas Creek and Pajaro River watersheds. Projects include the removal of trash and non-native plants from waterways; springtime adult and juvenile steelhead rescues; seasonal capture and water storage on Little Arthur Creek; and, continual monitoring of the watershed for other risks to the health of fish. Educational programs include an Elementary School Environmental education program, a Garbage Museum used to educate youth on the importance of keeping waterways clean from trash, and presentations to high school and community college students.

Western Rivers Conservancy (http://www.westernrivers.org/




For the past 30 years, Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) has been protecting outstanding river ecosystems in the western United States. WRC acquires land to conserve critical habitat, provides public access for compatible use and enjoyment, and cooperates with other agencies and organizations to secure the health of whole ecosystems. By acquiring river properties in the right places at the right times, WRC has created permanent sanctuaries for fish and wildlife on many streams throughout the West including the Smith River and Blue Creek (in the Klamath drainage) in California. When it comes to conserving rivers, land acquisition is direct, tangible, and effective.  WRC firmly believes that sometimes to save a river, you have to buy it.

Tuolumne River Trust (https://www.tuolumne.org/)




The Tuolumne River Trust (TRT) was founded in 1981 in order to help protect one of California's most important rivers. In 1984, the Trust helped to gain Wild and Scenic designation for a 78-mile stretch of the Upper Tuolumne River that runs through Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest. This part of the Tuolumne is now preserved for recreational usage and protected from most development and the construction of dams. TRT currently has offices in San Francisco, Modesto, and Sonora, with a full-time staff of eight people and many dedicated volunteers. In addition to advocating for a healthy and vibrant river, TRT also has a variety of programs dedicated to environmental education and river restoration.


Putah Creek Trout (https://putahcreektrout.org/)




Putah Creek Trout (PCT) was founded In 2007 due to concerns about the overall health of the wild trout population and the riparian corridor of Putah Creek. Catch and release programs were put in place, litter and invasive species removal and habitat restoration programs were done, and the lower reach became a Trophy Wild Trout Waterway. Recently, runs of chinook salmon were again seen in the lower section of the creek. Current programs include expanding fish habitat, replacing non-native vegetation, improving access (trail extension and repair), and education programs.

Cast Hope (https://www.casthope.org/)




Fly fishing guide Ryan Johnston started Cast Hope nearly a decade ago for the purpose of introducing at-risk teens to the love of the outdoors and fly fishing in northern California. Cast Hope now serves over 500 young people in parts of our state that currently offer very little in terms of alternatives or support. Many of the participants are kids from broken homes or families with financial challenges, and really benefit from the mentorship and guidance that Cast Hope provides. Cast Hope has a broad network of guides and volunteer mentors who partner with their participants to first learn how to use fly fishing tackle and then to take those skills to learn and to fish local streams and lakes.

Fall River Conservancy (https://fallriverconservancy.org/)

 

The Fall River Conservancy (FRC) was founded in 2008 by a group of landowners and members of the local community to preserve the lands, waters, and cultural heritage of Northern California's Fall River Valley. The FRC envisions a time when the Fall River is once again considered California’s premier angling experience and spring creek fishery. The FRC is collaborating with ranchers on stream bank restoration by building fencing to separate cattle from the river and replanting the riparian corridor. Working with California Trout, the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, FRC launched the Fall River Wild Trout Pit Tagging Program to gather data that will be useful for better managing the fishery.

Peninsula Open Space Trust (https://openspacetrust.org/)



Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) was established in 1977 as a partner to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. POST has since grown to become one of the premier land trusts in the country and is an invaluable partner to national, state, and county agencies in land stewardship and conservation.   POST protects and cares for open space, farms, and parkland in and around Silicon Valley, and in the process helps to preserve and improve local watersheds that support threatened salmon and steelhead populations.