Charles Corsi is a fisheries biologist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). Corsi is a leader in designing coldwater resource policies that balance economic interests with fisheries conservation. Corsi also represented the IDFG in the relicensing of two dams on the Clark Fork River in Montana and Idaho, in which TU was an active participant. "Chip has always put the fish first," said Robert Dunnagan, TU Idaho Council Chairman. "Trout Unlimited is grateful for all of Chip's hard work and leadership. He has been a tireless advocate for sound coldwater resource policies and fishery conservation."

Corsi was among nine individuals and five chapters spanning from Maine to Washington who were recognized for outstanding work in conservation at Trout Unlimited's 1999 National Convention in Copper Mountain, Colorado in late August. Trout Unlimited, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 1999, is America's leading coldwater fisheries conservation organization with 500 chapters across the nation.

"The best testament to Trout Unlimited's commitment to conservation is demonstrated by the level of competition in this year's award recipients," stated TU President Charles Gauvin. "TU's strength continues to be driven by our grassroots volunteers and this year we had an enormous number of award nominees who have had a tremendous impact on coldwater conservation issues, both locally and nationally. With the dedication of these chapters and individuals, TU continues to be at the forefront of community-based conservation solutions that help protect watersheds across America."

LETTER ON IDFG FEES

SILVER CREEK PROJECT REVIEW
On September 11, volunteers from Trout Unlimited joined the Emmett Ranger District and Boy Scout Troop 97 to begin work on the Silver Creek Riparian Restoration Project. Volunteers rehabilitated damaged and eroded stream banks in the Silver Creek Plunge area, about 25 miles north of Crouch. Silver Creek is a tributary to the Middle Fork Payette River. It is a popular destination for fishing and recreation. Thanks to the efforts of all involved, much of the work was completed by mid afternoon. The Ted Trueblood Chapter intends to continue to work with the Boise National Forest on stream restoration projects as they are developed.

TROUT UNLIMITED NATIONAL AGENDA
The harmful effects to the nation's rivers caused by factory farm run-off and the need to remove four uneconomical dams on the lower Snake River to recover the endangered chinook salmon are two of the conservation priorities identified for the year 2000 by Trout Unlimited's National Resource Board (NRB). The all-volunteer board, which meets annually to formulate TU's national agenda, sent a letter to President Clinton calling for tougher and moreaggressive measures to confront these important conservation issues on a national level.

This year TU emerged as a pivotal force in a series of national conservation successes, including the removal of the 162-year-old Edwards dam in Augusta, Me., and providing a successful blueprint that allowed the U.S. and Canada to resume stalled Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiations and to agree on terms for recovery of some salmon stocks. Following the conclusion of TU's national convention in Copper Mountain, Colo., held on August 19-22, the organization announced its plans to put the same muscle behind the 2000 conservation agenda.

"TU's 2000 agenda remains committed to protecting and restoring the quality of the nation's waters, maintaining andimproving instream flows in our streams and rivers, and recovering Pacific and Atlantic salmon," said Charles Gauvin, TU's President and CEO. "However, of particular concern this year is the problem of pollution from the nation's rapid influx of factory farms. Trout Unlimited will step up efforts to address the conservation, run-off and clean water concerns that often accompany these massive operations. At the same time, TU has urged President Clinton to press for even more aggressive measures to combat the threats that mega-hog farms present to our nation's water quality." The presence of factory farms, or concentrated animal feeding operations(CAFOs), has exploded across America. The livestock, poultry and porkindustries have rapidly expanded farming operations that raise staggering numbers of animals in confined situations.According to the federal government, between 1978 and 1992, the pork industry has increased by 134 percent the number of average animal units per operation. The poultry industry has experienced an even higher rate of growth.

TU recognizes that the environmental threats produced by factory farms or CAFOs are significant, especially to trout and salmon. As a result of concentrated feeding operations, animal feces are stored in animal waste lagoons whose ailure has been responsible for catastrophic damages to neighboring waterways. For example, 10 million fish were killed in the Neuse River in North Carolina in 1995 due to a spill of 25 million gallons of hog waste. In 1998, 100,000 gallons of animal waste killed 700,000 fish in Beaver Creek, Minn.

TU also remains vitally concerned about the impending decision on recovering Columbia and Snake River salmon. Said NRB Chairman Steve Born, "The Clinton Administration must act on the growing tide of scientific and economic evidence that partial removal of the dams on the lower Snake offers the best chance for salmon recovery. The price of further delay is extinction." In July 1999, a study commissioned by TU reported that wild Snake River spring and summer chinook salmon could be extinct by the year 2017 unless steps are taken soon to stop the declining population levels.

Trout with Headphones? Understanding the TU Logo
By Pete Rafle, Director of Communications & New Media, Trout Unlimited

For as long as I've been a member, Trout Unlimited's logo has been a source of some confusion and plenty of discussion. Unfortunately, its origins are all but lost in the mists of time.

Shortly after TU's founding in 1959, TU adopted a round logo with a leaping trout, surrounded by the words "Trout, Unlimited" (the comma was dropped sometime after 1960). The logo's dominant color was red, and the trout, a somewhat cartoonish fellow, leapt to the left. That logo prevailed with only minor refinements (the trout got a little more sharply drawn, for example) until 1968, when the current logo was introduced.

There is little to indicate that any fanfare or controversy surrounded the new logo. Nor is there any clue in any TU publication as to who designed it, or how its configuration was arrived at. Here's what we do know: The TU logo has confounded all but a few perceptive viewers. Perhaps the most common question I've heard regards the white spaces to either side of the trout (which now leaps to the right). "What's with the kidneys?," folks ask (the two shapes do resemble a diagram of the human excretory system). Another variation likens them to ovaries. Then there's my personal favorite: "Why is the trout wearing headphones?" A student of optical illusions and human visual perception could have a field day with thisone. The answer, of course, is that all these viewers have missed the point. The "kidneys" are simply the "negative space" between the upper and lower halves of the logo (blue and green in the color version). Look again: The lower, green shape? It's a "U." And the upper part? Right! A stylized "T"!

Despite the widespread misinterpretation of its graphical elements, the logo has served TUwell for more than three decades. You see it on car bumpers at virtually every trout-streamparking lot, on the back of countless fishing vests, in the windows of fly shops around theworld. The green and blue logo is instantly recognizable at 100 paces.

What are your thoughts on the logo? As TU enters the 21st century, is it time to re-tool it for the new millennium? Or should we stick with a logo that's familiar, if not universally understood? We'd love to know what you think and encourage you to share your comments and ideas.Send comments to: Pete Rafle, Trout Unlimited, 1500 Wilson Blvd., #310, Arlington, VA22209-2404; (703) 284-9412; fax: (703) 284-9400; prafle@tu.org.

TED TRUEBLOOD CHAPTER OFFICERS
Changes have occurred to the make-up of the Ted Trueblood Chapter Officers and Board. President Sally Trott has tendered her resignation, citing health reasons. Vice President Richard Jones succeeds to President. A vacancy on the board has also been filled by Richard Williams of Meridian. Richard is well known in fisheries circles as a former member of the Independent Science Advisory Board to the Northwest Power Planning Council. The officer and board roster now appears as follows:

President Richard Jones 853-7788
Vice President Jim Cook
Secretary Andy Brunelle 343-1510
Treasurer Bill Eastlake
Board Members
Dave Brown
Bob Caldwell
Phil Podawiltz
Richard Prange
Richard Williams
Mary York

Ted Trueblood Chapter News Published 10 times a year Vol. 1999; Number 10
Editor: Andy Brunelle Comments and articles may be emailed to tutedtrue@aol.com.