Western Native Trout Initiative

05/29/2026

Heads up! Grant opportunity:
Bureau of Reclamation has announced that they are accepting applications for WaterSMART grants!

The WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects is a category of funding to support collaboratively developed projects that benefit multiple water users, improve water supply reliability, and enhance watershed health. (Note: this funding opportunity was previously known as Environmental Water Resources Projects).

https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362394

If you are in the trout conservation arena, this grant could potentially be used for:
• Restoration of aquatic, riparian, or floodplain habitat
• Restoration of lateral floodplain and/or wetland connectivity with a river channel
•Implementation of beaver dam analogs, post-assisted log structures, wetland construction for treatment of irrigation water or stormwater flows
•Water quality or temperature improvement actions

For additional on WaterSMART Enhancing Water Resources Projects, please contact Ms. Katherine Tucker at 303-445-2586 or send an email to [email protected].

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05/11/2026

Have you already signed up to attend Wild Trout XIV in beautiful West Yellowstone, October 13–16, 2026?

Hosted at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, this premier symposium brings together experts and enthusiasts from across North America to share the latest science, management strategies, and conservation successes focused on wild trout and coldwater fisheries.

The 2026 theme — “Managing Wild Trout in a Changing Environment” — will explore the challenges and opportunities facing wild trout conservation in an era of changing climates, landscapes, and public policy.

Whether you work in fisheries management, habitat restoration, research, or simply care deeply about native and wild trout, Wild Trout XIV offers an outstanding opportunity to learn, collaborate, and connect with others dedicated to conserving these remarkable fish and their habitats.

We hope to see you in West Yellowstone this October!

Learn more and register at:
Wild Trout Symposium
https://wildtroutsymposium.com/wp/about/

05/07/2026

While we all love wild trout, fish hatcheries often serve an important role in the conservation and recovery of many populations and species.
The GilaFest 2026 celebration is this weekend in Glenwood, New Mexico hosted by New Mexico Department of Wildlife!
https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/2026-gila-fest/

05/07/2026

Great message from Bass Pro Shop's Johnny Morris and how they helped create the National Fish Habitat Partnership 20 years ago.

This is "Johnny’s message to National Fish Habitat Partnership" by Bass Pro Shops on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

05/04/2026

We’re excited to be in Portland, Oregon as a sponsor for the 2026 Western Division of the American Fisheries Society meeting hosted by the Oregon Chapter!

The Western Native Trout Initiative is proud to join partners, practitioners, and researchers from across the West to share progress, exchange ideas, and collaborate on conserving our region’s fisheries.

If you’re attending, we’d love to connect—stop by, say hello, and pick up some stickers or a poster! Here’s to a great week of science, collaboration, and conservation!

04/27/2026

National American Fisheries Society:
Deadline for abstracts for the 2026 annual meeting have been extended to May 1!

Don't miss your chance to participate in our East vs. West trout conservation symposium hosted with the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture and Fish Management Section of AFS.

Headwaters to Saltwater: Understanding the Past, Protecting the Future, 155 Years of AFS. Abstract Submission Opens: February 25, 2025 Extended Deadline: April 22, 2025 Submit abstract The American Fisheries Society President Miguel Garcia, the AFS Southern Division and the AFS Texas Chapter are exc...

04/23/2026

FYI: The Western States Water Council will be hosting a webinar focusing on water issues with data centers. Thursday May 7 at 11am Mountain Time.

The presenter will be Mary Ann Dickinson, Land and Water Policy Director for the Lincoln Institute. Mary Ann Dickinson is the policy director of Land and Water for the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, where she works on better integrating land and water policy in the United States and globally. Prior to joining the Lincoln Institute, she was the founder and president/CEO for 15 years of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water in the US and Canada.

This is a public webinar and no registration is required. Login information is below.

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/24894356706939?p=VBlAHFQSdSUZstzFub
Meeting ID: 248 943 567 069 39
Passcode: M36Kf9BG

04/17/2026

Reminder: East vs. West abstracts due 4/22

Just a reminder that abstracts for the East vs. West trout conservation symposium at this year's National American Fisheries Society meeting are due April 22!

WNTI is hosting the joint session with Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture and the AFS Fish Management Section.

Let's make sure we represent the diversity of conservation efforts across the West! See you in Columbus!

04/10/2026

We’re excited to be at the Wasatch Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Expo today and tomorrow in Sandy, Utah! 🎣

Stop by our Western Native Trout Challenge table to say hello, learn about our work to conserve native trout, and find out how the West's largest trout slam program supports trout conservation! Trout Challenge veterans Tyler Coleman and Mark Hutchings are on hand to talk all-things Trout Challenge. Grab a sticker and conect with WNTI!

04/09/2026

Water conditions this year are shaping up to be pretty tough for many of our western trout species. The U.S. Forest Service Research and Development program recently published an update on the widespread snow drought. See the links below to some good info on water conditions.

US Drought Status - April 2026
https://research.fs.usda.gov/pnw/understory/us-drought-status-april-2026

Understanding the 2026 Snow Drought
https://research.fs.usda.gov/pnw/articles/warm-winter-west-understanding-2026-snow-drought