TU DRIFTLESS 717

The Iowa Driftless Chapter of Trout Unlimited (717) was formed in 2000 with the goal of improving the cold water fisheries of northeast Iowa. Based in Decorah, Iowa, the chapter represents six counties, though membership is open to anyone who appreciates the driftless area. Our MISSION STATEMENT is to work, in partnership with others, to protect and improve the cold water fisheries and their watersheds in northeast Iowa. The Chapter also strives to increase, and maintain fishing access and use while providing related educational programs and resources.

Support for and involvement in our chapter projects is greatly appreciated, so if you are passionate about cold water conservation and want to join a cause bigger than just fishing, we encourage anybody to join us at a future meeting or event. Details for the chapter's meeting schedule are regularly updated on our website, email list, and social media platforms--the chapter's leadership council members can also be contacted with questions or ideas directly through these sources.

***YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE AN ACTIVE CHAPTER MEMBER OR INVOLVED WITH TROUT UNLIMITED TO JOIN US AT ANY FUNCTION--ALL ARE WELCOME!***

2023 at a Glance

Here are just some of the things our organization accomplished in 2023.

Phase 1 of Casey Springs Creek Habitat Improvement Project Complete
Nearly 500 Volunteer Hours
Multiple Stream Cleanups
Nearly 3 New Miles of Stream Opened for Permanent Public Fishing through Purchase of Public Fishing Easement
Hosted Learn to Fly Fish and Tie Flies Event at Decorah High School
Assisted with Luther College Intro to Fly Fishing Class
Bank Hide Build Day for North Bear Projects Phase 2 and 3 and Patterson Creek Project
Winneshiek County Community Foundation Grant Award
Started YouTube Channel
Hosted Water Quality Monitoring Training Using WiseH20 App
Presented at Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Annual Event in Yellow River State Forest

2024 at a Glance

Here are just some of the things our organization accomplished in 2024.

Phase 2 and 3 of the North Bear Stream Improvement Project Complete, $7500 contributed by chapter
Patterson Creek project complete
Phase 2 of Casey Springs project completed in Fall 2024, $2,000 contributed by chapter
Over 600 Volunteer Hours
One Chapter Stream Cleanup day and other individual cleanups
Assisted with Fly Fishing Workshop at the Decorah High School in partnership with Decorah Parks & Rec
One Postville Middle School Fishing Outing
Assisted in building bird houses and bat boxes at the Decorah Fish Hatchery, chapter helped fund materials
Participated in “Earth Day” at the Winneshiek County Fairground
Received Iowa Tourism Grant in partnership with the Northeast Iowa RC&D which hosted the Iowa Driftless Classic
Donated to the Friend of the Yellow River State Forest for water-quality testing supplies
Donated to Project Healing Waters
Assisted in funding acquisition for Burr Oak Creek in Mitchell County, $1000 contributed by chapter
Helped fund portable restrooms at North Bear and South Bear Creek confluence
Assisted TU DARE in planting native vegetation alongside North Bear Creek Phase 2
launched new webpage, www.iadriftless.org

OUR CHAPTER SPENT $10,070 TOWARD COLD WATER CONSERVATION IN 2024!

Our Projects

All the projects our organization supports – either financially or with volunteer labor – are permanently open for public fishing. Our organization does not support projects on private property because we believe our natural resources belong to everyone and are here for everyone to enjoy.

North Bear Creek Phase 2 and 3 (Completed Fall 2024) – North Bear Creek is probably the best known trout fishery in the State of Iowa and supports a wild population of naturally reproducing brown trout as well as stocked rainbow trout placed in the stream by the Iowa DNR. Thanks to our generous donors, our Chapter was able to contribute $7500 to Phase 2 and 3 of the North Bear Creek project to close a funding gap and make the project happen. The project included both streambank stabilization and in-stream habitat improvements. The project was completed in Fall 2024. This was another project that involved TU DARE (Driftless Area Restoration Effort) similar to Phase 1 of the project, which was TU DARE’s first project in Iowa. The bankhides used on this project were constructed at the Decorah Fish Hatchery on a volunteer workday where several chapter members participated.

Patterson Creek Project (Completed Fall 2024) – Patterson Creek is a small and beautiful creek located in Allamakee County that meanders through farmer’s lands with cows grazing the fields. This is another stream inhabited by wild and naturally reproducing brown trout and stocked rainbow trout. Great work has been done with the DNR and TU DARE on this easement, where bank restructuring and stream habitat work was done. The bankhides used on this project were also built at the Decorah Fish Hatchery by volunteers and chapter members.

Yellow River Coming in 2026– Future work on .7 miles of easement on the Yellow River is anticipated to begin with habitat feature improvements East of the North bridge access.

Stream Easements and Land Acquisitions

Stream Easements (Ongoing – Actively Fundraising) – Increasing public fishing access is part our core mission and opportunities to contribute funds toward purchasing additional permanent easements for public fishing access arise all the time, often unexpectedly. When a fishing access easement purchase is made, it follows the land forever and can never be revoked. Once a stream becomes permanently open to public fishing our organization can step in and support habitat improvements on the stream corridor – making the fishing access and overall fishing experience even better. Last year, we were able to contribute $5,000 toward the purchase of two easements that opened up nearly three miles of new stream in northeast Iowa for public fishing. In 2025, those projects will begin with bank shaping and numerous habitat features.

Outreach and Education

Each year our organization is either involved with or hosts events with young people to get them engaged in fishing, conservation, and spending time outdoors. Three of our most popular events are hosting approximately 60 Postville Middle School students for a fishing day at the Decorah hatchery, partnering with Roger Jaeger to help teach 8 to 12 Luther College students about fly fishing as part of the Introduction to Fly Fishing class at Luther College, and our annual winter Learn to Fly Fish and Tie Flies event at the Decorah High School gym.