Trout Unlimited

Trout Unlimited (TU) is a US non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of freshwater streams, rivers, and associated upland habitats for trout, salmon, other aquatic species, and people. It is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The organization began in 1959 in Michigan. It has since spread throughout the United States and has local chapters in nearly every state.

Trout Unlimited was established in 1959 along the banks of Michigan's Au Sable River by a group of 16 anglers who were interested in protecting trout in that and other popular fishing rivers. Founders included Art Neumann and George Griffith, the creator of the popular fly pattern Griffith's Gnat. The first president was Dr. Casey E. Westell Jr, and Art Neumann was the first vice president.

TU is a national organization with more than 150,000 formal members organized into about 400 chapters in nearly every state. The organization's annual budget is approximately $50 million. Trout Unlimited has achieved a rating score of 93% from Charity Navigator.

Trout Unlimited currently has approximately 220 staff members. About 25 of those members are based in the organization's national office in Arlington, Virginia. The others work throughout the country in regional offices.

The staff is organized into several departments, including Volunteer Operations, Science, Eastern Conservation, Western Conservation, Government Affairs, Development, and Marketing.

The organization has developed various tools to help prioritize protection, restoration, and conservation efforts. These tools include the Conservation Success Index (CSI), a framework for assessing the health of cold-water fish species throughout their native range, and the Brook Trout Portfolio Analysis, which utilizes GIS technology to assess brook trout habitat strongholds.

Trout Unlimited undertakes projects, programs and awareness campaigns at both the volunteer/chapter level, and at the staff level. TU members tallied more than 734,000 volunteer hours in 2017. Local chapter activities typically include stream restoration work, participating in citizen science, advocacy, educational programs, group fishing outings, and outreach activities for youth, women and veterans. The organization publishes a quarterly magazine titled TROUT, which all members receive upon signing up for the organization. The magazine has featured angling authors like John Gierach.

Stream restoration focuses on improving habitat for trout and other cold water species, including aquatic insects. Tactics can include planting trees and shrubs along streams to reduce erosion while also increasing shade, strategic addition of boulders or trees to provide cover and improve water depth and flow, and removing or improving barriers that block fish passage, such as culverts and dams. To carry out restoration work, Trout Unlimited frequently partners with the United States Forest Service and United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The work is informed by research from staff scientists and government scientists.