ARLINGTON, Va. – Trout Unlimited (TU) has awarded its top chapter honor to the Schrems West Michigan Chapter, based in Grand Rapids, Mich.  The chapter was presented with the award at TU’s annual meeting in New Hampshire on September 17, 2010.

The Gold Trout chapter award is granted annually to the chapter that has made the most noteworthy contribution to the cause of coldwater conservation during the previous year.

“The Schrems West Michigan chapter is a model for its commitment to coldwater conservation,” said Bryan Moore, TU’s Vice President for Volunteer Operations and Watersheds.  “Its strong dedication to helping TU build a Home Rivers Initiative in Michigan will have lasting impacts, both locally and statewide.”

The Schrems West Michigan Chapter has, for the last two years, helped secure funding for Michigan’s first TU Home Rivers Initiative a watershed-based restoration project that will help work to protect the Rogue River.  TU has a number of HRI projects on rivers throughout the country.

The chapter is working to restore 2,500 feet of the Coldwater River this year. Securing over $40,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and $20,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the chapter will monitor the stream for five years.  In addition, the chapter also has collaborated with local schools to implement Salmon in the Classroom (SIC) programs. As part of the Michigan TU Council’s River Keepers Program, the Schrems West Michigan TU Chapter has installed temperature loggers and collected temperature data on six different streams throughout southwest Mich.