Western Native Trout Initiative

Thanks to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) for hosting last week's amazing Summer Meeting 2026 in Boise! This was an incredible opportunity to learn more about how to achieve fish and wildlife conservation on working landscapes, and discuss fisheries conservation issues across the west.

Some good news for Colorado River Cutthroat Trout and work from Trout Colorado Trout Unlimited

Utah to receive $35M from feds for Colorado River projects Federal funding for water conservation projects in Utah has been held up for over a year, but some of that money is finally flowing to eastern Utah.

Upcoming Webinar: NASA’s Water Resources Program: Supporting Water Management in the U.S. West and Beyond

The Western States Water Council will be hosting another excellent webinar on water resource management in the west.

June 16th, 12PM Mountain Time

Link to the meeting and presenter bios are below!
https://westernstateswater.org/events/westfast-webinar-nasas-water-resources-program-supporting-water-management-in-the-u-s-west-and-beyond/

National Fish Habitat Partnership

Funding Opportunity: Culverts!
The Federal Highway Administration has announced the availability of up to $800M for FY2023 through FY2026 Culvert AOP grants as part of the FY23-26 Culvert AOP NOFO. This is an amazing opportunity to fund culvert replacements to help anadromous fish. Deadline in July 16.

Find out more: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/hydraulics/culverthyd/aquatic/culvertaop_grants.cfm

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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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/

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/

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

Johnny’s message to National Fish Habitat Partnership 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.

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!

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.

Call for Abstracts – 155th AFS Annual Meeting 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...