Our friends at American Rivers recently announced their annual list of U.S. waterways that face serious threats in 2016. The report highlights ten rivers whose fate will be decided in the. . .
Read MoreVideo: America’s Most Endangered Rivers 2016
Conservation
The Orvis Conservation Blog speaks to our impassioned belief that if we are to benefit from the use of our natural resources, we must be willing to act to preserved them, an ethos we practice by committing 5% of pre-tax profits to conservation.
CBF: Supreme Court Backs Chesapeake Bay Clean-Up Plan
Sunrise at Thomas Point Lighthouse
Photo by Mike Cromwell
Recently the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the Chesapeake Bay clean-up plan, thereby ending an attempt by the American Farm Bureau to stop it. One of Orvis’ Customer Matching Grant initiatives is the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Oyster Restoration project, which is an integral part of that plan.
We celebrate this victory with our friends at CBF, and invite you to check out the following article which appeared on the Field & Stream website:
Read MoreHelp Protect Wild Salmon by Saving a Forest
Written by: Nelli Williams, TU Alaska Program Director
Several years ago, Trout Unlimited worked with scientists and fishing business owners to identify 77 watersheds on the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska that are extremely important. . .
Read MoreRussian River: Restoring Endangered Salmon
Endangered coho salmon returning to the Russian River, California
Photo by Nick Bauer
By Deborah Seiler and Mariska Obedzinski
The Russian River watershed once supported tens of thousands of coho salmon, attracting anglers from around the world. By the end of the last century, their numbers had dwindled. . .
Read MoreAnglers Must Stand Up for the Beaverhead
Written by: Guy Alsentzer and Wade Fellin
The Beaverhead is one of the Lower 48’s finest fisheries. Its upper reaches are a classic tailwater fishery, while its middle and lower stretches more resemble a spring creek, with clear. . .
Read MoreMake Your Voice Heard Today: No Pebble Mine
Bristol Bay is home to the world’s last great wild salmon run.
Today, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology is meeting to discuss the future of Pebble Mine. The catalyst for the hearing is this report, which was paid for by the Pebble. . .
Read MoreChesapeake Bay Foundation: Success at Harris Creek
Oyster shell is shot into Harris Creek sanctuary
Photo by David Harp
For the past few years Orvis has been proud to partner with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on their Oyster Restoration project. With decades of overfishing, disease and pollution decimating 99% of the population, reestablishing oysters in the Bay and its watershed would seem to be a herculean task.
We are delighted to share with you a major milestone on the road back to a healthy, clean Chesapeake Bay. The following article by Karl Blankenship appeared in the Bay Journal on October 6th:
Harris Creek was once home to nearly 1,500 acres of Maryland’s best oyster reefs, but in recent decades its oyster population — like those in much of the Bay — had dramatically dwindled.
When biologists surveyed the creek a few years ago, “we barely found an acre that was functioning at what we would consider the historic level,” said Stephanie Westby, oyster project coordinator with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chesapeake Bay Office.
In fact, only a few hundred thousand oysters remained. With few oysters to rebuild them, the reefs had deteriorated.
In short, Harris Creek looked like much of the rest of the Chesapeake, where oyster numbers are estimated to be at 1 percent or less of their historic abundance.
That was then….
Read MoreRare: Managed Access on a Roll
Beautiful Dangriga in southern Belize
Photo by Rare
For the past two years Orvis and its wonderful customers have helped to fund Rare Conservation’s Fish Forever campaign in Belize. Preserving and protecting vitally important (and breathtakingly beautiful) sites like the one above through Managed Access not only helps to save our natural resources but also leads to economic stability. Everyone wins
Read MoreCharlotte, You’ve Spoken! #MyOutdoorsCharlotte
Hey Charlotte, NC! We’re really excited to partner with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and will donate up to $5,000 to their Catawba River Restoration Project, but we need your help. It’s fun and it’s easy. . .
Read More1,000 Miles: We’re Almost There!
Farmer Creek, OR
Photo by Trout Unlimited
Put yourself into the scene above. Imagine standing on the banks of the tranquil Farmer Creek in Oregon on a warm autumn afternoon, listening to the music of the stream. Not too long ago this idyllic trout spawning ground was blocked by a perched culvert. Thanks to the Orvis/TU 1,000 Miles Campaign this stream is once again full of life. Wouldn’t you love to see more of this?…
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