By Jim Sauter

​​In morse code, “SOS” is a signal sequence of three dits, three dots, and another three dits spelling “S-O-S”.  The expression “Save Our Ship” was used by sailors to signal for help for a vessel in distress.  Much in the same way, the Izaak Walton League has adopted the expression “SOS” to mean “Saving Our Streams”.

What percent of our streams are currently being monitored in the United States?  Best estimates are that about 30% are being monitored, and of those, over 50% are considered impaired in some way.  That means that over 70% of the streams in our country are not being actively monitored.  Many of those are also impaired with no data to determine trends and needs.  We have made substantial progress in cleaning up our streams and lakes, but there is still a lot of work to do!

Recently, several of our TCTU Streamkeepers attended the Save Our Stream Training in Winona that was sponsored by the Izaak Walton League.  The SOS water testing protocol contains many of the same chemical tests that we are currently doing plus the testing of macro invertebrates.  The advantage of bio monitoring is that it may show trends from pollution that do not show up with chemical testing.  Adding the bio testing component is something we may want to consider as we monitor the seven trout streams in our TCTU area.

​Every summer, Trout Unlimited conducts a Teen Summit and Leadership Conference for teen leaders for the purpose of exchanging ideas, learning about conservation and leadership, and shaping the continually evolving TU Teen program. This is an application/interview program with only 25 teens accepted from applicants across the country each year.