As we enter the season of hoppers and terrestrials, we received some sad news about a major fish kill in southeastern Minnesota.  The exact cause is still under investigation, but we have a pretty good idea of the cause.  Toxic chemicals.  By the time officials found out about the kill, the chemicals were most likely in the Mississippi River.
What can we as Streamkeepers and TCTU members do?  My friend biologist Kent Johnson has a few ideas.  Below are some of his thoughts about buffer zones helping preventing fish kill.

As previously announced, the MN State Legislature, in an 11th-hour move, rejected a funding request for the MNTU Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program, an award-winning science education program that teaches students in over sixty (60) Minnesota K-12 schools about coldwater conservation.
After we learned of the cancellation of TIC funding, all of MNTU statewide chapters, together with the State Council, pledged enough money to keep the program going at a basic level for another year, and agreed that we will work together in the coming year to find more sustainable, long-term support.  Rumor has it that Minnesota has the 3rd-largest TIC program in the country, only behind California and New York.
In order to boost support across Minnesota for MNTU Education Program Supervisor, Amber Taylor, we are looking at developing a field support effort for the enrolled schools, which for this coming year is approximately 70 K-12 schools.  This field support would be achieved by MNTU Chapter volunteers supporting 1 to 5 schools in each of the volunteer’s local community.

By Tom Roddis, Oktoberfish Volunteer
Join the TCTU community at the Summit Brewing Rathskeller for our year-end celebration and  silent auction to benefit TU education and outreach programs.
Swap fish tales over beer and food trucks fare.  Learn the finer points of fly lines and their performance from guest speaker Josh Jenkins of Scientific Anglers.  Catch up on the latest TCTU news with a chapter update from Bob Luck.
Tickets are $25 per person and include one free beer.  And...we have an early bird special!  If you register for the event by September 1st, you can select one of the following gifts:  a ceramic mug, a Silipint cup, or a box of flies tied by one of our volunteers (approx. 30 flies).  We have limited supplies of the fly boxes and Silipints, so act now to get your first choice!
To register, click below.  You can also visit our Facebook page for updates on the event (don’t forget to like the page and share it).

Please read this important message from our State Council Chair, Brent Notbohm.  Getting on the Board of MNTU is one of the best ways you can contribute to TU's Mission in Minnesota, and it is a lot of fun as well!