The 284 volunteer members of Idaho's Panhandle Chapter of Trout Unlimited were honored by the nation's leading coldwater conservation organization, Trout Unlimited, on Saturday, August 12th, in Syracuse, New York, for outstanding conservation achievement. The "Gold Trout Award," TU's highest award for chapters, recognizes a TU chapter that has made the most noteworthy contribution to the cause of coldwater conservation. More than 20 chapters nationwide competed for the honor.
"TU's Idaho Panhandle Chapter represents the very best in volunteerism," stated Charles Gauvin, TU President and CEO. "The Panhandle Chapter provided solid leadership in the Clark Fork River relicensing agreement that all Americans will benefit from. Their results speak volumes for what vision, determination, and sweat equity can do in America.
"To be able to count on these volunteers' undaunting leadership, knowing their commitment to family and careers, isn't something Trout Unlimited can ask for, its something we are blessed with."
The Panhandle Chapter executed successful leadership in the landmark federal hydropower relicensing agreement on the Clark Fork River. Their participation not only resulted in a commitment from Avista Corporation to provide approximately $250 million in conservation funding over the 45-year span of the new licensing agreement, but also set a national precedent for collaborative agreements in future dam relicensing agreements. Trout Unlimited will benefit from this agreement in future negotiations.
In addition to the Clark Fork relicensing, the Panhandle Chapter influenced an impressive range of local conservation issues and projects, including work on Twin Creek, the Moyie River and Trestle Creek, efforts in opposition to the Rock Creek Mine, support for local youth activities, and a number of other community based activities to support fish.
The Panhandle Chapter is also a strong voice in Trout Unlimited's fight to save Snake River salmon. Despite the contentious nature of the need to breach the four dams on the Lower Snake River, the chapter has not shied away from helping to educate the Pacific Northwest, and sometimes even their neighbors, on the benefits of preserving this magnificent species.
"It is a real honor for us to accept this award on behalf of the members of the Panhandle Chapter," said Idaho TU Council Chairman Bob Dunnagan. "In a larger sense, we are accepting the Golden Trout Award on behalf of all the folks in North Idaho who have helped us with money, technical assistance, and encouragement. The most gratifying part of our conservation work comes from educating our community and earning our neighbor's endorsement to keep our rivers and streams healthy and clean for the next generation."
"The Panhandle's success with the Clark Fork River relicensing is the best illustration of what a few concerned individuals can do when they reach out to a community. It is clearly one of TU's most significant conservation accomplishments of the past decade," said Gauvin. "TU's strength is driven by our grassroots volunteers both locally and nationally. It is volunteers like those in Idaho's Panhandle Chapter that position TU at the forefront of community-based conservation solutions that help protect watersheds across America."
The award to the Idaho Panhandle Chapter as the number one Trout Unlimited chapter in the nation is the third year in a row that Idaho has received Trout Unlimited national awards. Last year, Idaho Fish and Game Biologist Chip Corsi of Coeur d' ALene received TU's national award given to a fisheries professional. In 1998 the Idaho Statesman received TU's Conservation Communication award for its editorial stance supporting removal of the four lower Snake River dams to restore Snake River salmon and steelhead.
Idaho Fish and Game and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on Twin Creek. The Idaho Panhandle Chapter was awarded a $10,000 EAS grant to restore habitat for threatened bull trout. 
Habitat has been damaged in the past by agricultural practices that transformed this spawning and rearing habitat to cattle grazing pasture. The $10,000 EAS grant will be supplemented with funds from Avista as part of the mitigation for the two lower Clark Fork dams. The FWS will contribute design funds, and IDFG personnel will assist with planning and implementation, and the private owner will supply equipment and equipment operators. -The Twin Creek project is currently underway. We had the opportunity to visit the site in its early stages. In areas the stream is being enhanced and relocated to its original position. This is one of the larger stream rehabilitation projects taking place in the Pacific Northwest. The Panhandle chapter is proud of the fact that because of its efforts we have brought together a private landowner, Idaho Fish and Game and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to restore Twin Creek. With everyone working together it looks as though we will be able to chalk a few points up for the Bull Trout.
fish migrating up Colburn Creek and installing fish ladders. Crews spent several days preparing to remove a small dam used by the mill to store water for fire protection. 
Once that structure and the culvert near it were removed, a fish ladder was constructed from rock. About a quarter of a mile downstream, a fish ladder fashioned from angle iron was inserted into a culvert to create slack water that will enable bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish to make their way up the culvert.Since the dam was construction in the 1940s, fish have been unable to make it upstream. The materials for the ladder were donated by Crown and they were built by Trout Unlimited. "I love this" said Bob Dunnagan of Trout Unlimited as he walked along the creek's bank, studying the small fish that darted through the crystal water of the creek.