The Mountain Bridge TU Board meets monthly.
March Minutes
Mountain Bridge Chapter – Trout Unlimited
Board Meeting Minutes
Date: March 3, 2025
Location:Stax Omega
Time: 6:30pm
Members Present:Tom Theus, Steve Genta, Keith Stinchcomb, Dave Armstrong, Paul Glasser, Ben Clauss, Tim Brandt, George Derziak, Jim Belle
• TU National – TU Eastern Rendezvous scheduled for April 25-27 in Shepherdstown, WV.
▪ TU National Online Town Hall March 4th at 8:00pm to discuss the impact of Federal funding on conservation efforts.
• SCTU Council
o SEWE was a great event. Tom Theus made several new contacts.
o SCCTU – Next meeting March 15th hosted by the Saluda River Chapter in Columbia.
o A joint fund-raising effort between all 3 SC TU chapters is being discussed. It would be a raffle. Possible prizes are being discussed/pursued.
• Treasurer’s Report
o No significant transactions of donations to discuss this month.
• Membership – Current membership holding at approximately 500.
• Conservation Initiatives
o Ben is pursuing a meeting with the Greenville Water Commission. Some initial mention of possible conversion of an unused waste water treatment facility to a hatchery is being bantered about. Funding will be necessary.
o Ben had a lengthy discussion with Dan Rankin of SCDNR. $50,000 in Federal funding for the brook trout restoration project has been put in hold, impacting a number of additional funding sources that would contribute once Federal funds are received. Also discussed the recent fish study on the Chattoogaand possible next steps.
o Upstate Forever Awards Luncheon April 22nd
• Trout In the Classroom
• Release dates at Table Rock State Park are scheduled for March 11, 25, 26 & 27.
• A fishing outing with the Christ Church Episcopal School Trout Fishing Club was held on February 27th with 11 8th grade boys, 1 8th grade girl and three faculty members. The outing was a success with several fish landed. A second outing for the balance of the club members is scheduled for March 14th. Karl Ekberg from Chattooga River Fly Shop is assisting with the outings as well.
• Sharri Duncan has resigned from the program.
• Communications
• A follow-up email to the survey will be sent to all members in the next few days. Feedback received and comments from the board will be included along with another link to the survey foradditional members to utilize.
• A number of survey respondents indicated possible interest in board participation. These members are being contacted for follow-up.
• Dave Armstrong will compose a short synopsis of the Pig Pen Creek project for submission to Trout magazine.
• Tom has a connection for possible inclusion of the above story in American Fly Fisherman magazine and Grey’s Sporting Journal.
• Upcoming Speakers at General Meetings
- March 18 – Callie Freeman – Stream Entemology
• Fishing outing to the Raven’s Fork in Cherokee, NC scheduled for March 24th.
• A riverside clean-up on the Chattooga and Chauga coordinated by the USFS is scheduled for Saturday April 5th. Volunteers are to meet at the Highway 76 Chattooga River Access parking lot at 9:00am.
• Ken to pursue possible Helene recovery volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
▪ Meeting Adjourned