Grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin

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Dave Kumlien Executive Director TUs Whirling
Disease Foundation

• Grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin
• Graduated Macalester College, St. Paul, MN 1972
• Moved to Bozeman 1973

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Dave Kumlien Executive Director TUs Whirling
Disease Foundation

• Founded and owned Montana Troutfitters fly shop
  1978-1998
• Founding Director of the Whirling Disease
  Foundation 1995

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Whirling Disease Foundation

• Established in 1995 in Bozeman, Montana
• Managed by a 11 member Board of Directors
• Staffed by an Executive Director and Science
  Coordinator

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Mission

• To manage the threat of whirling disease to wild
  trout, salmon, char, and steelhead.

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In October 2007, the Whirling Disease Foundation
merged into the Trout Unlimited Cold Water
Conservation Fund (CCF)

• Merger Points..
• Continue mission of the Whirling Disease
  Foundation

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Merger Points

• Utilize whirling disease model to develop Aquatic
  Invasive Species program for TU

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AND.

• Dave must go fishing at every opportunity! ?

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Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)

• Why should TU care?

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Aquatic invasive species directly impact TUs
mission to conserve and protect North Americas
trout and salmon!
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The Plan!

• Two pronged approach to reduce the AIS threat to
  TUs mission
• Support sound scientific research into AIS
• Integrate AIS into TUs Conservation Success
  Index (CSI)
• Utilize TUs education and outreach capabilities
  to reach membership and the public to educate
  them about the AIS problem and provide
  information regarding what they can do to help
  reduce the AIS threat.

TU Science
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Education and outreach is an important tool in
the AIS battle and represents the initial focus
in the TU effort.

• Utilize TUs powerful communication network to
  spread the AIS message to its 140,000 members

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Education and outreach is an important tool in
the AIS battle and represents the initial focus
in the TU effort.

• Utilize state council, local TU chapters, and
  grassroots membership to spread the message to
  the public

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AIS was not a part of the TU culture. Take care
of the water and the habitat and the trout will
take care of themselves. The Challenge Craft
a simple and understandable message that will
engage TU members in the AIS issue.
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No Felt Soles by 2011!
This policy was announced at TUs 2008 Annual
Meeting in Salt Lake City and at the Fly Fishing
Retailer Trade Show in Denver in September 2008
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No Felt Soles by 2011!
A policy carefully considered by TU Science
staff and based on science.
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No Felt Soles by 2011!
Felts soles most likely piece of angling
equipment to transport AIS. In a study
titled Movements of Resident and Non-Resident
Anglers in Montana Implications for Transferring
Whirling Disease among Drainages in the Greater
Yellowstone Ecosystem by Kiza K. Gates,
Christopher S. Guy, Alexander V. Zale, and
Travis B. Horton of the Montana Cooperative
Fishery Research Unit and Montana Fish, Wildlife,
and Parks
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No Felt Soles by 2011!
It was discovered that. The average angler in
the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is carrying
22.10 g of sediment on their boots and waders.
Anglers in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are
capable of transporting detectable quantities of
sediment between access sites.
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No Felt Soles by 2011!
It was discovered that. The potential for
this sediment transport to move aquatic nuisance
species that may be found in the sediment among
drainages in Montana is of concern.
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No Felt Soles by 2011!

• A formal request was received from Utah Div. of
  Wildlife

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No Felt Soles by 2011!
asking TU to take the lead in educating anglers
in dangers of using felt and encouraging the use
of alternatives.
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No Felt Soles by 2011!

• The no felt soles policy also followed the
  actions of other state and federal agencies
  including, NY DEQ, AK Fish Commission, and MD
  Department of Inland Fisheries and the country of
  New Zealand which has banned the use of felt
  soled waders and boots.

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No Felt Soles by 2011!

• The no felts soles by 2011 position has created
  a lot of interest in the fly angling community
  and in the fly fishing industry.

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No Felt Soles by 2011!
At the September 2008 Fly Fishing Retailer Simms
Fishing Products Company announced no felt soles
in the Simms line by 2010.
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No Felt Soles by 2011!

• Created LOTS of buzz!
• Article in Winter 2009 issue of TROUT magazine
• To date, over 40 articles have appeared in fly
  fishing magazines and major newspapers across the
  country.

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No Felt Soles by 2011!
..and LOTS of blog and chatroom activity talking
about the AIS problem and the no felt sole
recommendation
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No Felt Soles by 2011!
Bill Says I applaud TUs call to manufacturers
and anglers to seek alternatives to felt soles by
2011. I am sure all anglers would readily replace
soles if an alternative that meets felt
performance is developed.
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No Felt Soles by 2011!
Bill Says But it is very important to look at
the bigger picture that shoes are only one part
of addressing the invasive species issues.
Invasives ride along in shoe laces, mesh, between
the insole and shoe, gravel cuffs, boats, and
gear. Bottom Line is we need to fundamentally
change anglers thinking and behavior in how they
treat gear after every use.
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Common question from the public So, we
eliminate felt soles, what about the rest of my
fishing gear?
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Considerable discussion with AIS and fish health
professionals produced numerous and varied
suggestions and approaches to equipment care.
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• Consensus
• No single treatment controls all AIS.
• Many recommended treatments require the use of
  harsh and dangerous chemicals.
• Considerable concern expressed regarding the
  cleaning of equipment and the publics use of
  chemicals in riparian zones.

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• Consensus
• There is a VERY low probability of the public
  implementing complicated treatments.
• KISS (keep in simple) approach is best.

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Trout Unlimited joined with the Center for
Aquatic Nuisance Species and the Federation of
Fly Fishers in recommending the Clean Angling
Pledge "I pledge to inspect, clean and dry my
gear. I am committed to protecting our
fisheries resources from aquatic nuisance
species.
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• "Simple steps can be taken to reduce the spread
  and introduction of harmful ANS invaders. 
• Inspect your gear for any plants, or dirt.
• Clean your gear with clean water.
• Thoroughly dry your gear.
• Never transport any fish, plants or animals from
  one body of water to another.

Please join in the fight against aquatic nuisance
species by taking the Clean Angling Pledge
at www.tu.org or www.cleanangling.org
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No Felt Soles by 2011!
Will these actions eliminate the risk of
spreading AIS by anglers? No, but they will help
reduce the risk of the spread of AIS, and
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No Felt Soles by 2011!
maybe even more importantly, this policy and
action has helped to shift the paradigm of
thinking and impact the behavior of fly fishing
anglers regarding their role in spreading AIS!
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Thank You!
dkumlien_at_tu.org 406-570-0023