FISH NEED YOUR HELP!

Support the Farm Bill Water Program

Fish in Arizona and Trout Unlimited need our help.  Fish need water, and Arizona Senator Kyl is opposing a new in-stream water provision in the Farm Bill under consideration today and tomorrow in the Senate. To help this cause, please call his Washington, D.C. office (202-224-4521) or one of his Arizona offices (listed below) and ask that he support water elements of Chairman Harkin's Conservation Reserve Program, and request that he work with Senator Reid to resolve any problems.

Senator Kyl is opposed to extending the existing land Conservation Reserve Program to water. Under the existing Conservation Reserve Program, farmers can voluntarily enroll their land in the program and receive payments for allowing wildlife to use their land.

Chairman Harkin would extend the program to water -- but only in the states that allow use of water in-stream for fish, and under the supervision of the states. Contrary to Senator Kyl's position, it would not interfere with state law -- state water law would dictate whether the program could be used or not. This program would only tie water up for a period  between 1 to 5 years. This is intended to be used as a tool during drought and periods of low flows, when the fish desperately need the water.

If approved, this program could be a huge boost to Trout Unlimited's efforts to restore water to streams in some states.

Please call and ask that Senator Kyl withdraw his opposition and support the new in-stream water provision in the Farm Bill instead.

Senator Kyl's Arizona offices:
   Phoenix  - (602) 840-1891
   Tucson  - (520) 575-8633


Please pass this alert on to anybody who fishes or is concerned about Arizona’s fish.  Trout Unlimited needs all the help they can get to change Senator Kyl’s decision.  Please call Senator Kyl today and ask for his support of the water acquisition program in the Senate Farm Bill.

For further information, call or email Steve Malloch at smalloch@tu.org or 703-284-9415.

Terry Chia

AZOD Fly Fishing Editor