What do trout and people have in common? They both need high water quality to survive. Trout Unlimited has been protecting water quality for 51 years. In celebration, the Ashokan – Pepacton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited has created the “Leaping Trout Art Project”.  This all-volunteer, community-based art project is raising awareness of the critical importance of water quality in the Catskill Watershed.  Our mission to conserve, protect, and restore our cold water resources benefits not only our native trout, but also the nine million plus people in New York City that drink this same water. Water quality is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s not take it for granted.

Anyone with the good fortune to fish our fabled Catskill streams does not soon forget the experience. Frequented by angling legends like Theodore Gordon, Lee Wulff, and Art Flick, our waters have historical importance as the “Cradle of American Fly Fishing." For fifty years, Trout Unlimited has played a leading role in protecting waters like these — the trout and salmon fisheries that are among America’s great national treasures.

>> PRESS MATERIALS AVAILABLE HERE

The Leaping Trout Project Committee:

Mark Loete
Chester Karwatowski
Kathy Nolan
Todd Spire
Bruce Duffy
Tony Cocozza
Stephanie Blackman

Special thanks to Mark Loete for conceiving and directing this incredible project!

*web design and programming - Todd Spire - Spire Designs
*graphic design - Stephanie Blackman Design
*studio photography - Mark Loete Photography
*copywriting - Stephanie Blackman. Michael Clarke, Bruce Duffy, Mark Loete, Kathy Nolan, Todd Spire

This project has been made possible, in part, by a grant from the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program.

www.ashokanstreams.org

The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program is supported by the following:

Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Ulster County

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection

The Ulster County Soil & Water Conservation District

Additional thanks:

The Arts Upstairs Gallery for hosting our final event

Jay Werbalowsky for being our auctioneer

All 27 trout are now available as giclée prints! - click for details