The North Bay chapter of Trout Unlimited, Marin’s veteran fisheries conservation group, was honored this week as the Board of Supervisors issued a resolution of commendation for nearly a half century of public service.
Former Supervisor Peter Arrigoni, among seven founders of the chapter in 1972, accepted a plaque from the county board amid praise for Trout Unlimited volunteers for completing fisheries habitat, sediment prevention, fencing and other projects across Marin’s watershed. The group has worked on projects restoring habitat in Corte Madera, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, Lagunitas, Redwood, Walker and Devil’s Gulch creeks.
The county resolution noted the organization is “one of Marin County’s primary sources of volunteer participants who continue to work toward restoring our diverse watershed areas.”
In addition to watershed conservation, Trout Unlimited works with Marin youth, providing a “first cast” fishing class for youngsters, as well as a “trout in the classroom” program in which middle school pupils raise rainbow trout for release in local lakes. The local organization also organizes fishing events for severely disabled veterans.
The county resolution notes Arrigoni was among founders of Trout Unlimited’s local chapter, along with the late Leo Cronin, Peter Berg, Stan Griffin, Ron Grau, Don Scott and Gordon Ehrman. Cronin, whose sons continue to participate, was an unabashed fisheries crusader many called “Mr. Fish.” He ran a hatchery program for a time, raising and releasing coho salmon in Lagunitas Creek.
Fred Mack, president of the Trout Unlimited chapter, said that robust runs of coho salmon in Marin this year “are the result of the work those guys did 40 years ago,” including Cronin’s hatchery program. Mack narrates a tape of coho getting ready to spawn in Lagunitas Creek this year at nbtu.org
