Trout Power

Goldstocks in Albany Area Catches the Power

2012-02-16T17:53:00.000-08:00

Goldstocks fly shop in Albany recently put up one of our Trout Power Banners. You can see it here in the window of their shop.

Goldstocks is a reputable fly shop and carries a lot of great equipment.

Thank you for supporting our event, we hope to see you there June 8, 9 and 10

Are you interested in a Trout Power Banner, email JP Ross for details on how to get one.

Eric Dresser and JP Ross with his new otter print.

2012-02-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

Eric Dresser and JP Ross Fly Rods meet to pick up one of Eric's new prints.

Eric and JP.... I think JP needs to lay off the candy bars...

I just got back from visiting Eric Dresser and picked up one of his new otter prints. I currently now have 6 of Eric works of art. You can learn more about outdoor photography and Eric on his web site.
I first met Eric on the West Canada Creek many years ago. He was in his canoe with his dog and casting dry flies to rising trout in the river. I loved how Eric had his Canoe set up with a anchor system in the bow, and later on I also adapted his ideas in my own Wenonah. I ended up buying one last year. It is a Wenonah Fusion 13 footer in Royalex.

Eric is also a proud supporter of Trout Power and is seen on the Trout Power web site.

Eric will also soon be receiving one of our Beaver Meadow 6 foot 6 inch 2 weights. I cant wait to see what kind of photos he gets with that.

Be sure to check out his renowned photography. His prices are very reasonable... ask him about his new metallic paper.. very cool stuff.

Silicon Valley and Recht Associates joins Trout Power

2012-02-09T16:14:00.000-08:00

John Fullem from Recht and Associates heard about Trout Power and wanted to get involved. He said; "this is a great idea, we should do something like this up here at Tahoe." So there you have it.... John and Recht Associates from California have caught the power.

I have known John for almost 6 years now and he now has capitalized on some of the great fishing around the San Francisco Bay area. John is partner of Recht Associates a manufacturers representative in the awesome Silicon Valley. As luck would have it, the first time I met John he said... "you are from where? Utica???" John proceeded to tell me how he actually was born in Utica, NY and spend much of his young childhood there.

When I come to California for the work I do in Electronics Materials sometimes I will spend an extra day with John and fish with our buddy RJ Waldron of North Wind Outfitters.

Here is a quality fish we got with RJ on a Saturday fish.

Thanks John we appreciate the support... I hope you can make it for the Tournament.

REC Components, gives a testimonial for Trout Power

2012-01-18T07:08:00.000-08:00

REC Components is pleased to support the “Trout Power”initiative envisioned by Jordan Ross, the founder of JP Ross Fly Rods. By supporting “Trout Power” theenvironmental and economic welfare of West Canada Creek and the valley andcommunities through which it flows in Central New Yorkwill be enhanced for the common good of local citizens, anglers, andbusinesses. Stated Alan Gnann, Presidentof REC, “we applaud the efforts of Jordan Ross to bring the benefits of clean water,healthy insect hatches, and the overall health of the West Canada Creekwatershed to the attention of all local stakeholders. It is well recognized that the recreationalimpact of a scenic and productive fishery such as the West Canada leads to important economic growth for the region. We encourage everyone to learn more about andparticipate fully in the success of this important program”

Are you a business that wants to help support Trout Power... please get a hold of Jordan Ross jpross@jprossflyrods.com.

Sweetie Pies Sponsors a Road Race starting at Her Bakery in Poland

2012-01-17T03:11:00.000-08:00

Remember that part of Trout Power is bringing a community together and helping them grow and prosper.

Sweetie Pies will be hosting a road race that is 3.14 miles long. I do not have details on sign up and if there is a fee or anything... but in order to have a road race there is planning and some costs, so make sure you help support this great small business.

Krista owns Sweety Pies Bakery and I expect that her little store will end up being very busy on the weekend of Trout Power. Here she is pictured behind her huge case of goodies. Coffee, pastries, pies and other great items are available at her store.

Not Far from Sweetie Pies on Rte 8 just North of the Poland Rte 8 and 28 intersection is the old railroad bridge. I am sure this will be a secret place for some of the people in the Tournament. The West Canada and its over 20 miles of trout water is a gem of New York and of the North East. Many say that it clearly rivals any Adirondack Trout Stream because of its size and ability to grow large fish.

Trout Power Tournament goes International

2012-01-15T12:55:00.000-08:00

Guido Lanoye of Belgium recently signed up for the Trout Power Tournament. Although Guido will not be participating, he did sign up for a 2 person slot with a donation of $60.00.

Thank You so much Guido for your help.

Guido is an old friend of mine and is a JP Ross Fly Rod Company fan. I saw Guido just this week in London, he showed me some pictures of some Pike Perch he had recently been catching. He tells me they are only caught in Freshwater and Brackish Water.

It is Fun to see someone all the way in Europe that is excited about Trout Power. This is going to be a great fishing Tournament.

Trout Power fishing Tournament is starting to get some great participants.

2012-01-10T00:47:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure today of opening my email and seeing yet another sign up for the Trout Power Fishing Tournament being held in June 2012 on the West Canada Creek. This time we got a sign up by a few guys all the way in Michigan.

I can not wait to meet and hang out with these guys. Also, make sure you check out their blog.

http://truenorthtrout.com/

"We're really excited to make the trip from Michigan to fish in the Trout Power Tournament in June. We've wanted to fish the Adirondack region for years and this is a great opportunity for us to learn more about the resource, to meet other anglers, and to help JP Ross focus attention on the way that healthy local waters bring recreational tourism dollars to local businesses." - Jordan J. Lindberg (Traverse City, MI) & Bryon Anderson (Holland, MI)

Trout Power Sign up is here $60.00 for a team of 2.

2012-01-01T12:07:00.000-08:00

If you are ready to sign up for the Trout Power Tournament, were ready too.

We will limit the entries to 30 teams. For info on the Tournament, like rules and regulations click here.

Click here to sign up and receive your 2 free t-shirts, compliments of JP Ross Fly Rods.

fly fishing West Canada Creek

2011-12-30T08:41:00.001-08:00

Fishing the West Canada Creek

West Canada Creek is one of the most renowned trout streams in central New York, providing anglers with good fishing for both brown trout and brook trout.

Beginning with its headwaters in the southeastern Adirondacks in Hamilton County, West Canada Creek provides good fishing opportunities throughout its length as it flows east and then south through Herkimer and Oneida counties, emptying into the Mohawk River near Herkimer, New York.

Fishing

Anglers can catch a number of different fish species in West Canada Creek. In the upper reaches, brook trout are the angler's favorite. Many anglers are rewarded with nice sized brookies that are stocked here. In addition, anglers will also find naturally occurring brookies near the mouths of small tributaries.

From Hinckley Dam to Herkimer, anglers concentrate on fishing for brown trout, which are stocked as yearlings and two-year-olds. As an added bonus, smallmouth bass and fallfish also offer sporty catches in the lower section.

For trophy-sized fish try the Trenton Falls area. Special regulations, like a no kill restriction and use of artificial lures only, combined with an extended fishing season, help produce trophy fish.

With approximately 26 miles of accessible stream frontage and 11 parking lots, West Canada Creek is easy to get to. For exact locations, please refer to the accompanying map.

Anglers are reminded to check the current fishing regulations
prior to fishing any section of West Canada Creek.

The book Guide to Fishing West Canada Creek and Its Tributaries, by M. Paul Keesler is available through North Country Books, 311 Turner St., Utica NY 13501.

The Mohawk Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited produced a detailed map with additional fishing and local information. The map is available for a nominal fee at a number of local businesses. To find out where you can pick up a copy, contact the Regional DEC office in Utica or Watertown.

Fast Rising Water

WARNING: Below Trenton Falls and the Hinckley Dam, West Canada Creek is subject to sudden water surges from the upstream power dam. Wading anglers must be careful to watch for rising waters and then quickly move to shore.

Canoeists may find that the higher water associated with water releases from the dam can be beneficial for accessing fish. During lower water conditions, boats can sometimes run aground.

But, whether you are wading or paddling, it is recommended that everyone wear a personal flotation device.

Prior to visiting this river section, anglers can obtain the latest water flow report by calling 1-800-452-1742.

Links to West Canada Maps.

Map 1

Map 2

Mad River Sports add's another prize to the Trout Power Tournament

2011-12-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

Carl Kapfer from Mad River is an old friend of mine. Back when I turned 16 I used to drive my black Oldsmobile to his factory in Canastota, NY. There I would inhale Beaver Dubbing and listen to Earth Wind and Fire.

His Company Mad River Sports is happy to donate $200.00 in gift certificates for the longest trout caught in the first day.

Thanks Carl. Your the best.

The Winter Solstice party at Trenton Falls, we're almost to spring already!

2011-12-26T04:41:00.000-08:00

According to Wikipedia. The winter solstice occurs exactly when the axial tilt of a planet's polar hemisphere is farthest away from the star that it orbits. Earth's maximum axial tilt to our star, the Sun, during a solstice is 23° 26'. More evident from high latitudes, a hemisphere's winter solstice occurs on the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the sun's daily maximum elevation in the sky is the lowest.^[2] Since the winter solstice lasts only a moment in time, other terms are often used for the day on which it occurs, such as midwinter, the longest night or the first day of winter.

Pam Underhill captures a moment at the Winter Solstice Party at Trenton Falls a few days ago.

The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the winter solstice usually occurs on December 21 to 23 each year in the Northern Hemisphere, and June 20 to 23 in the Southern Hemisphere.^[3]

Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied from culture to culture, but most northern hemisphere cultures have held a recognition of rebirth, involving holidays, festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations around that time.^[4]

Sweetie Pies 3.14 mile road race on Trout Power Weekend

2011-12-26T04:34:00.000-08:00

Krista from Sweetie Pies Bakery on Route 8 in Poland is organizing a running road race the day of the Trout Power Tournament. Sweetie Pies decided to have the length of the run 3.14 miles, the same as the mathematical term PIE or 22/7. The Race will start at the Bakery and will likely turn up Rte 8 towards West Canada Camp sites and the Rte 8 and 28 Bridge.

To sign up for the race of receive information, please contact Krista at Sweetie Pies.

Contact Information

Phone

1 315.525.2961 Mobile

kristastupka@roadrunner.com

Update on Trout Power, and the Trout Power Tournament

2011-12-07T04:22:00.000-08:00

The Trout Power Tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday June 9 and 10th 2012. So far the response has been very good for this type of thing and I am very excited to see it moving forward.

Here are some details on the rules as they begin to be formulated.

the Trout Power tournament will be based on teams of 2, registration will start in January 2012. Estimated cost for entry will be $60.00 per team.
The Trout Power tournament will be a catch and release tournament, any fish that is purposefully killed will cause immediate disqualification.
Any form of fishing will be acceptable, as long as: it is single hook on a fly or lure and no bait. A fly and a dropper is acceptable, but no more than two flies in such a rig.
Other methods of fishing, such as dapping, noodling, float fishing, etc... are all acceptable and applauded. Be prepared to explain to others your methods so everyone can learn.
First prize will be based on total inches caught in two days.
Fish length will be documented by participants with a digital camera and a tape measure.
anyone caught cheating will be fined $500.00
New York State officials will be on sight
Tournament starts at 7:00 am on Saturday, check in at 6:00 am to start and first check point will be at noon and sunset Saturday. Trout Power Tournament starts on Sunday, 1 hour before sunrise, and ends at noon on Sunday.

First Prize for most inches trout of any species caught in two days will be $1000.00
Biggest fish caught by length and girth of ANY species will be $200.00 in gift cards to Jay-K Lumber and Hardware.
Most inches of fish caught in first day will receive a Wheatley fly box from REC Components.

The Trout Power Weekend may be the second weekend in June 2012

2011-11-29T04:12:00.000-08:00

It looks like the second week of June 2012 could be the weekend of the trout power tournament. That weekend the Town of Russia also has a Chicken BBQ, so what better way to help support the community.

There is still much to do, and we have been getting some support from the locals, but could use some more. Anyone that wants to be a part of this, please chime in.

River Hills joins Trout Power as our newest sponsor

2011-11-25T14:10:00.000-08:00

Today we ran into Bill and Robin from River Hills Properties while eating breakfast at Sweet Basil's in Barneveld. We hit two birds with one stone, because while chatting with Robin and Bill, we also chatted with the owners of the Restaurant and both were excited about Trout Power and wanted to be involved.

Trout Power Fly Fishing Tournament to be held June 2012 on West Canada Creek, NY

2011-11-21T04:08:00.000-08:00

Thanks to great response from the Trout Power Campaign so far, we have decided to have a fishing Tournament on the West Canada Creek in June of 2012.

The Trout Power Tournament will be only outside the Trophy Section and will be open to any type of fishing technique as long as it is single hook artificial and NO BAIT. The Tournament will also be strictly Catch and Release.

We will need lots of volunteers to Police the river during the tournament. If you are interested in sponsoring or helping out, please email me at jpross@jprossflyrods.com.

The Tournament will be two days and will have a cash prize of $1000.00 for biggest fish or most fish is still not decided. During the Tournament there will be lots of fun things to do with the community and after we will have an old fashioned hootenanny.

The Purpose of the tournament is to bring awareness to the river, the area and the business that surround the river. It is clearly documented the the Trophy Section up river has been a great success, but we want to focus on the sections of the river around the towns, such as Russia, Poland, Newport and Middleville.

Sign up will start January 1st, and currently there is no plan to limit the number of anglers or assign particular sections or beats.

Please stay tuned on this web site and on www.jprossflyrods.com for more details.

the greatest boat lift of all time..

2011-11-20T14:19:00.000-08:00

on 9/11 I was owner of Rising Trout Outfitter fly shop. I remember sitting in my office that day and watching the news on the PC. Shortly after the crisis started, people started to come to the fly shop. Everyone was friends. If you have a local fly shop, and you like going there, you know what I mean. You are a friend.... That day I remember going through more coffee than we ever did in a week and we ordered many pizzas. People just came... The fly shop was a place of non-reality. It was a place where people were comfortable.
About a month after that a proud but startled man walked into my shop. His name was Rob, and unfortunately I have lost touch with him. He was a fireman in NY. He walked in and was greeted by Montana, my Black Lab. "Howwww ya dooinn" he said to her, with his thick NY accent... "What the _ _ _ _ is your story, bud" I asked him.

Later that night, Steve and I took Rob to Cavallos after fishing the West Canada Creek. We had a great time and he came up time after time. One day he actually brought us a piece of the tower. I still have it, although I have heard it is illegal to own.

None the less, one day we were tallking to Rob on the bank of the river, because the fishing was slow. "you seem better" I told him. Although Rob never told us that he had issues with that day and event, we knew he had a heavy heart.

"The West Canada Creek saved me", he told us. "You guys taking me under your wing and sharing this river with me has saved me."

I miss Rob, and spoke to him last, probably about 5 years ago. I have tried to call him, but his cell does not work anymore.

It was the power of the river that helped Rob and many others I have met over the 15 Years in this business.
Here is a movie about the Boating Captains that saved over 500,000 people on 9-11 by boat. It has touched me, and I hope it touches you. Make sure you get to 6 minutes. I think I started to cry at that point.

New update and trying to decide on logos for Trout Power

2011-11-19T05:22:00.000-08:00

Trout Power Update

The last couple weeks have been great weeks for Trout Power. As many of you know, I met with Congressman Hanna about Trout Power and its desire to bring more people to the communities in Russia, Poland, Newport and Middleville. I also spoke with the Governors office and received great support. I have dropped a line to the Oneida County Tourism Office, but have not heard back. I hope to catch up with them today.

Grass Roots efforts included hitting the road and speaking to a few local shops. One is a co-op shop in Newport. It is the site of the old West Side Saloon. www.newportmarketplace.org. They and the West Canada Sport Shop were happy to hear about the idea of a tournament and also enlightened me that there was a meeting in Norway recently discussing the rebuilding of the Grays Reservoir.

I also recently posted some articles that Mike Shaffer sent over. These were written in 2004 and 2005.

After posting these on facebook, I received a message from Morgan Lyle himself. Perhaps a new updated article, talking about Trout Power is coming soon.

An anonymous supporter is also working on an article explaining the water system and where the water goes from Hinkley Dam to the Mohawk River.

Next Steps for Trout Power will probably involve me, with Matt Cucci setting up a grass roots town meeting to begin planning for the event in the spring. Matt had some great ideas, like a Trout Power 5k run and also a Mountain Bike Race.

I also spoke with Jay-K Lumber and they too are behind the event and want to support.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this so far. I understand that people are still talking that this is solely a JP Ross Fly Rod Company event, and that is why I decided to start this web page instead of promoting on the JP Ross Web site.

JP

Recent Trout Power Comments

2011-11-18T14:19:00.001-08:00

Murph:

Sounds like a way to promote JP Ross?
Jordan Ross:

Hi Murph. In a way, I guess trout power will promote JP Ross. But I believe it is a way for me to take some of my profit and give it back to the community. Patagonia does it with 1% for the planet. Why can’t I do it with Trout Power. It certainly is going to take time and money to get this project rolling, and JP Ross Fly Rods is willing to help. I hope this is a fair reply to your comment.
JP
Ron Kenyon:

Jordan:
This is a great idea – it takes people who are truly commited to start something like this.
Our natural resources are becoming fewer and fewer as time goes by.
Hang in there – you have a great cause.
Ron Kenyon
Mike Shafer:

Jordan,
I agree that the West Canada could be a world class trout river but from my perspective the number 1 issue preventing that is the pulsed flows that have gotten much worse in the last two years. Ten years ago Morgan Lyle wrote a number of articles regarding Brascan when they were pulsing the river from 400-800 cfs. I recently talked to Morgan and told him we didn’t know how lucky we were to have those flows at the time. Brookfield’s practice of pulsing 500 cfs all night and 1500 cfs all day has all but eliminated decent fishing conditions on the river. Until and unless we can resolve that issue to more fishable flows, everything else is a mute point. I have written several letters to the different power companies over the years, but it will take far more than my lone pleadings. I think you are on the right track by making contact with as many stakeholders as possible. I have the name of the contact person at Brookfield whom I have written to if it will help you.
Mike
Jordan Ross:

Thanks Everyone for you response to Trout Power, especially Mike and Ron.
I do not yet understand the dynamics of why the water is pulsed the way it is, but I presume it is for on-demand power. On-Demand (I assume), can be sold at a higher price. Again… I need to learn more about this.
Trout Power is the premise that we will get the town and the people behind the Resource that is the River. Eventually our political figures will help us persuade Brookfield to manage flows so that we can bring people to the river to fish.
I completely agree that the pulsing is the issue. And I mention in the Trout Power Document that consistent flows and predictable flows is a necessity. Thankfully the flows are not killing fish, just making it hard to catch them.
Please email me your contacts at Brookfield.
Thanks… Jordan Ross
gary goodwin:

Great idea to call attention to the West Canada and its potential as a fishery and economic resource.
I have fished the Creek for over 25 years, and the current flow levels are the worst ever. I would like to contact Brookfield Energy and try to get some accommodation to fishermens’ needs.
The name and address of the contact person would be much appreciated.
How can i help with Trout Power?
Thanks,
GG
Mike Shafer:
I am mailing Jordan copies of a couple of articles written by Morgan Lyle of the Gazette back in 2004/2005. At that time Morgan discovered that it was actually the NYS Power Authority who determines the flows in the river. A STATE AGENCY came up with the pulsing flows. I wrote to then Gov. Pataki, Assemblyman Marc Butler and Senator Hugh Farley with no success. It will take a coordinated effort by a lot of people to try and bring change. Mike

Thanks Mike. I will be starting a new web site www.troutpower.com and www.troutpower.org.

I will post these and other information on that site.

Thank you for your interest in this movement.

JP
kim ernst:
Jordan any fisherman with any love of the river should get behind this,if only in the hope that it will turn some heads,no one , or any company should have the power to do to a trout stream what this company does,285 cfs-1500cfs that’s a mini flood every 12 hours,you’ve a great idea,what can i do? Kim
Jordan Ross:

There have been a lot of comments on how to get behind Trout Power and start to get things going to promote the River. The biggest issue that has come up from this movement seems to be the pulsing of the water issue. I do not know if Brookfield Power does this on purpose or is mandated to do so. But I am going to find out. In the mean time, here is the contact info for the General Manager for Brookfield Power. If you have caught the power, one thing you can do is email David and ask why the River Pulses like it does. Share that information with me so I can post on the website. I expect I will have the Trout Power web site up and running in about a week.
David H. Preble
General Manager
National System Control Center
US Operations
Brookfield Renewable Power Inc.
200 Donald Lynch Blvd., Suite 300
Marlborough, Ma. 01752
508-251-7719
david.preble@brookfieldpower.com
Angela @ blue i marketing:

To date, while hearty in effort and passion, fly fishermen alone have not had enough power to affect a positive impact in flows on the West Canada.
There’s a longstanding consensus the flows are unpredictable, dangerous, and negatively impacting on multiple levels.
All parties, including Brookfield, must WIN here or there will be failure altogether.
The brotherhood calls for a spirit of collaboration; a spirit of looking forward, in the spirit of solid solutions that work for everyone.
To affect change, you must come to the party with these principles in mind.
The water has a story.
The fish have a story.
The people who want their children and their children’s children to hold their heads high in pride for the Town they call “Home” ... have a story.
Can you see this goes beyond the scope of the flows? Talking flows, while understandable, won’t affect change. We have to band together as well as stand alone – with a singular purpose:
Make everyone, in their own way, more emPOWERed = NEW Thinking and NEW Doing.
john hildenbrandt:
jp is a very good friend and agreat supporter of blueheron and yes i we greatly appreciate his drive and stamena for protecting trout waters. so jordon all the power for setting up trout power. let me know how i can help support with this progect. kudows to jp for a job well done. best regards john.

What is Trout Power all About?

2011-11-18T13:53:00.000-08:00

I recently have come up with a concept to help bring awareness to the West Canada. I know that many local fisherman are going to hate me for promoting the West canada Creek, but the truth is; if no one knows about the creek, no one will support and fight for the creek. Below is the meaning of Trout Power. Let me know via email, if you can help with this movement and if you support the movement.

Talk about it on facebook.... Link to it, support it.

pdf form, feel free to save and print and promote.

Trout Power: growing commerce, community spirit, and industry around the conservation of trout.

Did you know that Trout have the power to…..

· Bring thousands and even millions of dollars to businesses around the West Canada Creek!

· Be a metric to determine if the quality of the West Canada Creek water is clean!

· Monitor flows in the creek to manage hydro power!

· Bring communities and town together to work for a common goal!

· Bring jobs and promote commerce to our West Canada Valley Communities!

· Bring Industry and manufacturing to our West Canada Valley!

· Attract people from all over the world to fish for them!

Well they can, they will, and they do!

Trout Power is a movement that I created. I am JP Ross and I am a business owner and conservationist, and I am passionate about preserving the West Canada Creek and it’s Brown Trout that live in it. In fact, I am so passionate about it, that I believe one day this creek will be world famous and will attract people from all over the world, and be a source of green power.

Although the Trout do have the power to do all the things mentioned above, it is the water that is the Hero.

1. If there is water in the creek, then fish can live in the creek

2. If there is current in the creek, than trout can live in the creek

3. If there are trout in the creek, the creek is clean

4. If there is current in the creek, than there is a source for hydro power

5. If there are consistent flows in the creek, than insects can thrive in the creek

6. If insects thrive, there are great hatches

7. If there are great hatches in the creek, than people will come to fish

8. If people come to the creek, they will love the creek

9. If they love the creek, they will tell their friends and they will come back

10. If they tell their friends and come back, more people will come to the creek

11. If more people come to the creek, than local businesses will grow

12. And if we conserve the trout, the trout will replace themselves and we will not have to stock

It all revolves around conservation of the water and using trout as the metric for success. It’s easy for everyone to love trout. Trout are associated with clean water, and who does not love clean water.

If the trout live, we are doing well. If the numbers of trout grow, we are doing great. If the trout die, we are doing badly. It’s a pretty simple concept.

So what does success look like for the Trout Power Movement? I have broken down a list of goals we can accomplish.

· Education. We need to all get behind this program. That has already started with me talking to groups like the River Keepers and the Fly Fishers Anglers Association. I also have talked to Congressman Hanna and I look forward to talking to the mayors of Newport, Middleville and Poland. We all need to work together and we all need to understand what we are fighting for.

· The Asphalt Plant. The Trout Power plan suggests that as long as you don’t kill the trout, or hurt the trout, you are doing well. So this plan is not an Anti-Commerce Plan. It simply says, if any industry comes to the area and it hurts the trout, it is bad.

· Commerce. The first step for commerce is to get the flows in the creek to stabilize and be predictable. Brookfield Power is doing a great service by providing hydro power, but is doing a bad service by not allowing us to predict the flows in a timely manner to allow people to travel to the creek to fish on the weekend. We need to have flows that are consistent and predictable. The second step to promote commerce is to attract people to the area, to Catch The Power. We need to have a tournament or a get together that will bring people to our towns and villages, and spend some time and spend some money and stay awhile and Catch the power of the creek, the trout, the scenery and the people.

· Promote. Do people drive through Poland, Middleville and Newport like they drive through Manchester Vermont? Do they slow down looking for a bakery, a flower shop, craft store, or an old fashioned hardware store that is famous? They don’t, but they don’t know they should or can. People don’t want to drive on Rte 28 to go to Starbucks! They want to stop at the West Canada Creek Bakery, or Sweetie Pies. And then we want them to rent a kayak, and then we want them to realize that the day has slipped away and they better stay at a bed and breakfast, and go out to dinner at a local restaurant. And then at breakfast they will hear about the Mum Festival happening today and they will stay an extra day, and come back next year to do it again. Promotion starts with something to promote… we have to work with the communities and the chambers of commerce to determine what our strengths and weaknesses are and improve our weaknesses and promote and grow our strengths. Right now, the only one we have is the Trout… but that’s a start.

I don’t have all the answers, but I know that together with a common theme and a common goal we will do better than if we work alone. I want to see more of this creek preserved, and I can’t do that unless we put the Creek on the map. No one wants to protect a Creek they know nothing about.

I have Caught the Power and I want to Spread and Grow the Power… how about you?