Teaming Up to Support Wildlife
The National Wildlife Federation's newest affiliate, based in Oregon, has joined the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition! The Association of Northwest Steelheaders' (ANWS) mission is to protect and enhance fisheries and the waters they depend upon for future today and for future generations. For over 20 years, the Steelheaders have been working jointly with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect and restore Oregon's rivers by organizing volunteer restoration days such as the tree planting featured in the photo above. By creating more riparian habitat and stabilizing stream banks, the Steelheaders help assure the health of Oregon's streams and rivers.

Growing Future Generations of Anglers
Of course, the Steelheaders also have a much broader conservation agenda. Education and outreach to future anglers is a key part of their mission. Several chapters of ANWS around the state work closely with local schools to provide tanks complete with trout or salmon eggs to individual classrooms. Students can watch the the eggs develop and hatch, and in most cases, students even complete the cycle by releasing the fish into nearby streams. Click here for photos and to read about the Steelheaders work with 80 fifth graders at Orenco Elementary School.

The National Wildlife Federation is very excited to have for its newest affiliate a group dedicated to safeguarding Oregon's precious fisheries and waterways for future generations. We are also thrilled to have the Steelheaders as partners supporting the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition. For more information about the Association of Northwest Steelheaders, visit their website.