2024 GRANTS

Science on the Fly

Started in 2019 as a project between Woodwell Climate Research Center and Fishpond, Science on the Fly engages the fly fishing community around the world to serve as community scientists for monthly river data collection and observations. The data collected allows researchers to increase the number of rivers that are subject to long-term studies of water-quality and watershed health, improve our understanding of how watersheds and river systems change over time due to climate change, as well as to help make an impact when creating or enforcing policies on our watersheds. In August of 2024, Science on the Fly partnered with Kendjam Lodge on the Iriri River in the Amazon to start the data collection process, funded in part by YDCCF.

Wild Salmon Center

For over 30 years, the Wild Salmon Center has focused on protecting and preserving the stronghold habitats for salmon all over the world. In early 2023, the Taimen Fund transitioned its funding and resources for the protection of Mongolian taimen to WSC and their International Taimen Initiative. WSC is now undertaking the process of mapping the remaining strongholds for these prized salmonids. Taimen are apex predators in the systems they occupy, and they are threatened on a number of fronts including desertification due to overgrazing and compounded by climate change, encroaching development, and a wide-ranging hydropower expansion underway by the Mongolian government. The goal of the mapping project is to be able to present a clear picture of the watersheds that must be protected for taimen to thrive.

East End McClean’s Town Rebuilding

Hurricane Dorian parked its Category 5 winds and storm surge over the East End of Grand Bahama and North End of Abaco for over 36 hours in September 2019 and forever changed the landscape. For over 60 years, the McClean’s Town settlement has been the beating heart of bonefishing in the Bahamas and the town suffered enormous losses. Since then, founding partners Cecil Leathen and Robert Neher at East End Lodge have been working to help the residents of McClean’s Town rebuild. YDCCF has been a part of this since the beginning, providing needed relief funding in the immediate aftermath, and have transitioned to providing support for the rebuilding effort now in it’s 4th year. In October, YDCCF held the first McClean’s Town Invitational fundraising tournament to raise even more funding. The YDCCF Tournament Series is designed to bring anglers and donors together for a week of fun to support local causes and efforts. We will continue to host this tournament well into the future and if you are interested in donating directly to the East End McClean’s Town Rebuilding you can do so here.

Rio Mataven Buo Apjo Film Project

Back in 2020, YDCCF funded a project in Colombia focused on providing fly fishing and conservation education to five Piaroa indigenous communities along the Mataven River. The goal of the project has been to create a destination peacock bass fishery that can help sustain the native way of life and protect the river and its resources. Our partner Tom Enderlin has been working to help tell this story and this year, completed (with YDCCF’s support) Buo Apjo, a film about the community and fishery. The film is a selection in the 2024 Fly Fishing Film Tour, as well as being featured in other film festivals. The goal of the film is to increase awareness of this special place and its indigenous stewards.

Upper Parana River Golden Dorado tracking

Dr. Andy Danylchuk of UMass Amherst, in conjunction with the Argentina National University of the Northeast and Carleton University (Canada) and outfitters in the region, are undertaking the first study of Golden Dorado in the Upper Parana River in Corrientes Province in northern Argentina. Little is know about the movement and migration patterns of this highly sought after species, and Dr. Danylchuk and his partners will be tagging fish throughout the upper river during the 2025 season. Data collected will begin to inform future efforts with the hope of shining a light on the dorado’s habits and locations at different times of the year.

Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute

The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) is the leading authority in the management and sustenance of Belize’s coastal resources. Each summer they hold a series of camps designed to teach youth about fly fishing in an effort to spark their interest in potentially becoming guides, which is a highly sought after profession in Belize. Studies show that almost 7% of the small nation’s GDP is derived from destination fly fishing.

Montana Environmental Information Center

MEIC is working with an array of partners including Montana TU and American Rivers to help continue to make the case for protections for the Smith River in central Montana. The Smith is a storied place, the only river in Montana that you need to secure a permit to float and fish its almost 60 miles of secluded canyons. Currently, there is an opportunity for the US Forest Service to issue what is known as a “mineral withdrawal” on the Smith that would offer some protections from mining activity. You can read more about the issue at Save Our Smith. YDCCF provided funding this year to help update an economic analysis last done in 2015 aimed at providing a clear picture to legislators and decision makers about how much the recreation economy means to the communities surrounding the Smith.

Bristol Bay Guide Academy

The Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy uses the practice and philosophy of catch and release fly fishing as a means to introduce the youth of Bristol Bay to the biology of salmon, the ecology of rivers and lakes, and the value of land stewardship and conservation. Fly fishing is also a skill that can lead to employment opportunities with local sport fishing lodges whose businesses are tied to the healthy watersheds that support Bristol Bay’s vibrant recreational lodge and growing visitor industry. The mission of the Academy is to inspire the next generation of local leaders to be advocates for habitat conservation in their communities and become ambassadors for the visitors from around the world who come to fish and enjoy the pristine environment of Bristol Bay. YDCCF Premier Lodge Partner Bear Trail Lodge helped establish the school, and has hosted it many years. To learn more, read an article from Trout Unlimited here, and watch the Orvis film “School of Fish” here. This grant is directly supported by Bear Trail Lodge through YDCCF’s Lodge Partner Program.

Healthy Taimen Festivals

We have funded the Healthy Taimen Festival program since it was started by Mongolia River Outfitters, a YDCCF Premier Lodge Partner. MRO’s flagship community incentive program is conducted in partnership with BioRegions International and the University of Washington.  Health professionals who also happen to be enthusiastic anglers along with Mongolian health professionals volunteer their services to local school children before joining a scheduled MRO/FM fly fishing adventure.  Children receive health screenings and treatments from doctors, dentists, and dental technicians at these multi-day events. To date, MRO has helped provide screenings for over 1000 children.  The Healthy Taimen Festivals are a celebration of all things taimen and include games and conservation education programs.  Local school kids also receive much appreciated supplies for their upcoming school year. This grant is supported directly by MRO through YDCCF’s Lodge Partner Program.

Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana

Guiding for the Future (G4F) is a program that provides advanced levels of knowledge and skill development for professional fishing guides and outfitters. The program’s goal is to inspire dedicated stewardship of aquatic ecosystems while increasing knowledge, professionalism, and ethics of fishing guides, outfitters, and the fly-fishing industry throughout Montana. G4F is a voluntary course of study, evaluation, and certification. Participating outfitters and guides undergo a curriculum that strengthens competence, increases knowledge and skills, and establishes their commitment to help steward the rivers on which their livelihoods depend. Learn more about the program here.

Mangrove Cay Recreational Community Park

The community of Little Harbour on Mangrove Cay on Andros in the Bahamas has been working for the last three years on building a recreational park for the community. Work completed in 2023 included the bathroom/changing rooms and the land clearing for the future 5 acre plot that will include the running and track facility. Further phases include a children’s playground, volleyball court, shaded picnic tables, a concessions area, lighting and fencing. The annual Big Yard Bonefish tournament at YDCCF Premier Lodge Partner Swain’s Cay Lodge supports this project, and the 2024 Tournament generated over $70,000 in funding to continue this work.

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Bahamas Mangrove Restoration Project

When Hurricane Dorian struck the northern Bahamas in late summer of 2019, it left a path of destruction across the eastern end of Grand Bahama and the northern end of Abaco. Our partners at Bonefish and Tarpon Trust have been working on restoring the vast mangrove forests ever since, with a goal of planting more than 1 million mangroves to help the ecosystem recover. YDCCF’s grant supports local guides in assisting in those efforts, as they are key partners in ensuring the resiliency of the fishery.

Save Wild Trout

In the spring of 2023, Montana’s media started to highlight the fact that wild trout populations in Montana’s Jefferson Basin – an area that includes the world-famous Big Hole, Ruby, Beaverhead and Jefferson Rivers – were in severe distress. Legendary for cold-water fisheries that have historically supported an abundance of wild trout, the rivers in Southwest Montana are currently experiencing what some are calling a population-level collapse. SAVE WILD TROUT was launched to address this very crisis: a coalition of anglers, river advocates, concerned citizens, businesses, guides, and outfitters that have come together with the focused mission of protecting wild trout for the benefit of all. In the small amount of time they had last fall, SWT hired a well-known and highly regarded biologist (Kyle Flynn) to do preliminary work collecting samples and surveying data for a couple weeks in September on the Big Hole. The news was as expected – bad. Low dissolved oxygen and a lot of inputs in the form of nutrient loads in the river means the water quality is not great late in the season. This is not a surprise. In 2024, SWT has an ambitious plan for water quality and quantity monitoring and data collection across the Jefferson Basin, all in support of complimenting the biological work being done by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Xcalak Community Enrichment Project

Formerly the Xcalak English Project, this effort is a collaboration between YDCCF and Premier Lodge Partner The XFlats. In 2023, the community established a dedicated Learning Center in the village. The goal this year is to fund programming at the new Esperanza de Vida center (a local teacher who will provide instruction 2x a month throughout the year) and support English instruction for a one week session focused on women and children in the Xcalak community. The long-term goal is for the Esperanza to become a self-sustaining focal point for the youth community in the village. This grant is supported directly by The XFlats through YDCCF’s Lodge Partner Program. The summer 2024 session will be Aug 10-17. You can watch a short video here about the program.

Montana Trout Unlimited Youth Camps

We continue our ongoing support for our partners at Montana TU and their Youth conservation camp program, held annually at Georgetown Lake. 20 children ages 11-14 attend and learn about fly fishing and conservation. New this year is a second camp held in Big Sky in collaboration with Crosscut. MTU is also operating three single day clinics, including one at St Labre Indian School near Billings that is intended to increase outreach to the native community. Each year at Georgetown Lake, 2-3 slots are held open for kids from Missoula Youth Homes to be able to participate. Youth Camp attendees receive hands-on education in fly casting, fly tying, and fishing technique, while also learning the importance of healthy trout habitat and good stewardship. Through interactive visits to on-the-water restoration projects and field education in aquatic ecology and hydrology, attendees not only receive an introduction to the sport of fly fishing but also a solid foundation in freshwater ecology, angling ethics, and exposure to careers in conservation.

Punta Allen Recreation Center

Our ongoing partnership in Punta Allen, Mexico continues with the renovation of the Rec Center building on the town square. Combined with the “Campo Desportivo” (soccer pitch) and the new children’s playground that YDCCF played a central role in funding, the Rec Center will provide public bathrooms along with a central location for adults an children to learn, create, work out and recreate. YDCCF has been funding work in Punta Allen since our beginning in 2016. NEW for 2024 is the creation of the Punta Allen Community Fund, a YDCCF fund specifically dedicated to supporting Punta Allen. You can make a donation here. This grant is supported directly by YDCCF Premier Lodge Partners Ascension Bay Lodge and Grand Slam Lodge.

The Salmonfly Project

The Salmonfly Project (SFP) was founded in 2022 by two aquatic entomology graduate students and fly fishermen at the University of Montana. The mission of SFP is to conserve aquatic insects through future generations through research, monitoring, education, and sound management and restoration strategies. SFP was started due to the realization of the widespread nature and severity of aquatic insect declines across the western US and because government agencies and non-profits were doing little to address the problem. SFP began applying their scientific skills to fill the gap in aquatic insect conservation by integrating information about the status, trends, and drivers of aquatic insect declines to improve conservation. In just two years, SFP has established four aquatic insect and habitat monitoring programs across Montana (Bitterroot and Big Hole  Rivers), Idaho (Teton River), and Wyoming (upper Snake River), with seven new programs scheduled to start in 2024 (Montana: Yellowstone River, Blackfoot River, Gallatin River, Madison River, Rock Creek;  Idaho: Big Wood River; Oregon: Deschutes River). YDCCF has partnered with AFFTA’s Fisheries Fund to support SFP’s first season of research on the Yellowstone River.

Fish For Change

F4C’s mission is is to use fly-fishing as a platform to make the world a better place by uniting a diverse group of students in wild fisheries where they engage in a variety of initiatives that promote Connection, Education, Conservation, and Exploration. They run week long programs in Honduras, Mexico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Colorado. Local students receive scholarships to be able to attend the program. Part of the curriculum includes partnering with local organizations in each location to participate and learn more about ongoing conservation initiatives. YDCCF is supporting two local scholarships for Bahamian’s at this summer’s F4C program at Soul Fly Lodge.

Turneffe Flats Fishery Working Group

Along with Premier Lodge Partner Turneffe Flats Lodge, YDCCF is supporting a collaborative working group of government agencies, businesses and NGO’s to lead an in-depth study and analysis of the storied flats fishery on Turneffe Atoll in Belize. The long-term goal of this study is to highlight the fragile nature of the fishery, it’s economic impact on the Belizean economy and extend protections from irresponsible development in the area.

Sierra Madre Occidental Trout Taxonomy

Deep in the mountains of the Sierra Madre in Northern Mexico, there is a group of scientists working to isolate and name individual and unique species of trout in an effort to stave off their hybridization and extinction due to ongoing introductions of non-native rainbow trout. Led by a collective of biologists from the United States and Mexico, the long-term goal is protecting the endemic species of trout in the region in the hopes of one day being able to establish a destination recreational fishery.

Patagonia Fly Fishing Expo

Held annually at the beginning of each season (traditionally late October) in San Martin de los Andes in Neuquen, the Patagonia Fly Fishing Festival draws guides and anglers from across South America for a two-day event to promote the development of the sport in the region. Panels and discussions led by local leaders help inform and promote fly fishing as a business and economic driver in the region, along with conservation programming.

Crooked Island Local Produce Farm

Legendary guide, Elton “Bonefish Shakey” McKinney has been farming on Crooked Island in the Bahamas for years, feeding his family and neighbors. With infrequent availability of produce being shipped from the larger islands, his farm is one of the only options for the residents of Crooked Island to access fresh fruit and vegetables. A group of Yellow Dog clients started a GoFundMe campaign to help Shakey purchase a tractor that has been located on one of the other islands. The tractor will help Shakey expand his operation greatly, and would result in dozens of more families being able to feed themselves with fresh, locally grown produce.

2023 Grants

Cano Negro Youth Education Program

The Rural Communities and Nature Coexistence Youth Education Program seeks to build on existing environmental education programming by taking the top 10 students from the villages of Cano Negro, San Antonio and Aguas Negras, Costa Rica and deepening their training. The second year of this program will be run in February 2024 for 3 weeks focused on biodiversity, ecosystems and species, waste management, reforestation, conservation and wildlife monitoring. The students will also perform a community impact project in the form of a mural and conduct discussions with locals about the impacts of tourism. The goal of the program is to build the future leaders in the community on matters of environmentalism and conservation.  

Save Wild Trout

In the spring of 2023, Montana’s media started to highlight the fact that wild trout populations in Montana’s Jefferson Basin – an area that includes the world-famous Big Hole, Ruby, Beaverhead and Jefferson Rivers – were in severe distress. Legendary for cold-water fisheries that have historically supported an abundance of wild trout, the rivers in Southwest Montana are currently experiencing what some are calling a population-level collapse. SAVE WILD TROUT was launched to address this very crisis: a coalition of anglers, river advocates, concerned citizens, businesses, guides, and outfitters that have come together with the focused mission of protecting wild trout for the benefit of all. YDCCF supported this effort with a grant in the amount of $10,000.

You can learn more about Save Wild Trout by listening to this Waypoints Podcast episode. In this episode, Host Jim Klug is joined by two founding members of SAVE WILD TROUT: Guy Alsentzer and Wade Fellin – two individuals who know a thing or two about the rivers of Southwest Montana. Guy is the Executive Director and Founder of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, and Wade is a guide, lodge owner and outfitter on the Big Hole River.

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Northern Bahamas Mangrove Restoration Project

When Hurricane Dorian struck the northern Bahamas in late summer of 2019, it left a path of destruction across the eastern end of Grand Bahama and the northern end of Abaco. Our partners at Bonefish and Tarpon Trust have been working on restoring the vast mangrove forests ever since, with a goal of planting more than 100,000 mangroves to help the ecosystem recover. This grant supports local guides in assisting in those efforts, as they are key partners in ensuring the resiliency of the fishery.

Xcalak English Project

The second year of the Xcalak English Project, a joint effort by YDCCF and The XFlats will build on the successful launch from last summer. We are increasing the number of participants, refining the ongoing online education module, and reaching deeper into the community. XEP seeks to increase the English speaking skills of the Xcalak community at large with a goal of bettering their job opportunities, increasing retention and giving the children of the community a solid base of English language skills. This grant is supported directly by The XFlats through YDCCF’s new Lodge Partner Program. The summer 2023 session will be July 8-15. You can watch a short video here about the program.

Montana Trout Unlimited Youth Camp

This is our second year supporting MTU’s Youth conservation camp program, held annually at Georgetown Lake. 20 children ages 11-14 attend and learn about fly fishing and conservation. In MTU’s own words: Students hit the ground running with hands-on education in fly casting, fly tying, and fishing technique, while also learning the importance of healthy trout habitat and good stewardship. Through interactive visits to on-the-water restoration projects and field education in aquatic ecology and hydrology, Youth Camp attendees not only receive an introduction to the sport of fly fishing but also a solid foundation in freshwater ecology, angling ethics, and exposure to careers in conservation.

Healthy Taimen Festivals

We have funded the Healthy Taimen Festival program since it was started by our partners at Mongolia River Outfitters. MRO’s “flagship” community incentive program is conducted in partnership with BioRegions International.  Health professionals who also happen to be enthusiastic anglers along with Mongolian health professionals volunteer their services to local school children before joining a scheduled MRO/FM fly fishing adventure.  Typically, 200 – 300 school children receive health screenings and treatments from doctors, dentists, and dental technicians at these multi-day events.  The Healthy Taimen Festivals are a celebration of all things taimen and include games and conservation education programs.  Local school kids also receive much appreciated supplies for their upcoming school year.

Fish For Change

F4C’s mission is is to use fly-fishing as a platform to make the world a better place by uniting a diverse group of students in wild fisheries where they engage in a variety of initiatives that promote Connection, Education, Conservation, and Exploration. They run week long programs in Honduras, Mexico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Colorado. Local students receive scholarships to be able to attend the program. Part of the curriculum includes partnering with local organizations in each location to participate and learn more about ongoing conservation initiatives.

East End Dorian Relief Fund

Hurricane Dorian completely wiped out the east end of Grand Bahama in 2019. The East End Dorian Relief Fund is assisting residents of McCleans Town in rebuilding their homes in order to being them back to the community. More than three years after Dorian, less than half of the residents have been able to return. This project is managed by our partners at East End Lodge, who have contributed countless hours and funds to help revitalize the area.

Mangrove Cay Recreational Community Park Association

The community of Little Harbour on Mangrove Cay on Andros in the Bahamas has been working for the last two years on building a recreational park for the community. They have completed a basketball court that sees daily use and are moving forward with the next stage of building which will include bleachers, restrooms, and further land clearing. There are plans for a running track, playground, volleyball court, shaded picnic tables, a concessions area, lighting and fencing. The annual Big Yard Bonefish tournament at Swain’s Cay Lodge supports this project, and the 2023 Tournament generated over $32,000 in funding to continue this work.

Fish Kind

Fish Kind is a new effort created by One Montana modeled after their ongoing successful Outside Kind program. It seeks to raise knowledge and awareness of anglers and inspire them to become champions and effective advocates on behalf of Montana's fish and the waters they depend on. The early stages of the program will focus on creating educational materials and outreach to local businesses and partners to help plant the seeds for growing the program in future seasons.

Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana

Guiding for the Future (G4F) is a program that provides advanced levels of knowledge and skill development for professional fishing guides and outfitters. The program’s goal is to inspire dedicated stewardship of aquatic ecosystems while increasing knowledge, professionalism, and ethics of fishing guides, outfitters, and the fly-fishing industry throughout Montana. G4F is a voluntary course of study, evaluation, and certification. Participating outfitters and guides undergo a curriculum that strengthens competence, increases knowledge and skills, and establishes their commitment to help steward the rivers on which their livelihoods depend. Learn more about the program here.

2022 Grants

Upper Missouri Waterkeeper

UMW is undertaking a GIS based scientific study in the upper reaches of the Gallatin River in southwest Montana. The combined effects of a warming climate and ongoing development in and around the resort community of Big Sky have caused the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to designate the mainstem Gallatin as formally “impaired”, due to severe algae blooms during the summer and the inability to sustainably support aquatic life. The Montana DEQ admitted in its preliminary determination that poor water quality and biological conditions caused by recurrent nuisance algal blooms have begun to affect macroinvertebrate community prevalence and health, representing negative changes to the river's ability to support its trophy trout populations. The study seeks to develop the necessary best available science qualifying and quantifying the impact of widespread land use transformation across the Big Sky resort area on local waterways and fisheries. The anticipated scientific research includes GIS and LIDAR projects mapping the Big Sky region and local land use patterns; stormwater modeling based upon precipitation and land use types; and water quality data modeling and analysis to connect the dots between particular land uses and the demonstrated impacts on stream and fishery chemical and biological metrics. The study seeks in the end to develop best available science that will guide future growth and water resource planning in and around Big Sky. You can learn more about UMW and their work on the Gallatin here.

Wild Salmon Center

WSC is part of a broad-based coalition of groups and stakeholders working to stop the development of a 100-mile-long industrial road through the West Susitna watershed in southeast Alaska. The proposed road would cross 182 waterways, including at least 83 salmon streams, destroying thousands of acres of wetlands and bisect the watershed, disrupting the natural hydrologic flows and cutting off access to important fish habitat. The Susitna watershed supports five species of Pacific salmon—including the fourth largest Chinook population in Alaska. Susitna drainages also support extensive and diverse recreational fisheries for salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling, burbot, Arctic char and lake trout. You can read more about the threats this road project poses here.

Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana

Guiding for the Future (G4F) is a program that provides advanced levels of knowledge and skill development for professional fishing guides and outfitters. The program’s goal is to inspire dedicated stewardship of aquatic ecosystems while increasing knowledge, professionalism, and ethics of fishing guides, outfitters, and the fly-fishing industry throughout Montana. G4F is a voluntary course of study, evaluation, and certification. Participating outfitters and guides undergo a curriculum that strengthens competence, increases knowledge and skills, and establishes their commitment to help steward the rivers on which their livelihoods depend. Learn more about the program here.

Cano Negro Youth Education Program

The Rural Communities and Nature Coexistence Youth Education Program seeks to build on an existing environmental education program by taking the top 10 students from the villages of Cano Negro, San Antonio and Aguas Negras, Costa Rica and deepen their training. A pilot program will be run in February 2023 for 3 weeks focused on biodiversity, ecosystems and species, waste management, reforestation, conservation and wildlife monitoring. The students will also perform a community impact project in the form of a mural and conduct discussions with locals about the impacts of tourism. The goal of the program is to build the future leaders in the community on matters of environmentalism and conservation.  

East End Dorian Relief Fund

Hurricane Dorian completely wiped out the east end of Grand Bahama in 2019. The East End Dorian Relief Fund was focused in the short term on providing basic needs and has now shifted to assisting residents of McCleans Town rebuild their homes in order to being them back to the community. More than three years after Dorian, less than half of the residents have been able to return.

Patagonia Fly Fishing Expo

Held annually at the beginning of each season (traditionally late October) in San Martin de los Andes in Neuquen, the Patagonia Fly Fishing Festival draws guides and anglers from across South America for a two-day event to promote the development of the sport in the region. Panels and discussions led by local leaders help inform and promote fly fishing as a business and economic driver in the region.

Xcalak English Project

Xcalak is a small village on the southern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico whose primary industries are tourism and destination angling. In partnership with XFlats Lodge, the Xcalak English Project will bring ESL instructors to the community for a weeklong introductory course on English for up to 40 community members. The focus will be oral and written language development followed up by online English programming the rest of the year to reinforce the mastery of high frequency dialogues, vocabulary and functional phrases that employees of local lodges need to better communicate with English speaking clients. The main objective of the initial phase of the project is to teach two distinct week-long curriculums: one for fishing guides and one for hospitality staff, presented in six-daily half hour lesson rotations of interactive English dialogues, multimodal vocabulary acquisition lessons, functional phrases and verb games. 

Friends of the Environment Abaco

Friends of the Environment’s mission is to preserve the environment of Abaco through education, conservation, and research facilitation. FRIENDS is the only Abaco-based non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of Abaco's environment and effecting conservation through education. They suffered a total loss of their Learning Center during Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and have just recently broken ground on a new state of the art building built to withstand the conditions. YDCCF’s grant will help fund construction of this new facility.

Mangrove Cay Recreational Community Park Association

The community of Little Harbour on Mangrove Cay on Andros in the Bahamas has been working for the last two years on building a recreational park for the community. They have completed a basketball court that sees daily use and are moving forward with the next stage of building which will include bleachers, restrooms, and further land clearing. There are plans for a running track, playground, volleyball court, shaded picnic tables, a concessions area, lighting and fencing. YDCCF’s grant will be used for this next stage of construction.

Keep Fish Wet

Keep Fish Wet’s mission is to help anglers improve the outcome for each fish they release. Keep Fish Wet makes the science of catch-and-release and related best practices accessible and understandable. Since their inception in 2014 and designation as a non-profit in 2019, they have sought to translate scientific jargon so that science-based best practices can reach a broad cross section of the recreational angling community. YDCCF’s grant will help Keep Fish Wet build open source, visually appealing, science-based resources (posters, stickers, and social media content) on bonefish best practices that will be shared with communities in the Bahamas. The long-term goal of this project is to use this as a template to expand to other regions where bonefish are targeted including Belize, Mexico and the Seychelles.

Montana Trout Unlimited

Montana Trout Unlimited’s (MTU) goal is to conserve, protect and restore Montana’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. This is accomplished by balancing advocacy, habitat restoration and educational outreach, while always applying the best available science to policy, legal, and on-the-ground work. YDCCF’s grant will fund this summer’s youth overnight camps and clinics, which will engage 60-80 kids. The experience combines practical fly fishing instruction with conservation projects, and the goal is to build future anglers and resource stewards.

Seacology

Seacology exists to partner directly with local communities on islands all over the world in an effort to preserve habitat, combat climate change and build programs that enhance the livelihoods of residents. Since 1991, Seacology has launched over 300 projects, working with communities on islands in 64 countries, helping to protect approximately 1.4 million acres of some of the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems. Aitutaki is located in Marae Moana (“Sacred Ocean”) in the Cook Islands and is the largest multi-use marine park in the world. Tourism is the primary source of income for the Cook Islands, including for the island of Aitutaki. While there is a degree of environmental awareness among tourists and local alike, the island still faces a huge challenge with the amount of waste washing up on its coasts. In addition, there are few ways for Aitutakians to earn a living outside of the tourist sector. YDCCF’s grant will fund a project seeking to address both of these issues by raising awareness of ocean pollution while offering high school students the opportunity to become Marae Moana Champions, spearheading efforts to reduce ocean pollution while earning a sustainable income.

Healthy Taimen Festival / Mongolia River Outfitters

The Healthy Taimen Festivals are two-day events held in remote communities in Mongolia. MRO provides opportunities for visiting health professionals to volunteer their skills and partners with BioRegions International to bring in additional medical professionals – both international and Mongolian – to aid in local community health screenings. Their guides and staff also provide conservation programs and games along with the health care activities. These community events reinforce the potential value and benefits associated with protecting taimen. YDCCF’s grant will fund two healthy taimen festivals in different communities and provide at least 300 local children with health screenings and treatments.

Shannel Taylor / Soul Fly Lodge

Shannel Taylor operates a small farming business supporting the community of Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands (Bahamas). Through our lodge partner, Soul Fly Lodge, YDCCF is funding an expansion of Shannel’s existing chicken egg production. This will increase the availability of locally produced food in this remote area, benefitting the community’s residents by providing them with better access to healthy food options.

Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group

Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group (UYWG) works on sustaining working lands, open spaces and clean water in the Upper Yellowstone watershed. UYWG has been running a recreational river use study since 2020 with the use of camera locations at numerous sites along the Upper Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley. The goal of the work is to be able to clearly point to data that can help inform the decisions that are made by Montana FWP and other stakeholders in an effort to improve everyone’s experience on the river. YDCCF’s grant will fund field work for the 2022 summer season.

Belizean Guides Fund, Belize: After six months without work in 2020, fishing guides in Belize were suffering. YDCCF ran a month long campaign to raise funds to support the guide community and generated enough to give every guide a substantial check to see them through.

Bristol Bay Defense Fund, Alaska: Bristol Bay, Alaska reigns as one of the most pristine and unique places on planet earth. Its clear cold rivers support some of the strongest remaining salmon runs in North America. Despite strong local management, the sustainability of Bristol Bay fishery is under imminent threat from the proposed Pebble mine. YDCCF supported the Wild Salmon Center in pursuing permanent protections for the Bristol Bay watershed.

Snake River Basin, USA: The Association of Northwest Steelheaders are stepping up their efforts by mobilizing citizens and teaching them how to be more effective at connecting with legislators to compel their support for Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson’s Columbia Basin Initiative, which includes plans to remove the lower four Snake River Dams.

Delger and Onon Watersheds, Mongolia: In collaboration with the Wild Salmon Center and Mongolian River Outfitters we are supporting river patrol rangers, ongoing stream monitoring and some new river regulation signage in the Delger and Onon watersheds.

Rio Matavén, Colombia: Our partner Release Fly Travel is working with five indigenous Piaroa communities who are collectively managing a burgeoning world-class Peacock Bass fishery. The community is receiving education on the basics of fly fishing, guide etiquette, and even fly tying. Next up is English language training to better communicate with international anglers.

Ocean Media Institute, USA: We have been working with OMI since 2019 on the production of film centered on the historic ban of gillnetting in Belize, telling the story of the creation of the Coalition of Sustainable Fisheries and the progression of the movement to ban this detrimental practice. The pandemic has caused a sizable delay in production, and we are working to schedule shooting for a future time period.

2019 GRANTS

Patagonia Fly Fishing Expo, Argentina: The Patagonia Fly Fishing Expo takes place in San Martín de los Andes, Argentina. The expo convenes fly shops, outfitters, guides, lodges and many other businesses to network and explore opportunities to continue to promote the sport of fly fishing.

Montana Wilderness School, Montana: The Montana Wilderness School is a grassroots outdoor education public charity whose mission is to provide empowering expeditionary wilderness courses to youth that foster personal growth and cultivate a conservation ethic through connecting with remote landscapes and wild places

Guiding for the Future, Montana: The Guiding for the Future program was designed and implemented under the direction of the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana. G4F emphasizes ethics, conservation, and a commitment to stewardship as core responsibilities of professional fishing guides. The program aims to inspire dedicated stewardship of aquatic ecosystems while increasing the knowledge and professionalism of fishing guides, outfitters, and the fly fishing industry as a whole.

The Healthy Taimen Festival, Mongolia: The Healthy Taimen Festival’s goal is to generate greater awareness and appreciation of the benefits and importance of taimen conservation. The festival also provides at leas 300 local children with health screenings and treatments. These community events reinforce the potential value and benefits associated with protecting taimen.

Taimen Conservation Fund, Mongolia: YDCCF provided a grant to assist The Taimen Fund (TTF) for their Riverkeeper program in the Eg Watershed, Hovsgol Province, Mongolia.  The River Keeper Program is an ambitious anti-poaching project spanning a total of seven different villages throughout the Eg Watershed, along approximately 120 miles of river. The Riverkeepers employed in the program are local herders that spend a great amount of their time caring for their animals along the riverbanks of the Eg River and its tributaries.

Anglers Benefitting Louisiana’s Estuaries (ABLE), Louisiana: Through ABLE’s Marsh Dawgs program, twelve local high school are given the opportunity to engage in a four-day experiential learning adventure across coastal Louisiana. Students learn about the history of the coastal zones; public policy issues surrounding coastal restoration efforts; economic and cultural resources along the coast; basic marine biology; fishing skills; and how to operate basic GPS equipment.

Silver Creek Alliance, Idaho: YDCCF supported a project to construct an ADA compliant wheelchair access at Kilpatrick Bridge in Blaine Country Idaho on Silver Creek.

Free Voice Media, Idaho: Each year approximately 10,000 people float the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Despite best attempts to adhere to leave no trace ethics, equipment and personal items inevitably fall into the river. YDCCF awarded a grant to Free Voice Media and their efforts to clean up the river by utilizing SCUBA equipment and removing trash that has included tables, fly rods, ice cream makers, oars and parts of boats from the river bottom.

Torres del Paine Legacy Fund, Chile: Last year YDCCF awarded funds to the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund to protect and minimize impact on Chile’s famous national park through the construction of boardwalks and educational signs. In 2019 YDCCF awards another grant for the organization’s ongoing monitoring of the ecological restoration efforts in the park.

Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy, Alaska: The Bristol Bay Fly Fishing & Guide Academy (Guide Academy) trains young residents of rural, southwest Alaska to be highly-qualified for jobs as fishing guides in the region’s growing tourism and recreational fishing industry. The program’s curriculum is built around instilling a conservation ethic in this important generation of future Bristol Bay leaders.

New Venture Fund, Alaska: Various factions of the Bristol Bay campaign bring advocates to Washington, DC throughout the year to educate members of Congress on the Pebble Mine issue. In-person meetings with persons directly, or indirectly, affected by this project is a very powerful tool. Meetings will be held involving Alaska Natives, commercial fishing interests, Bristol Bay lodge operators, recreational fishing industry representatives, and sportsmen and women from around the country.

2018 GRANTS

Cast Hope, Chico, California: Cast Hope brings kids and mentors together through the sport of fly fishing. YDCCF’s funding will assist Cast Hope to host two fishing clinics and provide fly fishing equipment for 50 at-risk kids of San Diego County, California. Each youth will receive a rod, necessary flies, leaders, tippet, etc.

Greater Gallatin Watershed Council: The Greater Gallatin Watershed Council (GGWC) works with local volunteers, landowners, and community partners to bring water quality monitoring, stream restoration, and watershed education to the Gallatin Valley with the goal of improving water quality for all. YDCCF funds will help GWC to hire a Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) member and provides critical capacity for GGWC to implement the Gallatin Restoration Project Inventory, an effort to bring stream restoration professionals and stakeholders together to share resources, form connections and develop partnerships that will lead to the comprehensive and durable health and enhancement of our rivers and streams.

Madison Conservation District, Ennis, Montana: YDCCF awarded a second grant to the Madison Conservation District to conduct Phase II of the Lower Jack Creek Restoration Project to restore and enhance riparian vegetation along Jack Creek and to improve in-stream habitat within Jack Creek by re-establishing riffle and pool stream structure. Implementation of this project will restore an ecologically functioning riparian corridor along the lower reach of Jack Creek that will allow for natural channel migration and sediment transport processes, and provide for improved in-stream habitat and increased shading along the stream channel resulting in a net increase in aquatic resource functions and services.

Montana Wilderness School, Bozeman, Montana: The Montana Wilderness School provides empowering expeditionary wilderness courses to youth that foster personal growth and cultivate a conservation ethic through connecting with remote landscapes and wild places.  YDCCF awarded a grant to assist with scholarship funding for deserving undeserved Montana youth ages 14-18 from Park County and Gallatin County to attend an MWS Expedition focusing on fishing.  

Wild Salmon Center, Portland, Oregon: YDCCF awarded a grant to the Wild Salmon Center (WSC) to support their Cold Water Connection Campaign on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.  WSC is partnering with Trout Unlimited and Coast Salmon Partnership on a multi-year project to engineer and correct 100 priority fish passage barriers, which will enable us to reconnect 150 river miles on some of Washington’s best salmon and steelhead rivers. With YDCCF’s support over the coming year WSC will: 1) complete an inventory and assessments on stream barriers in the Olympic Peninsula to fill an inventory data gap, 2) design and engineer up to 25 barrier removal projects on priority streams, and 3) develop a short film that highlights the ecological and human values of the coastal region to share with grassroots and grasstops constituents.

Cayo Rosario, Belize: YDCCF awarded a grant to Ambergris Caye Citizens for Sustainable Development (ACCSD) to oppose the Belize Department of the Environment in approving the Cayo Rosario Development, and specifically the over water structures in a marine reserve.  This is an important project addressing potential development threats to the marine reserve now and in the future.

Guiding for the Future, Montana: YDCCF awarded a grant to assist the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana (FOAM) to create a Montana “Guiding for the Future- Montana Fishing Guide Certification Program” providing advanced levels of knowledge and skill development for professional fishing guides. The program’s aim is to increase the guide’s professionalism and his/her leadership in aquatic resource stewardship, education, and advocacy. Further, the program demonstrates the commitment of guides, outfitters, fly shops, and the fly fishing industry to the conservation and wise use of Montana’s waters state-wide.

Project Belize: YDCCF has developed a new partnership with the Bonefish Tarpon Trust (BTT) to help address the gill net issue and future development pressures in Belize. Project Belize is a collaborative, multi-year program to provide information directly applicable to conservation and protection of the flats fishery and habitats in Belize. With BTT, YDCCF has commissioned an economic analysis to identify important habitats and locations for conservation in Belize, and use this information to propose fisheries and habitat protections. The next phase of the project will be to help to establish an education program to build public support and understanding of the importance of the flats fishery and flats conservation to the country of Belize.

Madison Conservation District, Ennis, Montana: YDCCF awarded a grant to the Madison Conservation District to restore and enhance riparian vegetation and improve in-stream habitat in Jack Creek, an important tributary to the Madison River. Stream and riparian restoration and enhancement activities will support existing fisheries values and provide opportunities for the re-introduction of Arctic grayling.

Angler's Benefitting Louisiana's Estuaries (ABLE): ABLE is a non-profit organization that engages in coastal restoration and environmental education activities in Louisiana. The organization has been heavily involved in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, where the community's thriving commercial and recreational fishing industries are continually threatened by the degradation of its fragile coastal environment.  YDCCF provided a grant to ABLE to engage local students in environmental education programming that will encourage good environmental stewardship along the community's vulnerable coast.  

The Taimen Fund, Mongolia: YDCCF provided a grant to assist The Taimen Fund (TTF) for their Riverkeeper program in the Eg Watershed, Hovsgol Province, Mongolia.  The River Keeper Program is an ambitious anti-poaching project spanning a total of seven different villages throughout the Eg Watershed, along approximately 120 miles of river. The Riverkeepers employed in the program are local herders that spend a great amount of their time caring for their animals along the riverbanks of the Eg River and its tributaries. 

Toledo Exposure & Wil Mehia, Belize: YDCCF provided a second grant to help Toledo Exposure and Wil Mehia continue their efforts to patrol Southern Belize to monitor for illegal fishing. Funding will also support two PSA's to educate people about the setting of gillnets and how it affects the fishing and health of the fisheries.

Torres del Paine Legacy Fund, Chile: YDCCF provided a grant to the Torres del Paine Lagacy Fund to enhance appreciation of, and minimize impacts on, the unique but fragile wetland ecosystems that comprise Torres del Paine National Park. With funding from YDCCF, the Legacy Fund will construct a boardwalk in a highly trafficked but sensitive segment of the popular “W” circuit, as well as design and install interpretive displays that communicate the critical features of the surrounding ecosystems to the estimated 80,000 outdoor enthusiasts that hike this iconic trail every year. 

Discretionary Grants
Chica de Mayo, Bozeman, Montana: YDCCF provided a sponsorship for Chica de Mayo, an annual women’s fly fishing event in Bozeman, Montana which encourages girl and women to fish.

Punta Allen Primary School, Punta Allen, Mexico:  YDCCF has awarded a new grant to the Punta Allen Primary School restore the roof of the palapa where the children eat lunch, and convert a storage room to a computer classroom. 

Yes for Responsible Mining, Montana: Yes for Responsible Mining is a coalition of Montana conservation and sportsman groups working to pass a ballot initiative in November 2018 that would allow the state the ability deny permits for new metals mines that would require perpetual water treatment to address surface water pollution from heavy metals and/or acid mine drainage.