Native Trout Odyssey team to make final stop in Washington D.C.

Five college students; 10 weeks; 10 states; 18 native trout species.

The Native Odyssey crew (left to right): Brett Winchel, Matt Crockett, Jacob Lacy, Heather Harkavy, Austin Burroughs.

This Summer, TU, in partnership with U.S. Forest Service, Costa Sunglasses, Simms Fishing Products, and Fishpond, sent five college students on an epic cross-country conservation highlight tour. Their mission was to explore public lands across 10 states, in search of 18 native species of trout, in 10 weeks — with a goal of raising awareness and knowledge about the importance of preserving public lands and waters for future generations to enjoy, and the role that these lands play in preserving habitat for coldwater species.

The Native Odyssey was created by Andrew Loffredo, coordinator of the TU Costa 5 Rivers Outreach Program. The students just wrapped up their final stop (seeking three native trout species in California’s Sequoia National Forest) and are now headed to Washington D.C. to share stories and lessons learned from their journey with policy makers in Congress and the Administration.

The first native trout crossed off of the list by the Native Odyssey team was the Southern Appalachian brook trout. Courtesy Native Odyssey team.

Following the path of native discovery through the eyes of these students was both educational and inspirational. Catch up with the journey by reading the Team dispatches from the trip:

Native Odyssey: A conservation road trip of a lifetime.

Meet the Team:

• Austin Burroughs (Tallahassee, FL)

Native Odyssey: Austin Burroughs

• Heather Harkavy (Coral Springs, FL)

Native Odyssey: Heather Harkavy

• Matt Crockett (Knoxville, TN)

Native Odyssey: Matt Crockett

• Brett Winchel (Knoxville, TN)

Native Odyssey: Brett Winchel

• Jacob Lacy (Parker, CO)

Native Odyssey: Jacob Lacy

Read the Dispatches from Team Odyssey:

Story Map Journal

• TN Southern Appalacian Brook Trout in Tennessee:

A Native Odyssey - Southern Appalachian brook trout in Tennessee

• AZ Apache Trout in Arizona:

A Native Odyssey - Apache trout in Arizona

• NM Gila National Forest | Gila Trout:

Native Odyssey: Trout among fire

• NM Valle Vidal | Rio Grande Cuts in The Valle Vidal:

Native Odyssey: The Valle Vidal

• CO Rocky Mt. National Park | Colorado River Cuts:

Native Odyssey: Rocky Mountain National Park

• CO Henderson Mine tour — Touring a molybdenum mine in Colorado:

Native Odyssey: Touring a molybdenum mine in Colorado

• UT Utah’s Cutthroat Slam:

Native Odyssey: Utah's cutthroat slam

• UT Tackling the Utah Cutthroat Slam:

Native Odyssey: Tackling the Utah Cutthroat Slam

• MT Yellowstone National Park:

Native Odyssey: Yellowstone National Park

• WY Bridger-Teton National Forest | Snake River Cuts Wyoming:

Native Odyssey: Wyoming

• ID Sawtooth National Forest | Westslope Cuts:

Native Odyssey: A swing through Idaho

• OR Deschutes National Forest | Redband | Steelhead | Coastal Cuts:

Native Odyssey: The Deschutes National Forest is a fishy wonderland

• CA Sequoia National Forest| Lahonten| Golden|Paiute:

Native Odyssey: California

Learn More:

• TU Costa 5 Rivers Program: http://www.tu.org/5Rivers
• Vimeo videos from the team: https://vimeo.com/234501439
• ArcGIS Story map: https://alb.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=d5521335a1fb40a79cd2902df3438ac7