The Association of Northwest Steelheaders (ANWS) is the largest

angling Angling (from Old English ''angol'', meaning "hook") is a fishing technique that uses a fish hook attached to a fishing line to tether individual fish in the mouth. The fishing line is usually manipulated with a fishing rod, although rodless te ...

conservation organization headquartered in

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

, United States. With approximately one thousand members and supporters worldwide, it operates primarily through its volunteers. ANWS's headquarters is located in Milwaukie, a suburb of

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: *Portland, Oregon, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon *Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine *Isle of Portland, a tied island in the English Channel Portland may also r ...

History

ANWS was founded in 1960 by four avid fishermen in the Portland, Oregon area. Its three main areas of focus are conservation, education and restoration of fish habitat. ANWS unites anglers, sportsmen, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, educators, researchers and others, bringing together a broad spectrum of people who share a concern for watersheds and habitat. Chapters from across the state work independently, with other similar organizations and the State of Oregon to accomplish their goals.

Services

ANWS offers the following services to individuals, organizations, and chapters: conservation training, leadership training, educational training, information outreach, and networking opportunities. ANWS is the Oregon affiliate of the

National Wildlife Federation The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization in the United States, with over six million members and supporters, and 51 state and territorial affiliated organizations (i ...

. ANWS's specific conservation priorities include seeking solutions to

global warming Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes ...

, reducing mercury pollution, strengthening the

Endangered Species Act The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.) is the primary law in the United States for protecting and conserving imperiled species. Designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of e ...

, combating

invasive species An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native spec ...

, restoring Oregon's waterways, reforming the Army Corps of Engineers and educating future environmental stewards.

Current programs

ANWS continues its involvement in the environmental issues facing the state and the surrounding states that directly impact

watershed Watershed may refer to: Hydrology * Drainage divide, the line that separates neighbouring drainage basins * Drainage basin, an area of land where surface water converges (North American usage) Music * Watershed Music Festival, an annual country ...

s, particularly in the areas of stewardship, water quality, dam removal and stream bed conservation. As part of its efforts to protect fish habitat in Oregon, the Wild Salmon Center is a member of the

North Coast State Forest Coalition The North Coast State Forest Coalition (NCSFC) is a coalition of non-profit organizations in Oregon that works to protect wild salmon, steelhead, trout, terrestrial species, and the ecosystems on which these species depend. The NCSFC also advocate ...

References

External links

* {{nonprofit-org-stub Environmental organizations based in Oregon