The Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI – pronounced “win tee”) is a public-private Fish Habitat Partnership that works collaboratively across 12 western states to conserve (protect, restore, and enhance) 21 native trout and char species.
Formed in 2006 under the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA), and recognized by the National Fish Habitat Partnership Program (NFHP) in 2008, WNTI is a catalyst and accelerator to improve the return on investment of the time, money, and workforce dedicated to native trout conservation. We work cooperatively to restore and recover the last remaining western native trout species across their historic range by funding efforts to raise public awareness, and by investing limited private and public resources toward completing the highest-impact, voluntary, on-the-ground projects led by local communities and resource agencies across the western United States. We are governed by a steering committee representing 12 western state fish and wildlife agencies, 3 federal natural resource agencies, Native American Tribes, Canadian provincial fish and wildlife agencies, and Trout Unlimited and have partnered with over 350 organizations, nonprofits and businesses to date.
