Western native trout face challenges and opportunities unique to their geographic range and life history. The Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI pronounced “win-tee”) works to achieve our mission and vision through collaboration to focus limited financial and human resources toward the highest-impact, locally-led, on-the-ground projects. Projects funded by WNTI are proposed by local communities and agencies, and result from ongoing collaboration between private landowners, businesses, regional and state fishery managers, tribes, and community groups with local knowledge, expertise, and interest in conserving streams, rivers, and trout in their home waters. Projects are selected by our Steering Committee according to the prioritized needs of each trout species. All funded projects are voluntary and must address the root causes and real threats to each western native trout population according to the best available science.
Funding for conservation projects comes from many different entities and partners. As one of 20 nationally recognized Fish Habitat Partnerships, WNTI’s annual Request for Proposals is funded through the National Fish Habitat Partnership Program. WNTI’s Small grants program is funded mostly through donations from corporate partners and individual donors. WNTI also has portfolios of priority projects where we seek funding partners primarily from the private sector and nonprofit foundations.
Donate Directly to Our Cause: The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Foundation for Western Fish and Wildlife is WNTI’s 501c3 fiscal sponsor and accepts tax-exempt donations on our behalf. To make an online donation to WNTI, please click on the donation button.
