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((music)) [Alton Jones, Professional Angler]
I’m Alton Jones, 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion, and I make my living fishing America’s
reservoirs. Every state has reservoirs, and more than
70 percent of all freshwater fishing takes place there.
But reservoirs are important to everyone, not just professional anglers. Millions of
Americans fish at reservoirs, making this activity an economic powerhouse for our country
that supports hundreds of thousands of businesses and jobs.
Our generation has never known an America without reservoirs. Reservoirs may look like
natural lakes, but they were created by people, and they must be cared for by people. We’re
not building many new reservoirs, and as they age, the quality of fish habitat declines,
and so does the quality of fishing. Good fish habitat matters to all of us. Fish
habitat is the foundation for healthy aquatic life and clean water supplies. The water fish
live in is the same water you drink. What’s good for the fish is good for you.
America’s reservoirs need your help to stay healthy and continue to provide the fishing,
recreation and water we all treasure. It will take people from all walks of life working
together to improve the habitat in our reservoirs. Your state and national fish and wildlife
agencies alone do not have the resources to correct all the problems.
The Friends of Reservoirs Foundation allows local businesses, fishing clubs, conservation
organizations and individuals to work together with their state fish and wildlife agency
to improve their home waters without having to set up their own non-profit organization.
Money raised at the local level is spent at the local level on projects the local Friends
of Reservoirs group chooses. With your help, we can have healthy reservoirs
and a better quality of life now and in the future.
Whether you are an angler, a member of a fishing club or conservation organization or a concerned
citizen, it’s really easy to join the growing list of people who share a passion for keeping
America’s reservoirs healthy. Joining Friends of Reservoirs is your chance to get involved
and make a difference. In Friends of Reservoirs you can network with like-minded people who
share the same passion for fishing and clean water that you do, and you can spend money
on local projects to make the fishing in your local lake better. So please, help out. Become
a part of Friends of Reservoirs. To learn more, contact your state fish and
wildlife agency or visit www.waterhabitatlife.org.