The Ground Between Us
TGBTU 25: The Wild Places Protecting Our Water with Corey Fisher from Trout Unlimited
In this episode of The Ground Between Us, Eli talks with Corey Fisher, public land policy director at Trout Unlimited, about roadless areas, public lands, hunting, fishing, and the conservation work happening on the ground. A quick note on production quality: We experienced some technical issues during this recording that affected both the audio and video quality in parts of the episode. We apologize for the less-than-ideal production quality and appreciate you bearing with us. Corey explains what Trout Unlimited does as a nationwide grassroots conservation organization and how its network of roughly 400 chapters and 300,000 members and supporters works to protect and restore waters and fisheries across the country. The conversation explores why roadless areas matter, how healthy public lands support clean water and wildlife, and why hunters and anglers have an important role to play in conservation. Subjects covered include: • Corey's role as Trout Unlimited's public land policy director • How Trout Unlimited's grassroots network works across the country • The connection between public lands, clean water, and healthy fisheries • Why roadless areas create opportunities for adventure and access to wild places • Corey's early outdoor experiences hunting and fishing in southern Michigan • A memorable roadless elk hunt in southwest Montana • Why conservation organizations can be force multipliers for water and wildlife conservation • The importance of hands-on conservation work • The roadless rule and current public land policy • Travel management plans and public land access • Why public participation matters in the policy process • The role hunters and anglers can play in conservation Corey's perspective highlights how conservation happens both on the ground and through public engagement — from restoring streams and protecting habitat to participating in the decisions that shape America's public lands. The USDA is currently proposing to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which established protections for inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. If you want to learn more about the proposal or leave a public comment, visit the Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/20/2026-16965/special-areas-roadless-area-conservation Whether you support or op Take Action: Roadless Areas
