Trout Unlimited's mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's cold-water fisheries and is the largest organization for doing so Nationally Founded in 1959, TU is the leading conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring, North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. Our 300,000 members are organized 387 local chapters and 36 Councils nationwide. These volunteer chapters are the "watchdogs" of their local rivers and streams. They conduct stream restoration projects, monitor legislation, and fight for "fish friendly" policies with state and local officials. Through its Washington DC-based national headquarters, TU conducts valuable scientific and economic research to foster more enlightened trout and salmon management practices, lobbies to strengthen environmental legislation like the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, and provides a voice for its 300,000 members.