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Trout Unlimited Tennessee License Plate Featuring Native Tennessee Brook Trout

Updated 4/1/08 - We start in April our final push towards 1,000 plates. At present, we have presold 540 plates for 54 % of our goal. With weather warming our hearts and minds turn to trout fishing. We are reminded of the scenic beauty where these wonderful creatures live and realize we all need to preserve and improve the watershed. What better way to accomplish this than to purchase the TU plate so money will be available tomorrow and for future generations of individuals to share nature and improve our rivers and streams.. For those waiting to ordering the plate, here is the reason to do it now! We need to have 1,000 presold plates by June 30, 2008. As you order your own plate, please consider giving the gift of conservation to others in your family, relatives, coworkers or employees of your company.


540 plates have been sold towards our goal of 1,000 or 54%

Thanks to those of you who participated in the Jan 1 – March 31, 2008 promotion from Tennessee’s finest fly shops, the promotion has ended. However, you should be receiving your $ 10 off purchase coupon by mail shortly! I’ve been informed by the fly shops they will honor your $10 off purchase coupon for thirty days. Remember, your $ 35 is a tax deductible donation to Trout Unlimited, will help make the plate a reality and will create an ongoing source of funds for conservation work on Tennessee Rivers, lakes and streams.

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About Trout Unlimited

Trout Unlimited's mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. TU accomplishes this mission on local, state and national levels with an extensive and dedicated volunteer network. TU’s national office, based just outside of Washington, D.C., and its regional offices employ professionals who testify before Congress, publish a quarterly magazine, intervene in federal legal proceedings, and work with the organization’s 152,000 volunteers in 450 chapters nationwide to keep them active and involved in conservation issues.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the TU TN specialty license plate:

Q. Do I have to be a member of Trout Unlimited to order the specialty plate?
A. No. Anyone can order the plate who would like to do so. TU welcomes the support of other conservation-minded individuals to support this effort in Tennessee.

Q. Can I order a plate if I do not live in Tennessee?
A. This is a Tennessee specialty license plate. It is available only for vehicles registered in Tennessee.

Q. How long until I receive the plate I ordered?
A. Trout Unlimited must presell 1,000 plates by June 30, 2008, before the State of Tennessee will begin producing the plate for distribution to county clerk offices. Once Trout Unlimited reaches 1,000 presold plates, it will take the State of Tennessee anywhere from 4-6 months before the purchaser receives his or her plate. We estimate the plate to be available sometime in 2008.

Q. How will I know how things are going and when my plate is ready?
A. Current updates on plate sales will be available on www.tuplate.org. Your local county clerk will notify you by letter when your plate has been received and ready for pickup.

Q. If I have already gone through inspection and received my new tags, do I have to pay to get new tags for the new plate?
A. If you still have time left on your current plate and tags when you receive notification that your Trout Unlimited specialty plate is ready, then the fee will be prorated. Your tags will be renewed for another year, and your new Trout Unlimited specialty plate will expire one year from the time you pick up your plate.

Q. How much is it each year to keep the plate?
A. The Trout Unlimited specialty license plate annual fee is $35.

Q. What if Trout Unlimited does not presell 1,000 plates?
A. Trout Unlimited will refund your money.

Q. How much money goes to Trout Unlimited?
A. $17.50 of the $35 additional license fee will be returned to Trout Unlimited annually. Projects to be funded will include “Back the Brookie,”Tennessee Embrace-A-Stream, and special future projects. Ninety percent of funds will remain in Tennessee.

Q. Can I order this plate for a commercial vehicle?
A. Specialty plates cannot be used on a commercial vehicle.

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Why the Brook Trout?

The brook trout is an American symbol of persistence, adaptability, and the pristine wilderness that covered North America prior to European settlement. It is the only native trout that inhabits the cold, clear streams of the eastern United States. It is truly a heritage fish species. Unfortunately, historical land uses have taken a toll on our landscape, greatly diminishing the presence of brook trout throughout its native range. Today it is estimated that less than 9% of the areas that historically supported brook trout are intact. Trout Unlimited and other conservation-minded organizations have been active since 2004 to restore this habitat.

As a sentinel of superior water quality, the brook trout will always mirror the health of the Appalachians and the waters that drain from these landscapes. Restoring habitat allows native brook trout to repopulate their once lost place in the Great Smoky Mountains and Eastern Appalachian Mountains.

The Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited has selected the Eastern Appalachian Brook Trout for their specialty license plate as a symbol of ongoing successful conservation efforts on behalf of all organizations who support conservation of the watershed. Ongoing collective efforts to restore the brook trout will enable us to protect human health, assure clean and sustainable water supplies, and preserve our quality of life for generations to come.

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Contact Us

If you have any additional questions, please send to: dick@cumberlandtu.org

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©Copyright 2007 Cumberland Chapter of Trout Unlimited