Featured Partner: Dan Plummer
Dan Plummer fishes the Delaware River. Dan is the Chairman of the Board for the Friends of the Upper Delaware River. Photo is courtesy of Trout Unlimited.
1) What is your story and where did your passion for climate-friendliness and protecting your watershed come from?
I’m a guy that grew up in Elmira N.Y. in the ’70s and started seriously paying attention to my love of the outdoors at a real early age. Aside from wrestling, I wasn’t a team sports fan and spent all my free time fishing, hunting, and even trapping as a kid. I wasn’t the first in my family to love getting outside, both sets of grandparents, my mom, dad, and uncles led the way. I wish I could say that any one of them sat me down to talk about the negative impacts of an exploding global population and how our gluttonous use of most everything could come back to haunt us one day. I guess for the most part that just wasn’t on most folks’ minds back then. I can say they all taught me (and my little brother John) to NEVER take anything you weren’t going to eat, treat all life in a humane way, be respectful of all living things, and tread as lightly as you can on all lands public or private. Not a bad start.
Who are you?
Oh boy, I’m a guy that is really trying hard to finish life strong. I have made so many incredible mistakes through the years that my goal in life now is to really try to help where I can and limit my screw-ups from here on out. I think if I have any chance of pulling that off I need to really listen with an open mind, do the research it takes to make well-informed decisions, and be honest, listen to my heart, follow my instincts, and pay attention. I have to emphasize paying attention, too many of us are missing so much that is right in front of our eyes.
What do you do?
I wake up and decide that day, just kidding, but not really. I’m lucky enough to kind of live like that right now. Most of my bills are paid, I have no kids, no employees that depend on me, a wife that understands I’m a bit spontaneous, so I’m pretty able to write my own ticket these days. What that currently entails is remodeling my cabin, working on the barn, splitting wood, going for a walk with our lab Brody, fishing, hunting, or working on my current film project about life on the Upper Delaware River. That being said there is rarely a day that goes by that I’m not working on some conservation issue in some way, conservation is very high on my daily “to-do” list. I am also the Chairman of the Board for the Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR).
2) What is in your 'backyard'? What is your local watershed/river and what significance does it have for your local economy?
My backyard is literally the East Branch of the Upper Delaware River, and my local watershed is the Delaware River Watershed. The rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, mountains, valleys, sun, moon, stars, and everything in between runs our economy. I think too that finally most people are "paying attention” and agree.
3) Why do you feel it is important to contribute to the research of your watershed health?
Somebody has to, we all should, but I have to because I can. I get the importance of what one person can have and try to share that with whoever will listen. I owe Mother Earth that and so much more for what she has given me, my family, my friends, and my hounds through the years. If research is the keyword here, what better way is there in moving forward than to seek out the truth through a better understanding of where you live. Let science help you make better choices whenever possible. Guessing can really suck at times………….
What is this research going to tell us about our future and the actionable steps that are needed?
I’m not sure what the right answer is here, but from what I’ve seen and experienced since I’ve started paying attention is that all our daily choices concerning impacts on our environment are adding up and not in a good way. That being said I hope if we can shift the way we think and act quickly, "pay attention” to science, and follow the science that shows us another better path, we better get on that path as quickly as possible and stay on it.
4) How can we inspire more people to give a damn about creating or enforcing policies focused on watershed health and/or climate change?
A tough question, I guess I feel that as hard as it is to not preach, don’t! I mean some folks can get away with it but not many. Figure out a way to talk and listen to express yourself without having to be right. Maybe start with buying someone a beer, or ice cream, or a Tesla whatever but just be nice. Damn, I hate to sound like a sap but if nothing else BE NICE. If you fail and don’t piss someone off maybe the next person with some better communication skills will finish where you left off.
What is its importance to you?
Man, there is nothing I love more than to wade out into the river in front of the cabin when everything lines up. No one’s around; Brody is sitting on the bank behind me, bugs are happening, I’ve got the right fly, my sweet Orvis rod in hand, no wind, water is cold and clean, the sun is setting and my mind and body are free of all pain and worries. I want to continue to enjoy those moments for as long as I possibly can, and if anyone reading this knows of any way I can help to make that happen, I’m all ears and all in!
5) Since joining SOTF, have you observed your watershed differently. If so, how? Is there anything you are doing differently as a guide, angler, and environmental conservationist to help further protect your watershed?
I guess I feel one step closer to figuring things out and love what new information may come from the SOTF research. On a bit of a funny note about the sampling I told Max one day after making the 70 plus mile sampling loop that those damn syringes hurt your hands when you’re pushing water through them, my new inspirational leader/friend said "Troutboy, no one ever told you science would be easy” I still feel like a wimp……...
