Removing over 5 million pounds of garbage from the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio, and other rivers in nine states is no easy task, but Chad Pregracke, the president and founder of Living Lands & Waters has accomplished all of that, and a lot more. The group recently planted 238,000 acorn trees and has plans to plant 100,000 oaks this April, which will dramatically improve habitat and prevent erosion. Pregracke was a Hero of Conservation Finalist in 2008. Here are ten of his tips for getting active and making a difference.

Chad Pregracke: 10 Tips to Help You Start Your Own Crusade

1. Get involved with your cause, and not just by joining but by becoming active. Serve on a committtee, help with fund-raising, coordinate an event, do whatever you can--but do something.

2. Work with what you have at the time.

3. If you start with nothing but an idea, then there's nothing to lose. What have you really lost by making a phone call isfsomeone says no?

4. Don't expect anything from anybody--you'll just set yourself up for disappointment and despair.

5. Set high goals but realize that the bigger the goal, the more persistence, dedication, focus, and sacrifice it will take to achieve it. Big goals are accomplished only by taking small steps, and it starts with a single, small action.

6. Work as hard as you can every day and know that you can only do so much. As long as you've worked as hard as you can, then that's all you can do.

7. Plant trees. Lots of trees.

8. It's who you know, yes, but it's also who you don't know, yet.

9. Pick your battles and try to stay focused, because there are so many different problems that you could easily become distracted.

10. Don't forget to water your trees.

(For more tips, check out Pregracke's book From the Bottom Up: One Man's Crusade to Clean America's Rivers)

While no two people seem to agree on whether or not the new economic stimulus bill will benefit the economy, it does appear to contain a definite bright spot: $3 billion-plus in funds for the conservation of our lands. National conservation and sportsmen's groups, including the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Ducks Unlimited, have embraced at least that part of it.

The early returns are in for last year's fall-run of Chinooks in one of California's most important salmon fisheries, and the numbers are not encouraging. According to the Chico Enterprise Record, "preliminary 2008 salmon season data indicates a continued and significant reduction in the return size of the Sacramento River fall-run Chinook salmon stock... the lowest return since comprehensive monitoring of Central Valley hatchery and natural escarpment began in the 1970s." This is by no means surprising news, and it will be interesting to see what steps California and the other Pacific states, as well as the Pacific Fishery Management Council, take this year to ensure the longevity of salmon runs. For more information, check out this overview of Pacific salmon fisheries management, and salmon seasons information.

The Montana Legacy Project has recently helped in the purchase of 112,000 acres of timberland from the Plum Creek Timber Company, according to the Seattle Times, and the land is "expected to be transferred to the U.S. Forest Service." This is certainly good news for the public, and for hunters and fishermen in particular. As this map shows, much of the land that the Montana Legacy Project is working to procure is along roads and waterways, and adjacent to even more public land.

This new series is dedicated to helping sportsmen become conservation heroes by sharing the stories, tips, and advice of our past Heroes of Conservation. We also hope that you'll share your own experiences with us.