About Us

history of the league and our chapter

the iwla mission

To conserve, restore and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources
including soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife.

a brief history of the iwla

At the turn of the 20th century, uncontrolled discharges of industrial waste and raw sewage, unrestricted logging, and soil erosion threatened to destroy the nation’s most productive waterways. The country’s forests, wetlands, and wilderness areas were quickly disappearing. In 1922, 54 sportsmen declared that it was “time to call a halt” to this destruction. Aware that action – not just talk – would be necessary to solve these problems, the group decided to form an organization to combat water pollution and protect the country’s woods and wildlife. As a reminder of their purpose, they named the organization after Izaak Walton, the 17th-century English angler-conservationist who wrote the literary classic, The Compleat Angler.
The Izaak Walton League of America soon became the nation’s preeminent organization of hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts dedicated to sustainable use of our country’s natural resources. Today, the League’s more than 43,000 members and 240 community-based chapters are building on the accomplishments of those who preceded them as defenders of the nation’s soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife.

Excerpts from www.iwla.org

a brief history of the white oak chapter

The Chapter was formed on March 16, 1977. We are a group of concerned men and women who work for a better outdoor America through the wise stewardship of the land and it's resources. As our Chapter name implies, our principal objective is the preservation and improvement of the White Oak River and adjacent land area as a healthful habitat for fish and wildlife, and as a scenic area for all forms of outdoor recreation. The objectives are becoming increasingly important and must go hand in hand with the accelerated development of our area. Our interests span the spectrum of outdoor recreation and conservation activities, from fishing and birding to stream monitoring, wildlife photography, boating and hunting. As we use and enjoy them, we all share a major goal to protect and preserve the sustainability of America's rich natural resources to ensure a high quality of life for all people, now and in the future.