Izaak Walton League of America

The Izaak Walton League of America is an American environmental organization founded in 1922 that promotes the protection of natural resources and encourages outdoor recreation. The organization was established in Chicago, Illinois, by a group of sportsmen who wished to protect fishing opportunities for future generations. They named the League after seminal fishing enthusiast Izaak Walton (1593–1683), known as the "Father of Flyfishing" and author of The Compleat Angler. Advertising executive Williamson H. Dilg became its first president and promoter. The first conservation organization with a mass membership, the League had over 100,000 supporters by 1924. An early result of their efforts was the establishment of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in 1924. The League led efforts in the 1930s for clean water legislation. It achieved initial success with the passage of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in 1948 and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act in 1956. Its major victory came with the passage of the Clean Water Act of 1972. The League continues to advocate for the preservation of wetlands and protection of wilderness areas, as well as for soil and water conservation. The League's membership declined in the 1960s to a stable level of around 50,000. The organization retains a firm base of conservationists and anglers nationwide, with more than 200 chapters. The League publishes a quarterly magazine, Outdoor America, which covers the League's activities and the environment.