Farms, Rivers, and Trout

Rhetorical Analysis

My rhetorical analysis is looking at Trout Unlimited’s marketing, and at the end, I’ll briefly compare it to one other source I looked at just to show another way rivers and agriculture get framed. The first rhetorical element I pick up right off on the “rivers” portion of Trout Unlimited’s homepage is the text. The overarching statement is short but loaded with impactful words like “We care for and recover rivers and fish.” The use of the word care seems personal and like they are fulfilling a duty. The word recover implies that something has been harmed and needs to be restored, but it evokes urgency without being overbearing or accusatory. Another header that’s on their page is, “Every river needs a champion,” that line elevates their conservation into something heroic if you help the cause. The audience is invited into service and to think of themselves as on that mission to save trout. 

The coloring on their page is doing a lot of persuasive work, too. The homepage uses blues and greens, signaling water, life, and cleanliness. Those hues are clear but give off a controlled vibe, and they make viewers see the river as pure and worth protecting. The bright white text over the dark landscape makes it impossible to miss. It’s simple and clear and easy to see. 

I’d argue images pack the strongest rhetorical punch on their page. They present a wide, gorgeous river and mountain scenery. The water looks untouched, pristine. Agriculture is not shown, but I think that the relationship is still implied because farms depend on these watersheds. To me, Trout Unlimited is building a public way of seeing rivers as living places worthy of protection and stewardship, rather than simple irrigation systems or infrastructure. Overall, the rhetoric of Trout Unlimited frames the river through the theme of stewardship, to be good to our rivers is to be good to the land, with agriculture making up part of the landscape.

All of this emotional marketing (or rhetorical devices) is interesting to me compared with the USDA NRCS Logan River Watershed Project page. This site speaks on irrigation efficiency, aging canals and flood protection. This one persuades with authority and data. That is very different from Trout Unlimited’s approach of persuading through beauty and emotion and a personal sense of care for the river.

ONLINE FARM JOURNAL WEEK 4: LABOR

When I’m fishing Utah rivers my thoughts usually run to trout, current seams, insect hatches, and mayflies. What I don’t often think about are the irrigation managers and farmers working to control and direct how much water remains in the stream. Because of Utah’s high desert climate agriculture pulls from diverted river water, and the hands that manage that system define not only the home of trout that I fish, but also the water upon which our crops and livestock depend on.

According to a brochure from the Utah Division of Water Resources, about 75-80% of all developed water in the state is used for agricultural purposes. As they manage headgates and open and close canals and reservoirs to send water to crops and livestock, what those farmers decide affects seasonal flows, water temperature, and habitat. Much of the river that is present is here because of people working, not through nature alone.

The Provo River is an example of how agricultural labor shapes the long term. Historic diversions and reservoir constructions changed the ecology of the wetlands and fish habitat enough that a project exists today to restore that delta area. The Provo River Delta Restoration Project overview states “Rather than remove agriculture, current restoration efforts are concentrated on ecologically restoring function within the existing agriculture system.” In that location engineers, contractors, and water managers work together to design channels so that fish can benefit from improved fish habitat access, while irrigators continue to receive a reliable supply of water.

Helping out with the Price River looks super similar. Restoration there focused on improving irrigation delivery and adjusting the timing so that both farmer and fish can get what they need. Rather than remove agricultural laborers and close canals, producers work with environmental and conservation groups to conserve water and reduce unnecessary applications.

Updating my journal visuals this week made me more aware of how I represent this relationship. Pictures of rivers convey a wilderness scene, while river diversions reveal other realities associated with the river. The people who build and manage those structures are part of the river, just the same as the fish and insects. In studying their work it becomes clearer how farms and rivers and trout are linked across Utah, and how those connections shape the human environment across the state.

Works Cited

Bowen, Larisa. “Price River: Solving Problems for Farmers and Fish.” The Nature Conservancy, 24 Sept. 2020, https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/utah/stories-in-utah/price-river-reservoir/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.

Provo River Delta Restoration Project. “About the Project.” Provo River Delta Restoration Project, https://www.provoriverdelta.us/about-the-project. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

Utah Division of Water Resources. “Utah Division of Water Resources.” Utah Department of Natural Resources, https://water.utah.gov/. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.