Help us Meet our Match for Native Trout

You can be part of restoring Colorado’s native trout heritage in the heart of one of our state’s most unique landscapes! The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is one of Colorado’s iconic settings and is also home to the most significant Rio Grande Cutthroat trout restoration project in Colorado. Sand Creek, nestled above the dunes in the spectacular Sangre De Cristo mountains of southern Colorado, provides an opportunity to restore Rio Grande cutthroats to 14 miles of stream and two outstanding natural lakes high in the headwaters and is well situated to persist in the face of drought and a warming climate.  With your help it can be a place that our native trout will exist forever on our priceless public lands.

In September, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, with volunteer support from TU, will begin the first phase of work to restore cutthroat to Sand Creek, utilizing a large crew in a very rugged and remote setting. Wilderness Adventures has generously donated 25% of the value of the outfitting and catering required to logistically support this backcountry project.  That leaves us needing $9,000 to complete phase one of this restoration project.  Colorado TU, The Greenbacks and the San Luis Valley Chapter of TU have contributed $4,500 as a challenge to private donors like you: every dollar you donate toward this project will be matched.

Join this exciting effort to bring back Rio Grande Cutthroat trout to the Sand Creek watershed and create a unique backcountry fishery that will remain available for generations to come!  Every donation helps so please consider contributing and helping us to Meet Our Match.