National Conservation Areas: A primer

by Dale RodebaughHerald Staff Writer

National Conservation Areas, designed to protect cultural, historical and recreational assets, range in size from 19 acres to 799,000 acres. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's 10-year-old National Landscape Conservation System, which includes the conservation areas as well as national monuments, wilderness areas and wild and scenic rivers, protects 27 million acres at almost 900 sites.

The National Conservation Area label that Trout Unlimited wants for 126,000 acres near Silverton called the Alpine Triangle would be the fourth such area in Colorado overseen by the BLM.

http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/Earth/2010/03/04/National_Conservation_Areas_A_primer/

Surmounting the snow pile

Durango Telegraph by Missy Votel

As the giant mound at the city of Durango’s snow-storage site at Cundiff Park begins to melt, it also gives rise to worries over water quality. The 17-acre snow storage site just south of town, which the city has been using for the last eight years, sits adjacent to the Animas River. And come springtime, Mount Durango, as some locals have taken to calling it, creates a steady stream of murky brown run-off that concerns residents and river advocacy groups alike.

“I applaud the City’s snow removal team and recognize they do a great job during large snow events. However, there are certainly water-quality issues related to the current snow storage location(s),” said Ty Churchwell, former president of the Five Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited and member of the Animas River Task Force.

http://www.durangotelegraph.com/telegraph.php?inc=/10-03-04/coverstory.htm

Travelers Notebook: Time really flies at fishing camp

"Sweet", "incredible," "awesome," "the most fun I've ever had" all come to mind when I think of my time at the Colorado Trout Unlimited River Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp. The TU camp has been held in summer annually at a private ranch near Basalt for several years. If every one who attends in coming years has as much fun as I did, it will be around for decades to come. The camp's main focus is to teach coming generations about the importance of conservation through many really fun activities, not the least of which is fly fishing.

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100221/ENTERTAINMENT06/2210307

Trout provide hands-on lessons at Thompson Valley High School

By Carl McCutchen • Loveland Connection Anyone walking into Tom Hewson’s chemistry class at Thompson Valley High School might disregard the 55-gallon fish tank near the doorway as home for a class pet, but for most of the students at TVHS, it’s far more than that.

The fish tank, currently full of about 85 infant rainbow trout, is an experiment, a project and a learning tool.

“We raise trout from eggs to small fingerlings to then be stocked in a local watershed,” Hewson said.

 The project, which Hewson said wouldn’t be done until later this year, started when he received a phone call from officials with the Denver chapter of Trout Unlimited last spring.

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20091221/LOVELAND02/91221002

Trout habitat now on the line

BY BOBBY MAGILL The new plan requires a compromise: Keep La Poudre Pass Creek dry during the winter, but restore more than 43 miles of trout habitat in the Poudre River Watershed, mostly in Rocky Mountain National Park.

"It's something scientists have been pushing for, for a long time," said David Nickum, director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. "The chance to try to put that science in action and do what would be the largest native cutthroat trout restoration project ever in Colorado - we're excited about that prospect."

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20091207/NEWS01/912070310/1002/CUSTOMERSERVICE02/Trout-habitat-now-on-the-line

Trout Unlimited revives Vail Valley chapter

Scott N. Millersmiller@vaildaily.com Vail, CO Colorado

VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — Rivers may look alike on maps, but the people who fish those Vail Valley streams know better. That's one reason the Eagle Valley has its own Trout Unlimited chapter again.

Trout Unlimited, an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting coldwater fisheries around the county, has had a presence in Eagle County almost since its founding 50 years ago. In fact, the local chapter was among the first 10 created in the country.

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20091201/NEWS/912019983/1078&ParentProfile=1062

Citizens urged to weigh in on Denver proposal to divert more water from Fraser River

By Tonya BinaSky-Hi Daily News Grand County, CO Colorado

“Multiple water diversions have pushed the Fraser River to the brink of collapse,” said Kirk Klancke, president of the Colorado Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

TU, the Colorado Environmental Coalition and a broad group of conservation organizations warn that a proposal to divert more water from the Fraser, a tributary to the Colorado River, poses a serious risk to the ecological health of the river system.

http://www.skyhidailynews.com/article/20091129/NEWS/911299983/1079&ParentProfile=1067

Animas Restoration Project Complete

From our man on the scene, Ty Churchwell:

After three years of raising money, advocating and planning, the largest and most ambitious 5 Rivers TU project to date is complete.  The entire chapter should be proud of our accomplishment.  This was truly a community project and our most valuable resource has been improved.

This project was born of our involvement with the Animas River Task Force, a citizen advisory council with representation by the chapter.  A City of Durango ordered river corridor assessment identified nine locations within city limits where sever riverbank degradation was occurring.  TU and Animas Riverkeeper representatives recognized the opportunity for a project and jumped at the chance.  A partnership was formed and planning began.

The section of the Animas below 9^th street, along Roosa Ave., was determined to be the highest priority, this due to its visibility and proximity to the downtown corridor and the tree assets in peril.  Additionally, trout habitat in this section was minimal and in need of improvement.  Many of our visiting anglers find this water to be the most convenient for their quick afternoon outings while the family shops.

Five Rivers and Riverkeeper began raising money in 2006.  An initial plan was designed and the City of Durango was approached for permission and potential partnership.  Our partners with the city were thrilled that a grassroots effort was forming and they signed on in support.  Financial assistance was offered and they acted as the contractor for grant requests and permitting.  The partners applied for and were awarded a DOW “Fishing is Fun” grant representing roughly 75% of the project costs.  Via the annual fundraising banquet, the chapter raised our commitment of $7000.  Once the 2009 city budget was approved, we were fully funded.

Numerous contractors were interviewed and we had a say in who was hired.  In Western Stream Works from Ridgeway, we found a passionate restorator who embraced our beliefs and vision for the project.  Contrived and man-made was not the look we were going for.  Quality habitat and long-term riverbank protection was the goal.  Thank you Bill!

Trout Unlimited: Upper Colorado ‘on the brink'

By Bob Berwynsummit daily news

SUMMIT COUNTY — Increased diversions from the Fraser River, in Grand County, could put the entire Upper Colorado ecosystem at risk, a coalition of environmental groups warned Friday.

“We're really nervous. The rivers are only so resilient,” said David Nickum, director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “You can't talk about these systems in isolation,” he said, referring to a Denver Water proposal to take more water out of the Fraser River and across the Continental Divide.

“Multiple water diversions have pushed the Fraser River to the brink of collapse,” said Kirk Klancke, president of the Colorado Headwaters Chapter of TU, based in Grand County. “This is a river on life support.”

Nickum and Klancke were referring to a draft environmental study on the Fraser River project. The conservation groups said they've already been talking with Denver Water, and that the utility is open to discussing the issues. The draft study was released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Friday.

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20091102/NEWS/911019987/1078&ParentProfile=1055

Upper Colorado River an ‘Ecosystem on the Brink,' says Trout Unlimited

Ski-Hi Daily News “We have already met with Denver Water's staff, and they seem open to discussing some of these concepts,” said Mely Whiting, Legal Counsel for Trout Unlimited's Colorado Water Project. “We hope the Denver Water Board seizes this opportunity to create a legacy, where water development and environmental protections can go hand in hand.”

 “Front Range residents must recognize the connection between our water use and the health of our rivers and streams, fisheries and wildlife habitat,” said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “We can't continue to take and take from these rivers without accounting for our impacts. The glass is not even half full—it's almost drained dry.”

http://www.skyhidailynews.com/article/20091102/NEWS/911029998/1079&ParentProfile=1067