Tell the Governor: Healthy Rivers Matter!

On  December 10, a draft of Colorado's Water Plan was formally presented to Governor Hickenlooper - and will no undergo a renewed round of public input and revision with plans to finalize it by late 2015.  The Plan talks about the strategies Colorado should use to meet its future water demands for cities, industry, agriculture, recreation and the environment.  It will set the tone for how Colorado addresses its water challenges - whether there is an emphasis on sustainability, aggressive water conservation, and healthy rivers and landscapes - or emphasis on more dry-up of Colorado's rivers and its irrigated farmlands.  Colorado's sportsmen want to see our values reflected in the Plan. Governor Hickenlooper has said that every conversation about water should start with conservation. Tell him yourself why conserving the health of rivers is important to you! Click here now to weigh in now on the vision for Colorado's water future that you want to support!

This is just the first draft of the first Colorado Water Plan. We have one year to try to secure a healthy future for our rivers for fish, and for people.

You can learn more and read the draft Colorado  Water Plan online by clicking here and by visiting Colorado's Water Plan website.

Small town turns out big for Browns Canyon

Public meeting in Salida with federal officials turns out hundreds in support of Browns Canyon National Monument By Kyle Perkins from www.sportsmenforbrowns.com

Hundreds of people turned out Saturday in Salida, Colorado, to show support for a Browns Canyon National Monument. The droves of green “I support a Browns Canyon National Monument” stickers were visible evidence of the overwhelming support, along with speaker after speaker urging administration officials to designate the canyon now.

Don’t let anyone tell you this is a top-down executive overreach. Local residents and stakeholders, frustrated by years of congressional fiddling, made it clear that this is a grassroots effort and that they want to get this special place protected.

The stretch of the Arkansas River that veers from the highway south of Buena Vista and rushes through a steep canyon full of Gold Medal Water fishing, amazing white water rafting, and a pristine backcountry habitat is truly a unique place. Floating and finding pocket water within the canyon can produce over 20” trout, and the population of elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lion and black bear create a healthy habitat for hunting and wildlife in general. This 22,000-acre rugged canyon is a truly wild place that I have visited more times than I can remember.

For over 20 years, legislative efforts to protect this canyon have had local and state support, yet Congress has failed to act. From bills sponsored by former Colorado Senator Wayne Allard in 2006, and by current Senator Mark Udall in December of 2013, momentum has built—only to be thwarted by congressional inaction and gridlock. However, on November 25, an official letter from Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet requesting President Obama to declare Browns a national monument under the Antiquities Act of 1906 became headline news in the state. Local and state word spread fast with articles from all major state newspapers.

Rep. Doug Lamborn, one of the few opponents of the measure, claimed in a recent piece that there were many local opponents of the Browns designation. If that’s true, they failed to show up Saturday– supporters vastly outnumbered the handful of nay-sayers in the crowd.

In addition to the Colorado Senators, the public meeting was attended by administration officials and included Deputy Director of BLM Steve Ellis and U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell.

What I saw were individuals and groups from across the valley and state come together to protect a place they love and to support our valued public lands, fish and wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities. Indeed, local stakeholders in the Arkansas Valley reminded the Colorado delegation that this is a local effort, with bipartisan support from local elected officials and overwhelming support from the local business community.

“I take tourists and residents whitewater rafting and fishing through Browns Canyon, exposing them to the natural beauty that is at the heart of Colorado’s outdoor heritage,” said Joe Greiner, owner of Wilderness Aware Rafting in Buena Vista. “A lot of people put national monuments on their bucket list. A national monument designation will put Browns Canyon on the map and have an even bigger impact on our local economy.”

“Americans love our public lands and the rich outdoor experiences they provide,” said Jim Impara, vice president of the Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited. “We also understand that there are highly valued, iconic wild places that are not yet protected. Browns Canyon is one of those special places. Let’s keep it the way it is.”

“It was a true showing of the local community and the support we have to protect Browns,” said local resident Susan Mayfield. “It was a large theater of about 400, and an overfill room of many more in support of finally and permanently protecting one of our local pride and joys. The people in Chaffee County have spoken. It’s time.”

The public meeting sent a strong, unequivocal message to the White House: Coloradans want to protect Browns Canyon—and it’s time to get this done. This is our best chance to do that in a generation.

South Arkansas River Restoration Project

The South Arkansas River Restoration Project (SARRP) is located on an 1,100 foot section of the South Arkansas River downstream of the Hwy 285 Bridge in Poncha Springs, Colorado.  The project site is 100% on private land divided between two landowners.  The main focal point of the project was on a long outside bend that was being “stabilized” by Detroit riprap (Old car bodies and other debris).  These features were installed in the 1960’sand 70’s to protect the bank from eroding.  Along with being an eye-sore, the riprap was accelerating flows along the bank, which was lacking in fish habitat.  The lack of fish habitat is synonymous with most of this river due to historic flood protection measures and channelization.  The goal of the project was to remove the car bodies and debris, improve bank stabilization, create habitat, and connect to a previously restored adjacent downstream section. Over the past year to year and a half, TU worked with another local non-profit, Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas (LTUA), to seek out and write grants for the project work.  Successful grant funds were secured from the Trout and Salmon Foundation (T&SF) and the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s (CWCB) Healthy Rivers Fund (HRF), making this project a reality.  The local Collegiate Peaks Anglers Chapter of TU contributed a cash match contribution, as well as several volunteer hours.  In addition to the grant funds, 142 tons of rock for in-stream structures were donated from Butala Sand and Gravel.  Kaess Contracting, Inc. also contributed some in-kind for their machine time and hauling of the rock.  Countless hours were donated by one of the landowners who assisted in completion of the Army Corps of Engineers 404 permit, final design, and construction oversight.  This project was a great example of wide-ranging community involvement and support.  From grant writing to donations, and construction to volunteer work, various community organizations were involved when it counted.

Figure 2: Post-construction photo of same bank in Figure 1 without debris.  A cross-vane structure is in the foreground creating habitat, while reducing shear stress against the bank. Bank slopes were graded to a gradual slope and re-vegetated with native plants and seed.

Construction work was completed in late November with the installation of several rock structures, log features, and bank stabilization work (Figure 2).   A previously featureless river now contains quite a few pool-riffle-run-pool sequences commonly associated with healthy rivers.  The icing on the cake was a volunteer planting work day along the newly restored bank and four steep bank slopes (Figure 3).  A local Rotary Grant funded a majority of the planting materials, food, and materials on a day in which eight local middle and elementary students learned how to plant riparian and upland vegetation.  An additional 15-20 mentors and volunteers were present from LTUA, TU, TU Chapter, and the Rotary Club to assist in installing over 200 plants.  A variety of upland and riparian species were planted, which included dogwood, willow, juniper, pinyon, chokecherry, rabbit brush, and a native seed mix.

Figure 3: South Arkansas River Restoration Project volunteer workday

The goal of this project was to increase community awareness and develop a template for river restoration in the South Arkansas River Watershed.  With the help of the South Arkansas Watershed Coalition (SWAC), TU plans to engage adjacent landowners about the benefits of restoring habitat along the South Arkansas.  Through this effort, TU hopes to generate landowner support, and continue this type of project for years to come throughout the watershed.

Ask President Obama and Secretary Jewell to Make Browns Canyon a National Monument

Browns Canyon, located along the upper Arkansas River in Colorado, is known for premier trout fishing, outstanding big game habitat, world-famous whitewater, rugged and remote wildlands, and a proud cattle ranching tradition. This diversity supports thousands of jobs, from river outfitters and guides to ranchers in the nearby communities of Salida and Buena Vista. Protecting this 22,000 acre gem along the Arkansas River as a National Monument is a community-driven effort to preserve this unique natural and economic resource for generations to come. You can help!  Click here to send a message to President Obama and Interior Secretary Jewell asking them to designate Browns Canyon as a National Monument, ensuring that its diverse values are maintained for the public for generations to come!

The Story Behind The Story

The Yampa Valley Fly Fishers Chapter of TU (YVFF) provided hundreds of volunteer hours to bring a portion of the tailwater renovation project to a close for the Winter of 2014/2015. Completing riparian/floodplain revegetation efforts required some real foresight and effort, long before it was time to actually do plantings.  Anglers are all familiar with the idea of raising and stocking fish – but what about raising and stocking riparian plants? YVFF worked with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and their contributors to construct a nursery at the edge of the Yampa River, on State property just outside of Steamboat Springs.  Its purpose is to allow the growth of selected plants in a protected and controlled environment, with the goal to have mature vegetation ready for specific projects in and around the Yampa Valley.

The 1000 square foot nursery was designed, funded and constructed by a joint collaboration between CPW and YVFF.  Construction began in the Summer of 2013.  The ground was prepared for proper drainage by the use and placement of special fabrics and a specific size and depth bed of crushed rock.  A vinyl coated chain link fence was erected to protect the plants and trees from hungry beavers, deer, etc.  Construction was completed in the Spring of 2014 with the addition of a sunscreen and manual irrigation system.

The first seedlings were delivered shortly thereafter and potted by a large volunteer group.  In October, those now mature potted plants were ready for transplanting and were moved to the tailwater project.  With a couple truckloads of soil amendments, digging tools, food, and beverage, more than 30 volunteers spent the weekend placing nearly 1000 new willow and alder trees along this newly renovated stretch of the Yampa River.

YVFF anticipates repeating these potting and transplanting endeavors for many years to come.

CTU, Partners Reach Settlement to Protect Roan

It has been a long road in a legal battle that has stretched back more than six years - and advocacy and conservation efforts that stretch back more than a decade beyond that.  But on November 21, a settlement of the legal battle over energy development on the Roan Plateau was announced, laying a "win-win" path forward that protects the Roan's most valued fish and wildlife habitats while also allowing for responsible energy development. The Roan Plateau supports remarkable natural values including habitat for rare native Colorado River cutthroat trout, scenic canyons and waterfalls, and outstanding big game habitat and hunting opportunities.  TU's Grand Valley Anglers chapter has for nearly two decades worked on projects to benefit Trapper Creek and the unique native cutthroats it supports - Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists found they are adapted to withstand warmer water temperatures than most cutthroats.

The settlement resolves litigation in which Colorado Trout Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation and eight other conservation groups were represented by Earthjustice. Among the key provisions of the settlement:

• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will cancel 17 of 19 leases held by Bill Barrett Corp. (BBC) atop the Roan within 60 days, and refund to BBC the money that was paid for those leases.  These leases include about 90% of the acreage on top of the Plateau, including all of the native trout watersheds.
• BLM will prepare a new management plan for the Roan, and as part of their analysis will consider a "settlement alternative" with terms from the settlement agreement.  While BLM legally cannot commit to adopting this alternative prior to completing their environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act, all parties have agreed not to challenge the new plan so long as BLM adopts the settlement alternative.
• Under the settlement alternative the areas covered by the canceled leases atop the Roan Plateau will not be subject to oil and gas leasing.  The two retained leases - located on Anvil Ridge in a portion of the Roan adjacent to existing drilling on private lands, outside of native cutthroat habitat, and lacking current public road access - will be allowed to develop responsibly with a limited number of carefully-sited well pads and management practices to minimize their impacts.
• The settlement alternative also allows for development under existing leases at the base of the Roan but strengthens "no surface occupancy" requirements, helping to secure important wildlife migration corridors, steep slopes, and other fragile resources.

The Roan Plateau is a great example of TU working together, with local volunteers from Grand Valley Anglers, Colorado TU staff and volunteer leaders, and National TU staff all helping contribute to our success.  We've also benefited from great partners including our outstanding legal counsel with Earthjustice who have been a model of dedication and skill in guiding the legal challenge and settlement talks over several years.

The Roan could also be a model for balance on energy development.  The oil and gas leaseholders - BBC, as well as Oxy, Ursa, and WPX (companies holding the leases at the Roan's base) - engaged with us in honest and constructive dialogue about a path for responsible energy development that includes strong protection for the Roan's unique fish and wildlife resources. Keeping disturbance out of the most important and sensitive habitats, while enabling responsible development to proceed on other portions of the Roan, is a great model for balance.  We appreciate these companies working with us in good faith to achieve a responsible settlement for the Roan.

Our work isn't over -- we will continue our cutthroat protection and restoration projects on the Roan in the summer of 2015 and beyond, and we must work to ensure that the BLM adopts the "settlement alternative" in its planning process.  Stay tuned for ways that you can get involved in the months ahead.

St Vrain TUer Speaks Out on Flood Response

Erik Wilkinson, the Conservation Chair of the TU St Vrain Anglers chapter, recently published an opinion piece in the Longmont Times-Call, highlighting the role of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in helping to purchase properties from flood-ravaged families following the 1976 Big Thompson flood - and calling for local officials to learn from that experience as response work continues to the 2013 floods.  He also points out the importance of Congress acting to reauthorization the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which will expire in 2015 absent Congressional action. Wilkinson writes: "As our communities endeavor to rebuild, we should again look to the future and use this tragedy as an opportunity to reinvest in our infrastructure and river resources. We must strengthen our towns against future floods so that we aren't faced with the same rebuilding challenges in the coming decades. We must use this event to create and enhance habitat and water recreation along the rivers, providing economic stimuli (jobs) to the affected communities."

The piece was informed by a recent Colorado TU report, Land and Water Conservation Fund—A Source of Hope and Help in the Face of Disaster which was issued at the one-year anniversary of the September 2013 floods.  The report also highlighted the role of LWCF in helping Lyons rebuild its important St Vrain corridor trail - a key local connector and recreational feature.

You can read Erik's full piece here.

Hermosa Bill Takes Another Step Forward!

Legislation to establish wilderness and a special management area protecting Southwest Colorado's Hermosa Creek watershed passed unanimously through a US Senate Committee this week.  The legislation, S.841, was introduced by Senator Bennet and cosponsored by Senator Udall, who also serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee which passed the bill out of committee on Thursday, November 13.  A companion bill, HR 1839, is sponsored by Representative Tipton and already has passed out of House committee. TU and other supporters of the bill hope that it can get a floor vote in both chambers during the "lame duck" session, and be forwarded to the President's desk for signature.

The Hermosa watershed bill, which incorporates an agreement crafted by a broad range of local stakeholders, preserves an array of recreational opportunities in and around the areas designated for protection. The package of protections will help protect hunting and fishing values, motorized recreational opportunities, popular hiking and biking trails, and wilderness-quality lands.  The bill designates approximately 37,000 acres of new wilderness and a 70,000 acre special management area to protect watershed values.

On a disappointing note, specific reference to Hermosa's native trout was removed from the bill.  However, the watershed and land protections still accomplish protection for the area's highly-valued native cutthroat trout fishery.

You can read TU's press statement on the latest Congressional action here.

And a big "thank you" goes to Senators Bennet and Udall for their efforts in moving S.841 forward in the Senate, and to Representative Tipton for his continued leadership for Hermosa in the House.

Tell EPA and the Corps: Protect Our Headwaters!

Tell EPA and the Corps: Protect Our Headwaters!

Act by November 14 to help ensure that the Clean Water Act protects our headwater and feeder streams!

Here in Colorado, we are a headwaters state, and we understand the basic premise that if we don't protect the headwaters, we cannot protect our downstream rivers.

Colorado is a headwaters state, the birthplace of major rivers like the Rio Grande, Arkansas, Platte and the mighty Colorado - and so we understand how important it is to protect the headwaters.  Indeed, some 75% of Colorado's rivers and streams - 76,000 miles worth - may not be protected under the Clean Water Act if the new EPA and Corps guidance isn't adopted (these are the intermittent and ephemeral streams, shown in red on the map below).  Nationwide, some 60% of rivers and streams are at risk, as outlined in a recent Trout Unlimited report.

The agencies are taking public comment on this proposal until November 14.  Equally important, please let your elected representatives know you support these vital water quality protections.  If you haven't yet submitted comments, please click here to learn more and take action!

If you've already submitted comments, thank you for your help, and please spread the word with your friends.

It is simple common sense -- if we don't protect the headwaters, we cannot protect our downstream rivers.  

Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook and Twitter, and visit us online at tu.org.

Come to the Fly Fishing Rendezvous!!

You are invited to the first annual Front Range Fly Fishing Rendezvous. This event is to FREE to attend and guaranteed to be a great time. There will be great vendors there to talk about their products and fishing organizations there to talk about fishing opportunities across the state.

Here is a sneak peak at the vendors that will be there:

Accent Fly Fishing http://ascentflyfishing.com/

Slayfest http://slayfestfishing.com/

The Bug Guy http://www.the-bug-guy.com

5280 Angler http://www.5280angler.com/

Native Nets http://www.nativenets.com/

Titan Rod Vaults http://www.titanrodvault.com/

There will be a silent auction, raffle prizes and more!! Throughout the weekend the vendors and other fishing enthusiasts will be giving presentations, providing a great opportunity to learn from the experts!! The host of the rendezvous is donating all of the proceeds from the event to Colorado Trout Unlimited.

Come hangout and enjoy the fun!! Visit the event page on Facebook by clicking here.