Headwaters Matter! New rules protect water quality

Yesterday (May 27) the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers issued new Clean Water rules that restore long-standing protections to headwater streams and adjacent wetlands under the Clean Water Act.  From TU's Colorado press release:  

Colorado anglers stand behind new clean water rule

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Anglers in Colorado support a new rule announced today that restores protections for America’s headwater streams under the Clean Water Act.

“The waters this rule protects are the sources of our nation’s coldest, cleanest water,” said Trout Unlimited President and CEO Chris Wood. “Not only do they provide the needed spawning and rearing habitat for our trout and salmon, they are the sources of our iconic rivers and streams—they provide the water we all use downstream. The EPA and the Corps were right to craft this thoughtful rule in a way that protects our headwaters and our fish, but also protects the downstream uses of our nation’s water.”

Wood said the rule doesn’t require any new actions on the part of existing water users, but it does require anyone wishing to pursue a new development that impacts small streams to get a permit to do so.

The rule restores protections to America’s headwater streams that were removed after two politically charged Supreme Court decisions in the 2000s. The court ruled that there must be a proven nexus between these small, sometimes-intermittent waters and the larger rivers they feed in order for the former to receive Clean Water Act protections. Armed with the science that proves such a connection, the EPA and the Corps crafted this rule that simply protects the clean water sources of America’s rivers.

“Colorado is a headwaters state, and we understand the importance of protecting the sources of our great western rivers,” said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “The new rule restores long-standing protections to these small streams and wetlands, which ensure healthy waters downstream and support our state’s $9 billion outdoor recreation economy. Anglers understand that healthy rivers depend on healthy tributaries—this rule simply acknowledges that reality.”

“TU members in Colorado are grateful to the Corps, the EPA and the Obama administration for developing the new rule, and we are thankful to many members of Congress who have defended it from attack,” said Drew Peternell, director of TU’s Colorado Water Project. “The rule is the product of many months of consultation and input from Americans and Congress. The agencies listened to the concerns of diverse interests and found an approach that will ensure clean water for our communities, industry, farms and ranches, and environment.”

“This is a rule for everyone,” Wood continued. “The most important thing this rule does is restore Clean Water Act protections to headwater streams, and that means the world to anglers who understand the importance of these waters to their success in the field. But these waters are important to everyone, not just anglers. If you turn on a tap, this rule helps make sure the water that comes out is clean and fresh.”

Wake-up call for Colorado River users

As the California drought continues, Colorado River water users are reminded of the importance of working together to effectively address water needs in the basin.  There are a variety of interests competing for water rights, however it is only through a collaborative effort that we will see success in meeting the diverse water needs.  As Eric Kuhn, general manager of the Colorado River Water Conservation District points out, “collaboration is needed today to keep us ahead of our significant water challenges, before they spiral into a crisis that pits one water use sector against another.” Trout Unlimited is committed to continue to work with and engage agriculture, municipal and industrial stakeholders in finding innovative and effective solutions in meeting future water needs.  Colorado TU’s Randy Scholfield recently wrote an op-ed piece highlighting the Upper Colorado River Basin and the current efforts going on there – you can read it here.

To get involved in this effort please email Stephanie Scott at sscott@tu.org

CTU Welcomes New Water Policy Intern!

Howdy y’all!  My name is Zach DeWolfe and I am currently wrapping up my senior year at Metropolitan State University of Denver studying Political Science and Water Studies.  I am originally from Austin, Texas, but have been in Colorado for the past four years.  Living here has allowed me to fully explore my passion for the outdoors, whether through fishing, climbing, hiking or mountain biking.  Through these experiences I have developed an appreciation for these places and a sense to protect and preserve them.  I am thrilled to join CTU this summer in addressing such key water policy issues as the ongoing development of the Colorado State Water Plan, and ensuring that our goals and values are well represented.  

West Denver TU Partnering with Orvis to Monitor Rivers

PRESS RELEASE from WEST DENVER TROUT UNLIMITED: Trout Unlimited (TU) and Orvis have had a productive collaborative and supportive relationship over the years as reflected, for example, by their work to remove harmful culverts, teach the Nation how to fly fish and, in general, to protect and enhance coldwater fisheries. Trout Unlimited has also benefited from Orvis’ grant program designed to help organizations improve local streams.

Colorado’s West Denver Chapter of TU has been in the forefront of the State’s River Watch program to work with voluntary stewards to monitor water quality and other indicators of watershed health. West Denver has focused its effort primarily on Clear Creek, a local Front-Range stream. However, the U.S. Forest Service has requested that West Denver do testing on U.S. Forest sites throughout the State to help the Agency evaluate the effectiveness of restoration efforts, track on-the-ground conditions that affect the success of trout, identify possible trout strongholds, and monitor water quality changes over time and geography.

However, in order to do this testing, West Denver needed additional testing equipment. Thus, West Denver applied for a stream-improvement grant from Orvis, and received $2,000 to buy needed equipment. This equipment will allow West Denver to obtain high-quality data to educate citizens and decision makers about the condition of Colorado’s waters.

Volunteer Opportunity in San Luis Valley!!

Hidden Mile Volunteer Information The project dates are May 16th to May 24, 2015. You are welcome to work any or all days of the project. Even if you can only come for part of a day it will be greatly appreciated.

The project will be at the Hidden Mile section of the Conejos River. The work will be building and repairing fence to protect the riparian area.

To reach the Hidden Mile go west from Antonito on highway 17

about 21 miles to the Platoro Road (rd 250). Turn right on the on Platoro Road and go about 4 miles until you see a sign and balloons at the work site.

Please wear work clothes, work gloves and sturdy boots. If you have fencing tools please bring them. For those who don’t have tools they will be provided on site. Some work may involve crossing the river so waders would be helpful if you have them.

Please bring lunch and water.

Work will begin at 9am due to the long travel time to the project.

Free camping will be available for all volunteers at Conejos campground located several miles above the Hidden Mile site. The site will have a vault bathroom but no electricity or water.

Volunteer time tracking sheets will be available at the site- please fill in hours and sign out at the end of each day you work and include travel time as part of your total hours.

To sign up for the project please email David Kenvin at slvdrifter@gmail.com or call 719-657-0724 or cell 970-214-4221.

You can also call Marty Jones at 719-589-4327 or cell 719-937-3634.

"State of CTU" Video

At the Colorado TU Rendezvous, prior to passing the gavel on to new President Marshall Pendergrass, Past President Rick Matsumoto shared a video highlighting the "State of Colorado Trout Unlimited" over the past year - it has been a great several months for trout and watersheds in Colorado.  Check it out!

Family Flyfishing Festival with Team USA

The World Youth Fly Fishing Championships are coming to Colorado this August (click here to learn more about the event and how you can take part)!  In conjunction, on August 15^th at the historic Camp Hale, hosted by Nova Guides Lodge, families will have the opportunity to interact and learn from the best young flyfishers from around the world including the three-time defending gold medal winners of Team USA. Whether you are the next aspiring Team USA member or a first time angler, the Family Fly Fishing Festival has something for you.

Just as the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships will bring together anglers from around the world, Colorado Trout Unlimited aims to bring our State together for the Family Fly Fishing Festival and Conservation Symposium. Youth of all ages and adults alike are invited to have some fun with the tournament’s competitors while learning some new skills along the way.

On the private ponds of Nova Guides, instruction - including from members of Team USA - will be offered for anglers of different abilities. Other outdoor activities from partners like Colorado Parks and Wildlife, River Watch, and the Eagle River Watershed Council will be available for the whole family: fly casting, fly tying, entomology and fish art and more. Lunch will be provided during the Conservation Symposium where guests can learn about the waters of Colorado and the groups who work to protect them - including learning about restoration efforts planned in the Camp Hale area with the National Forest Foundation.

When:  Saturday, August 15, 2015 What Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Activities:  Fly fishing demos and learning, fly fishing on lake, speakers Where:  Nova Guides at Camp Hale Directions:  directions or smart phone map link

Registration is $10 per person or $30 for a family of four.  Click here to sign up!

Five Rivers TU/Hermosa Win National FS Award

The Five Rivers Chapter and its partners have been selected for a US Forest Service Rise to the Future Award for their Hermosa Creek project efforts.  The award will be presented by Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell at a formal ceremony in Washington, DC in May. Chapter President Buck Skillen will be on hand to accept the award. The Chapter, based in Durango, will receive the US Forest Service's national “Rise to the Future Award for Collaborative/Integrated Aquatic Stewardship." According to the Forest Service, the Chapter, along with partners at Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the San Juan National Forest, and the Mountain Studies Institute, are being “recognized for their commitment to restore native Colorado River cutthroat trout to a portion of their historic range and share that with students.”

Work toward restoration of cutthroat trout has been taking place since the 1990s in the Hermosa Creek drainage – which was also recently protected as a first-of-its-kind federally designated Watershed Protection Area through legislation sponsored by Senator Bennet and Congressman Tipton. The Five Rivers Chapter has assisted with funding and volunteers for stream improvement and riparian planting projects, helping the agencies as more than 17 miles of Hermosa Creek have been secured for genetically pure cutthroat trout populations. The Mountain Studies Institute has also partnered in providing volunteer support and in using the projects as a working stream laboratory to hold field classes for students Fort Lewis College.

Hermosa  Creek is an amazing example of TU working at all levels as both advocates and as on-the-ground restorers.  The Rise to the Future award is the latest success story for Five Rivers and its long-term efforts on behalf of Hermosa Creek. And the chapter and its partners are certainly not sitting on their laurels - work continues toward connecting separate recovered habitats into a combined “metapopulation” above a downstream barrier point on Hermosa Creek.

Congratulations, Five Rivers TU - and keep up the great work!

Behind the Fin: Matt Moskal

• Name: Matt Moskal
• Colorado Native
• Class of CU Boulder 2010
• Works at Merrill Lynch on a wealth management team with his father
• Best Quote from Matt: "After seeing the spectacle of trout smashing giant Salmon Flies on the surface, she became addicted for life. It was fun to watch her curiosity grow to infatuation right before my eyes. She is now a TU member and one of the better anglers that I know. She even out fishes me, but only occasionally."

For some, they're born with a passion to fish. For others, the passion is born into them. For CTU member, Matt Moskal, the passion for fishing came to him when he was in college just a few years ago.

Moskal doesn't come from a large family of fishermen so getting into the sport wasn't necessarily a big priority for him; until he went off to school at University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. From there, his obsession for fly fishing was born.

Realizing the beauty within nature, Moskal decided he wanted to help preserve and protect the land and waters in which he loves to fish. With a strong emphasis from his mom, he learned as a child that it is important to give back in any way that he could. So three years ago, he joined TU to help preserve and protect "the spectacular natural playground that we have in our backyard."

As a member of CTU, Moskal has gone about his mission to give back through various volunteer efforts and projects. One of his favorite was a mine reclamation in Alma, Colorado. While working with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP), Moskal and other volunteers helped enhance the water quality by cleaning out the water toxins in the river by going right at the source.

"By resolving the toxic problem at its origin, our work truly had a measurable, positive impact on the health of the South Platte," said Moskal. "After the work was done I remember I had an excellent afternoon of dry fly fishing downstream from the project and felt very satisfied that those fish were in good hands."

Being relatively new to both the sport of fly fishing and Colorado Trout Unlimited, Moskal enjoys learning more about fishing, conservation and CTU as much as he can. In October of last year CTU put on a New Leaders Training in Grand Junction, Colorado, where members can learn more about their chapter and ways to improve it.

"The New Leaders Training in Grand Junction this October was another favorite event. The minds of TU’s leaders are remarkable. I was honored to meet other chapter board members and I left feeling more educated than ever about TU’s mission in Colorado."

Becoming a avid fly fisherman over the last few years, Moskal has since taught and helped educate others about the sport and CTU's mission. While backpacking through Black Canyon in the Gunnison Gorge, Moskal watched right before his eyes, his close friend become amazed and infatuated by the beauty of wild trout and fishing.

"After seeing the spectacle of trout smashing giant Salmon Flies on the surface, she became addicted for life," said Moskal. "It was fun to watch her curiosity grow to infatuation right before my eyes. She is now a TU member and one of the better anglers that I know. She even out fishes me, but only occasionally."

Along with protecting and restoring our natural rivers and streams in Colorado, Moskal also enjoys wading into the rivers to cast his line. Like many fisherman he won't reveal his secret spots but he enjoys the waters between Kremmling and Hot Sulphur Springs as well as 11 Mile canyon during the spring time runoff.

Although he claims that nymphing is "unquestionably" the best way to catch the biggest fish in the stream, he still prefers to fish with dry flies right on the surface, "To me, watching the fish rise and eat is the best part of the process. I just don’t get the same adrenaline rush from watching a bobber."

When he isn't fishing, Moskal is either skiing during the winter months or in downtown Denver where he lives and works with his father at Merrill Lynch on a wealth management team. To keep with his mother's teachings that he should help to give back in any way possible, Moskal enjoys working with families as clients to them financially. Being able to see his dad everyday is another big plus for Moskal.

The passion of fly fishing doesn't have to be born and bred. It can come in a split second on the water or in nature. The adrenaline rush of watching a trout rise to eat a fly tied to the end of your line is like nothing else. And Matt Moskal discovered that a few years ago while in college and has never looked back. Since then, he has been actively involved with Colorado Trout Unlimited through volunteer efforts, leadership trainings and even recruiting others.

2015 CTU Rendezvous Registration NOW OPEN!!

2015 Colorado Trout Unlimited Rendezvous:

April 17th - 19th 2015

This is the largest annual meeting held for every TU members, chapters and supporters. This 3-day weekend is packed with workshops, presentations on important conservation issues, the annual business meeting for the CTU Council where new officers will be elected, plenty of time for networking, sharing ideas and socializing, and a Saturday evening banquet featuring delicious food and presentation of CTU's annual awards. This weekend is great for all members (new and old), chapter leaders and anyone interested in what CTU is going to be up to for the next year.

The theme for Rendezvous 2015 is REDDStone, Hatching Colorado's Trout Future. The next few years will be pivotal for the future of Colorado's rivers and trout populations. As threats such as population rises, natural disasters, oil and gas development and uncertain political leadership become more of abundant, it is as important as ever to look at the health of our watersheds and develop a plan for protecting our valued resources. This year at Rendezvous our theme is centered around planning for our future. The presentations and workshops are designed to ask the hard questions, and learn how each of us can be a valuable player in the future of protecting Colorado's trout.

We have lined up speakers this year that will guide our conversations about planning for the future. We are very excited to announce that James Eklund, Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Eric Kuhn, with the Colorado River Conservation District will be presenting Colorado's Water Plan and answering our questions about how watershed health will be incorporated into the plan.  Doug Krieger with Colorado Parks and Wildlife will also be in attendance presenting their Master Plan for the next couple of years. In addition to outside agency updates there will be both National and Colorado TU staff, and Chapter Leaders presenting on what TU is doing in CO to plan for our future and protect our water ways and trout populations. Below is a link to the agenda which is currently in Draft form. We will be updating it as we confirm titles of presentations and other logistics.

COME JOIN US at the RENDEZVOUS 2015 to learn more river conservation!! Don't worry, there will be plenty of time for FUN and Fishing!

Click here for additional information and to register!!