Dateline Durango: Animas after the spill

On August 5^th, 2015, the Gold King mine near Silverton unleashed 3 million gallons of mine wastewater into the upper Animas River. Within hours, the plume had traveled downstream to Durango – right in the middle of a busy summer in a tourism-based town. The striking pictures of the orange plume spread across the globe in minutes. The media coverage was massive and the world took note. Lost among the “Orange River” pictures, the apocalyptic commentary with words like disaster, catastrophic, etc., and the hyperbolic ventilating about the impact to the fishery has been the good news: the Animas River has weathered the spill and the fishery through the Town of Durango is doing well.

If you didn’t know to look for very faint traces of iron residue, you wouldn’t even know we had this insulting event in early August. The Animas is back to its usual state of water quality. As to the fishery, there has been no fish mortality documented from the spill, while bug sampling by an aquatic biologist with Mountain Studies Institute indicates a still thriving population of mayfly nymphs and caddis pupa. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) had installed pens of fingerling trout in the Animas before the plume arrived – a canary in a coal mine, if you will. None of those fish died either. In the past few weeks we have seen Baetis, midges and Tricos coming off. CPW ran an electro-shocking episode after the “Spill” with the usual re-capture protocol and got essentially the same results as the year before. Actually, the survey showed a slight improvement.

While long-term effects of the spill are yet unknown, anglers, local fly shops and outfitters are breathing a sigh of relief that one of America’s great trout rivers has survived this ugly onslaught.

This is not to diminish our concern for the Animas River and the fishery in the canyon below Silverton. This reach has been substantially impacted by three draining mines at the headwaters of Cement Creek, which flows into the Animas at Silverton. This, plus the recent “Spill”, highlights the very need for Good Samaritan Legislation for which TU is strongly advocating – so that abandoned mine cleanup projects can proceed here and elsewhere.

The bottom line is Durango is still a great place to visit and to be your base for fly-fishing outings.

- Buck Skillen, President, Five Rivers Chapter TU

The latest fishing report/forecast from Duranglers:

Except for some rain events the Animas has been fishing very well with solid Trico and midge hatches. Streamers have been effective as well. The Dolores River below McPhee Reservoir has suffered due to low flows the last few years but, with this past good water year, has been fishing much better. With forecasts for a good snowpack we are optimistic for the rebound to continue. Our high mountain streams will continue to fish for a bit but winter will come soon to the high country. The Piedra River and its tributaries are great options in the fall. The San Juan River below Navajo Dam has been fishing great this year. From now until at least Thanksgiving expect great midge and BWO hatches with some good dry fly fishing on the right day. And of course the San Juan is one of the best winter trout fisheries anywhere.

2015 Colorado TU Fall Raffle

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A GLENWOOD SPRINGS FISHING GETAWAY - AND HELP COLORADO'S RIVERS!When you purchase a ticket in Colorado Trout Unlimted's statewide raffle, you'll have the chance to win a trip for a lodging, dinner and soak package in the beautiful Glenwood Springs area, while providing funds to support river conservation across the state.

One winner will receive a package featuring a full day float trip for two on the "lower upper" Colorado River with Confluence Casting, plus one night's lodging in a Classic Victorian room at the historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs, and a $25 gift card for an evening soak at the Glenwood Hot Springs.  Total package value is $709.

Raffle tickets are $5 each, or $20 for five.  The drawing will take place at 1 pm on November 5 at the Denver Athletic Club (14th & Glenarm, Denver) - at the Denver Angling Society luncheon.  You need not be present to win.

https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/7023/t/12607/shop/shop.jsp?storefront_KEY=643

Tom Jones Honored at National Meeting

Colorado Trout Unlimited Southwest Regional VP, Tom Jones, was honored at the National TU annual meeting as the recipient of the Griffith Award for distinguished service in leadership. Jones is out of Durango and volunteers with the 5 Rivers chapter of Colorado TU where he works to raise awareness and protect amazing wild and native trout habitat in places like the Alpine Triangle.

"Serving as Chair of the New Initiatives work group for five years gave me the opportunity to see the extraordinary level of talent and passion that exists in TU, both staff and volunteers," said Jones. "To be selected for the Griffith Award by this exceptional organization is an honor that I will always cherish."

Jones also helped lead the effort in protecting the Hermosa Creek Wilderness. In December, Congress passed the The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act, along with a handful of other public land bills, was attached as riders to the National Defense Authorization Act that protected Hermosa Creek wilderness area.

Behind the Fin: Shelley Walchak

• Name: Shelley Walchak
• Author of book: 52 Rivers: A Woman's Fly-fishing Journey
• Life time member of TU since 2013
• Works as a Library Director for Pine River Library in Bayfield
• Best Quote from Shelley: “As we all know, it's about so much more than just the fishing.”

Unfortunately work and play don’t always mix like we’d want. But in a few instances, the barrier between the two is broken. For some it’s just a little leak. But for others, like Shelley Walchak, the barrier gets shattered.

In 2013, the life-long librarian took her camera, her fly rod and her computer and set off to fish 52 different rivers spread throughout seven Rocky Mountain States. Her dream was to document the trip and publish a book on her journey.

The following year, her dream became a reality when 52 Rivers: A Woman’s Fly-fishing Journey was published. 52 Rivers went on to win the Gold Medal in the Regional Non Fiction category at the 2015 IPPYs (Independent Publisher Book Awards).

Shelley always had a passion for books, “reading them, reviewing them, referring them, discussing them and organizing them. What I hadn't done was publish one, and now my world of books has come full circle."

At the age of 10, during a visit to a dude ranch in Creede, Co, Shelley discovered that she wanted to spend her life in Colorado. But she had no idea where it would take her. “I still have the journal I kept when I was ten years old and made my first trip to Colorado. I knew at that age that Colorado was where I wanted to spend my life. I didn't know at that time I would write a book.”

“I loved the writing- the challenge of finding the right way to express the full experience- the people, places, fish, foibles, successes. I loved reliving the previous year's experiences to better implant them in my brain.”

While on the road researching her book, Shelley made another decision- to become a life-time member of TU. “I became a TU member because I wanted to be involved with the premier organization for oversight of our rivers and fisheries.”

Since becoming a member, Shelley has been involved with the 5 Rivers Club Chapter in Durango and enjoys the fundraising events the most, “I love going to fundraisers because it's a win-win for all. This year I won the bid for a Tenkara rod and a float trip with Thom Chacon from Duranglers. Lucky me!”

After fishing over 52 rivers, Shelley has seen most of what the great American West has to offer and for her, the favorite place to fish is the Rio Grande, “You can't do any better than the oxbows on the Rio Grande. The fish are plentiful, the scenery is stupendous, and there's nary a soul around.”

“As we all know, it's about so much more than just the fishing.”

But the fishing part is still fun. Especially for Shelley when a fish hits her dry fly. “Because I like simplicity and love a thrill, fishing with a dry is what I love the best. If I am lucky enough to hit a salmon fly hatch, or the yellow sallies are hailing, or the PMDs are hanging out - give me a dry any day.”

When she’s not fishing, Shelley lives in Durango, Co and is currently working as a library director for Pine River Library in Bayfield which won the 2014 award for the "Best Small Library in America".

For more information on Shelley’s book and how to get your own personal copy, visit 52Rivers.com.

Bash 4 Boulder Creek supports stream restoration project

Mid-June, while many local streams were in full run-off, over 200 fishing and conservation enthusiasts gathered at the Rep Your Water headquarters to celebrate RepYourWater’s four-year anniversary and kick off the Boulder Flycaster’s latest project: The Flatirons Park Stream Restoration Project. The Bash 4 Boulder Creek was a blast - if you weren't there, you missed a great party for a great cause! The party was held at Rep Your Water’s hangar on the edge of the Erie Municipal Airport tarmac. The hangar had outstanding views of the June thunder storms forming over the Front Range. There was plenty of beer provided by Avery Brewing, great food from The Post and Old Wisconsin, an outstanding raffle, and party guests of all ages to make it a really fun event! Even more fun, especially for the kids, was the unexpected landing of a helicopter while local country band “Dusty Catfish” kept on playing.

RepYourWater is a Boulder County based outdoor apparel company. Started four-years ago by husband and wife team Corinne and Garrison Doctor the company has incorporated conservation in their business since day one. Corinne states that “Businesses, no matter how small, need to take a stand a provide support for the protection of the natural world around us.” The company donates at least 1% of sales to Colorado Trout Unlimited, TU Chapters, and other conservation groups throughout North America. Additionally, RepYourWater regularly releases designs supporting specific conservation projects and/or issues. For the Bash 4 Boulder Creek, RepYourWater designed a limited edition hat, donated by Boulder’s Anthem Branding. The sharp looking hat features the Flatirons and a Boulder Creek brown trout. 100% of proceeds from the hat sales and the event went to support the Flatirons Park Project.

The Flatirons Park Stream Restoration Project seeks to rehabilitate and improve trout habitat on Middle Boulder Creek from Foothills Parkway to the BNSF railroad bridge. While the Boulder Flycasters were applying for funding to improve this reach, RepYourWater by coincidence had just adopted the same area of Boulder Creek. From day one, RepYourWater has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Flatirons Park Stream Restoration Project. "Corinne and I are both Boulder natives, so Boulder Creek has been and remains an integral part of our fly fishing landscape. It is an undervalued fishery and I am so excited to help the water that I grew up fishing" says Garrison.  This reach of stream is currently overwidth, filled with sediment from the 2013 flood, and lacks good winter habitat. The Boulder Flycaster’s recently received a Fishing is Fun Grant to begin work on this often overlooked section of stream and has been seeking matching funds to get equipment in the creek and begin work. The Flycaster’s look forward to greatly improving the fishery’s quantity, quality, and over wintering capability.

For more info on Rep Your Water, and to see their great looking apparel check out repyourwater.com. For more information on the Flatirons Park Stream Restoration Project and to learn how you can support Boulder Flycaster’s efforts to improve this stretch of stream visit boulderflycasters.org. Hopefully we’ll see you at Bash 4 Boulder Creek version 2.0 next summer!

Hidden Mile of the Conejos

The San Luis Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SLVTU) has been working on a Fishing is Fun project on the Hidden Mile along the Conejos River in cooperation with the US Forest Service (USFS), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Conejos River Anglers Fly Shop and FlyWaters Inc.

It has taken several years for project leader, David Kenvin and other volunteers to get grants, permits and environmental statements. But this summer the actual work commenced.  The project consists of stream and riparian improvement of 3/4 of a mile of the Conejos River on Rio Grande National Forest property. The fish habitat has been degraded from years of trespass grazing. The project includes placement of 300 rocks and twenty wood structures, the improvement of pool and riffle ratios by channel dredge and fill, construction of a parking lot, fencing the entire property to exclude livestock and planting willows to stabilize stream banks.

The total project cost is $96,000 with SLVTU providing $20,000 in cash and volunteer labor worth over $7,800. Conejos River Anglers will provide $500 for signing.  The USFS is providing fencing material and more than 200 hours of labor.  A $67,000 grant from CPW’s Fishing is Fun Program completes the project’s funding. CPW and FlyWaters Inc. will be coordinating the stream improvement portion of the project which is timed for the last two weeks of September 2015.

SLVTU is a small chapter of just over a hundred members.  Money needed for the cash contribution was raised through our annual auctions and donations from the Conejos River Anglers Super Fly contest.  This spring and summer, several volunteers have given more than 425 hours of work building 4-strand barbed wire fence surrounding the riparian zone and floating PVC river-crossing fence at the lower and upper ends of the Hidden Mile.  In the spring of 2016 we anticipate another 90 hours of volunteer work in planting willows along the stream to complete the project.

George is a Sleeper

Moose stands in the wallows and wet of George Creek

Not too long ago I was able to scout some new greenback territory with two colleagues. Upon arrival at George Creek we promptly stretched and yawned then headed to see the stream. It appeared to be a disappointing trickle surrounded by cattle, moose and dense vegetation. We stood, looking at the stream, wondering, who chose this creek and why.

The following Tuesday, in a meeting with Boyd Wright, a Native Aquatic Species Biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife we got our answer. Boyd was able to shine new light on George by explaining the details of the stream. George Creek sits at 9000 feet and has an easy gradient over about six land miles to it's confluence with Cornelius creek- most streams being looked at for greenback restoration are at 10000 ft or higher. Because of the easy gradient and elevation George Creek holds a consistent temperature above its high mountain counter parts. The temperature and elevation duo make George a well above average home for greenbacks.

With temperature and elevation taken care of, the next and most important question to ask is, did greenbacks originally inhabit this area of our state? Yes. The primary aspect of George is its location, after its confluence with Cornelius Creek it flows into the Cache La Poudre, from there its waters eventually wind their way to the South Platte, placing it squarely in the greenbacks native range. So although George may look like a challenging reintroduction site it offers up a robust ecosystem with many benefits. With our doubts eased we left the meeting satisfied with George Creek.

The road to George is a rocky one, literally. Windy, narrow, heavily forested, four wheel drive roads ensure your average sedan driving suburbanite is unable to access the miles of the moose ridden trout stream that is George Creek. With trucks and volunteers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife plan to build many fish barriers in George Creek to prevent nonnative fish from reentering the stream and to prevent the spread of whirling disease to the upper reaches of the creek. Without these barriers, nonnative brook trout would compete with the native cutthroat. Likewise, if whirling disease were to spread up stream it would wipe out the entire population of stocked greenbacks.

The barriers will do an adequate job of keeping the disease from moving up stream via fish, but it can also be spread by humans on dirty gear. It is important to take the proper precautions before recreating in the stream; be sure all of your gear is clean and dry and you walk from the headwaters of the stream down. To find information on cleaning gear see the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Angler Cleaning Card.

George Creek may not be seen as a divine ecosystem for greenbacks but given the current portfolio of streams for greenback restoration, it does provide the necessary diversity in habitat. Recruitment in the stream may be minimal per mile but with many miles of stream and a higher temperature range, along with lush riparian habitat to provide vibrant insect life, the stream makes it a livable home for the greenbacks.

Not to mention a nest egg for research biologists to study for years to come.

Tell Congress: Support Public Lands and Recreation

If Congress doesn't act this month, one of our nation's most successful public lands and recreation programs will come to an end. From the Great Sand Dunes, to access on the Colorado River, to community parks and trails in our own backyards, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has set aside and protected special places in Colorado and nationwide for the past 50 years.

A new Colorado TU report highlights the diverse benefits LWCF has provided to our state, from expanding hunting and angling access, to securing iconic landscapes like the Great Sand Dunes, to conserving private lands through conservation easements and partnerships.  You can read the report here.

Yet this successful program is set to expire on September 30 if Congress doesn't act to extend it.  Please ask your Senators and Representative - today - to support permanent reauthorization of LWCF and keep its benefits flowing to our public lands and our multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation economy.

Click here to visit our online action alert where you can share your comments with your elected officials.  Thank you!

TU Report: LWCF Benefits Colorado's Great Outdoors

In 1964, Congress created the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to protect natural areas, water resources, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. In its 50 year history, the LWCF has protected land in every state and helped support over 41,000 state and local parks.  It has invested in public lands like Rocky Mountain National Park as well as supporting local community recreation resources and parks, cultural heritage sites, and working landscapes.Yet the authorization for this successful program expires on September 30, 2015 - and Congress has not yet acted to extend it. On July 30, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to send a bipartisan energy bill to the full Senate, but it still awaits that Senate vote.  (Click here to contact your representatives today and urge them to support the LWCF.) 

In Colorado, 77 percent of people are in support of the LWCF, the highest of any state.

Colorado has received $239 million in funds that have helped protect many state treasures like the Great Sand Dunes, Ophir Valley and Mesa Verde National Park- where $8.8 million in funds assisted in adding over 10,000 acres to the park since the year 2000. In return, outdoor recreation generates roughly $34.5 billion annually for the state.

To provide funds for recreation, LWCF uses revenues that stem from offshore oil and gas companies. Over $900 million is paid in royalties every year by these energy companies. However, in 50 years the LWCF has only been fully funded once, with Congress typically diverting some of the funds to other purposes.

While the LWCF has been an undisputed success in protecting public lands and promoting outdoor recreation, the program remains little known to many in the general public.  To help tell some of the LWCF's Colorado success stories, Colorado TU has issued a report: Colorado's Great Outdoors - The Land and Water Conservation Fund in Colorado (click to open the report as a PDF file).  Some examples of LWCF benefits to Colorado highlighted in the report include:

Fishing access & flood recovery.  In 1976 when the Big Thompson River was 19 feet above its normal level, lives, homes and businesses were all lost. In the aftermath of the flood, the county went to the LWCF for just over $1 million in funds that the state would then match. With the new funds the County acquired 80 key properties along the Big Thompson for parks and angling access - properties that were not redeveloped and, when the river flooded again in 2013, helped avert an estimated $16 million in property damages.

The Town of Lyons was in a similar circumstance when the floods of 2013 hit. On September 12, the St Vrain Creek was flowing at 19,500 cubic feet per second- normally averaging at 67 CFS in September. The devastating floods caused damages of roughly $50 million and wiped out 39 acres of major park facilities- the main source of revenue for the town. Funding from the LWCF will help rebuild and extend the St Vrain Corridor Trail that provides recreational access along the St Vrain Creek.

Protecting iconic landscapes.  President Herbert Hoover designated the Great Sand Dunes a national monument in 1932, but it would take nearly 70 years for the land to be recognized as a national park following the acquisition of the Baca Ranch. The designation was a direct result of grassroots efforts by residents of the San Luis Valley who recognized the unique landscape and the need to preserve it. The Great Sand Dunes, Baca National Wildlife Refuge, and the adjacent public lands all have benefited from LWCF funds in the past including with the critical initial acquisition of the Baca Ranch for the creation of the national park and preserve. Furthermore, Great Sand Dunes, Baca NWR, and the surrounding public lands have inholdings throughout the area, making management sometimes difficult because of the noncontiguous land pattern. LWCF funds have been used in the past to acquire some of these inholdings, easing management headaches and preserving this unique landscape.

According to surveys, 81 percent of voters approve of new land protection funding. In Colorado, Senators Michael Bennett and Cory Gardner are in full support of reauthorizing the LWCF to protect natural landscapes across the country for years to come. Members of Colorado’s House delegation are split on the issue.

Please visit the Action Center and urge your elected officials to reauthorize the LWCF!

A Trip To Zimmerman

Summer is ending, as we get ever closer to fall and winter our minds start to turn away from fishing toward the ski slopes. As summer is not quite over yet I think a couple more trips could be in order. Zimmerman Lake is a high mountain body of water nestled in a mountain bowl. It is surrounded by acres of National Forest, rimmed by scree fields that transition into craggy peaks that seem to kiss the clouds. The beauty of the place is not its most redeeming character though. Zimmerman is home to the only population of stocked greenback cutthroat trout in the nation. These fish represent the first step in greenback restoration across the state.

The greenbacks in Zimmerman are part of ground breaking genetic science that has never been seen before in the trout world. Right now the fish in Zimmerman are being weeded out by nature, any deformities, abnormalities or sickened fish will eventually die. This leaves only the fittest fish, these will be retaken and their genes will be analyzed to ensure breeding in captivity is as effective as possible. The genetic work surrounding the greenbacks is groundbreaking, by selectively breeding the fish biologists are attempting to steer greenbacks away from a genetic bottleneck.

There is one inflow stream coming into Zimmerman, it is not large but it does offer adequate habitat for spawning trout. In the spring greenbacks make their way up the stream to spawn, they return to the lake after eggs have been fertilized and fatten up the rest of the summer. Depending on the snow pack emerging fry swim down into the lake from mid October to November. By this time the summer has come to a close and food has become scarce, adult greenbacks in Zimmerman are eager for a free meal. When the fry enter the lake most, if not all, are eaten. The tiny inflow stream that brought the fry life delivers them as dinner to a waiting crowd of hungry mature greenbacks.

Fishing for these mature greenbacks is legal and easy. Zimmerman Lake is about a two and one half hour drive from Denver followed by a one mile hike from the parking lot. When at the lake pick up trash, fish with crimped barbs and respect other lake goers. Some effective flies are small streamers, small dark nymphs fished with an indicator, and the occasional hopper. It is important to fill out a catch card on the way out as these give Colorado Parks and Wildlife information on the usage of the area. Enjoy the fishing and the fish at Zimmerman because both are one of a kind.

Be sure to follow the greenbacks journey by visiting CTU's Greenback Recovery Efforts page here or at http://coloradotu.org/greenback-recovery-efforts/