CTU Seeking Communications & Membership Coordinator

Colorado TU is seeking an energetic, reliable self-starter with strong communications and social skills to  facilitate and improve our internal and external communications and to help manage our membership programs. This full-time position includes lead responsibility for managing our digital communications programs (e-mail, website, social media), as well as managing our integrated membership database and working with other CTU staff and volunteers to develop and implement programs to improve membership recruitment and retention. The position will be based out of the state office in Denver. The position work plan includes:

Website management.  Manage www.coloradotu.org website, collect and post content from other TU staff and volunteers as well as generating original, timely content. Includes regular blog article posting, managing online “Action Center” for advocacy, and web calendar. Coordinate structural updates to the site with contracted programmers.

E-communications.  Coordinate and produce monthly e-mail newsletters “Currents” (to all supporters) and Chapter Leaders Email (to ~200 chapter leaders statewide). Prepare and send other  discrete emails to various parts of our mailing list such as event announcements, raffle ticket sales, and important “breaking news” messages. Prepare one or more articles for each quarterly edition of High Country Angler online magazine.

Social media.  Manage content for CTU’s social media presence, ensuring regular postings with Facebook and developing strategies for enhanced use of Twitter, Instagram, and possibly other platforms.

External communications.  Coordinate with National TU communications staff to deliver  CTU information to external audiences through press releases and placement of articles with local media outlets, development of content for distribution through partners (such as fly fishing retailers), and other new tactics for communicating TU messages to the broader public.

Membership services & database management.  Maintain CTU member/donor database in integrated SALSA platform. Handle basic correspondence such as electronic “new member welcome” package and hard-copy small donor thanks. Respond to general membership inquiries.

Liaison with National TU communications staff.  Coordinate CTU communications (both internal and external) with National Trout Unlimited staff in Colorado including the Southwest Region Communications Director. Help promote CTU and Chapter stories in national TU media outlets where appropriate.

Other duties. Participate in core CTU events such as the Annual River Stewardship Gala and the Rendezvous. Supervise unpaid communications intern when present (through program for students to obtain academic credit). Other miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Qualifications:  Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.  Previous experience or demonstrated ability in communications, media relations, and/or website management.  Dedicated commitment to conservation.  Ability to work weekend and evening hours when needed.  Solid computer and social media related skills, including database management and basic web design. Specific experience with SALSA database and Wordpress website platforms is helpful but not required.  Demonstrated creativity and initiative strongly desired. Background knowledge of water resource and fishery issues helpful, but not required.

Salary Range:  Salary in low to mid $30Ks plus excellent health benefits and potential for annual performance bonus.

To apply, please email cover letter and resume by October 6 to:  David Nickum, Executive Director, Colorado Trout Unlimited, at dnickum@tu.org.   No phone calls please.

Preventing Aquatic Nuisance Species

Aquatic nuisance species (ANS) pose a significant threat to Colorado’s waterways.  These species can cause considerable damage to water infrastructure, lakes, rivers, and wildlife. As anglers, it is important for us to recognize that the “Clean, Drain, and Dry” slogan doesn’t just apply to speedboats and Skidoos. We spend considerable time in and near bodies of water in this state, and that means we need to be very careful how we clean and dry our own equipment.  Fortunately, every time we head to the river or sit in the blind, we don’t have to wait in line to get cleared by a CPW inspector, or carry around white tags that confirm our wading boots are clean.  But with this freedom comes great responsibility.

Just before a recent conservation project, CTU was asked by a volunteer, “what is the best method is to ‘decontaminate’ my waders?” Surprisingly, the answer to the question wasn't straight forward because there are various techniques that can sometimes work better than others based on various conditions. So we at CTU decided to provide the most recent information we could find on the ANS threats in Colorado, where they exist, and the best methods to prevent their spread.

Aquatic Nuisance Species Threats to Colorado

Whirling Disease (WD)

A parasitic condition that affects the soft cartilage of young fish – eventually leading to deformity and possible death.  The parasite will reproduce in two stages: first, it will infect a host (usually a common bottom-dwelling tubifex worm); and second, it will release spores from the infected host (through the water or if a fish eats the worm) that will cling to susceptible fish.

Where it’s found:

WD was discovered in Colorado in the 1980s and now exists in 20 states around the country.  It has been found in 13 of the 15 major river drainages in Colorado, including the: Colorado, Gunnison, South Platte, Arkansas, and Rio Grande, as well as a number of state hatcheries.

How it spreads:

WD typically spreads through infected hosts (usually fish) that are introduced into new water.

Hatcheries in Colorado are beginning to successfully eliminate it from their operations and have strict stocking policies in place to prevent the spread of WD.

The tubifex worms and spores can be carried on equipment and debris that is transported from one body of water to another.

Zebra and Quagga mussels

Native to Eastern Europe, these mussels have no natural predators in the United States and can reproduce rapidly.  Heavy infestations can clog water infrastructure and displace native aquatic wildlife.

Where it’s found:

After being discovered in the Great Lakes in 1988, major initiatives have been put in place to keep these ANS from infecting major lakes and reservoirs in the West.

There are currently no waters in Colorado with confirmed populations of Quagga or Zebra Mussels.  That being said, there have been some occurrences where larvae was discovered at: Pueblo Reservoir State Park, Granby Reservoir, Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir, Tarryall Reservoir and Jumbo Reservoir, Blue Mesa Reservoir, and (recently) Green Mountain Reservoir.

How it spreads:

These mussels are spread primarily by trailered watercraft, but can also be spread by boats, equipment, waders, boots, bait buckets, and live wells.

New Zealand Mud Snails

These snails are voracious eaters that can reproduce rapidly – negatively impacting insect larvae, native snails, and fish populations.

Where it’s found:

New Zealand Mudsnail was most recently discovered in Chatfield Reservoir in 2015.

2013 - Fountain Creek in Colorado Springs.

2012 - Spinney Mountain State Park (similar to the previous year's detection in neighboring Eleven Mile Reservoir State Park)

2011 - East Delaney Buttes State Wildlife Area and College Lake, CSU, Fort Collins.

2010 - South Delaney Buttes State Wildlife Area, and two sites within the City of Boulder along Dry Creek.

The invasive snail was first found in Colorado in 2004 in Boulder Creek, the South Platte River below Eleven Mile dam and the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument.

How it spreads:

This snail clings to waders, boots, boats, dogs, and any other gear that enters the water or can hold debris.  The Mudsnail can produce asexually, meaning that even one individual can start a whole infestation.

Other Invasive species prioritized by Colorado Parks and Wildlife are:

Waterflea and Eurasian Watermilfoil

Prevent the Spread!

Please do your part to help keep these harmful species out of Colorado’s waterways by keeping your gear clean and educating others.  Below are the best practices for preventing the spread of invasive species with input from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Orvis, and Simms.

General Principles to Prevent the Spread of ANS in Colorado:

INSPECT – be sure to visually inspect all of your equipment for mud and debris that can carry ANS.

CLEAN – be sure to scrub and remove all mud and debris from your equipment.

DRY – most ANS cannot survive extend periods of time out of the water, so make sure you dry all of your gear in-between trips.

Top Four Methods for Cleaning/Decontaminating Gear (ranked in order of effectiveness by CPW)

Hot Water Bath – after removing all debris from gear, place in hot water (140° F) for at least 10 minutes.

Chemicals and Detergents – submerge gear in a quaternary ammonia-based cleaner (6oz/gallon of water) for at least 20 minutes.

NOTE: Do NOT use bleach-based cleaners (i.e. 409) on your waders, as the chemicals will corrode the waterproof materials on your equipment.  Simms recommends using a mild powder detergent with as little added fragrances or fabric softeners as possible.

Freezing – most ANS cannot survive extremely cold temperatures, so freezing gear (in a bag) overnight can be effective.

Drying – All gear should be dried as much as possible before being used again, but from a decontamination standpoint, equipment will need to dry for at least 10 days (note: some snails can survive for longer periods of time out of water).

Photo Credits: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Additional Resources:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Brochure

Colorado Parks and Wildlife ANS

Clean Angler Information

Orvis Video on Proper Cleaning Techniques

Behind the Fin: Anna Drexler-Dreis

Join us "behind the fin" with TU volunteer Anna Dexler-Dreis from Grand County. How long have you been a TU member?

I've been a member for 4 years. I joined once I moved to Grand County and started learning about water issues on the western slope.

Why did you become a member and what chapter are you involved with?

I'm a member of the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter. My entire life has been shaped by water. I grew up running and hiking along the shores of Lake Michigan and Cape Cod. Every time I move or travel to a new place, I seek out the closest water body and get lost near it. Water is life. Once I moved to Grand County, I started becoming involved in the local land trust. Since the land trust works to protect vital water rights, I knew becoming a TU member would be a natural fit. Plus, the Chapter President, Kirk Klancke, is legend here in Grand County.

What made you want to become involved with TU?

There were a few reasons I wanted to become involved with TU. First, Learning by Doing was heating up in Grand County, and in the beginning there was a lot of confusion about why Grand County was collaborating with the east slope water diverters. I wanted to go straight to the source to better understand this new west-east slope partnership. Second, the land trust I work for was starting to get more active in using conservation easements to protect vital water rights. I knew becoming a TU board member would be an asset to the land trust. Plus, my love for water has been strong throughout my entire life. Post-undergrad, I wanted to remain involved in water conservation.

What is your favorite activity or project that you have done with TU?

This past spring, I organized the vegetation component of the Fraser Flats River Habitat Project. The goal was to re-vegetate a 0.9-mile stretch of the Fraser River with willows and cottonwoods. In partnership with private and public entities, Denver Water, Learning by Doing, TU, and other funders and supporters, the community successfully planted thousands of willow stems and 90 Kremmling cottonwoods on the banks of the Fraser River. My favorite part of this project was that 150 volunteers came out to help over three days. It was amazing to see such huge community support!

I know you won’t tell me your top spot, so what is your second favorite fishing spot or favorite fishing story?

I only started fly fishing 5 or 6 years ago. My true passion is backpacking, so I love fishing small streams and alpine lakes for cutthroat and brook trout. My favorite fishing story is probably the first time I caught a fish on a fly rod when I was backpacking in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. I got so excited when I hooked a tiny brook trout that I reeled the fish all the way up to the tip of the rod and pop! off it fell. Exhilarating!

What does being a part of TU mean to you?

It means being involved in a special community of people who share my passion to protect our rivers, streams, and lakes. It also means that I get to organize amazing projects like the Fraser Flats River Habitat Project. Not only do I love being on the local TU board, I love attending events TU puts on. We have great support for TU here in Grand County.

Beyond being an awesome angler, what else do you do in your spare time or for work?

Besides working at Colorado Headwaters Land Trust, I love to play outdoors. My favorite activities are backpacking and gardening. But, in the past few years I have started getting into rafting. I think my boyfriend only taught me how to row so he could fish all day while I moved us downriver. Some of my favorite rafting trips have been the Smith River in Montana and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.

Parks & Wildlife Commission Approves Poudre Protections for NISP Plan

On September 7, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved the Fish and Wildlife Mitigation and Enhancement Plans for the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) in the Cache la Poudre (Poudre) basin. Colorado TU and the local Rocky Mountain Flycasters Chapter supported the final plans, which had been revised to address several key concerns raised by TU earlier in the public comment process. The plans now move to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for final approval. It is important to note that in supporting these plans, neither the Commission nor TU have endorsed the NISP project itself.  Rather, the state mitigation review process is designed to identify “reasonable” mitigation measures, as well as possible enhancements, that can help protect fish and wildlife resources should the project be constructed.  Federal permitting – still faced by NISP – is where the fundamental need for the project must be demonstrated and alternatives considered that may be less damaging to the environment. The state mitigation plans do not “authorize” a project, but they do help provide a recommended “floor” of protective measures that should be implemented if a water project is authorized by federal permits.

The NISP project, proposed by Northern Water, consists of two off-channel reservoirs: Glade Reservoir, northwest of Fort Collins, and Galeton Reservoir northeast of Greeley. It uses in-basin water, including the Grey Mountain project water rights that were once proposed for a mainstem reservoir in the Poudre Canyon. Galeton Reservoir facilitates down-river water exchanges, while Glade is focused on capturing peak and shoulder season flows – meaning that key impacts of concern include the loss of periodic flushing flows and overbank flows that help sustain riparian communities.

Key provisions of the Mitigation & Enhancement Plans that will benefit fishery resources on the Poudre River include:

• Base flows. A “conveyance refinement” plan to improve base flow conditions on the Poudre through most of Ft Collins, by delivering storage releases from Glade Reservoir through the river (rather than through pipelines) for about 12 river miles, to the ultimate point of diversion for delivery to the end-use cities. Under this plan, 18 cfs (winter) and 25 cfs (summer) would be delivered through the river and shepherded through diversions that currently divert 100% of the river’s flow – creating dry up points on the river during winter.  The plan will use NISP deliveries to sustain base flows year-round and eliminate those dry up points.
• Fish passage. Retrofit of four cross-channel diversions on the Poudre that currently do not allow fish passage or sediment transport. The fish/sediment passage improvements will reconnect river habitat, as well as facilitating the base flow bypasses for the “conveyance refinement” plan.
• Habitat improvement.  Northern Water has committed to completing 2.4 miles of river channel and habitat improvements along the Poudre.  In addition, they will place another $5 million in escrow for use on other river improvement projects that are identified under a to-be-developed collaborative habitat improvement plan for the river. Another $1 million is allocated to support that planning and design process.
• Peak flows & ramping rates. CPW and Northern developed a decision-tree approach to peak flows under which different levels of peak flows will bypass the NISP diversion into Glade Reservoir depending on reservoir storage levels and snowpack conditions, as well as how recently the river has received a flushing flow.  The plan helps ensure that some flush is provided even in multi-year droughts, while including a bypass of the river’s full peak flow - however high it may be - for three days during wetter periods. Increasing releases to the peak flow, and decreasing them on the tail end of it, will be implemented with a gradual “ramping rate” to avoid harmful effects to fish (such as stranding of fish out of the baseflow channel if those areas are dried up by rapidly dropping flows).  TU had recommended changes to the original draft plans to incorporate ramping rates and to address flushing flows during multi-year dry periods; the final plan incorporated changes addressing both concerns.
• Adaptive management. Many elements of the plan (ramping rates, flushing flow program, habitat improvements) will be guided by a multi-stakeholder adaptive management process that will monitor conditions and help make adjustments where needed to ensure the effectiveness of the mitigation and enhancement measures. Similar to the “Learning by Doing” efforts in the Upper Colorado, this adaptive management program will ensure that efforts are informed by monitoring results and adjusted where needed. TU had recommended this program be maintained in perpetuity; the final plan calls for the program to continue for 20 years following full NISP operations (likely 25-30 years from original completion of the project) after which coordination would shift to a broader watershed coalition process that would incorporate partners and projects beyond just NISP.

“This is only the first step of several reviews that NISP must address and there are too many unanswered questions for us to yet support or oppose the project itself,” said CTU Executive Director David Nickum, “But we do support these plans and are pleased that they will assure a minimum base of protection for the Poudre’s fisheries should the project be constructed. We thank Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff for their diligence and Northern Water for their responsiveness to our and CPW’s recommendations.”

The low-flow measures are of particular importance for the Poudre’s trout fisheries from the canyon mouth through Fort Collins. “The conveyance flow program is significant to the fishery and aquatic life because it keeps water in the river on a year round basis,” said CPW biologist Ken Kehmeier.  Base flows of at least 20 cfs were recommended at Lincoln Street in Ft Collins under a River Health Assessment Framework developed for the Poudre. Under current baseline conditions (without NISP), that flow is met 52% of the time. With the proposed mitigation plan, that baseflow target will be met 97% of the time. “The conveyance flow will significantly benefit the aquatic life in the river during the low flow times of the year,” Kehmeier said.

The Rivers Need People Like You!

by Randy Scholfield With grim news of changing climate—scientists say the impacts are visible everywhere now—and an administration with its head resolutely in the sand, things can look pretty discouraging for people who care about rivers.

It’s easy to get discouraged and wonder, What can one person do? As it turns out, one committed person—and especially one person working with other committed people—can do a whole lot.

That’s the strength of Trout Unlimited.

Former Colorado Trout Unlimited President Rick Matsumoto told a story at this year’s Colorado TU Rendezvous that is hopeful and bears repeating. He had just received the Silver Trout Award, given each year to an individual whose conservation work for Colorado Rivers has made a significant and lasting impact.

Instead of focusing on his long record of achievements, Rick told this story about his first day volunteering with Trout Unlimited:

“That volunteer day, at Buffalo Peaks Ranch in 2008, was my very first volunteer experience with Colorado TU. Sinjin Eberle had enlisted my help to cook lunch. Honestly, I wasn’t a TU member or even a river conservationist at the time. I was simply helping a friend out.

“The last person I flipped a burger for happened to be the late Charlie Meyers, legendary outdoors columnist of the Denver Post. I shut down the grill and joined him for lunch. I tried to thank him for the media coverage of the event, but he cut me off and thanked me for helping to restore the river.

“We talked about a lot of things and I don’t recall the details anymore, but I do remember how it ended. He grabbed my arm to make sure he had my attention, looked me in the eye and said, ‘You know, the rivers need people like you.’

“He didn’t sound like Morgan Freeman, but I felt like Morgan Freeman had just given me my marching orders. Later that day, I told Sinjin I wanted to get more involved in Colorado TU and the rest is history.

“So I was a volunteer, but I didn’t really become an engaged volunteer until Charlie gave me the push I needed. We all know someone like this, someone who just needs a push to get involved. I want to encourage all of you to push that person – you might be creating a future Silver Trout Award winner.”

How can one engaged volunteer make a difference? I think of another person who inspires me: Kirk Klancke of CTU’s Colorado Headwaters chapter, who has worked for years to help heal the Fraser River, degraded by years of water diversions to the Front Range.

Through dogged persistence and passion for his home waters, Kirk has made a huge impact on the future health of the Fraser and Upper Colorado rivers.

This recent video shows how Kirk’s dedication has inspired scores of others (more than 150 people signed up for this spring’s willow planting) and promises a healthier and brighter future for the Fraser:

[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1_BYlskWyA[/embed]

As Charlie Meyers wisely said, the rivers need people like Rick and Kirk, and you and me.

Sticking bare willow stakes in the ground might not look like much, but over time, those collective actions will take root and change the future.

Randy Scholfield is TU’s director of communications for the Southwest.

TU, partners move forward on Fraser River restoration

In this 5 1/2 minute video, Kirk Klancke, Anna Drexler-Dreis and other leaders with the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter share the story of how collaboration among TU, Grand County, Denver Water, and other stakeholders is creating opportunities to restore healthier habitat for the Fraser River and its riparian corridor.

Unveiled at the Colorado Headwaters Chapter's annual banquet in July, the video was part of that evening's theme of recognizing how "conservation starts with conversation", recognizing key leaders including Denver Water board member Tom Gougeon and former Grand County Commissioner James Newberry for their leadership in opening the door for greater dialogue and cooperation among former adversaries in addressing  shared interests in the health of the Fraser River watershed.

To learn more about the work of the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter with the Fraser and Upper Colorado  Rivers, you can visit the chapter website here.

Trucha Grande: Rare Trout, Rare Beer

Our partners with the Rocky Mountain Flyathlon and Running Rivers have unveiled the first beer in their Rare Fish / Rare Beer Project - Trucha Grande - and it is now available in stores in Denver. The program features limited-run craft beers celebrating unique native trout species. They rolled out the new beer in collaboration with Three Barrel Brewing Co., Laws Whiskey House, and the Colorado Malting Company. Trucha Grande is a super rare beer that celebrates the incredible Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

Past Middle Creek flyathletes will be familiar with one of the base beers in this strong ale, the ever popular coconut-y Thurday Special. Three Barrel Brewing Co. blended it with something dark and mysterious, and then locked it away in Laws Whiskey House barrels for a good while. The result is a super smooth, sneaky boozy beer that raises awareness about and a little money for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Proceeds from this beer will run through Running Rivers to fund an on-the-ground project improving the world for the rare Trucha Grande.

Want to know where to find it? Trucha Grande will be offered at Biggie Liquors in Conifer, Total Beverage Westminster, Little's Fine Wines Beer & Spirits in Denver, Super Liquor Mart in Littleton, Tipsy's Liquor World in Littleton, Bottles and Bitters at Sloan's Lake in Edgewater, Applejack Wine & Spirits in Wheat Ridge, Bubbles Liquor World in Castle Rock, Peak Beverage in White Ridge, Light Rail Wine and Ale in Golden, and Mile High Wine Cellars in Arvada.

WARNING: Supplies are extremely limited, so get after it! Drink a rare beer to support a rare fish!

Backpacking for Greenbacks

By Dan Omasta(All photos courtesy of Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

It was turning out to be another beautiful July day in Colorado, as over 50 staff and volunteers from Trout Unlimited, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and various other government agencies and NGOs filed into the big dirt parking lot at the trailhead of Herman Gulch, just off I-70 west of Denver near Silver Plume.

Excitement was palpable, and everyone was ready to strap on their boots to help make a big difference for a small native trout—the greenback cutthroat.

The greenback, once believed to be extinct, is making a comeback in Colorado. Thanks to the efforts of state and federal agencies, NGOs and community volunteers, this threatened species is getting the boost it needs to return to its native range in the South Platte basin. In 2012, genetic scientists at the University of Colorado discovered a handful of the once-prolific trout in a small creek just outside of Colorado Springs. Since then, biologists from CPW, the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, with boots-on-ground assistance from Trout Unlimited, have been collaborating to rebuild critical population strongholds along the Front Range.

Repopulating Herman Gulch with greenbacks is a big step in that effort.

As the hatchery trucks arrived with their big tanks full of eager (and presumably confused) fish, we all gathered behind the tailgate of a CPW truck and received instructions for transporting and releasing our native cargo. Then we separated into five groups that corresponded to certain distances along the trail: group five, for instance, would be hiking the full 3.5 miles above treeline, while group one would begin releasing fish in a particular stretch only a mile into the trek.

Everyone was excited as we lined up to get outfitted with our fish packs. Each TU volunteer and agency staff person would be carrying 15-20 yearlings (4-7 inches long) up the steep rocky trail into the remote, high-alpine headwaters.

The first mile of the hike was brutal--steep switchbacks made up the bulk of the first two hours of climbing. The whole experience felt like a Tough Mudderrace combined with community conservation. The fish only had a few hours of oxygen in the bags, so volunteers slated to reach the highest stretches of stream moved quickly up the rocky, wooded path. Teams of fish packers often leap-frogged one another and received words of encouragement on the steady climb upward: “Almost there,” “It’s just around the corner,” “Sure, that’s what you said an hour ago!”

The hike was full of sweat, laughter and camaraderie as the group worked together to help establish this new population of native fish.

We had received instructions about where to release the fish along the small stream. Once our group reached our ¾ mile reach, we started looking for good habitat to release the fry. Volunteers split off from the group as they followed the sound of riffles and changes in gradient that suggested that on the other side of those willows would be a perfect eddy for these hungry, native trout.

At one bend, I unshouldered the pack and gently opened it along the bank. I set the bag of eager yearlings into the water to help them acclimate to the cold water—a process similar to bringing home that goldfish from the pet shop. About 15 minutes later, the fish were ready. As I poured the precious contents into the stream, the small greenbacks—maybe a dozen of them— swam eagerly out of the bag and into their new home in the clear, deep eddy by the undercut bank.

At first, they clumped together, seemingly unsure about where to go or hide in the cold, clear water. Then, a few of them finned into the current and began rising to the small mayfly hatch coming off the surface. These fish were raised in captivity, but generations of native instinct seemed to kick in almost immediately.

Repopulating a high alpine stream with fish that have never had to survive in such a harsh landscape continues to pose challenges. While these trout have done well in areas such as Zimmerman Lake, they must learn quickly the survival traits necessary to overcome runoff, ice flows and changing food patterns if they are going to stand a chance here. If this introduction is successful and the fish overwinter, Herman Gulch will become one of the first major streams to hold a significant population of pure greenback cutthroats.

This was a major undertaking and could not have been done without the dedication and resources of CPW biologists and hatchery technicians, federal agencies, NGOs and community volunteers. At the end of the day, our group helped to release 960 native greenbacks into Herman Gulch.

For me, the project also provided a shining example of teamwork and collaboration to counter the ongoing bitter partisanship and gridlock that has plagued our nation for years now. There we all were at 10,000 feet—families, retired nurses, young professionals, hunters, anglers, Democrats, Republicans, veterans and CEOs—all strapping on our hiking boots and working together to restore the greenback.

It was a good reminder of what can be accomplished when we work together.

For more information on greenback cutthroat trout recovery efforts, visit www.Coloradotu.org, or contact Dan Omasta, Colorado Trout Unlimited grassroots coordinator, at domasta@tu.org.

National Poll Shows Hunters & Anglers Support Conservation

Our partners at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership recently released results from a nationwide survey of hunters and anglers on key conservation issues. The results show that sportsmen and women care deeply about habitat quality and public lands, and on a bipartisan basis - a perspective that hopefully will inform the Trump Administration and decision-makers in Congress as they take up issues affecting water quality, public lands, and conservation funding. A few of the key findings in the survey include:

• Four in five sportsmen support Clean Water Act protection for small headwater streams and wetlands - at a time when EPA is looking at whether to keep such waterways under the Act's protection
• 77% of Republican sportsmen and 80% of Democratic sportsmen support keeping the number and size of National Monuments that have protected lands for hunting and fishing - making sportsmen a key voice as the Interior Department reviews those monument designation
• 80% of Republican sportsmen and 77% of Democractic sportsmen want to see fees from offshore drilling used for conservation and access to public lands

You can click below to visit TRCP's interactive page with details from the survey, including downloadable PDF summaries on different survey topics.

http://www.trcp.org/trcp-national-sportsmens-survey/

Revegetation at Lower Creek Site

By Lauren Duncan On June 14^th, Trout Unlimited’s Abandoned Mine Lands team joined up with Colorado Trout Unlimited volunteers and US Forest Service staff and volunteers for a successful revegetation workday at the Lower Creek project site.

The Lower Creek site is located approximately 9 miles northwest of Boulder within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland in Boulder County, Colorado. Lower Creek (formerly known as Carnage Creek), is a tributary to Left Hand Creek in Boulder County and drains into the South Platte River is the prior to the 2013 floods, the area was used as an unregulated, undesignated shooting area for several decades. The accumulation of lead and target debris within the site became apparent during the flood event of 2013. In 2015, Trout Unlimited, the US Forest Service and RMC Consultants remediated the site to reduce concentrations of lead in soil, surface water, and streambed sediment.

The project team had the opportunity this year to revisit the site to complete follow up sampling to ensure the success of 2015 construction and to revegetate the site in areas where vegetation was struggling. This year’s efforts were extremely successful! Lefthand Watershed Oversight Group has conducted water quality sampling at the site, and their efforts have revealed greatly reduced lead levels across the site.

The revegetation work day included upwards of 20 staff and volunteers and, in several hours, we incorporated 600 pounds of fertilizer, 1,350 pounds of Biochar and 4,200 pounds of compost across the site. This was a tough day of work, but because of the efforts of everyone involved in the day, it was a great success.

Throughout this summer and early fall, Trout Unlimited and the Lefthand Watershed Oversight Group will continue to monitor revegetation success and perform water quality sampling under different flow conditions. We look forward to the future success of this site and are thankful to all our volunteers, project partners and for our continued programmatic support from Newmont Mining and Freeport-McMoRan.

Lauren Duncan is a projects manager for Trout Unlimited's Abandoned Mine Lands program in Colorado.