Eisenhower Reach Dedication at Summer Meeting 7/14

Colorado TU's Summer Meeting will begin with dedication of the "Eisenhower Reach" of the Fraser River, at 9 am at Lions Park in Fraser. The Eisenhower Reach was established by a Colorado General Assembly legislative resolution earlier this year. After the dedication, the summer board meeting will re-convene at The Beavers Lodge in Winter Park (79303 Highway 40). The meeting is hosted by the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter.

Rooms are available at The Beavers for $60 per night; to make your reservation you can call: TF: 800.525.3561 x 0 / PH:  970.726.5741 x0

If you plan to attend the summer meeting, please RSVP to David Nickum to help us get an accurate head-count for lunch.

Steamboat's 11th Golf/Trout Tourney

The Yampa Valley Stream Improvement Charitable Trust in cooperation with the Yampa Valley Fly Fishers chapter of Trout Unlimited invite you to beautiful Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley to join in the 11th annual Golf/Trout Tournament, a fun, two-day fund raising event. COME JOIN US FOR A FUN WEEKEND IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO SEPT 7-9

Proceeds go toward the preservation and improvement of coldwater fisheries in the Yampa Valley and Northwest Colorado.

THE EVENT

It all begins with a Friday evening kick-off (location TBA) featuring refreshments and a buffet dinner. The evening also features a live auction for some very special water, after which teams will be paired with their guide to assess equipment needs and determine winning strategies.

Saturday consists of a fully guided fly fishing adventure on some of Steamboat Springs’ finest private trout water along with one or more public water options where teams of four and a guide will compete for top honors in the fishing category. After fishing, teams meet for a festive evening that includes food, fun, beverages and a silent auction at the Three Peaks Grill in Steamboat Springs.

Sunday the same groups of four and their guide will meet at the world-class Tom Weiskoph championship Catamount Ranch and Club course. There will be a shotgun start using the “best ball format” with all the traditional opportunities to make or lose money along the way – remember, this is for a good cause. Following the golf tournament, the final awards and prizes will be presented. (more schedule details below)

THE COST

Registration for the entire weekend is $700 per participant or $2800 for a team of four. Groups of four can register at a reduced rate of $2600 if paid in full by June 30TH. For registration information, please contact Jim Zuccone at 970 846-8677 or email jjzuccone@yahoo.com

SPONSORSHIPS

There are several sponsorship opportunities available. For more information, please call or email Bruce Carta at (970) 819-3633 or logovudu@gmail.com. Click here for a sponsorship form.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, September 7th  

Arrive early and fish the Yampa River Thursday evening or Friday morning to tune up. The three local sponsoring fly shops can help you with current fishing conditions and fly selections. The fly shops are: Bucking Rainbow Outfitters (970) 879-8747, Straightline Outdoor Sports, (970) 879-7568 and Steamboat FlyFisher, (970) 879-6552 and don’t forget to mention the tournament when calling.

Official check-in and registration is from 5-7 p.m. at a yet to be determined location. Refreshments and buffet dinner will be served. Members of the YVSICT and TU will be on hand along with the guides to assist participants with any questions and to welcome teams to this great event.

Saturday, September 8th.

Each team will meet their guide at 8:00 a.m. at a location mutually agreed upon. Fishing officially starts at 9:00 a.m. and runs until 5:00 p.m. The guides will be the official judge and scorekeeper. Scores will be turned in to the tournament directors by 6:30 p.m. After everyone is assembled at dinner at Three Peaks Grill, Steamboat Springs and liquid refreshments will be served. As in years past everyone will have a chance to purchase raffle tickets for a fabulous array of fine fishing, and golf equipment, outdoor gear, clothing; gift certificates for great dining, lodging and other fishing opportunities.

During dinner, the days winning teams for the fishing portion of the tournament will be announced.

Sunday, September 9th.

The day begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Catamount Ranch and Club where donuts and coffee will be served. During coffee teams will be able to hit some practice balls and to purchase “Mulligans” that may come in handy in the final scoring. At 9:30 AM we will tee off with a “shotgun” start using a best-ball format. On the course, opportunities exist to compete for the longest drive and closest to the pin and other fun events. Lunch consisting of hamburgers and brats will be served on the course at two locations on the course.

Following the golf competition the final awards for the golf tournament and the overall Golf/Trout winner will be named.

Experience Life on the Yellowstone

The Greenbacks present a screening of Where The Yellowstone Goes, a documentary from award-winning filmmaker Hunter Weeks, at the Denver Film Center on Tuesday, June 12 at 7 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets. Where The Yellowstone Goes, which had its debut at the Newport Beach Film Festival, follows a small crew down the Yellowstone from Gardiner, Mont., to the confluence of the Missouri River at Fort Buford, N.D., a nearly 600-mile journey.

The Yellowstone is the longest un-dammed river in the lower 48 states and one of the world's most renowned trout angling destinations.

The trip down the river is led by fourth-generation Montanan and fly fishing guide Robert Hawkins. His crew explores fly-fishing, conservation, and the type of clarity that can only be found upon slowing down to meet and gain insight from the people who live along the river.

In July of 2011, an ExxonMobil pipeline running beneath the river ruptured, spilling an estimated 63,000 gallons of oil into the river. The film captures some of the clean-up effort less than two months after the spill.

“People are becoming more aware of how important our nation’s waterways are,” said Weeks, who will attend the screening and conduct a Q&A session afterward. “I think this film will really resonate and help people understand that they can do something. This isn’t just about fly fishing and conservation, this is a real story of life.”

Advance tickets for the June 12 showing are $12 ($10 for Denver Film Society members) and $15 at the door. Click here to purchase tickets. (The film runs 88 minutes.)

Learn more at Where the Yellowstone Goes.

For more information, or to view the trailer, go to www.WhereTheYellowstoneGoes.com.

LAFF is for Ladies

Ladies About Fly Fishing (LAFF) is (july 21) workshop for women to learn from Paula Fothergill, a renowned guide and teacher for Casting for Recovery who has also served as president of the Ferdinand Hayden Chapter in the Roaring Fork Valley. The LAFF workshop is sponsored by Purgatoire River Anglers and will be held Saturday, July 21, 2010, from  8am – 4pm at Monument Lake Resort in Weston CO. (Monument Lake is about an hour west of Trinidad CO). Download a workshop flyer.

In addition to Purgatoire River Anglers volunteers, Paula will be assisted by Ken Neubecker, immediate past president of Colorado TU and Executive Director of the Western Rivers Institute, who will provide instruction in entomology.

Workshop Agenda 8:00 – 9:00 Registration, continental breakfast and introductions 9:00 – 12:00 Basic fly fishing, knot tying, entomology, wading safety 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch 1:00 to 4:00 Fly casting instruction

The registration deadline is June 15th, but class size is limited so register soon!

To register, contact: Joanie Muzzulin ( jmuzzulin@gmail.com) 719-846-7307

Fly fishing equipment will be provided, but please bring:

• A Colorado fishing license (required)
• Your own fly rod if you have one "ready to go"
• Polarized sunglasses
• Insect repellent & sunscreen
• Hat
• Bandana
• Layered clothing for varying temperatures

(Make check payable to: Purgatoire River Anglers)

To arrange for a carpool from Trinidad, leaving at 7 a.m,, contact Sara Ferguson at 719-859-0814.

Meet Our Award Winners!

Colorado TU honors those whose contributions to resource protection make them deserving of statewide acclaim. Congratultions to our 2012 award winners!

Trout Communications Award - Kirk Deeter

Kirk Deeter, newly appointed editor of Trout Unlimited's TROUT magazine and long-time outdoor writer for Field and Stream and other publications, was recognized for his focus on Colorado's Best Wild Places and for his ongoing support of TU in Colorado.

Trout Conservation Award - Grand County

Grand County Commissioner Nancy Stuart accepts the Colorado TU Trout Conservation Award for the county's ongoing efforts to ensure that the upper Colorado River system is protected and restored for future generations.

Exemplary Guide & Outfitter - Kerry Caraghar

The fishing manager for Orvis-Cherry Creek, Kerry is a respected guide and leader in the regional fly fishing industry. He was instrumental in establishing the "Orvis 101" program to introduce new anglers to fly fishing, and is now a regular fly tyer and speaker with regional TU chapters. Kerry also and helped secure corporate grant funding for the Golden Mile habitat restoration project on his "home waters" of Clear Creek.

Chapter Communications Award - The Denver Chapter

Denver TU was recognized for modernizing its email system with improved tracking, developing a high-quality online newsletter (“The Drift”), maintaining an attractive & useful website, and developing the "Spill or Kill Reporting Card" to engage anglers as eyes and ears on their home waters.

Youth Education Award - Collegiate Peaks Anglers

When Salida schools adopted a 4-day class schedule, Collegiate Peaks saw opportunity. Working with the school district, the chapter established "Stream Explorers" to introduce students to aquatic life and fishing. Using an “inquiry-based” approach, the program focuses on hands-on learning and experimentation rather than lectures.

Youth Education Award - Evergreen Chapter

ETU’s youth education efforts include: teaching entomology, conservation, fly tying and fishing to 6th graders at JeffCo Schools Outdoor Lab; an annual day-long “fish camp” with entomology, fly tying, and fishing for 30 kids; a July 4th fishing derby for 250 kids; and partnership with Camp Comfort, which hosts children who have lost loved ones; and regularly assisting with youth fishing clinics

Outstanding Chapter Project - West Denver

West Denver’s $300,000 Canyon Reach effort builds on its earlier "Golden Mile" in the city of Golden. The project includes 3 sections below the intersection of U.S. 6 and CO 116 and focuses on both public access and aquatic habitat. J-hooks, cross vanes, boulder clusters and toe-wood islands improved habitat, while pathways and safe-wading areas were created for young families and limited-mobility anglers.

Most Improved Chapter - Rocky Mountain Flycasters

Rocky Mountain Flycasters have strengthened their chapter significantly in recent years and just completed a banner year with successful membership recruitment, an improved email newsletter and website, doubled average meeting attendance, and an increased commitment to education and conservation which has led to an 85% increase in the chapter budget. RMF has also contributed more than 5,000 volunteer hours to a slate of youth education and stream conservation projects.

Exemplary Chapter - Cheyenne Mountain

Cheyenne Mountain TU celebrated its 25th anniversary by hitting on all cylinders - strong chapter communications, growing attendance at events, strong revenue from fundraising, and the completion of important conservation projects on Fountain Creek and the South Platte. CMCTU has expanded its youth education programs and boosted conservation awareness by working with a local brewery to introduce a "Bear Creek Porter" to support conservation of a local cutthroat trout stream.

Outstanding Volunteer - Glen Edwards, West Denver

Glen has been a long-time chapter volunteer leader with the West Denver Chapter and was honored for his tireless efforts on the successful Golden Mile and Canyon Reach restoration projects, as well as for his conservation leadership within West Denver.

Outstanding Volunteer - George Osborn, Gunnison Gorge Anglers

After BLM completed a study on modifying the Relief Ditch diversion to reduce impacts on stream habitat while helping irrigators, the concept seemed doomed to languish - until George stepped up to provide steady, dedicated leadership. Construction will begin this year. George personally helped raise more than $200K in cash and in-kind donations.

Outstanding Volunteer - John Ellis, Evergreen Chapter

John has served ETU as president 5 times and Youth and  Education Chair for 18 years. He helped develop the Mt Evans Outdoor Lab Program in partnership with Jeffco Schools, worked with Evergreen Parks & Rec to establish a 4th of July fishing clinic that attracts 250 kids each year, was a leader in the O’Fallon Park/Bear Creek restoration project and helped build key partnerships with Audubon, Denver Mountain Parks, and the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife.

Outstanding Volunteer - Dave Piske

As conservation chair for the Rocky Mountain Flycasters, Dave has brought a thorough knowledge of advocacy processes and strategy to the cause of coldwater conservatin, drawing from his corporate career experience.  He has represented TU in collaborative negotiations on the Halligan-Seaman Reservoir expansion, on Long Draw Reservoir reauthorization, and has helped establish partnerships with agencies from the National Parks Service to Larimer County Open Space.

Outstanding Volunteer - Fred Portillo, West Denver Fred was cited as a “Renaissance Man” (and all-around great guy) who has always been willing to step up to fill a need. He served the West Denver Chapter as president (2 yrs), Vice-President (2 yrs), Programs Director (2 yrs), Youth Education Programs Coordinator (1 yr), Fundraising Raffle Chair (2 yrs) and Chapter Picnic Coordinator (2 yrs).  Wherever he was needed, time and again, Fred was there.

Colorado TU Honors Save the Colorado

Colorado TU has honored Save the Colorado with its River Stewardship Award for the consortium’s efforts to protect and restore the Colorado River from its source to the sea.

The award was presented at the 2012 Colorado TU Auction & Gala on Friday evening, March 16. Save the Colorado is a collation of businesses and foundations, spearheaded by the New Belgium Brewing Company with supporting sponsors that include Teva, Patagonia, the Clean Water Fund, National Geographic, Clif Bar, the Environment Foundation, Environment Now and the Kenney Brothers Foundation.

New Belgium CEO Kim Jordan (2nd from left) accepted the award from Colorado TU President Sinjin Eberle (at left). The award is a large scale photograph of blue sky and canyon walls reflecting off the Colorado River by photographer Peter McBride, co-author with Jonathan Waterman of the book, The Colorado River: Flowing through Conflict.

The companies and foundations that created Save the Colorado initially committed nearly $500,000 in funding. “We’re very pleased to honor Save the Colorado and proud of our association with them, said Colorado TU president Sinjin Eberle. “Save the Colorado is a wonderful example of businesses working with non-profit organizations to protect a vital American resource.”

Save the Colorado has been a catalyst for efforts to create broad public awareness of the threats facing the Colorado as well as a financial resource for groups working on-the-ground to protect and restore the river, which runds more than 1,400 miles from its source in the Rocky Mountains to the Sea of Cortez.

More than 30 million people in seven states rely on the Colorado River system for their drinking water. Many more count on the river as a source of water for agriculture, hydro-electric power, recreation and industry. But the Colorado is an overburdened resource, and its waters and wildlife are threatened by an increasing number of dams and diversions, mineral extraction, population growth, invasive species  and the potential impacts of climate change.

Nearly 300 people attended the 2012 Colorado TU Gala and Auction. An outstanding slate of items donated by our loyal and generous supporters were responsible for making it a very successful event. Each year, proceeds from the Gala play a substantial role in funding Colorado TU’s efforts toward river conservation, youth education and on-the-ground restoration projects.

Thank you to all who attended, to all who donated to our auction and to Save the Colorado!

Black Canyon Fishing Show Saturday

It won't cost you a dime to drop in at the Black Canyon Fly Fishing show this Saturday, March 3 at the Montrose County Fairgrounds.

The Black Canyon Fly Fishing Show is sponsored by Gunnison Gorge Anglers and features:

• 40+ Fly tiers
• Youth events including fly tying, casting and contests
• Hourly fishing programs
• Local fly shops and vendors
• A fantastic raffle package & door prize of an HDTV
• Evening banquet and auction - $25

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm - show is one-day only, March 3

Location: Friendship Hall at Montrose County Fairgrounds.

Visit the Gunnison Gorge Anglers website

Bass Pro Shops Fishing Classic

This mega event takes place over 3 successive weekends - February 24 through March 11

There's a ton of stuff going on over the next few weekends, including fishing seminars, rod trade-ins, daily specials and fly tying exhibitions by renowned local anglers. Be sure to stop by the Cherry Creek Anglers and West Denver TU tables and say hello.

Here's a link to their website, where you can find all the scheduled events.

Here's a link to a flyer listing all the participating tyers.

Rally for the River II

Join us at the Rally for Upper Colorado River and help deliver a giant postcard to the Governor asking for his help protecting our rivers!

• Who:  Sportsmen, hikers, campers, rafters, kayakers, wildlife enthusiasts--anyone who cares about our state’s rivers and outdoor quality of life

• Why:  To ask Gov. Hickenlooper to use his authority to protect the Upper Colorado River from expanded diversions such as Windy Gap and Moffat

• Where: Colorado State Capitol building, downtown Denver, west steps

• When:  Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 11 a.m. to noon

"A River on the Brink"

Colorado’s namesake river is fighting for its life. A water diversion proposal could reduce the Upper Colorado River’s flows to less than 20 percent of its historic levels. As currently proposed, the Windy Gap Firming Project fails to include measures that will keep the Colorado cold, clean and healthy below Windy Gap—a stretch of the river that sustains local agriculture, mountain communities, and a thriving recreation economy. Unless the Upper Colorado receives stronger protections, this once-mighty river faces a long, continued decline and a potential ecological collapse.

Our Defend the Colorado coalition’s recent January rally in front of EPA building was a huge, noisy success, with more than 100 sign-carrying, chanting supporters calling on EPA to “be a hero” for the river (see photo above).  A few weeks later, EPA issued a letter that fully vindicated and supported our position on the need for further river protections in the Windy Gap Firming Project.

Now the ball is in Gov. Hickenlooper’s court—he has a chance to use his bully pulpit to tell state and federal officials to “do the right thing” for the river and recommend additional protection.

Our healthy, free-flowing rivers are a source of pride for Coloradans—it’s why many of us live here.

Once our rivers are gone—they’re gone. Come out and tell Gov. Hick that Colorado is our home--these places are ours—and we want them protected. Gov. Hickenlooper—be a hero for our rivers!

Speakers include:

Drew Peternell, director, Trout Unlimited’s Colorado Water Project Kirk Klancke, water manager, Fraser Valley For more background on issue, go to www.DefendTheColorado.org

Contact:

Drew Peternell, (303) 204-3057 dpeternell@tu.org Randy Scholfield, (720) 375-3961 rscholfield@tu.org

CTU Gala Seeks Sponsors

Colorado Trout Unlimited presents our annual dinner and gala, Friday, March 16 at the Arvada Center. Proceeds from this high-profile event benefit statewide programs for river protection, legislative advocacy, on-the-ground projects and more. The Colorado TU gala is much more than an auction, and it's about far more than fishing. It's an entertaining social event for couples, members of the business community, clients and others who support healthy streams and clean water. It's also a great event for our sponsor group, which includes financial institutions, legal firms, micro-brewers and others. Varying levels of support make sponsorship easy.

If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, or would like to help us recruit new sponsors, we'd love to hear from you. Call David Nickum at 720-581-8589.