Women on the Fly are on the Rise

Across the country Trout Unlimited chapters are actively engaging women into our conservation work. While the sport of fly fishing is mainly dominated by men, most of those men will tell you that when it comes to fly fishing, women are naturals!! There are a variety of opportunities for women to learn about fly fishing and to advance their angling skill throughout Colorado, and Colorado Trout Unlimited is helping to build the conservation knowledge of women as well. By becoming a Colorado member of Trout Unlimited, you receive the award-winning magazine Trout, stickers, the High Country Angler publication, calendars and discounts for various merchandise; but most importantly you are a small piece of the largest effort in the country to keep the cold water fisheries healthy! That is amazing!!

In the fall of 2012, Trout Unlimited launched a campaign aimed at getting more women to sign up as members. In doing so, women were offered complimentary trial memberships over the course of the year. Over 2,500 women signed up! What a great success. Thanks to all of you who reached out to women in your community and invited them to join Trout Unlimited.  It is undoubtedly because of your efforts that we can boast a 13 percent retention rate so far on these trial members.

To help bring women into our river conservation world, we are pleased to bring back this complementary trial membership and to announce that women can sign up for their first time annual membership for FREE right now!! In addition, women can renew for half price, at a special $17.50 rate. To add a little incentive for our chapters, any recruiting chapters (for women membership renewals) will receive $15 of that $17.50 in the form of a special rebate. AND, for even more incentive from March 1 - May 31, Trout Unlimited will be tracking which chapters recruit the most women and which have the highest rates of renewals (allocated proportionally based on chapter size.) The chapter that recruits the most women will be issued a plaque. Cash rewards will be awarded to the chapters that have the highest rates of renewals: $500 for first place, $300 for second place, and $100 for third place.

Colorado Trout Unlimited has partnered with a lot of groups across the state who are engaging women like Colorado Women Flyfishers and the Fly Gals from Collegiate Peaks Anglers. We have also created a “meet up” type page on Facebook where women throughout Colorado can find other ladies to fish with and to share their fishing stories. You can join that page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cowomenonthefly/.

To learn more about these efforts or to get involved, please contact Stephanie Scott at sscott@tu.org.

Thank you for purchasing raffle tickets in support of Colorado TU!

Matt Leavy was this year's lucky winner and receives a two-day float trip for 2 on the Gunnison River, including one night camping riverside and meals, plus lodging for the night prior to and following his float trip and dinner for two. This fantastic package is courtesy of Black Canyon Anglers!

Thank you all for your continued support of Colorado TU!

Denver anglers step up to Defend the Colorado

Our state's namesake river, the Colorado, matters not just to west slope residents but to Denver-area anglers as well. So when Denver-area residents turned out in force for the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) event hosted by our friends at Trout's last Saturday, it should come as no surprise that they gave back to protecting the Colorado. In partnership with the Orvis Company, Trout's raised more than $1500 for the Defend the Upper Colorado River campaign.  The evening was fun for all involved, with a great lineup of films and the chance to have a great time with other Denver-area fly fishers.  For those of you who live outside of the Denver region - if F3T comes to your area, you won't want to miss it!

With a Final Environmental Impact Statement expected in a matter of weeks on the proposal for expanded Denver Water diversions from the Colorado headwaters (in the Fraser watershed), now is a key time for all anglers to lend their support to the Colorado River.  You can help now by signing our petition to defend the Fraser - just click here.  If you've already signed, thank you - and please send the link on to your fishing buddies who can also lend their voice to the effort.

A big thank you from all of us at Colorado TU to Trout's, Orvis, the F3T, and all those who took part in another great event for your generous support for Defending the Colorado River.

Join West Denver for their 38th Annual Fly Tying Clinic

The 38th Annual Fly Tying Clinic will be held on February 8th at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden.  This Clinic has become a staple for the local fly tying community, featuring about 60 of the best tiers from the Rocky Mountain Region including, this year, such local luminaries as Charlie Craven, Pat Dorsey, and Greg Garcia. You will have the opportunity to learn how to tie a wide variety of patterns from the masters, as well as the opportunity to buy their flies.  There will be a beginners’ fly tying table for novices who want to learn the rudiments of fly tying from experts.  In addition to the tiers, Alan Kube, recently named “Bamboo Rod Maker of the Year”, will be available to discuss the merits of bamboo.

There will also be door prizes, a bucket raffle, silent auction, and a chance to purchase tickets for our “Fantasy Raffle” which offers the winner over $3,900 in merchandise.

Admission is $10 (children 12 years of age or under are admitted free), and $2 discount coupons are available at local fly shops.

Doors open at 8:30 AM.  Food and drinks will be available at the site.  If you have any questions and/or want more information, please check the Chapter’s website at www.westdenvertu.org or call Jon Weimer at 303-830-1609.

You Can Help Protect Our Rivers

Coloradoans can finally purchase the Protect Our Rivers license plate for their vehicles! Show the world that you care about Colorado’s rivers! Originally conceived by the brain trust at Colorado Trout Unlimited, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the plate are dedicated to river conservation and restoration across Colorado. Purchasers can display their pride in home-state rivers and streams while giving directly to their care and improvement. Other organizations aside from TU will also be able to nominate stream restoration projects for funding opportunities, bringing a more collaborative mechanism into the health of the state’s coldwater fisheries.

Here is how to get yours:

1. Jump on the web and navigate to http://www.protectourrivers.net to fill out a simple form.
2. Pay the fully tax-deductible, one-time $25 donation on that site. A personalized certificate will be e-mailed to you.
3. Take this certificate (and any other required docs, such as registration, proof of insurance, etc.) to your local county Department of Motor Vehicles office and present it to the clerk. Pay the one-time $50 special plate fee to the DMV, plus the normal registration fee. Your registration will be prorated based on where you are in your renewal cycle. You do NOT need to wait for your renewal date to get your license plate. The DMV will mail or hand you your plate immediately - it varies by location.

That's it! Now tell all your friends how awesome you are! Post a photo of your phat new plate via Instagram (@protectourrivers), Twitter (#protectourrivers) or on https://www.facebook.com/ProtectOurRivers.

Your contribution to this program provides a much-needed, dedicated nest-egg for river restoration projects that directly affect guiding and angling opportunities across Colorado.

Restore the Range

Flooding in September 2013 devastated many communities and watersheds along Colorado’s Front Range including along the Big Thompson, Boulder Creek, and the St. Vrain.  The “Restore the Range” effort is working to provide financial and volunteer support for fish- and river-friendly flood restoration efforts. Click here to help Restore the Range!

"Riverstock” raises awareness about Fraser River threats

Beer? Check. Barbecue? Check. Bands? Check. What more do you need for a good time? The steady stream of people who turned out for Trout Unlimited’s “Riverstock” event Aug. 17 at the Crooked Creek Saloon in Fraser enjoyed a full day of good vibrations and cold libations in celebration of peace, love and local rivers.

Between sets, they also learned about the looming threats to the Fraser River’s health posed by Denver Water’s proposed expansion of its Moffat diversion project.

Kirk Klancke, president of TU’s Colorado River Headwaters chapter, organized the event with help from local volunteers, as well as the dozen bands (including BlueCat, Hippie Sideshow Hootenanny and Gary Key) who donated their time and talent to the cause.

The Fraser, a key tributary of the Upper Colorado, is the lifeblood of the Fraser Valley, supporting angling, wildlife, outdoor recreation and local communities. But decades of water diversions have left the river depleted and degraded. Already, some 60 percent of the river is diverted to the Front Range for municipal uses. Denver Water’s Moffat expansion would remove another 15 percent, putting the river system on the brink of disaster.

“Unless these projects include adequate protections for our rivers, we could lose our outdoor quality of life and the reason many of us live here in the first place,” said Klancke. “Riverstock sends a message to the big utilities that local people care about our rivers and streams.”

Inside the saloon, a blues guitarist was shredding some serious Stevie Ray Vaughn licks.  Outside, in the back courtyard, an acoustic duo held forth with their spin on Simon and Garfunkel.

There was something for everyone.

Also playing were short videos about the Fraser and Upper Colorado rivers and their importance to the recreational businesses and overall quality of life of Grand County. Free bumper stickers, posters, and other educational materials went fast, as well as some far-out tie-died t-shirts.

Outside at the curb, facing traffic, a giant green trout (Fraser the Trout, Colorado Trout Unlimited’s mascot) waved a sign that read “Save the Fraser River,” eliciting a steady stream of honks from passing motorists.

Fraser Valley residents “get it,” notes Klancke, and they’re generally well-informed about the details of Denver Water’s project. They understand the depleted Fraser River is on life support, and they want the river protected from more diversions.

TU is asking Denver Water for three basic protections: - adequate peak spring flows to help flush the river and keep its riverbed and aquatic habitat healthy and free of choking sediment; - standards that would prevent Denver Water from diverting water if the river temperature reached levels lethal to fish; - ongoing monitoring and “adaptive management” that requires Denver Water to adjust its operations if the river shows significant signs of decline in the future.

So far, Denver Water has rejected those commonsense protections.

All proceeds of Riverstock will help benefit TU’s campaign to protect and restore the Fraser River.  Go to www.DefendtheColorado.org for more information.

- Randy Scholfield, Director of Communications Western Water Project, Trout Unlimited

New Fundraising Partnership

The Colorado Council and TU National have joined forces in a new partnership to strengthen individual donor fundraising efforts to support TU’s work in Colorado.  With over two dozen staff on-the-ground in Colorado, the need for coordination between all levels of the organization is vital.  The new partnership is staffed by Chris Herrman, Colorado Director, Coldwater Conservation Fund (CCF). You can now direct individual contributions of $1000 or more for Colorado programs and projects, both Council and National, through the Coldwater Conservation Fund.  CCF members enjoy benefits including exclusive trips and special gear. Donors of $1,200 or more directed to the Council through CCF, will also enjoy the benefits of our River Stewardship Council.

You can still support the Council or National directly through the web pages or the various mail-based campaigns. Regardless of how you give, thank you for your support!

To learn more about how you can support the work of TU in Colorado, visit the Coldwater Conservation Fund online.

Contact Chris Herrman, Colorado Director, CCF, via email here.

Governor Signs License Plate Bill

In the final step of a long journey, Governor Hickenlooper signed into law SB-224 on May 18, authorizing a "Protect Our Rivers" license plate.  CTU's Regional Vice President Ken Neubecker and Legislative Liaison Jen Boulton were both on hand at the bill signing in Avon as the Governor gave his final approval to the legislation. The plate, which should be available no later than January 2014, will allow Colorado motorists to show their support for our rivers while also contributing financially to river conservation and education.  Plates will be available with a $25 donation to Colorado Trout Unlimited, plus a $50 payment to the DMV for the plates themselves.

We extend a special thanks to the legislative sponsors of the license plate bill, whose leadership made this success possible: Senators Randy Baumgardner and Andy Kerr, and Representatives Millie Hamner and Jared Wright.

Thanks For Supporting CTU Youth Education

Wednesday, May 8th, Colorado TU held a fundraiser in partnership with Patxi’s Pizza to raise funds for our Youth Education efforts. Delicous pizza, great drinks, and a fun time was had, all while increasing CTU’s capacity to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

Thanks to everyone who came out!