West Denver TU Partnering with Orvis to Monitor Rivers

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

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

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

"State of CTU" Video

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

And the winner is...Doug Nielsen!

Congratulations to Doug Nielsen of Lakewood, Colorado!  Doug is the lucky winner of our Spring 2015 Statewide Raffle and a weekend getaway to the Madison Valley Ranch in Montana. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets!

Help trout - and yourself - with Post-Gala Sale!

Pictured:  A trophy brook trout caught in Labrador.  Our post gala sale includes a package offered for a week in Labrador with Three Rivers Lodge.  

On March 13, more than 200 people gathered for the 2015 Colorado TU River Stewardship Gala.  We recognized Richard Adkerson for his leadership in addressing the legacy of abandoned mines in Colorado and the west.  We had a fabulous jazz trio providing music during the reception.  Boathouse Distillery hosted a tasting of a special CTU-label bourbon.  Youth participants from our annual camp and in-school programs shared their stories with the audience.  And we raised nearly $40,000 to help support TU efforts in Colorado.  It was a great evening!

But even if you missed the Gala, you can still participate by purchasing one of several special items we are offering through a post-gala online sale!  Your purchase will help support the work of Colorado Trout Unlimited, and we have some great items available - from a week of wilderness fishing for trophy brook trout in Labrador or at Alaska's Bristol Bay watershed, to fishing closer to home on the world-class San Juan tailwaters, from two tickets to the Colorado Symphony Orchestra to spring skiing lift tickets at Winter Park.  Don't miss out on your chance to enjoy these great experiences while giving back to the Colorado rivers and fisheries you love.

To look at the items available for this special online sale, click here.

Colorado TU Gala: March 13, 2015

Reserve your seats for the Colorado TU River Stewardship Gala on Friday, March 13, and join us for an evening celebrating Colorado's rivers and helping raise funds for their conservation.  This year we will be honoring Richard Adkerson of Freeport-McMoRan with our River Stewardship Award, in recognition of his leadership and support in restoring streams impacted by abandoned mines.  The evening also features a wide-ranging live and silent auction, with trips and items for the angler and non-angler alike. Tickets to the Gala include admission, dinner, and complimentary beer and wine, and can be purchased online for $100 - table sponsorships (with reserved seating for 10) are also available for $1000.

The Gala will again take place at the Arvada Center, conveniently located by 68th and Wadsworth in Arvada, with ample free parking available on-site.

The Gala will feature an outstanding auction with diverse fishing and nonfishing experiences including a one-week trip for trophy brook trout in Labrador, a five day horsepack trip in the Yellowstone backcountry, a week-long Alaska fishing lodge experience, a five-day five-hunter package for wing shooting in Argentina, a one-week photo safari in South Africa and more!  Check out our Auction Sampler to see some of the great items that you can bid on.  Of course, along with our larger packages we'll also have a wide array of other items including regional fishing trips, performing arts tickets, ski packages, and more.

Make your plans to join us for an evening to remember on March 13!  Click here to reserve your tickets.

About Richard Adkerson and Freeport-McMoRan:

Richard Adkerson is the President, CEO, and Vice Chairman of Freeport-McMoRan Inc.  Under his leadership, the company has invested generously in restoration efforts aimed at healing rivers impacted by the west's legacy of abandoned mines - sites where no responsible party remains to clean up waters being impacted by mine tailings and drainage.  Among other projects, Freeport-McMoRan has helped TU, the Bureau of Land Management and other partners to advance an award-winning restoration partnership on Kerber Creek in Colorado's San Luis Valley - where a wild brook trout fishery again thrives in waters that were once too polluted to support self-sustaining fisheries.

Fraser the Fish - The Man… The Fish… The Legend…

Behind that beautiful scaly head (ok it’s actually furry) is a hard working volunteer!!  CTU staff lucked out when we found Dustin McCory.  Or is it that he found us?

Dustin made a phone call to CTU one fateful day in 2013 “How can I get involved?”  Not a member of any one chapter, nor aware of what he was about to get himself into, he remembers the pause on the other end of the line…

“Are you available this weekend?” -  CTU Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Scott had just recruited her next Fraser.

“I was scared to death…terrified.  As soon as I put the head on, all the fear went away”

“It is difficult - I can’t see very well, and it is very heavy.  I almost fell off a stage once.”

Without further ado; the man behind the fish…

Dustin McCory

Dustin’s transformation into our hardworking fish began a deeper very personal transformation.  A web developer by day, he once allowed work to consume his life.  “I lived in Avon for two years, and never once fished…TU brought me back to fishing.” In his journey back to himself, he is compelled to leave the computer screen behind every chance he gets. Dustin spent every weekend in 2014 from June through October camping, hiking, and fishing.  “I just get in my car and go.”  It seems he is finding a more balanced life; time alone, time on a river, new friends, and fish heads…

                                                                                   by - Rachel Kohler

Next Sighting:  2014 Fly-Fishing Rendezvous – November 22/23 – The Apex Center, Arvada CO.

This weekend he is traveling with CTU staff to the Fly Fishing Rendezvouz!! Come on down, meet the legend, and start the conversation with your kids about why we must protect headwaters like the Fraser River.

"Will Work for Water"

The Fraser River, a major tributary of the Colorado River, flows from Berthoud Pass to the town of Granby. Denver Water is currently draining most of the Fraser River’s flows through its Moffat Collection System pipeline—and it wants to take more.  

8 River Rodeo Helps Support CTU

Last week, Clint Crookshanks - the event manager for the 8 River Rodeo fishing competition - stopped by the Colorado TU offices to pass along a $1000 contribution from the event proceeds to help support conservation of Colorado rivers. The 8 River Rodeo is a unique event that takes teams of two anglers across eight rivers in two basins over two days.  Each team member must catch at least one fish from each of four rivers in the Colorado basin on day one - the Colorado, Crystal, Fryingpan, and Roaring Fork - and then one fish from each of four rivers in the Gunnison basin on day two - the East, Gunnison, Taylor, and Spring Creek.  Teams that catch the required fish from each site qualify for prizes, with first place going to the team with the most total inches among their 16 fish.  Participants get to enjoy an intense two days fishing eight great rivers across central Colorado, followed by a Sunday barbecue and award presentation in Almont.  It takes place the final weekend in July.  For more information on the 8 River Rodeo, click here to visit their website.

Net proceeds from the event are donated to support charity - this year, they contributed to Colorado TU as well as an additional $1000 to Project Healing Waters.  A big thank you to Clint and all the participants in the 8 River Rodeo for their support!

Sportsmen aim to put Browns Canyon on Denver Map

 Preserve Browns Canyon as a national monument

Denver—On a beautiful October evening, a crowd gathered in downtown Denver to watch Browns Canyon come alive on the façade of the McNichols Building, in an eye-popping display of light and images. The Oct. 17 event, called “Browns Canyon Live,” was sponsored by Sportsmen for Browns Canyon, a grassroots coalition of hunters and anglers committed to preserving Browns Canyon as a national monument.   Here’s a recap video of the event:

Click here to read the whole story

The group also paid for two billboards along I-70 through Denver from early September until the first week of November. One billboard features a striking image of an angler fishing in the canyon, and another shows the canyon awash in a starry nightscape, with the message: “Monumental: Protect Browns Canyon.” The billboard messages will reach an estimated 180,000 people a day who travel this major east-west corridor.

“We’re getting the word out: We have to protect this place or risk losing it,” said Kyle Perkins, Campaign Manager.

For more information, go to www.sportsmenforbrowns.com.

And the winner is...

Jim Mills of Littleton, Colorado. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets in our Colorado TU fall raffle!

Water Conservation Day at H2O Car Wash in Highlands Ranch!

That’s right, you can help protect rivers by washing your car, but only at H2OCar Wash in Highlands Ranch! Saturday, October 11 is Water Conservation Day at H2O Car Wash, the most water-efficient car wash in the state. Swing by from 10-2 pm, choose any self or full service wash, have your picture taken with Fraser the Fish, and get some goodies from river-conscious businesses. Join us for hot dogs and fun!

All proceeds go to Colorado TU to protect our rivers.

H2O Car Wash 1101 Town Center Drive Near the corner of Town Center Dr and Lucent Blvd. Highlands Ranch, CO

***Water Conservation Day is sponsored by: