Lending a helping hand

A change in policy will help fish in Wild Trout, Gold Medal waters flourish By DAVE BUCHANAN The Daily Sentinel

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Colorado has some new regulations for its Wild Trout and Gold Medal waters, including much-needed changes that may see more waters added to the list of the state’s most productive fisheries.

"We hope this opens the door for more waters being added to the list of Wild Trout waters,” said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “We think there’s a desire from anglers to see more waters managed this way.”

http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/sports/stories/2008/06/28/062908_OUT_column_WWW.html

Gov. Ritter on energy/wildlife hot seat

By Charlie MeyersThe Denver Post

Dave Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited, deeply lamented the commission's waffling, calling it a rollback in the face of industry pressure.

"This caught us very much off guard and this newest round poses notable problems, particularly from a rivers standpoint," Nickum said.

Nickum also expressed regret that the industry had taken such radical steps in its attack.

"It's frustrating that they put out so much misinformation, that they deliberately exaggerated what the rules proposed. That's unfortunate because there's so much more flexibility in the original draft rule than has been suggested."

http://www.denverpost.com/extremes/ci_9686387

Showdown set on new Colorado oil, gas regulations

Jun 21, 2008 By JUDITH KOHLER, AP But Dave Nickum of the Colorado chapter of Trout Unlimited said he's worried about losing ground. He's concerned about a suggested change from the draft rules to limit buffers around water bodies to just rivers and lakes with native cutthroat trout or gold-medal fisheries.

http://www.examiner.com/a-1452713~Showdown_set_on_new_Colorado_oil__gas_regulations.html

55,000 acres on Roan up for lease

Phillip YatesGlenwood Springs correspondent Aspen, CO Colorado June 10, 2008

But Corey Fisher, energy field coordinator for Trout Unlimited, said his group was disappointed that BLM is moving forward with its current plan because it doesn't provide the level of protection that fish, wildlife, angling and hunting values on the Roan Plateau warrant.

Fisher said a critical concern for his group is the viability of the Colorado River cutthroat trout. However, the BLM's current plan would allow for development in the fish's watershed areas, he said.

"It disappointing that the BLM is obstinately moving forward with its plan when hunters, anglers, local townships, the governor and everyone in this area thinks there is a better way forward," Fisher said. http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080610/NEWS/347280190

Gas board expects an earful

By GARY HARMONThe Daily Sentinel

Monday, June 09, 2008

Joining in with the bowhunters association in urging support for the regulations was Colorado Trout Unlimited, Colorado Wildlife Federation and some retired officials with the Colorado Division of Wildlife.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2008/06/09/061008_1a_energy_main.html

Sportsmen meet in Wyo. to talk preservation of hunting land

Associated PressFriday, May 23, 2008

Trout Unlimited spokesman Chris Hunt said Thursday that hunters and anglers don't oppose energy development but they also don't want to see their hunting and fishing grounds destroyed.

"If you're a sportsman in Wyoming or in Colorado or in Utah or Montana or New Mexico, you're watching as the places you hunt and fish are disappearing," Hunt said. "And it's a pretty simply equation, lost habitat equals lost opportunity."

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2008/may/23/sportsmen-meet-in-wyo-to-talk-land-preservation/

Dams ready to spill over

By DAVE BUCHANANThe Daily Sentinel

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

“We’re excited about the opportunity to improve the overall health of the river,” said Pat Oglesby of the Grand Valley Anglers Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers. “We’re also grateful for the cooperation of the Bureau of Reclamation.”

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/05/21/052208_1a_gunnison_gorge.html

Especially this year, the Gunnison River deserves a spring cleaning

GJ Sentinel Guest Column from TU's Colorado Water Project Director, Drew Peternell: This spring, for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has an opportunity to provide the Gunnison River with a large flushing flow like those that occurred periodically prior to the construction of Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal reservoirs.

Thanks to the most significant snowpack in the Gunnison Basin in years, the bureau — the agency that manages the Aspinall Unit, as the three reservoirs are known — should have ample water to release a large flushing flow this spring to re-create more natural conditions downstream in the Gunnison River.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/search/content/news/opinion/stories/2008/05/04/050408_Peternell_col.html

DOW to sample fish in Parachute Creek

Phillip YatesGlenwood Springs correspondent Aspen, CO Colorado April 30, 2008

Ken Neubecker, president of Colorado Trout Unlimited, said the DOW's efforts to sample the fish population in Parachute Creek was a good idea, especially in light of sediment allegations raised by the Colorado Attorney General.

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080430/NEWS/460094699

Bringing back trout

By Luke Morin Longmont Times-Call

“Man, while trying to meet his own basic needs of food and water, has devastated that river,” said Chuck Howard, a member of St. Vrain Anglers. “Slowly, over time, you change the character.”

So when Boulder County began making progress in negotiations with private landowners that promised future access to the long-restricted area, St. Vrain Anglers — a local chapter of the angling and activist group Trout Unlimited — decided to take action.

http://www.timescall.com/outdoors/outdoors-story.asp?ID=8190