Take a Moment to P.A.U.S.E

Photo provided by Troutfin Studio at www.markajessop.com By: Peter Stitcher of Ascent Fly Fishing

Exhale... You've done it.  You've successfully escaped the office.  You've tunneled under the suburb's privacy fences, and the incessant drone cell phones and email notifications are fading into the distance behind you.  In front of you lies a day without obligation and a river full of potential and the promise of hungry trout.  Before you run down the trail and lose yourself on the water, slow down and PAUSE for a moment.  Mother Nature has something to tell you, and listening will prove the difference between a day spent  staring at the water or one punctuated with tight lines and wet hands as you release fish back into the river.

This message is a story about which bugs are hatching, what the trout are eating, and which fly patterns will give you the greatest chance of success on this water, on this day.  The lines of this tale surround the river; it is recorded among the willows, whispered on the wind, and chiseled along the bed of the river.  Guided by the acronym PAUSE, the fly fisher can interpret nature's cues, tie on the perfect combination of flies, and be ready for an epic day on the water.

Parking lot to the River - Matching the hatch starts when you park the truck and continue on your way to the water's edge.  While not the most appetizing script to read, plastered to your windshield and the grill of your car is a record of the bugs that were flying and hopping along the lake or river that you are planning to fish.   The fragile wings of mayflies and sturdy grasshopper legs act like braille to the astute angler and are the first clues as to what flies they might fish that day.  As you leave the parking lot and work your way down to the water, observe what is hopping and flying around you.  Grasshoppers frantically leaping off the trail ahead of you, the wayward beetle landing on your shoulder, and the shrilling of the cicada, and caddis flies stirring into flight as you push through streamside trees are all indicators of food that might be falling or landing on the water.

Above the Water- Swallows flying and swooping over the water are going to be your first indicator that bugs are hatching from the water and dry flies might be on the menu!  As you reach the water's edge, watch for swarms of invertebrates over the water and streamside vegetation.  Even at a distance, the chaotic flight of the caddis, the purposeful straightforward flight of the stonefly, and the orderly wave-like motion of the mayfly will be evident, and will help to direct you to the most likely dry flies in your fly box.

Under the Water - It is beneath the surface of the water that trout do 75% of their feeding,  and that's where the angler's most important information will be found.  Using an Invertebrate Seine along the streambed and pulling rocks from the current to observe what is holding onto their surface will give you a detailed menu of which bugs are most abundant, as well as their size and color so that you can lay your fly box alongside and choose the closest match.

Spider Webs - Spiders are Mother Nature's PhD level Entomologists and are the most efficient samplers of insects along the river.  If it has been hatching or hopping along the water where you are fishing, the spiders will have caught them.  Look for spider webs in the bushes and snags along the river and hold your fly box up to their latest catch to match the hatch.

Eddies -  Like the Bermuda Triangle of Trout, swirling currents and backwaters along the edge of the river provide a catalog of the most active bugs in and on the water.  Spinning on top of the rotating current will be a sample of spent invertebrate cases, crippled insects, and expired post-spawn adults.  Beneath the surface of the water, the same currents that trapped the adults in their dizzying spin also  act to deliver aquatic insects to these collection points where they can be easily observed and matched by the angler.

Success never comes easily for the fly fisherman.  There is no such thing as a lucky fly that will produce every trip to the river, and there are no infallible guides equipped with crystal balls through which to foresee the next hatch.  However, for the fly fisher who takes a moment to PAUSE and observe, the rewards will be immediate, the fish will be more frequent, and the experience on the water will be that much richer!

Peter Stitcher is an Aquatic Biologist and the Chief Fly Geek at Ascent Fly Fishing.  At Ascent we don't guess what the fish are biting on, we know!  With our Biologist Crafted Fly Selections you can tell us where you are fishing, when you are fishing, your budget, and skill level, and we will match down to the life cycle to the fly what the fish will be eating when you are on the water! You can see our full spread of flies and gear, and read our Sci-Fly Fishing Blog at: WWW.ASCENTFLYFISHING.COM

Ascent Fly Fishing is also a proud Trout Unlimited Business partner, and have provided free TU memberships to more than 1000 of our clients in the last two years. 

Keep Grass Green while Conserving Water

Who doesn't love standing barefoot on cool, green grass during the summer? Sure, standing in a river wetting a line is by far the way to spend your days, but many people enjoy the look and feel of a healthy lawn- especially after a summer's day on the water. Xeriscaping is an awesome trend to conserve water while keeping your home's landscape appealing. But it's a common misconception that having green grass and being an effective steward of our water supply don't go hand in hand. Of course using little or no water on landscapes is the best way, but there are ways to keep your grass green while keeping our rivers and trout healthy.

• Rely on the Mother Nature: Sure, this one is obvious but it should go with saying that grass is more resilient than one may think. Grass lawns can tolerate up to two months in hot, dry conditions and still come back when there is water available. Kentucky bluegrass, a common grass along the Front Range, is very drought resilient. "During hot, dry spells, you can let your lawn naturally turn brown and go dormant... Grass will bounce back when rainfall and cooler temperatures return," according to Scotts.
• Use a rain barrel: Staring last year, it is now legal to use a rain barrel to collect up to 110 gallons of water in Colorado. According to Conservation Colorado, using rain barrels could conserve up to 1,200 gallons of water each year per household. A study by the state of Colorado found that in just Douglas County alone, 97 percent of rain water was lost to evaporation and vegetation. Using these barrels, the rain will be collected in a covered unit to reduce the amount of evaporation. The water collected can be used to water the grass or other vegetation without having to turn on the sprinklers or hose.
• Recycle water: Use the waste water from daily household usage like showering or washing dishes for use on your lawn. Collect the waste water by plugging the drain to then scoop the water with a bucket and water trees, shrubs, or portions of the grass that need more attention- most likely the portions in direct and intense heat. (Bonus Tip: Planting water efficient or native trees can help keep grass shaded and covered from the heat).
• Mow Smart: When cutting the grass, keep the lawn blade sharp and the setting high. With a taller height- 3 to 4 inches is the recommended setting- the grass will keep the soil shaded and protected from the sun and increase the ability to retain moisture. Instead of throwing away the clippings, spread them around the lawn. If the grass is cut high and the clippings are small, they will break down quicker and return nutrients to the soil as well as offer more shade for the soil. TrueGreen says, "Don't throw away those clippings when you mow. Be sure to spread them around your lawn to give it an extra source of organic nutrients. Mulch also has the same effect of helping the area retain moisture."
• Water at the right time: Running the sprinklers or watering the grass in the morning or at night is ideal as less water is lost due to evaporation from the heat. It is also not necessary to water every day. About one inch of water every week is needed for healthy grass. Switching to water efficient sprinklers and using a timer is a great way to ensure you are not over watering.

Overlap Season

By: Jack Bombardier, Confluence Casting In many mountain towns, there is said to be a fifth season, in addition to the usual four, called Mud Season. That’s true in much of Colorado, but the Centennial State can also claim to have a sixth season, one I like to call Overlap Season.  This occurs when you can fish, ski or golf within the same period of time.  Overlap Season usually begins sometime in March, or can be as late as April, but this year it began in February.  The snow is still deep, the fish are biting, and the fairways are greening up.  Although I’m not a golfer, I do try to make the most of the skiing and fishing opportunities that I can. It’s an awesome time of year to live in Colorado, and makes me glad that thirty-one years ago to this very month, I made it my home.

The Lower Upper Colorado River looks just gorgeous right now, low and clear and as olive as Al Pacino’s cheeks.  Water temps are up to fifty degrees, and from what I’ve seen “fifty” is the magic number in the springtime.  Fifty makes trout very, very happy.

But then your gaze rises above the water’s liquid allure, and up towards the mountains, where the pristine white blaze of perfect, pristine show shines like chrome.  That snow beckons surely as does the river, but there’s the knowledge that the window to enjoy those perfect slopes is closing fast.  To try and fool a fish?, or go carve through some aspen trees at Beaver Creek?  Hope to hold a crimson striped, spawning rainbow trout I I your hand, or hop off a cornice at A-Basin and carve a turn into some wind-deposited powder?  So many choices, and so short an Overlap Season to take advantage of!

How long the river will stay as perfect as it is now, on March 15^{th 2017}, is difficult to say.   With the deep snowpack we have, one would expect the water managers to start releasing water fairly soon to make room for the Big Melt.  But it’s been a weird winter, one which has flipped the pattern of the past few years.  For the past several winters now, we’ve had a lot of snow early in the season, and a lot in the spring, with the middle stretch of January and early February being dry and cold, without much snow.  This season, it was awful early, with Vail and Beaver Creek opening late and the World Cup races at the Beav being cancelled due to lack of snow (and overnight temperatures to warm to make it). But then the snow finally came, and by the end of February we were looking at snowpack numbers we haven’t had since the epic year of 2011.

Now it’s the middle of the March, and not only has the snow pipeline shut off, but the short-term prognosis is for more warm, dry weather. What that means for fishing is that as long as the water in the reservoirs stays up there, the fishing should be great!  This might be the best spring fishing since we had in the drought year of 2012, with one big difference. 2012 was a drought year and though it fished great back then, the Lower Upper was dominated by brown trout.  Low water conditions that fall led to the release of 30,000 catchable-size rainbows into the river, and those rainbows and their offspring are going to be spawning this year. This spring the river has fished well, and should get even better once the bugs start moving.  So if you want to make the most of Colorado’s Sixth Season, get up here soon and make sure you pack your skis and fishing gear.  You can even put a golf bag in the back if you still have room! So please give me a reason to leave my old Volant Chubbs in the back of the Saab, and come fishing!

TU on Clean Water Act Executive Order

Feb. 28, 2017 President Trump signed an executive order today that will begin to unravel protections included in the Clean Water Rule.

In response to the order, Trout Unlimited released the following statements from Colorado TU executive director David Nickum and from TU CEO/President Chris Wood.

David Nickum, executive director, Colorado Trout Unlimited

“The President promised to drain the swamp; instead, this shortsighted decision opens the door to drain our wetlands.  Colorado’s incredible outdoors quality of life depends on healthy, clean watersheds, and anglers know that starts at the source: the small, unassuming streams, headwaters and wetlands that the administration’s order has now put at risk. Even streams that don’t run year-round – which represent about 75 percent of Colorado’s stream miles – directly impact the health of the downstream rivers that we depend on for drinking water, irrigation, and our recreation economy. If we degrade and pollute those headwaters, it is only a matter of time until the next snowmelt or rainstorm sends those impacts down into our larger rivers and water supplies.

The Executive Order disregards the rule of law by proposing a standard that was rejected by a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court, and it disregards the laws of nature by pretending that downstream rivers can be protected without protecting their upstream sources.

As EPA and the Corps begin to apply this Executive Order, you can expect Colorado sportsmen and women to be aggressively involved, fighting for the headwater streams and wetlands that are essential for healthy fish and wildlife habitat.”

Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited

“Today, President Trump signed an executive order that begins to unravel the protections of the Clean Water Act for small headwater streams.

The Clean Water Rule was finalized in 2015 after more than one million public comments and extensive scientific review. It provides protection to streams and rivers including 60 percent of the stream miles in the U.S. that flow seasonally. Protecting these headwaters is important not only to anglers, but also to the one in three Americans whose drinking water comes from small seasonal streams.

The Executive Order directs the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA to rescind and revise the Clean Water Rule. It also directs the agencies to use former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s minority opinion that said seasonal streams do not merit protection, as a basis for the revision. If Justice Scalia’s direction is followed, 60 percent of U.S. streams and 20 million acres of wetlands would lose protection of the Clean Water Act; an unmitigated disaster for fish and wildlife, hunting and fishing, and clean water.

Sportsmen and women have a simple question for the President and EPA Administrator Pruitt: are we going forward or backward on clean water? Today’s announcement is a big step back. Legally, scientifically, and logically a reliance on Justice Scalia’s opinion is wrong-headed—but there’s still time, working through the new rulemaking process, to make it right.

When the new Administration replaces the Clean Water Rule, it must listen to the voices of tens of millions of sportsmen and women who want more clean water, more fish and wildlife habitat, and more hunting and angling opportunities. The Trump Administration can change direction on this Rule but they can’t change the fact that clean water is not a political issue. It is a basic right of every American.

Gravity works cheap, and it never takes a day off. The Administration cannot stop water flowing downhill—and we all live downstream. To be effective, the Clean Water Act must be able to control pollution at its source, upstream in the headwaters and wetlands that flow downstream through communities to our major lakes, rivers, and bays. The Administration’s action places the health of 60 percent of the stream miles in the U.S. at risk. Trout Unlimited intends to work with our hundreds of thousands of members and supporters to reverse course on this misguided direction.”

For more information, go to http://standup.tu.org/stand-up-for-clean-water/

Contact:

David Nickum, dnickum@tu.org, (720) 581-8589

Randy Scholfield, Southwest Region Communications Director, rscholfield@tu.org, (720) 375-3961

Trout Unlimited’s mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. www.tu.org

A Climate Plan on the Dolores

By: Randy Scholfield, communications director for TU's southwest region. Like many rivers across the West, the Dolores River in southwestern Colorado is on the front lines of climate change impacts. As the climate warms, the river will face lower flows, higher temperatures, and increasing stresses on fish and aquatic life.

How can we more effectively address these changes on a watershed scale? That’s the question driving a recent study by Trout Unlimited and other groups of the Dolores River basin.

“We know there will be change. The question the study addresses is what kind of change can we expect, the approximate timing and what are the impacts,” Duncan Rose of the Dolores River Anglers chapter of Trout Unlimited told the Durango Herald in a recent article.

To find those answers, the TU study—conducted in partnership with Mountain Studies Institute of Silverton—looked at climate models and trends between 1949 and 2012 that showed wetter periods of higher temperatures followed by longer periods of intense drought.

In projecting those trends into the future, some sobering results emerged: based on worst-case drought scenarios, the 46 trout streams in the Dolores Basin could lose some 44 percent of their flows in the next 50 to 70 years. Some streams, especially at lower elevations, might be lost causes to fish habitat, becoming intermittent or vanishing entirely.

But the study found that other middle- and higher-elevation streams could be made more “resilient” against the worst impacts of climate change through adaptive strategies such as habitat restoration, including improving in-stream structure such as boulders and pools to create cooler refuge areas for trout, and restoring streamside vegetation to provide more shade.

As important, the study field-tested an analytical model to determine which stream miles would best lend themselves to these efforts and provide the most “bang for the buck” for conservation outcomes.

“This is a framework that can be used across the West,” says Garrett Hanks, TU's Southwest Colorado field coordinator. “The issues in the Dolores are similar to many of our coldwater fisheries, and if we're going to be active in managing our coldwater watersheds into the future, this framework can inform many levels of TU’s strategy, such as how to identify and prioritize our protect, reconnect and restoration work.”

TU’s stream resilience work gives hope that many of our best trout waters can survive the worst impacts of climate change. The Dolores study could give TU another science-based tool for deciding where and how to dial in this adaptation work in watersheds across the West.

Why Planning 2.0 matters

By Tyler Baskfield, TU Colorado sportsmen’s coordinator South Park is a sportsmen’s paradise of elk herds, dream trout streams like the South Platte, and endless recreation possibilities. For Colorado Front Range residents like me, South Park is a vast backyard playground, just a short hour and a half drive from Denver. It’s one of the crown jewels of public lands in Colorado.

Unfortunately, it’s also currently in the crosshairs of shortsighted partisan politics.

Sportsmen everywhere should be alarmed by an effort afoot in Congress to roll back the public’s say in managing South Park and other public lands.  Now is the time to speak up if we want to protect these special places.

A critical vote is expected in the Senate in coming weeks that may eliminate the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Planning 2.0 initiative through the Congressional Review Act. The House has already voted to repeal the BLM planning rule.

This misguided move to repeal Planning 2.0 is a thumb in the eye of sportsmen and others who believe local residents and governments should have more of a say in how public lands are managed. The BLM developed Planning 2.0 in response to concerns about the lack of transparency in public lands management and the planning process being unduly influenced by special interest stakeholders. Planning 2.0 gives sportsmen, local governments, landowners and residents more input early on in the planning process—and this “smart from the start” approach helps to avoid conflict by bringing stakeholders together to settle thorny land use issues, such as where to site oil and gas development and how best to allow multiple uses of the land while ensuring the health of wildlife, rivers and other natural resources.

South Park is one of the places where BLM is piloting Planning 2.0, and so far the majority of stakeholders have embraced the new planning process. Members of the oil and gas industry, Front Range water providers, sportsmen, environmentalists, Republican Park County commissioners, business owners, agency personnel, ranchers—all praise the increased opportunities for input and believe Planning 2.0 will help protect natural resources while sustaining the local economy.

Sen. Cory Gardner rightly called outdoor recreation “a cornerstone of our economy in Colorado” after the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Impact Act of 2015 that he authored recently passed the Senate. He clearly understands the importance of outdoor recreation, public lands and wildlife resources to local economies and residents. Outdoor recreation accounts for more than $13 billion in economic activity in Colorado and supports some 125,000 jobs, according to the Boulder-based Outdoor Industry Association.

The foundation of that booming outdoor sector is the health of places like South Park.

Colorado sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts call on Sen. Gardner and other lawmakers to continue to lead and advocate for the state’s important recreation economy and public lands heritage by resisting this reckless stampede to scrap Planning 2.0.

The current administration has a great deal of latitude to implement, or if necessary revise, the rule to ensure that it works for all stakeholders, including public land users, state and local governments and the BLM itself. Using the Congressional Review Act does not help to solve public land management challenges; it will only make it more difficult for the BLM to be good land stewards. The House of Representatives erred when it passed its resolution disapproving of the Planning 2.0, but the Senate doesn’t have to make the same mistake.

Sportsmen everywhere need to raise their voices for public lands. Please take a few minutes to contact your Senators and urge them to oppose efforts to do away with Planning 2.0 and ensure that the public has a voice in public land management.

Public Lands: Why our voices matter

Many anglers and hunters have been weighing in in opposition to proposals to sell or dispose of our federal public lands.  Recently, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) proposed legislation that would have sold off some 3 million acres of federal lands including more than 90,000 in Colorado – though we never saw a final listing of exactly which lands were going to be sold.  In response to the overwhelming voice of sportsmen speaking out against this type of measure, here is what Rep. Chaffetz announced via his Instagram account: "I am withdrawing HR 621. I'm a proud gun owner, hunter and love our public lands. The bill would have disposed of small parcels of lands Pres. Clinton identified as serving no public purpose but groups I support and care about fear it sends the wrong message. The bill was originally introduced several years ago. I look forward to working with you. I hear you and HR 621 dies tomorrow."

The voice of hunters and anglers is strong, and we CAN make a difference when we speak out.  To all of you who have helped speak out on this issue, recently and throughout the past few years, thank you - and keep it up!

“We are pleased to hear Representative Chaffetz has changed course on his effort to sell public lands and we thank him for listening to the voices of sportsmen and women. Across the country we have seen a groundswell of support for our public lands,” Trout Unlimited CEO Chris Wood said. “Selling them off cheats not only this generation but all those who follow.”

We can still make our voices heard and sign the petition that we want to keep America's public lands in public hands!

Anglers All: 3 Tips for Staying Warm on the Water (Other Than Whiskey)

By: Ryan McSparran, Anglers All Content Writer and Shop Sales Winter fly fishing opportunities abound for those brave enough to seize them. Here at Anglers All, we’re fortunate to have some of those opportunities right here in our backyard. Thanks to the help of TU and others, improvement projects continue to make the South Platte a better fishery every year. The South Platte from Littleton on to the north offers year-round excitement for trout, carp and the occasional smallmouth or walleye.

Tailwaters in Colorado and neighboring states like Wyoming offer excellent winter fishing and very light crowds when compared to the warmer months. For the adventurous souls willing to meet the challenges of cold weather, there are good things to be found.

I recently took a poll among the associates here at the shop. Most of them fish regularly throughout the winter. I asked for their best tips for staying warm on the water. How do they stay comfortable and have fun, even on the coldest days? Here’s what I heard.

“Get a big, tall glass,” manager Greg Garcia began with a grin on his face. “Shake up a nice martini until it’s really cold. Then stay inside and enjoy tying flies.”

In fact several of my conversations began that way. “Tie flies” and “Go tarpon fishing” were among the most popular opening answers.  But as we drilled into the realities of winter fishing in Colorado, the tips were consistent across the board. In fact, the advice really boiled down into three points.

1. Layer Properly

First and perhaps most obviously, it begins with what you’re wearing. But don’t just “dress in layers.” Be sure you’re layering property.

“No cotton!” several associates said emphatically. If you’re wearing cotton, that Gore-Tex won’t do you any good. Don’t wear cotton socks or anything else. Cotton absorbs moisture and holds it next to your skin.

“Wear a liner and wool sock combo,” Greg told me after we got back on track. “The liner will wick moisture into the second layer. Dry skin equals warmer feet.”

But be sure not to overdo it on the socks.

“Wearing too many socks that constrict your circulation will have the opposite effect,” warned Anglers All travel coordinator, Doug Garvey. “You want some dead air space to trap heat.”

For long underwear, consider synthetic base layers or merino wool. Over that you’ll wear insulation layers like fleece or down, depending on temperatures. Then finally, apply your outerwear, including waders and jacket.

“It’s important to wear something that’s breathable and wind proof,” said shop associate, Courtney Despos. “A good wading jacket is essential. It does more than protect you from flurries. It’s stops wind and allows moisture to escape.”

Convective heat loss from wind can take a serious toll. Having a jacket with a waterproof, breathable membrane will totally block wind while still allowing natural vapor to escape, keeping you dry from the inside.

2. It’s the Little Things

For many seasoned anglers, a solid pair of waders and warm clothes may be obvious. But don’t overlook the little things. Losing heat in your head, neck and hands can quickly end your day.

“I carry two pair of gloves,” Doug told me. “I fish with a half-finger glove or foldover mit. Then I keep a pair of full-finger gloves in an inside pocket. If my hands get cold, I can pull out those warm gloves.”

Several other associates said almost exactly the same thing. Fishing with a backup pair of gloves can extend your time and comfort on the water. Just as importantly, do whatever you can to keep your gloves dry.

“Pinch your barbs and have your hemostats in a spot that’s easy to grab,” Doug continued. “If you’re prepared, you can quickly release the fish with your net without submerging your hands.

Inside your gloves, your wader pockets or even your boots, you might consider bringing a few hand-warmers. Next, consider what you will need in terms of headwear.

“I like to bring two hats with me,” said shop associate, Ben Baxter. “I carry a warm beanie and a regular cap. If I feel myself getting too warm, I quickly take off the beanie. The last thing you want is for your head to get sweaty.”

Ben also suggested a wool Buff or neck gaiter. Keeping the back of your neck warm is something that’s easy to forget about until it’s cold. Being able to cover your neck and ears can make a tremendous difference.

3. Drink Something Hot

When you’re properly layered and have all your bases covered, there’s not much left to do but get out there and enjoy the solitude of a winter day on the water! But when you get back to the truck or when it’s time to take a break, there’s nothing better than having something hot to drink.

“Don’t forget to bring your Yeti with some coffee or hot tea,” Ben concluded.

Doug echoed Ben’s remark. “A thermos of hot chili or soup will never taste better,” he said.

And of course, I couldn’t forget to pass along the one piece of advice that every one of these trout bums repeated.

“Don’t forget the whiskey!”*

Since 1969, Anglers All  has provided anglers with with the best information and equipment no matter the year, the water conditions, or the species of fish. Based out of Littleton along the South Platte River, Anglers All works with Trout Unlimited on restoring the S. Platte back to a healthy fishery. Anglers All offers classes and clinics on fly tying and much more!

* Please note that whiskey does not make you warmer and instead can actually make you colder. Alcohol causes your blood vessels to dilate, moving warm blood closer to the surface of your skin, making you feel warmer temporarily. However, at the same time, those same veins pumping blood closer to the skin's surface cause you to lose core body heat .

Thinking Big on the Colorado River

By Paul Bruchez Paul Bruchez is a rancher who lives near Kremmling and is a partner on TU's effort to restore the Upper Colorado River

The Colorado River runs through the heart of my family’s ranch near Kremmling, where I live and work, so we have firsthand knowledge of the importance of water. Our family’s irrigated meadows and livestock operation depend on it.

I’m also a passionate angler and fly-fishing guide here in the valley—recreation is another important foundation of our local economy.

That’s why, over the years, it’s been so hard for me to see the river in sharp decline. For decades, Front Range water utilities have been pumping water from the Upper Colorado, with devastating impacts on river health: Lower flows spiked water temperature and silted in the river bottom, smothering bug life and damaging the river ecosystem and this world-class trout fishery.

Agriculture suffered, too: as river levels dropped, my family and other ranchers in the valley saw our irrigation pumps left high and dry and our operations unsustainable.

And as a fly-fishing guide, it became clear to me that a restored river could be a much more valuable recreation asset for our community and state.

In short, our future here in the valley depends on a healthy Colorado River.

A few years ago, I saw an opportunity to fix the irrigation problems while also improving river and wildlife habitat. Our ranching neighbors came together and agreed on the need for action.

Paul Bruchez on Reeder Creek Ranch. Photos: Russ Schnitzer

We worked with a variety of partners—Trout Unlimited, American Rivers, the Colorado Basin Roundtable, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Grand County Government, Northern Water, Denver Water, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Upper Colorado River Alliance, the Colorado River District, and other river stakeholders—to put together an ambitious proposal for restoring a significant stretch of the Upper Colorado River.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service recognized that big vision, awarding our rancher group and our partners $7.75 million under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program to improve irrigation systems and reverse the decline in water quality and fish habitat in the headwaters of the Colorado River.

This funding is an amazing win for all Coloradans, because a healthy Colorado River sustains all of our lives.

The Colorado River Headwaters Project will install several innovative instream structures designed to improve water levels for irrigation while enhancing critical river habitat by rebuilding riffles and pool structure.  A crucial piece will be restoring approximately one mile of the Colorado River’s former channel currently inundated by Windy Gap Reservoir. This ambitious bypass project will reconnect the river—for the first time in decades—and improve river habitat in the headwaters area.

When fully implemented, the Headwaters Project will directly benefit more than 30 miles of the Colorado River and 4,500 acres of irrigated lands and make available up to 11,000 acre-feet of water to improve the river during low-flow conditions.

That means the stellar fishing here on the upper Colorado is only going to get better.

What have I learned from this project? That the interests of agriculture producers can align with the interests of conservation groups, state agencies, water providers and other river users. It’s not just the waters of the Colorado River that are connected—so are the people who depend on it.

The Colorado River flows through all of our lives.  By working together, we can find smart, creative solutions that keep the Colorado healthy and working for all of us.

Rocky Mountain National Park Sees Record Visitation

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) set a record attendance in 2016 with over 4.5 million visits to the park. An 8.7 percent increase from 2015. Within 2016, all months except December set monthly visitation records. These final numbers represent a 32 percent increase since 2014, and a 40 percent increase since 2012. RMNP was the third most visited National Park behind Great Smoky Mountain and Grand Canyon. Many other national parks in the Rocky Mountain West also had increases in visitation last year as the National Park Service celebrated its Centennial in 2016.

According to Kyle Patterson with the Park, "Determining visitation is a difficult and imprecise effort. Visitation statistics are reliably accurate estimates and help park managers see overall trends. Fall visitation, particularly on weekends, continues to increase at Rocky Mountain National Park. Winter weekend visitation also continues to increase. The top ten busiest days in 2016 in order from first to tenth were: September 24, July 3, September 4, September 17, July 24, July 10, July 17, September 5, July 23 and July 30."

The park is 415 square miles with over 300 miles of hiking trails that venture into the back country. RMNP also has over 450 miles of fishable water including the headwaters of the Colorado River, Big Thompson River, and the Cache La Poudre. Anglers can find native cutthroat trout (Greenback on the East side and Colorado on the West), brown trout and brook trout.

Plentiful fishing opportunities and wildlife sightings are a big reason why so many people visit this public lands haven every year.