CTU Thanks Rep Polis for Standing with Rivers

Today - March 13 - the US House of Representatives will be voting on HR 3189, the Water Rights Protection Act.  The bill originated as a response to Forest Service policy that required ski areas to transfer their snowmaking water rights to the US as a condition of their ski area permits.  Unfortunately, the actual legislation as passed by House Committee goes far beyond addressing that narrow issue - and would jeopardize important authorities for federal land managers to protect streamflows on National Forests and other public lands.  These "bypass flow" authorities ensure that minimum stream flows can be maintained below dams and diversions on pubilc lands. Colorado Congressman Jared Polis (2nd CD), whose district includes some of Colorado's most popular ski areas, was a cosponsor of HR3189, but in light of the threat the bill now poses to healthy rivers has withdrawn his support and plans to offer an amendment to narrow the bill to its original purpose - requiring the Forest Service to adopt a new policy for ski area water rights which does not require their ownership to be transferred to the US Government.

Colorado TU thanks Congressman Polis for standing with Colorado's rivers, and supporting common-sense, balanced solutions that help protect healthy waterways while meeting the needs of Colorado's ski industry.  Click here to see Colorado TU's letter to the Congressman.  If you live in the 2nd Congressional District, please take a moment to thank the Congressman for his leadership - you can email him by clicking here.

Sportsmen Pleased with Decision to put Clean Water Act into Action in Bristol Bay

Provisions within the Act Could Halt Pebble Mine in the Heart of Wild Alaska Trout Unlimited today congratulated the Environmental Protection Agency for putting the Clean Water Act into action and potentially halting the infamous Pebble Mine in the headwaters of Alaska’s storied Bristol Bay watershed.

“It is difficult to overstate the significance of this announcement. If the EPA follows the science and follows through on this, it will rank as one of the most significant conservation achievements of the past 50 years,” said Trout Unlimited president and CEO, Chris Wood. “This is one of the few places left on earth where nature works as it should, and it’s a breadbasket for the world, supplying literally hundreds of thousands of people with wild salmon.”

By putting into action Section 404 (c) of the Clean Water Act, the EPA is starting a process that will determine if large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay watershed of southwest Alaska, specifically the Pebble deposit, can co-exist with the area’s renewable natural resources, most importantly the waters that provide the spawning and rearing habitat for the world’s largest sockeye salmon, as well as trophy rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic grayling and four other Pacific salmon species.

An EPA watershed report produced last year makes it clear that mining in this area would damage vital salmon habitat and, in the event of spills or accidents, put that habitat in imminent danger in perpetuity. By putting the process outlined in the Clean Water Act into play, the EPA is setting a very high—but reasonable and appropriate—bar for Pebble Mine to get over and prove there won’t be impacts to water quality and the region’s irreplaceable fishery.

“This is a very proactive and thoughtful decision on the part of the EPA, and we at Trout Unlimited join with the millions of sportsmen and women across America in congratulating Administrator McCarthy for taking this important step,” said Steve Moyer, vice president for government affairs. “This issue has been our top conservation issue for nearly a decade, and our volunteers from all over the country have worked very hard to get to this point. We’re very pleased that the EPA has heard our voices, and we are grateful that it is translating the desires of millions of anglers into action.”

Bristol Bay’s salmon provide upwards of 14,000 jobs in Alaska and the Northwest every single year, and about half of the world’s annual sockeye salmon harvest comes from this region. Additionally, this area of Alaska is known for its unparalleled sportfishing—it’s probably the best place in North America to catch rainbow trout that will stretch a tape to 30 inches or more.

“This is the best place in the world to fish for salmon and trout, period,” said Tim Bristol, director of TU’s Alaska Program. “Sportsmen and women from Alaska and all over the United States have led the charge against Pebble Mine and for the protection of Bristol Bay’s salmon and trout for a long time. To see the process put in place that could protect thousands of long-term jobs in the commercial fishing industry and the opportunity for coming generations to fish for salmon and trout in Alaska is very gratifying. While we won’t know the outcome of this process for some time, it’s clear the EPA is listening to anglers, hunters and the people of Bristol Bay. I hope sportsmen and women all over America will join me in applauding the EPA for taking this bold step.”

---Chris Hunt, National Director of Communications, chunt@tu.org

Bipartisan support moves Hermosa legislation forward

A very important bill for native cutthroat trout, The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act, continues to move forward in Congress.  In late November of last year, the Hermosa Creek legislation received a hearing in the Senate subcommittee of Energy and Natural Resources.  The bill’s Senate sponsor, Senator Bennet, gave impassioned and enthusiastic testimony.  In speaking to the overwhelming local support and lack of any opposition, Senator Bennet said, “You may have some controversial bills before you today, Mr. Chairman, but this is not one of them.”  Senator Bennet even gave a plug to Trout Unlimited’s leading efforts while highlighting native trout and big game habitat. The Hermosa Creek legislation is unique in many ways.  It is the first bill to protect an entire watershed as an intact, whole unit.  The bill is one of only a few, ever, where native trout are one of the major values being protected.  The Hermosa Creek bill has the support of the CO Snowmobile Association and CO Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition – a rare endorsement for a bill containing a wilderness component.  But, what was of significant interest at the Senate hearing was the presence, and testimony, of the bill’s House sponsor, Representative Tipton.  Rarely does a House member testify in the Senate.  Misters Tipton and Bennet sat side-by-side in a show of bipartisan support, unified by a magical place and the values of Southwest Colorado.

In a time of hyper-partisanship in Congress, bitter fighting and impermeable party walls, it is refreshing to see a special place in Colorado bring Congressional members together, even if for just a moment.  With the continued support of Trout Unlimited’s members, staff and resources, we hope to see Hermosa Creek remain just the way it is for the next generation of sportsmen and women.

See the proposal at www.hermosacreek.org and follow us on Facebook at ‘Sportsmen for Hermosa’.

---Ty Churchwell, Sportsmen's Conservation Project, tchurchwell@tu.org

New Bill Would Protect Browns Canyon

Senator Mark Udall recently introduced legislation, S. 1794 - the Browns Canyon National Monument and Wilderness Act of 2013 - that would help protect one of Colorado's treasured landscapes and the wildlife, fisheries, and recreation it supports. TU is part of the "Sportsmen for Browns Canyon" coalition that has been seeking protection of this important area, and applauded Senator Udall's introduction of legislation to designate a new National Monument and wilderness within a portion of it.  The bill would:

• Create a 22,000-acre national monument along the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Salida, including 10,500 acres of new wilderness;
• Preserve visitor access as it is now;
• Protect existing legal uses as they are now, allowing fishing, hunting, livestock grazing, commercial outfitting, mountain biking and motorized use to continue uninterrupted; and
• Maintain the ongoing, cooperative management of the area by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife.

"Browns Canyon is a Colorado treasure, offering great fishing and one of the nation's most popular boating reaches," said Colorado TU Executive Director David Nickum.  "We thank Senator Udall for introducing legislation to help keep Browns like it is, and to protect it for future generations. And we encourage the rest of Colorado's congressional delegation to join in supporting protection for Browns."

The Pueblo Chieftain has endorsed the legislation; you can read their editorial here.

You can read the text of the new legislation here.

TU Hosts Browns CanyonTelephone Town Hall with Sen. Udall

On Tuesday evening, December 3, Colorado TU will be hosting a special telephone town hall with sportsmen from across Colorado to hear about proposals to protect Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River as a National Monument.  The call will be hosted by Kirk Deeter, TROUT magazine editor and Field and Stream editor at large.  Senator Mark Udall will take part and share updates on his legislation to create a new National Monument at Browns Canyon.  Other speakers will include local experts Bill Dvorak (angling and rafting outfitter, hunter) and Karen Dils (angler, boater, hiker).  More than 100,000 sportsmen will be invited to participate - and to have the chance to ask their questions and share their stories about Browns Canyon.  You can take part as well! The Town Hall is part of the Sportsmen for Browns Canyon initiative, to engage and connect hunters and anglers with efforts to protect a spectacular reach of river and a true Colorado backcountry gem that surrounds it. You can learn more by visiting us and liking us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SportsmenForBrownsCanyon.

If you'd like to take part in the Telephone Town Hall, you can do so by calling (855)-756-7520 Ext.23322# between 7 and 8 pm Mountain Standard Time on Tuesday, December 3.

A balanced approach to wind and solar energy development on public lands

As commercial-scale wind and solar projects become an increasing presence on our public lands, sportsmen, state and county governments are stepping up to support the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (Senate Bill 279 and House Resolution 596) that have been introduced in U.S. Congress.  These renewable energy projects take up large chunks of land for long periods of time, and may cause some unavoidable impacts on fish, wildlife and water resources and recreational access. The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act offers a way to offset unavoidable impacts by creating a conservation fund derived from royalties and other revenues generated by public land wind and solar energy projects. SB 279 would establish a formula for the distribution of wind and solar lease revenue where:

-25% would go to the state where projects are sited;  -25% would go to the counties where projects are sited;  -15% would fund the Interior Department to process wind and solar lease applications; -35% would be deposited in a fund for fish, wildlife, and land conservation. -Under H.R. 596, 25% of revenues would be deposited in the conservation fund, and 10% would be put toward deficit reduction.

Another important component of the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act is that it can lead to a better framework for the federal agencies managing wind and solar on public lands. Right now land managers are using rights-of-way and special use permits—tools better suited to permitting irrigation ditches or cell phone towers than large-scale energy projects.  SB 279/ HR 596 are needed to provide specific direction for how best to administer wind and solar energy projects on public lands.

Specifically, these bills:

• Create a pilot program to determine whether and how to transition to a leasing program for public land wind and solar projects. • Establish a royalty fee for public land wind and solar projects • Outline a clear process for current and pending projects to transition to a leasing system

In Colorado, the bills continue to garner support and are currently supported by TU, CTU, the National Wildlife Federation, the San Luis Valley chapter of TU, Montezuma County, Clear Creek County, the San Luis Valley County Commissioner’s Association.  Additionally, the Western Governors’ Association supports the leasing and royalty concept in the Bills.

Colorado congressional representatives also support the legislation with Senators Udall and Bennet cosponsoring S279, and Representatives Coffman, Degette, Gardner, Perlmutter, Polis, and Tipton signing on as co-sponsors in the House.  Please thank them for their support should you have the chance during a district meeting with them.

Should you need more information on either of these bills or want to add your name in support of the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act, please contact Bob Meulengracht at 303-514-8227 or rmeulengracht @tu.org.

Statement from Trout Unlimited on the Shutdown of the Federal Government

Trout Unlimited is disappointed by the federal government shutdown because it undercuts fall fishing opportunities that are economically vital to communities bordering national parks and monuments. The shutdown also threatens to hamstring vital conservation efforts nationwide. For the first time in 17 years, our federal agency partners are not allowed to go to work with us, and the gates leading to some of the world’s best fisheries are locked. Trout Unlimited strongly urges Congress to restore government funding as soon as possible. Adverse impacts to TU are immediate. Many of TU’s science and restoration experts are prepared to attend this week’s Wild Trout Symposium in Yellowstone National Park, which is almost certain to be cancelled because the park is closed. Going on its 40th year, the symposium is a conference held every three years to bring together the best international experts on wild trout science and restoration techniques. This event is just the kind of activity that makes federal, state and local agencies, as well as their non-profit partners, more efficient at investing public and private resources in science and restoration. Thousands of dollars are lost, as are opportunities to improve trout conservation and make fishing better all across America.

Incredible fisheries will be off limits due to the closure of national parks, national wildlife refuges, and other federal facilities, at a time when they are most productive for anglers. Thousands of anglers were hoping to finish their fishing season chasing brown trout on Yellowstone’s famed Firehole River or cutthroats in the scenic Lamar Valley. Others were setting out to pursue the brightly colored brook trout of Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountain national parks.  Many of these anglers have campsites reserved, flights booked and hotels reserved that revolve around access to these national parks.  Lands owned by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management will see many campgrounds closed, even barred shut when possible. To those planning on visiting these areas, and to the communities that depend on the tourism dollars anglers generate, Congress’ inability to act is ruining vacations and literally taking money from merchants at a time when it’s needed most.

In Colorado’s Front Range communities, TU is coordinating with federal partners to help recover from severe flooding. While emergency personnel are still on the job, many of those federal partners have been forced to stop working during a critical time for affected Coloradans.

TU’s 150,000 members and volunteers, who selflessly donate almost 700,000 hours to conservation every year, understand that getting trout and salmon streams protected, reconnected and restored requires working together with partners and allowing common sense to prevail. As we cooperate with local, state and federal governments, landowners and industry representatives every day, we hope that Congress can do likewise and restore funding for these vital operations.  This government shutdown is a stark reminder that our nations parks and monuments have a very real economic value to Americans from coast to coast, and that the government’s role in managing those lands on behalf of all Americans cannot be underestimated. TU hopes this reminder will spur Congress to act and provide the funding to sustain the traditions treasured by the nearly 40 million Americans who hunt and fish.

---Steve Moyer, Vice President for Government Affairs Trout Unlimited

TU and Tipton - together on Hermosa

Last week TU staff and members of the ‘Sportsmen for Hermosa’ coalition had the great pleasure of spending the day in the Hermosa Creek area with staff from Representative Tipton’s DC office.   Representative Tipton is the sponsor of the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act in the House.  The group toured the area, enjoyed a wonderful hike while fishing for native cutthroats.  We continue to be grateful for Mr. Tipton’s support. Join in the support by visiting - https://www.facebook.com/SportsmenForHermosa.

Coming together for Hermosa Creek

A bipartisan, legislative effort is underway in DC to protect the Hermosa Creek watershed just north of Durango, Colorado.  Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Scott Tipton have joined forces to sponsor companion bills in both houses of Congress.  When successful, this federal bill will protect an entire, intact watershed as a whole unit – a first in the US! The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act of 2013 represents ten years of exhaustive work by both TU volunteers and staff.  In true “One TU” spirit, the Hermosa Creek area has long-been a focus area for TU.  In fact, it is the Hermosa Roadless Area which prompted the formation of TU’s national public land division, the Sportsmen’s Conservation Project (SCP, formerly the Public Land Initiative) in 2004.  At that time, the ‘Roadless Rule’ was more than controversial.  Hermosa Creek contains Colorado’s largest, unprotected roadless area.  For this reason, SCP was born, then employing just two staff.  Today, SCP continues to be headquartered in Durango and has grown to 29 staff in twelve western states.

While Hermosa Creek is a favorite among all types of backcountry recreationists (mountain bikers, OHV enthusiasts, backpackers, campers etc.), the basin is particularly important to sportsmen.  The upper third of the basin is home to CPW’s largest and most important native Colorado River cutthroat trout reintroduction areas.   The remaining two-thirds of the basin is loaded with hungry rainbows, cutthroats and brookies, eager to take a summertime dry fly.    In 2010, Hermosa Creek was featured in an episode of TU’s ‘On the Rise’, highlighting the cutthroat fishery.    Furthermore, the western half of the basin contains some of SW Colorado’s most productive and spectacular elk habitat.  In 2009, Hermosa Creek received a state designation of ‘Outstanding Waters’ for its exceptionally high natural water quality.  Hermosa Creek is vital to diluting acid mine drainage from mines above Silverton into the headwaters of the Animas River.  This recognition of water quality was a first for an area not designated as a wilderness area.

The proposal to protect Hermosa Creek was the result of an open, all-inclusive, stakeholder-driven process initiated by Five Rivers TU chapter president, Chuck Wanner, in 2008.  The ‘Rivers Protection Workgroup’ met for 22 months and enjoyed participation by everyday citizens, conservationists, water development advocates, federal and state agencies, county governments, a tribe and representatives from every Hermosa recreational user group.   In the end, the workgroup reached overwhelming consensus that the Hermosa Creek area is worthy of federal protection.  Senator Bennet’s staff took the recommendations of the workgroup and created legislation, which was adopted by Representative Tipton in April of 2013.  The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act has received unanimous support locally, across the region and the state.

Sportsmen have unified and spoken as one in support of protections for Hermosa’s exceptional backcountry.  The ‘Sportsmen for Hermosa’ is a coalition of sportsmen’s conservation groups, fly shops, guide/outfitter services, hunting retailers, rod manufacturers and more.  Learn more about the TU-led coalition and proposal at:  www.facebook.com/sportsmenforhermosa or www.hermosacreek.org.

In a time when Americans can’t seem to agree on anything, it is refreshing to see a community, its elected officials and every user group can come together around a very special place, ensuring out sporting heritage is passed down to the next generation of anglers and hunters.

- Ty Churchwell, Backcountry Coordinator Sportsmen’s Conservation Project, Trout Unlimited

Colorado Continues Commitment to Water Quality Through Grant Awards

Governor Hickenlooper today announced state grants to local governments and special districts to help meet the challenge of protecting water quality from nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.  The Governor highlighted the importance of clean water to Colorado's communities and economy, while noting the importance of the State being a partner in dealing with the financial burden of meeting these water quality standards.  Colorado TU and its partners at Conservation Colorado, High Country Citizens Alliance, and San Juan Citizens Alliance issued a joint statement: "We are excited to join Governor Hickenlooper today to announce the awarding of grants to help domestic wastewater treatment plants address the serious problem of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in our streams and rivers. By awarding these grants, Governor Hickenlooper and the Colorado State Legislature continue their commitment to protecting water quality and healthy flows.

Water is a fundamental component of our life in Colorado - it is vital to growing our crops, supports our world class trout fishing, and is critical to Colorado’s burgeoning beer brewing industry. But nitrogen and phosphorous pollution present a real risk to our rivers and streams. If levels creep too high, they degrade water quality, cause algae growth, reduce the clarity of our waters, and negatively impact aquatic life by diminishing dissolved oxygen.

As a result of this growing problem, in 2012, Colorado adopted strong regulations and standards to address increasing pollution in our waterways. These standards take into account our multi-billion dollar recreation economy because protecting water quality IS good for business.

This past spring, our legislature and Governor Hickenlooper took the next step through House Bill 1191 which will help communities across Colorado implement these standards. We are fortunate through the passage of legislation and the awarding of these grants, the State is able to provide meaningful funding to begin to address our water quality problems.

We applaud Governor Hickenlooper and his commitment to strong phosphorus and nitrogen pollution controls. In doing so he supports the health of Colorado’s and the nation’s waterways. By creating these standards - and the means to implement them - we are working to protect the health of our water and economy."

Pete Maysmith, Conservation Colorado David Nickum, Colorado Trout Unlimited Dan Randolph, San Juan Citizens’ Alliance Greg Dyson, High Country Citizens Alliance