Windy Gap Permit Locks in River Protections

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released its final 401 water quality certification for the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project (WGFP). The 401 permit affirms the health of the Upper Colorado River and it's world-class trout fishery. The WGFP would divert additional water from the Upper Colorado River to the northern Front Range. Currently, Front Range diversion projects have removed about 60 percent of the native flows of the Colorado River headwaters. The proposed Windy Gap expansion would reduce the native flows even further.

But through the collaborative effort of Trout Unlimited, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (subdistrict), Grand County, and the Upper Colorado River Alliance, the 401 permit for WGFP will address stream temperature impacts during summer low flows, provide periodic flushing flows, and require ongoing monitoring and response if degraded conditions are discovered.

“This long-term monitoring and flexibility of response is called ‘adaptive management’—and it’s a critical feature of the permit requirements,” said Mely Whiting, counsel for Trout Unlimited. “Adaptive management recognizes that stakeholders can’t foresee every problem, and it provides a process for ongoing monitoring and mitigation of river problems as they arise.”

“We wouldn’t be at this point without the leadership of Grand County and their persistent efforts to improve the health of the Colorado River,” said Kirk Klancke, president of TU’s Colorado River Headwaters chapter. “And the Northern subdistrict also deserves credit for listening to our concerns and working with all stakeholders to find solutions.”

As the flows of the river are diverted and reduced, the water temperature could rise to a level threatening to trout and aquatic life- but with the 401 permit, these conditions will be monitored to ensure the fishery remains Gold. Also with lower flowers, the sediment and algae buildup cements between the cobblestone, preventing invertebrates to hatch and trout to spawn. By providing these flushing flows the sediment will be washed away and leave the cobblestone clear for aquatic habitat to survive.

If the water quality and the fishery is in danger from these changes, the subdistrict will have to investigate to determine if WGFP is contributing or causing the impairment. If it is deemed that WGFP is causing the problem, the subdistrict is required to develop a plan to solve the problem.

Under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act, the state of Colorado must provide the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with a permit certifying that the project will comply with federal water quality standards. The last part of the Windy Gap puzzle is the 404 wetlands permit by the Army Corps of Engineers, which could be issue in 2016.

Once all the permits are issues, resources will be released- including money needed for the Windy Gap Reservoir Bypass to create a new river channel and reconnect the river and its fisheries upstream and downstream of the reservoir.

What's Up With Women

Hey LADIES!! Trout Unlimited is working hard to create opportunities for women to get involved in both our conservation work, and getting out on the river to fish!!

Read the latest Women's Initiative Newsletter to find out what has been happening across the country!!

February Women's Newsletter

Are you a women but do not feel like you have connected with Trout Unlimited yet? If so, we have the perfect weekend planned for you!! Come to our annual Rendezvous. We have an entire weekend planned just for women!! Find more information at this link:

http://coloradotu.org/2016/02/rendezvous-registration-now-open/

The women's workshops and agenda at Rendezvous are a big part due to the great work by CTU's First Lady, Beckie Pendergrass.

Beckie has been a Real Estate broker in Montrose for the past 25 years except for an eight year's break doing development and humanitarian work overseas in Thailand and Ghana, Africa. She is also a "Trout Bum's Widow" being married to Marshall - an avid fly-fisherman and current President of Colorado Trout Unlimited. Being married to the president of an organization could possibly be a busy and exhausting role, however Beckie has taken the role of first lady and embraced it!!

Beckie has been involved with local TU chapter activities in Montrose & Telluride the last 8 years since returning from Ghana - coordinating banquets, fund-raiser events, etc. Her and Marshall have been traveling across the country attending National TU regional and annual meetings learning all about the great work TU has going on. Her biggest impact in Colorado has been her involvement in the CTU Rendezvous by coordinating the Women's Weekend. She not only initiated this program but has been the key to its continued expansion. The ladies that connect with Beckie always leave wanting more! Come meet Beckie this year at our Rendezvous at Hotel Colorado.

Windy Gap Bypass in the Works

Known for carving majestic canyons, millions of years ago the headwaters of the mighty Colorado River carved through the rocks west of Granby and created a small riparian valley where air currents blow through- earning a well-deserved name- Windy Gap. Although the wind continues to gust, the quality of the water has diminished over time.

In the 1980's, Windy Gap Reservoir was built directly inline with the river's east to west flow. Because of this placement, the river velocity drops as it enters the reservoir, resulting in increased sediment buildup. Currently, reservoir permits require building off channel to avoid the problems found in Windy Gap.

TU-CO-201009128-0028

Because of the sediment build up, the Gold Medal status of the Colorado is in jeopardy. Over the years, as the sediment builds, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has seen a decrease in bug life and feeder fish. One of the feeder fish that has almost vanished in the river is Sculpin- a small fish species that not only do trout rely on, but the health of the river relies on too.

“We have looked and looked, but we do not find any sculpin in that section of the river, all the way to Gore Canyon," said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Biologist John Ewitt to Sky-Hi Daily News in Grand County. Sculpin are sensitive to environmental impacts and the levels of sculpin are often used to gauge overall river health.

CPW has also noted a decrease in mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies- three of the main food sources for trout in the area.

But the solution to the problem is near. With help from Trout Unlimited and local organizations, a project to bypass the Windy Gap reservoir is in the works.

Over the last 15 years, Trout Unlimited and local landowners have been lobbying with Northern Water to find a solution to this problem. The groups became known as the Upper Colorado River Alliance (UCRA) and comprised the idea of bypassing the reservoir.

Northern Water was intrigued by the idea as they were looking for a similar way to expand their water storage capabilities. In a project they are calling the Windy Gap Firming Project (WGFP), they would build Chimney Hollow Reservoir to solve the storage problem. When Northern Water went to the Grand County government for a permit on Chimney Hollow, there was a condition for the Windy Gap bypass.

The long-term project will include digging a portion of Windy Gap and using the dirt to build a berm in the current reservoir to create a smaller, adjacent body of water. This will create a new channel for the Colorado River to flow through. Preliminary engineering is expected to be completed this summer.

The total price for the project will be around $9.6 million- and a little under half of that, 4.1 million, has already been secured for the project. Along with $2 million towards the project, Northern Water has contributed around $300,000 towards environmental studies below the reservoir. The state of Colorado has also contributed $2 million to the project.

The Colorado River Headwaters chapter of Colorado TU has been on the forefront of this problem and has been a major part in helping get the bypass underway. With more help from volunteers and members, the bypass can be completed and the 20 miles of Gold Medal waters along the Colorado can thrive.

CTU Welcomes Our Newest Staff Members

Jeff Florence jflorence@tu.orgCommunications and Administrative Assistant

Jeff was hired on last summer as our first ever Communications Intern. Since his internship Jeff has been doing some freelance work for us and recently graduated from Metropolitan State University.  We are fortunate enough that Jeff was looking for work when we needed him the most!! Jeff has now been brought onto our staff to help with all things communications as well as other administrative tasks.

Jeff was born and raised in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. From an early age Jeff has been camping, hiking and fishing in his free time and he also played hockey and baseball growing up. Jeff graduated with a minor in recreation services at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He hopes to one day write for an outdoor magazine and has done some free lance writing for Cabela’s in the past. Jeff is looking forward to getting to work for Trout Unlimited and help spread the story of a great organization while gaining experience in both journalism/communications and non-profit management.

Chase Moore cmoore@tu.org Youth Education Coordinator

Chase is excited to bring his leadership skills and background in environmental education to strengthen CTU’s youth education programs throughout the state. While bicycle touring and backpacking have been Chase’s passion and means to explore the Pacific Northwest, Southwest deserts, and the great state of Colorado, he has always watched anglers gracefully dot the stream banks along many of his adventures. Curiosity and the necessity to see what the fuss was about, Chase decided to give fly fishing a chance via a Tenkara rod. Simply put, “Hook, line, and sinker.”

Chase is joining CTU to help youth across the state understand the importance of a healthy watershed, not just from an angling standpoint, but from a resource management perspective. Put simply, wildlife and people need access to clean, fresh, viable water. Whether leading conservation efforts or leading residential science camps in the Pacific Northwest, working on riparian restoration projects in central Oregon, or teaching environmental science in the Rocky Mountains, Chase has been on the front lines helping people of all ages learn about their natural world and watershed.

A colleague and friend once pondered what makes Chase such a great teacher and thought “It has to do, I think, with making teaching a craft rather than a formula.” Needless to say, Chase is looking forward to applying his craft and more importantly getting young people excited about their waterways. Who knows, maybe there will be more anglers enjoying our streams when people learn to take a moment and slow down. Chase and his saddle are glad he did and are even more thankful to join the family at Colorado Trout Unlimited.

Colorado Introduces It's First Ever Water Plan

In 139 years of Colorado being a state, it had never had a water plan- until today. On Thursday, November 19 the Colorado Water Conservation Board unveiled the State's first ever water plan. The plan will help keep rivers and streams healthy that will continue to support Colorado's economy and quality of life.

“We’re pleased that the Colorado Water Plan recognizes that healthy rivers are central to Colorado’s quality of life and help drive our booming, $13 billion recreation economy,” said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “If we want a future of Gold Medal trout rivers and outdoor opportunities, we need to plan for that future—and this plan is a step in the right direction.”

Colorado Trout Unlimited supports three main components of the plan. The first being that irrigation throughout the state needs to be modernized, communities need to create stream management plans, and lastly, the plan establishes the base work for evaluation trans-mountain water diversion.

Primarily on the Western Slope, TU is working with farmers and ranchers on modernizing their irrigation techniques. The new water plan and Colorado General Assembly help fund the transition and provide incentives and support to farmers and ranchers changing their techniques.

The community Stream Management Plans will help local communities better understand the importance of flows that support a healthy river as well as recreational and other usage.

“Steam management plans bring local water users together to determine how best to use limited water resources,” Said Drew Peternell, director of TU’s Colorado Water Project. “They are an exercise in collaboration.”

TU has opposed trans-mountain water diversions unless there is a large focus on conservation, shows that water is available for the project, and guarantees against environmental or economic harm to the basin of origin.

The Colorado Water Plan is just a beginning. The true test will be the implementation of the proposed ideas.

“The Final Water Plan is a beginning not an end,” said Nickum. “The key to Colorado’s water future will be actual on-the-ground collaboration to meet our water needs while protecting our state’s rivers and agricultural heritage.”

Herman Gulch Trout Salvage

The creek along Herman Gulch may not seem like much, and in some places it’s no more than two feet wide. But it’s still able to maintain a strong ecosystem that allows cutthroat trout to survive. After much consideration by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, it was decided, based on monitoring data from the West Denver TU Chapter, the creek was a great spot to reintroduce native greenback cutthroat trout. On September 11, the West Denver Chapter joined forces with The Greenbacks and Colorado Parks and Wildlife and set off to Herman Gulch to catch as many trout they could and transport them into Clear Creek.

Volunteers split the stream into five sections with each section getting two buckets and four anglers. At the end of the day, the groups successfully caught and transported over 100 healthy trout into holding pens downstream.

Future plans from CPW include shocking and removing the remaining non-native trout before winter. Native greenback reintroduction is set to begin in early spring of 2016.

Below are more photos from the event. Courtesy of Tim Toohey of West Denver Chapter.

Hidden Mile of the Conejos

The San Luis Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited (SLVTU) has been working on a Fishing is Fun project on the Hidden Mile along the Conejos River in cooperation with the US Forest Service (USFS), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Conejos River Anglers Fly Shop and FlyWaters Inc.

It has taken several years for project leader, David Kenvin and other volunteers to get grants, permits and environmental statements. But this summer the actual work commenced.  The project consists of stream and riparian improvement of 3/4 of a mile of the Conejos River on Rio Grande National Forest property. The fish habitat has been degraded from years of trespass grazing. The project includes placement of 300 rocks and twenty wood structures, the improvement of pool and riffle ratios by channel dredge and fill, construction of a parking lot, fencing the entire property to exclude livestock and planting willows to stabilize stream banks.

The total project cost is $96,000 with SLVTU providing $20,000 in cash and volunteer labor worth over $7,800. Conejos River Anglers will provide $500 for signing.  The USFS is providing fencing material and more than 200 hours of labor.  A $67,000 grant from CPW’s Fishing is Fun Program completes the project’s funding. CPW and FlyWaters Inc. will be coordinating the stream improvement portion of the project which is timed for the last two weeks of September 2015.

SLVTU is a small chapter of just over a hundred members.  Money needed for the cash contribution was raised through our annual auctions and donations from the Conejos River Anglers Super Fly contest.  This spring and summer, several volunteers have given more than 425 hours of work building 4-strand barbed wire fence surrounding the riparian zone and floating PVC river-crossing fence at the lower and upper ends of the Hidden Mile.  In the spring of 2016 we anticipate another 90 hours of volunteer work in planting willows along the stream to complete the project.

George is a Sleeper

Moose stands in the wallows and wet of George Creek

Not too long ago I was able to scout some new greenback territory with two colleagues. Upon arrival at George Creek we promptly stretched and yawned then headed to see the stream. It appeared to be a disappointing trickle surrounded by cattle, moose and dense vegetation. We stood, looking at the stream, wondering, who chose this creek and why.

The following Tuesday, in a meeting with Boyd Wright, a Native Aquatic Species Biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife we got our answer. Boyd was able to shine new light on George by explaining the details of the stream. George Creek sits at 9000 feet and has an easy gradient over about six land miles to it's confluence with Cornelius creek- most streams being looked at for greenback restoration are at 10000 ft or higher. Because of the easy gradient and elevation George Creek holds a consistent temperature above its high mountain counter parts. The temperature and elevation duo make George a well above average home for greenbacks.

With temperature and elevation taken care of, the next and most important question to ask is, did greenbacks originally inhabit this area of our state? Yes. The primary aspect of George is its location, after its confluence with Cornelius Creek it flows into the Cache La Poudre, from there its waters eventually wind their way to the South Platte, placing it squarely in the greenbacks native range. So although George may look like a challenging reintroduction site it offers up a robust ecosystem with many benefits. With our doubts eased we left the meeting satisfied with George Creek.

The road to George is a rocky one, literally. Windy, narrow, heavily forested, four wheel drive roads ensure your average sedan driving suburbanite is unable to access the miles of the moose ridden trout stream that is George Creek. With trucks and volunteers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife plan to build many fish barriers in George Creek to prevent nonnative fish from reentering the stream and to prevent the spread of whirling disease to the upper reaches of the creek. Without these barriers, nonnative brook trout would compete with the native cutthroat. Likewise, if whirling disease were to spread up stream it would wipe out the entire population of stocked greenbacks.

The barriers will do an adequate job of keeping the disease from moving up stream via fish, but it can also be spread by humans on dirty gear. It is important to take the proper precautions before recreating in the stream; be sure all of your gear is clean and dry and you walk from the headwaters of the stream down. To find information on cleaning gear see the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Angler Cleaning Card.

George Creek may not be seen as a divine ecosystem for greenbacks but given the current portfolio of streams for greenback restoration, it does provide the necessary diversity in habitat. Recruitment in the stream may be minimal per mile but with many miles of stream and a higher temperature range, along with lush riparian habitat to provide vibrant insect life, the stream makes it a livable home for the greenbacks.

Not to mention a nest egg for research biologists to study for years to come.

Meet the Summer Interns!

Colton Gully and I, Lizzy Wiegers, are most excited about being a part of CTU. We have been working for CTU since June, but have been so busy we nearly forgot to introduce ourselves! About Colton: 

Above all I am thankful to have an internship with an organization that is as passionate about protecting and promoting healthy fish as I am. I am and always will be a fly fisherman. I first picked up a fly rod my freshman year of high school, and after I caught my first fish I was hooked. It just so happened my grade school friend turned into my fishing buddy, and my connection to the fish and the river was strengthened through our combined love of the sport. This past year I have been to school in the Pacific Northwest at Western Washington University; a place so different from home I could still find Colorado on the Nooksack fly fishing.

The Greenback recovery project is as exciting as it gets. We have the opportunity to recover a species of fish that was thought to be extinct. Through my work on this project I hope to convey the importance of these beautiful native trout to the public through social media, journalistic writing, blog posts and website design. Also, this Internship is a perfect stepping stone toward my future goals of working to protect wild spaces throughout our country and maybe even the world.

About Lizzy: 

My name is Lizzy Wiegers and I’m a Colorado native, water enthusiast, and lover of aquatic creatures, nature, dogs, and books. I am going into my sophomore year at Oregon State University where I will be studying English and Environmental Science. Growing up in Colorado, one of the most beautiful states in the country, allowed me to develop a strong relationship with the outdoors at a very early age. During my first year of college I was able to truly understand how important it is to preserve the resources nature has to offer so everyone and everything living throughout the nation can remain happy, and healthy. I am beyond excited about being a part of CTU for the summer so I can help TU strengthen their voice, gain more members, and piece together the stories from chapters throughout the state to better show who CTU is as a whole.

Denver TU Receives Grant from Wells Fargo!

The Greenway Foundation and Denver Trout Unlimited Receive $50,000 Grant from Wells Fargo-NFWF to Support  their Sustainable South Platte River 

Part of $100 million effort to support local environmental nonprofits 

Denver, CO – 06.09.15 – The Greenway Foundation and Denver Trout Unlimited today received a $50,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program, funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation and administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), to support their Sustainable South Platte River Initiative.

Established in 2012, the Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities five-year grant program has awarded $12 million to 207 grantees and funded 247 projects to date that promote conservation and environmental sustainability.

“Denver Trout Unlimited and the Greenway Foundation will work to transform current water use patterns along the South Platte River below Chatfield Reservoir into a model for cooperative water use”, stated Jeff Shoemaker, Executive Director of The Greenway Foundation and Todd Fehr, Former President of Denver Trout Unlimited.  “One of the direct benefits of this collaboratively based endeavor will be the ability to provide added urban ecological restoration of this section of the River within the Denver Metro Area. Without Wells Fargo’s support, this opportunity would not be able to move forward in this manner at this time”

“This environmental grant today is an investment in our local community and will provide much-needed funding aimed at protecting the environment for our local residents,” said Ashley Grosh, Vice President, Wells Fargo Environmental Affairs “We’re proud to collaborate with The Greenway Foundation and Denver Trout Unlimited to use our financial resources, as well as the expertise of our team members, to protect and preserve a more sustainable environment for communities we serve.”

As part of Wells Fargo’s $100 million philanthropy commitment to nonprofits and universities by 2020, a $15 million, five-year relationship with NFWF was created and launched in 2012 to promote environmental stewardship across the country. The goal of the Wells Fargo-NFWF grant partnership and program is to provide grants for highly impactful projects that link economic development and community well-being to the stewardship and health of the environment. The program will fund proposals in select cities/regions (see website for full list) in the following areas:

• sustainable agriculture and forestry
• conservation of land and water resources
• restoration of urban ecosystems
• clean energy infrastructure

The Greenway Foundation and Denver Trout Unlimited were selected from among more than 450 requests submitted by local team members and nonprofits Wells Fargo identified as being in need of extra help with green revitalization projects. In April 2012, Wells Fargo released a set of environmental commitments to be achieved by 2020; including reducing the company’s environmental impact, financing the transition to a greener economy and encouraging stronger and more sustainable communities. Part of this goal includes a $100 million environmental grants commitment by 2020 to create a “greener” future for the communities they serve.

Details of the Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program and a link to the 2016 application (available in September 2015) can be found at the NFWF application website:  www.nfwf.org/environmentalsolutions. Projects benefiting underserved communities and encouraging volunteerism are given priority consideration. The Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant program is funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation to promote environmental stewardship across the country.

Since 1974, The Greenway Foundation has led efforts to:

• Reclaim the South Platte River and its tributaries from a virtual cesspool to a place of environmental and recreational pride.
• Construct more than 100 miles of hiking and biking trails
• Create 20+ parks and natural areas
• Design and build numerous whitewater boat chutes
• Vastly improve the health of the South Platte River Watershed and its habitats
• Provide environmental education to more than 60,000 school children
• Employ more than 100 teenagers in youth employment programs
• Host numerous community events, and annual volunteer river clean up days
• Help create over $500 million of green improvement to the South Platte River and its tributaries, facilitating over $15 billion in residential and commercial development throughout the Denver metro area.  

Current projects include:

• SPREE (South Platte River Environment Education), including River Rangers Youth Employment and
• Greenway Leadership Corps
• River Vision Implementation Plan – South Platte River Master Plan
• PURE (Protect our Urban River Environment)

About Denver Trout Unlimited

The Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited draws it support from the city's downtown and northern suburbs. We have a membership that is young and diverse in interests. DTU espouses and promotes the mission of Trout Unlimited to preserve, protect and restore North America's cold water fisheries and their watersheds.

This is Denver, Colorado and a river runs through it. DTU has adopted a long term goal to turn the Denver South Platte River into an asset for the city of Denver and its citizens. Our objective is to restore aquatic and riparian habitat thus making the South Platte River in Denver a recreational fishing destination for residents and visitors and a refuge for fish and wildlife. Our focus is on the river below the water line, the aquatic insects, the quality and quantity of water, the structures and bottom of the river and, of course the fish and other life forms in the water ecosystem.

One of our current goals is to work on the mechanisms that can bring a minimum flow to the Denver South Platte so that the improved aquatic environments we helped create at Carson Nature Center, Grant Frontier/ Overland Park, and soon River Run Park in Sheridan are preserved during periods of low flow stress.

The world famous Denver Trout Unlimited Pro/Am Fly Fishing Carp Slam is our major fund raising event. Proceeds are used for improving the aquatic habitat of the Denver South Platte and sponsoring Trout-in-the-Classroom sites that connect youth to our river.

Please visit www.DenverTU.org for more information about our chapter’s work and upcoming events.

About Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.7 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,700 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 266,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.