Internship Opportunity in Vail/Eagle Valley!!

Are you a college student home for the summer and looking for a PAID Internship working for one of the top conservation organizations in the country? Well, you are in luck!! The Eagle Valley chapter is looking to bring on a summer intern to help them with outreach. Read the description below and apply to Brian Bloess at brian.bloess@americangypsum.com.  Position will be filled as soon as a qualified candidate is found.  

Employer: Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU)

Position: Communications Intern

Office Location: Denver

Supervisor – Brian Bloess, Chapter President, brian.bloess@americangypsum.com

Supervisor – Rick Messmer, rick@vail.net

Organization Overview:

Trout Unlimited is Colorado’s leading fisheries conservation organization with a mission to conserve, protect, and restore coldwater streams and their watersheds. Eagle Valley Trout Unlimited (EVTU Chapter #102) is based in the Vail area with a membership base of over 180 current members.  EVTU’s focus is on effective grassroots advocacy for river conservation, coupled with on-the-ground volunteer efforts that directly contribute to stream habitat improvement and wild and native trout restoration.

Position Description:

The Communications Intern will work with Eagle Valley Trout Unlimited to increase the chapter’s marketing and outreach efforts with respect to our online presence, membership/recruitment, youth education, and event planning/fundraising.

This intern will work with chapter members, volunteers, and partners, and will help develop the chapter’s marketing project plans and materials. EVTU has a website at www.eaglevalley.tu.org

That will need to be updated on a regular basis with information about fundraising, local conservation efforts, and volunteer opportunities.  Interns will be able to have work published on this site. This position will provide the intern with exposure to professional development opportunities, connections with other conservation non-profits, and exposure to state and federal agencies such as the BLM, and DOW. The intern will also attend EVTU chapter meetings to learn more about chapter operations and project planning.

This is a paid internship opportunity. The time requirement is 100 hours, consisting of 10 to 20 hours of work per week depending on the academic credit agreement with your college. The duration of the internship shall not exceed six months.

Key Objectives:

Intern will work with EVTU to assist with chapter marketing objectives and projects. Some of these projects include the following in order of priority:

• Implement the CTU SALSA membership database for EVTU, and work with the EVTU webmaster to link to the EVTU website as appropriate.
• Assist with marketing and promotion of the Upper Colorado Fall Classic fly fishing event, the main EVTU fundraising event held each September.
• Assist with recruitment of sponsors and donors for UCFC, and explore opportunities to increase UCFC fundraising efforts.
• Develop strategies to increase outreach to youth, increase youth education efforts, and serve as liaison to the World Fly Fishing Championships coming to Vail in September.
• Help promote selected projects, events, volunteer opportunities and more through media, local newspapers, online outlets, and the EVTU website.
• Write an article for the EVTU website and for list serve distribution to the EVTU membership database.

Other Duties:

Intern will participate in other areas of work as necessary. Attending EVTU chapter meetings shall be required. Intern will develop relationships with other organizations, local and state agencies, and other groups as needed, and will represent the TU mission in all partnerships developed.

Qualifications:

• Must currently be enrolled at a higher education institution.
• Must be currently enrolled in one of the following areas of study:
  • Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Journalism, Communications, Business Management, Ecology, Water Studies, Wildlife or Fisheries Management or closely related area of study that have a focus on conservation or communications.
• Experience with fly fishing, conservation, and knowledge of the local watershed, are a plus.

Minimal travel will be required for this position. Intern must have their own form of transportation and a valid driver’s license.

Compensation:

This is a paid internship opportunity. Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) will pay $600 after successful completion of the first half of the internship (50 hours), and will pay an additional $600 after successful completion of the full internship program (100 hours). (EVTU will reimburse CTU for all pay related to the internship.) This pay will be provided to the intern based on the timeliness and quality of the work performed, which will be reviewed and approved by the designated supervisors at EVTU.  This pay is considered a bonus in addition to college credit.  Pay will only be provided if timeliness and quality objectives are met, which will be at the sole discretion of EVTU.

CTU will work with your college or university to provide academic credit for the internship placement.

Travel will be reimbursed based on mileage.

To apply: Please send letter of interest, resume, and transcript to Brian Bloess at brian.bloess@americangypsum.com.

CTU is Hiring a Communications Intern!!

Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) has a strong internship program providing college students an opportunity to gain real work experience in their area of study while they are still in school. We have a variety of internship positions available year round in many subject areas. Currently we are hiring a Communications Internship. The job description for this internship is below. If you or anyone you know is interested then please send resume and cover letter to Stephanie Scott at sscott@tu.org.

Employer: Colorado Trout Unlimited Position: Communications Intern Office Location: Denver Supervisor: Stephanie Scott Supervisor Contact: sscott@tu.org

Organization Overview: Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) is Colorado’s leading fisheries conservation organization with a mission to conserve, protect, and restore coldwater streams and their watersheds. CTU's  office is located in Denver, but we work across Colorado with our 24 local chapters. CTU’s focus is on effective grassroots advocacy for river conservation, coupled with on-the-ground volunteer efforts that directly contribute to stream habitat improvement and native trout restoration.

Position Summary: This is a non-paid internship opportunity through Colorado Trout Unlimited. The time requirement is 10-20 hours of work per week depending on the academic credit agreement between CTU and your college. The Communications Intern will work with Trout Unlimited Staff, Chapters, volunteers and members to improve our online presence and to develop stories, articles and blogs to help tell our story of conservation.

The Position Work Plan Includes: Colorado Trout Unlimited is seeking a communications intern to help tell our conservation story. This intern will work to interview staff, chapters, members, volunteers and partners and write articles and stories to highlight our work. We have various websites, social media pages, magazine publications and newsletters in place for the intern to publish their stories/articles in.  This position will provide intern with exposure to professional development opportunities, connections with other conservation non-profits, exposure to state and federal agencies, and when appropriate intern will accompany staff at meetings to learn more about partnership building and project planning.

Duties Include: Intern will work with staff to develop a work plan that will include a variety of communications/journalism duties. Some of these projects and duties include, but are not limited to:

• Writing weekly blog posts on the Colorado Trout Unlimited website and possibly on the National Trout Unlimited website when appropriate.

• Work with staff to gather content for project specific stories.

• Interview chapters on projects that can be highlighted on websites and other publications.

• Develop a stronger online presence for Colorado Trout Unlimited via social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter.

• Develop Materials- Help develop educational materials for our chapters on how to better engage on social media and how to create a better online presence for telling their story.
• Develop Marketing Plan- Help CTU staff develop and implement marketing plan for specific campaigns.

• Help promote selected project, events, volunteer opportunities and more through media, local news papers, online outlets, social media and the Colorado Trout Unlimited website.

• Write articles for High Country Angler a regional fishing magazine. There may be a potential opportunity to write an article for Trout magazine, Trout Unlimited’s national magazine.

• Updating content on the Colorado Trout Unlimited website when appropriate.

Other Duties: Intern will participate in other areas of work when necessary. Attending chapter meetings, board meetings or staff meetings may be required.

Develop relationships with other organizations, local and state agencies and other groups as needed. Represent Trout Unlimited’s mission in all partnerships developed.

Intern will assist conservation staff on other projects if there is a need and if all other responsibilities are covered.

Qualifications: Must currently be enrolled at a higher education institution. Areas of study include: Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Journalism, Communications, Ecology, Water Studies, Wildlife or Fisheries Management or closely related area of study that have a focus on conservation or communications.

Minimal travel will be required for this position. Intern must have their own form of transportation and a valid driver’s license.

Salary Range: This is a non paid internship opportunity. TU will work with your college or university to provide academic credit for the internship placement.

Travel will be reimbursed based on mileage.

How to apply: Send resume and cover letter to Stephanie Scott at sscott@tu.org. Please include when you are available to start work in your cover letter.

Legislation for Thompson Divide Brings Needed Attention

Congressman Scott Tipton released a draft bill in April addressing the ongoing lease conflicts in the Thompson Divide. The bill would allow companies with oil and gas leases in the divide to trade their holdings for similar plots elsewhere in Colorado. The bill is a good start, but does not provide permanent protection for the Divide. . “Permanent protection of the Thompson Divide is the most critical issue for sportsmen and anglers that use the area,” said Tyler Baskfield, Colorado Sportsman Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. “While we are open to a legislative solution to the lease conflicts, we cannot support a proposal that would lead to impacts in other valuable habitat and leave the Thompson Divide susceptible to being leased again in 15 years.”

Thompson Divide is a wildlife haven for big game habitat and is home to designated “outstanding waters” that contain healthy populations of native cutthroat trout. While some of the acreage being proposed for new leases is in areas with relatively low fish and wildlife values compared to the Thompson Divide, other acreage contains important big game hunting habitat and cutthroat trout streams. The draft bill does not address potential protections for this habitat.

“Ultimately, we might be able to support an exchange into the proposed areas so long as sportsmen and anglers are comfortable with protections on the new leases and the areas outside the leases that would be permanently protected. We have not yet had the opportunity to weigh in on the draft bill but are hopeful that Congressmen Tipton will be receptive to our concerns," said Baskfield.

Although the bill doesn't address protection for the Divide, TU and Back Country Hunters and Anglers appreciate the attention for the Thompson Divide and the momentum created by the draft.

“While Congressman Tipton's draft legislation is not yet a viable solution, we appreciate his attention to the Thompson Divide area and look forward to working with him and other stakeholders to include language that will prioritize the important fish and wildlife values of the Thompson Divide and address other conservation opportunities that sportsmen and women have been advocating for with local leaders to promote balance and secure meaningful, lasting safeguards,” said Tim Brass, State Policy Manager for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

The legislation will be discussed at a special meeting of the Garfield County Board of Commissioners Wednesday, April 13 at 2 p.m. The meeting will take place at 108 8th Street, Suite 100, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.

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.