Debate continues over off-road vehicle use

Summit Daily News - by Bob Berwyn

Growth of motorized recreation spurs funding questions

A coalition of conservation and outdoor user groups wants to earmark specific portions of the $3.2 million pot for restoration and law enforcement, but some regional public land administrators, along with representatives of motorized groups, advocated the status quo....  Speaking on behalf of Colorado Trout Unlimited, Dave Peterson said enforcement and restoration efforts haven't come close to keeping pace with the growth in off-road use in recent years. Read more

State board approves water trust with PitCo

by Brent Gardner-Smith

Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) on Monday approved a proposal from Pitkin County to hold 4.3 cubic feet per second of water in a trust in order to leave the water flowing down Maroon Creek and the Roaring Fork River. The trust agreement allows the county to ultimately retain its water rights, without weakening those rights, and empowers the CWCB to manage the water under its minimum streamflow program to the benefit of the rivers’ aquatic environments.

Pitkin County’s proposal, which has been in front of the CWCB since January, had the support of the Colorado Water Trust, Trout Unlimited, and the Colorado Environmental Coalition.

http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/137663

Pitkin County to donate water to boost Roaring Fork flows

Trust agreement a first in Colorado

Janet UrquhartThe Aspen Times

DENVER — Pitkin County will become the first holder of water rights in Colorado to donate water to a river in order to augment in-stream flows.

The nine voting members of the Colorado Water Conservation Board approved a trust agreement with the county Monday in Denver after a four-and-a-half-hour hearing.

“Everybody had smiles on their faces — except the opponents,” said John Ely, county attorney, in a telephone interview at the close of the proceedings.

The CWCB staff, Pitkin County and representatives of Trout Unlimited and the Colorado Water Trust spoke in favor of the trust arrangement, as did the city of Aspen's water counsel, Ely said.

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20091116/NEWS/911169978/1077&ParentProfile=1058

First Annual Collegiate Peaks Anglers Benefit Art Show

Sat. Nov 21, 6:00pm - 9:00 pm at Virtuosity Gallery, 106 North F Street, Salida - 719-221-8964. Salida artists Joshua Been and Carl Ortman present an angler and water themed art show at Virtuosity Gallery to benefit Collegiate Peaks Anglers. Both painters continually support local conservation efforts and invite you to share a visual journey of our valley. Please join us for an evening of wine, hors d'oeuvres, tall tales and original oil paintings. With the holidays coming, pick up a one of a kind painting for your one of a kind person. Prices range from $150 to $3000 and 30% of the proceeds will benefit Collegiate Peaks Anglers. To see examples of Joshua Been’s work go to www.joshuabeen.com.

Rethinking the Roan Plateau

Opinion: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

We hope the court will direct the Department of Interior to cancel the Roan leases, refund the lease money and consider technological changes that would allow the industry to extract the bulk of the natural gas. Environmentalist contend that, using 2007 technology, the vast majority of the gas resources underlying the Roan can be extracted without disturbing the top. Read more

Colorado Supreme Court clamps down on water rights

By Bob Berwynsummit daily news

According to Drew Peternell, of Colorado Trout Unlimited's Western Water Project, the Supreme Court laid out a new test for public utilities. In the Pagosa Springs case, the court ruled that the city's claim for water based on a 100-year planning horizon was not reasonable.

“They have to show that claim for water is based on realistic projections for population growth. They can't just pull numbers out the air,” Peternell said.

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20091113/NEWS/911129968/1078&ParentProfile=1055

Dry Gulch case: back to water court

By Chuck McGuire

PagosaSUN.com staff

In its most recent appeal, TU argued that the districts’ revised figures were still not in line with credible future water use projections and amounted to speculation. In Monday’s decision, the high court unanimously agreed, finding insufficient evidence to support the quantities of water Lyman awarded, either in direct flow rights or storage.

In its decree, the Supreme Court ruled that the 23,500-acre-foot size approved by the water court is based on “speculative claims, at least in part.”

In response, TU insists that, “Unless the Pagosa districts can now demonstrate a ‘substantial probability’ that a reservoir of that size is needed to meet future needs, the water court must reduce the amount of their claimed water.”

TU went on to say, “We’re ready to talk with the Pagosa Springs stakeholders and craft a solution that meets a range of valid needs, including municipal growth, agriculture and recreation and wildlife. But any solution has to be based on credible, substantiated numbers about future water supply and needs.”

http://www.pagosasun.com/archives/2009/11november/110509/pg1drygulch.html

Upper Colorado River, Front Range water resources threatened

Colorado Independent

By David O. Williams

Some water experts warn the upper Colorado River is an endangered species if current residential growth patterns and water consumption patterns continue along the state’s Front Range, and they’re increasingly concerned proposed energy production on the Western Slope will accelerate its demise. Ken Neubecker, president of the state counsel of Colorado Trout Unlimited and a member of the Colorado River Basin Roundtable, points out that already 64 percent of the upper Colorado River above Hot Sulfur Springs in Grand County is diverted across the Continental Divide to the Front Range population centers of the state.

http://coloradoindependent.com/41558/upper-colorado-river-front-range-water-resources-threatened

User fees divide OHV riders

By LE ROY STANDISH

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

Proponents are asking Colorado State Parks to adopt a new formula for the distribution of OHV user fees, which riders pay to the state when they register their vehicles. The proposal asks that 40 percent of the $3.1 million available from user fees be used for enforcement of OHV laws, and that an additional 30 percent be used for additional signs that tell riders where they can and cannot legally ride. “There is a desperate need for funding law enforcement,” said Aaron Clark, spokesman for the Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance.

Clark said funding of enforcement of OHV riders is left to counties.

“We need to restore the damage and close the illegal routes and enforce those (closings), so we don’t have more damage,” Clark said. “This is a reasonable way to help pay for it.”

The proposal is supported by organizations such as Responsible Trails America, the Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance, Trout Unlimited and the Colorado Wildlife Federation.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2009/11/05/110609_1A_OHV_funds.html

Animas Restoration Project Complete

From our man on the scene, Ty Churchwell:

After three years of raising money, advocating and planning, the largest and most ambitious 5 Rivers TU project to date is complete.  The entire chapter should be proud of our accomplishment.  This was truly a community project and our most valuable resource has been improved.

This project was born of our involvement with the Animas River Task Force, a citizen advisory council with representation by the chapter.  A City of Durango ordered river corridor assessment identified nine locations within city limits where sever riverbank degradation was occurring.  TU and Animas Riverkeeper representatives recognized the opportunity for a project and jumped at the chance.  A partnership was formed and planning began.

The section of the Animas below 9^th street, along Roosa Ave., was determined to be the highest priority, this due to its visibility and proximity to the downtown corridor and the tree assets in peril.  Additionally, trout habitat in this section was minimal and in need of improvement.  Many of our visiting anglers find this water to be the most convenient for their quick afternoon outings while the family shops.

Five Rivers and Riverkeeper began raising money in 2006.  An initial plan was designed and the City of Durango was approached for permission and potential partnership.  Our partners with the city were thrilled that a grassroots effort was forming and they signed on in support.  Financial assistance was offered and they acted as the contractor for grant requests and permitting.  The partners applied for and were awarded a DOW “Fishing is Fun” grant representing roughly 75% of the project costs.  Via the annual fundraising banquet, the chapter raised our commitment of $7000.  Once the 2009 city budget was approved, we were fully funded.

Numerous contractors were interviewed and we had a say in who was hired.  In Western Stream Works from Ridgeway, we found a passionate restorator who embraced our beliefs and vision for the project.  Contrived and man-made was not the look we were going for.  Quality habitat and long-term riverbank protection was the goal.  Thank you Bill!