Trout Unlimited, EPA agree on creek cleanup

Pueblo Chieftain

By MATT HILDNER

Elizabeth Russell, who manages Trout Unlimited's efforts on Kerber Creek, said the mine tailings the group encountered on private lands were hazardous enough that it wanted protection from liability. That led to a year of negotiations that resulted in the draft, she said. If finalized, the agreement would cover Trout Unlimited's past actions. The  agreement is only the second of its kind, following on the heels of one the agency and Trout Unlimited signed to clean up the American Fork River in Utah.

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_4a870758-acf0-11df-b597-001cc4c03286.html

Best Wild Places: Exploring the Alpine Triangle (Day Two)

Field & Stream Editor-at-Large Kirk Deeter and photographer Kevin Cooley spent three days with Trout Unlimited exploring the Alpine Triangle, a rugged expanse of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado, so named because the region is loosely contained within the shape made by connecting the towns of Ouray, Lake City, and Silverton. TU wants Congress to declare the place a National Conservation area to protect its streams from mining expansion and new road development. Here's what they found on day two.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/where-fish-trout/2010/08/best-wild-places-exploring-alpine-triangle-day-two

Best Wild Places: Exploring The Alpine Triangle

Field & Stream The “Alpine Triangle” is a rugged expanse of the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado, so named by the Bureau of Land Management because the region is loosely contained within the shape made by connecting the towns of Ouray, Lake City, and Silverton. 

I jumped at the opportunity to cover this story when the Field & Stream editors were divvying up the “Best Wild Places” assignments, because the region has been my home away from home for 25 years.  It’s where many of my formative trout fishing adventures happened, and near where I still make an annual elk hunting camp.  It is, without question, my favorite wild place on earth. 

Yet, as familiar as I thought I was with the Alpine Triangle region, I had never experienced it from as many angles as I did on day one of the Trout Unlimited/Field & Stream adventure.  We kicked off the tour with a full-on “Planes, Trains, & Automobiles” agenda…

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/where-fish-trout/2010/08/best-wild-places-exploring-alpine-triangle

An Overview of the Alpine Triangle

Field & Stream In the high-country heart of southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains rests 180,000 acres of alpine habitat that has sheltered some of the best big game hunting and wild trout fishing in the southern Rockies for thousands of years.

The Alpine Triangle, named because it rests between three communities at it’s “corners”—Lake City, Ouray and Silverton—is a rare stretch of Bureau of Land Management real estate in the heart of traditional “forest” country. Not only does it shelter outstanding wild and native trout habitat, and prime big-game habitat for mule deer, elk and especially bighorn sheep, it’s home to a unique cultural heritage that is truly “old Colorado.”

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/hunting/2010/07/overview-alpine-triangle

Group continues scientific monitoring of West Creek

By Dave BuchananGrand Junction Sentinel

The brushy creek harbors a healthy population of wild brown trout, which are gifted with the ability to survive the warm water temperatures of summer and early fall.

All that brush makes West Creek challenging to fish, which is why you don’t see a whole lot of cars parked along the road.

What you might see, once or twice a year, are members of the Grand Valley Anglers Chapter of Trout Unlimited continuing a creek-monitoring project begun 13 years ago.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/outdoors/articles/group_continues_scientific_mon/

Slamming carp for trout

By Karl LicisSpecial to The Denver Post

"What seems improbable today — fishing for trout downtown — someday could become a normal thing," said Todd Fehr, president of the Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited, who was among the prime movers in establishing the tournament as a chapter project.

The chapter hopes to partner with the appropriate government agencies and other entities for habitat-improvement projects along the river that would make it a better trout fishery while providing new opportunities for fishing in an urban setting.

http://www.denverpost.com/motorsports/ci_15809352

Cristo's Over The River - Love it or Hate it?

There has been much discussion around Cristo's Over The River project that is currently in scoping.  Here is your opportunity to comment to CTU, and let us know how you feel about this. CTU is currently compiling comments and recommendations based on a number of points, both specific to the actual impacts of the project, to the emotional feelings from our members.

I want to hear your voice on this project.  You are what make CTU tick - let us know where you land on this very visible and controversial project.

Sinjin

The 4th Annual South Platte Pro Am Carp Slam, Sponsored by Wells Fargo, World Fishing Network, RIO Fishing Products and Trout's Fly Fishing

When: Saturday, August 21st and 22nd, 2010 Where: Fuel Café in Denver, Colorado

www.carpslam.org

Please join Denver Trout Unlimited as they host the 4th Annual Carp Slam on the banks of the South Platte River in Downtown Denver. This is your chance to become Colorado's premier Carp Fisherman while supporting TU's river conservation efforts. The Grand Prize for winning the "open" format is $1,500.  All proceeds go toward restoration projects taking place on the metro section of the South Platte River.

In addition, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will speak to participants during lunch about the city’s promotion and involvement in River South and River North, the key initiatives that are helping to restore and enhance the S. Platte River for a variety of recreation uses, including fishing!

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

In addition to Wells Fargo as the lead sponsor for the event, this year’s sponsors include World Fishing Network, Trout’s Fly Fishing, Rio Fishing Products, Umpqua, Ross Fly Rods and Reels, Temple Fork Outfitters, FishExplorer.com, Coloradoflyfisherman.com, Orvis Cherry Creek, Hardy and Greys, MichaelGracie.com, Charlie’s Fly Box, Colorado Skies Outfitters, Tonto Hair, Willie Stewart, TrophyRoom.com, theonlinekeepsac.com, Fuel Café and Wynkoop Brewing Co.

Thanks to this year’s sponsors, Day 1 amateur participants will each receive a gift of a pair of Oakley sunglasses (valued at over $150), Rio fly line and leaders (valued at $85), a commemorative Carp Slam T-shirt and numerous other items as a thank you for participating in the event.

Registration Info

You must register ahead of time for the event. To register for the event, or find out additional information, please visit www.carpslam.org or call 720-24TROUT for tickets.

Carp slam poster Final 8-3-10 v2

Willoughby: Healthy upper Colorado isn't sure thing anymore

By Scott WilloughbyThe Denver Post

"We can't continue to take and take water from the upper Colorado without accounting for the serious impacts to fish and wildlife habitat," said Ken Neubecker of Colorado Trout Unlimited. "This is a river on the brink. A vibrant, healthy river system in the upper Colorado is every bit as important to the future of Colorado as the water it supplies to our farms and cities."

Estimates place as much as 60 percent of the upper Colorado already being diverted from the drainage and the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project could take another 20 percent of a river struggling to survive. The proposed Moffat Firming Project, seeking federal approval at the same time, will further reduce flows in the upper Colorado.

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_15725733

Carson Lake’s lure

Grand Junction Sentinel

By Bill Haggerty

Carson Lake has long held a soft spot in my heart. Maybe it’s because Carson is a lovely, pristine mountain lake. Or maybe it’s because Carson Lake is so close to town, I can beat the heat in about an hour and a half. Maybe it’s because one of the finest short drives in the West, the Lands End Road, takes you right up to Carson Lake. (Lands End is a spur of Grand Mesa National Scenic Byway!)

Most likely, however, it’s because I can catch lots of wild, fat brook trout there.

The road is in good shape, and the trek around the lake is an easy hike, except for the bog near the inlet (wear appropriate foot gear!). It’s also a spotless recreation area and we can thank the local Grand Valley Anglers chapter of Trout Unlimited for adopting this lake and keeping it so clear of litter.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/outdoors/articles/carson_lakes_lure/