Kerber Creek Gets 50K Grant

Trout Unlimited's Kerber Creek restoration project received a $50,000 grant from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation to help fund the next phase of restoration work on Kerber Creek, near the town of Salida in southwest Colorado.

Trout Unlimited has worked for six years to restore Kerber Creek from the impacts associated with the effects of mining. In the last three years, Trout Unlimited has spent $1.3 million to improve the stream.

"This grant will allow us to take the next critical step in a project that holds vital importance to the area," said Elizabeth Russell, Trout Unlimited's mine restoration project manager.

The Kerber Creek Restoration Project is a joint partnership between Trout Unlimited, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Bonanza Stakeholders Group (BSG), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), local landowners and other partners.

Historic mine tailings from mining that occurred decades ago have washed down through Kerber Creek and are contributing metals and acid drainage into the waterway. The project will work to treat the mine tailings and will install fish habitat and stream bank stabilization structures. (The Collegiate Peaks Chapter has been a key player in the Kerber Creek restoration. Read an October 2011 article by Salida Mountain Mail's Joe Stone on the Kerber cleanup.)

Trout Unlimited and its partners are working to increase understanding of the environmental issues associated with legacy mining and public awareness of restoration projects.

03/09/2012 Contact: Erin Mooney, Trout Unlimited, (215) 557-2845, emooney@tu.org

Trout Unlimited is a non-profit organization with more than 147,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook on Twitter via @TroutUnlimited.

The Upper Colorado: "a collapsing eco-system?"

Is the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement a good deal? While some praise the pact between Denver Water and west slope interests, others question whether the best interests of the Colorado are at the forefront.

"Studies conducted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife clearly show that the upper Colorado River is a collapsing ecosystem. Most of this is due to the fact that well more than 65 percent of the upper Colorado is drained by diversions to the Front Range."

On the Vail Valley Voices page of the Vail Daily's website, CTU Past-president Ken Neubecker questions just how good the CRCA is for the river when all things are considered. Read Ken Neubecker's letter.

Snowpack Inches Up, Falls Short

We had a pretty good February, but we're still down statewide for the season.

According to the Associated Press

"The South Platte basin is in the best shape with a snowpack that's 89 percent of average. The Yampa/White basin is the lowest at 74 percent."

Read the Vail Daily story online.

Support the Hunt & Fish License Plate

We're still working toward a Protect Our Rivers license plate to raise money for river and habitat protection, but in the meantime you can support efforts to create a plate for hungers and anglers.

HB 1275 in the Colorado House of Representatives would establish a specialty license plate program for Colorado’s hunters and anglers. Revenue would support youth hunting and fishing programs within the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Recently the bill passed the House Finance Committee, but to make this license plate a reality 3,000 Coloradans have to sign a petition indicating their support.

Click this link to sign the petition right now. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/support-the-colorado-wildlife-sporting-license/

Farmers, Conservationists Partner Along the Colorado

"Now, as Colorado River Basin stakeholders contemplate possible solutions to long-term shortfalls in the balance between water supply and demand, a group of agricultural and conservation organizations have joined efforts in a ground-breaking new coalition."

As you'd imagine, Trout Unlimited is part of this coalition featured in a piece on Natonal Geographic online by Jennifer Pitt. Read the article at nationalgeographic.com

Win a Gunnison Gorge Float Trip

The Colorado TU raffle could put you in cold water. And you'll never forget it!

The Trip of a Lifetime

When you buy tickets for Colorado TU's statewide raffle, you'll help us fight to keep water in streams, support on-the-ground habitat projects, and help young people develop an appreciation for the aquatic life.

But hey, what's in it for you? How about a three-day float trip through the spectacular Gunnison Gorge? If you're the winner, you'll enjoy three days and two nights along the river as part of a Dvorak Expeditions pack-in trip.

All meals are provided and your camping gear will be packed in (you'll need to hike in about a mile with your personal gear). And experienced guides will row you through one of Colorado's true natural wonders where you'll enjoy world-class fishing on a Gold Medal river.

The trip can be used in the 2012 or 2013 seasons, subject to availability. Retail value is $1,425.

Raffle tickets are $10 each, or $25 for three. The drawing will take place at 7 pm at Colorado TU's Spring Rendezvous on April 21, 2012 at Redstone, Colorado. You need not be present to win.

Click here to purchase single tickets @ $10 each.

Click here to purchase groups of 3 tickets @ 25.

Thanks to Dvorak Expeditions for their generous support of Colorado Trout Unlimited. To learn more about their fishing and rafting trips on the Gunnison, Arkansas, and other great rivers visit www.dvorakexpeditions.com

This raffle is conducted under Colorado Raffle License No 2012-05008, and is open only to residents of Colorado.

Purgatoire River Anglers Celebrate

Purgatoire River Anglers is inviting the community and fans of the Purgatoire to help kickoff the first stage of the Purgatoire River Demonstration Project this Tuesday (March 6) afternoon in Trinidad.

The initial stage includes the stretch of river from in front of Safeway to the Commercial Street bridge. The river will be stocked with trout in the spring and summer months allowing for fishing in the heart of Trinidad. Project partners include the City of Trinidad, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District, Pioneer Natural Resources, Colorado Trout Unlimited, San Isabel Electric Association, Trinidad Community Foundation, COMCAST CARES DAY and the Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce.

“Coming this May folks will be able to fish for trout on the Purgatoire and see a professional baseball game in Trinidad all in one day,” says Howard Lackey, Purgatoire River Anglers (PRA) Past President, while current president Jim Muzzulin adds, “This project is important for tourism and the economy of Trinidad, and couldn’t have happened without the support of our members and the community as a whole.”

Event Time:    12:15pm Location:     The riverbank in front of Safeway and next to the Steam Train. Date:        Tuesday, March 6

Contact: Kim Schultz Kimschultz1@comcast.net

About the Purgatoire River Chapter:

The PRA Chapter 100 was started in September of 2009, and since its inception has worked to enhance and return the Purgatoire River below Trinidad Lake Dam to a healthy aquatic habitat.

Kirk Deeter to Edit Trout Magazine

Trout Unlimited has chosen author, angling guide and local boy Kirk Deeter as the new editor of Trout Magazine, which reaches 140,000 TU members nationwide.

"TROUT is the Gold Standard in this industry," Deeter said, "and I take my new responsibilities very seriously. I've been a Trout Unlimited member for years, and I've long admired TU and the work it does on behalf of fish and fishing all over the country. Serving its members through the pages of TROUT, and helping them channel their passion for fishing into helping TU accomplish its goals is something I'm very excited to take on."

Read National Trout Unlimited's press announcement

Oil & Gas Ad Doesn't Add Up

A controversial radio "Public Service Announcement" produced by the Colorado Oil and Gas Association includes a sound bite by Governor Hickenlooper to the effect that there hasn't been any groundwater contamination associated with drilling or fracking in Colorado since 2008.

There are those who differ:

“There are spills on a weekly basis that affect groundwater,” said Earthjustice attorney Mike Freeman, adding that state records show there were 58 spills from oil and gas operations in 2011."

That quote is one of several in a piece written by Bob Berwyn for the Summit County Citizen's Voice.

Read Bob Berwyn's article

Black Canyon Fishing Show Saturday

It won't cost you a dime to drop in at the Black Canyon Fly Fishing show this Saturday, March 3 at the Montrose County Fairgrounds.

The Black Canyon Fly Fishing Show is sponsored by Gunnison Gorge Anglers and features:

• 40+ Fly tiers
• Youth events including fly tying, casting and contests
• Hourly fishing programs
• Local fly shops and vendors
• A fantastic raffle package & door prize of an HDTV
• Evening banquet and auction - $25

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm - show is one-day only, March 3

Location: Friendship Hall at Montrose County Fairgrounds.

Visit the Gunnison Gorge Anglers website