The Hole in the Colorado River

After eight miles, we reach Windy Gap Reservoir where we meet up with Rob Firth, the Colorado River Headwaters Project Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. He informs us that the full-fledged "hole in the river" begins at Windy Gap and ends where Troublesome Creek reinvigorates the river's flow 21 miles downstream. According to Firth, this stretch is "a terribly dewatered section that puts this river in a very perilous state." Read the complete article in the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zachary-podmore/the-hole-in-the-colorado_b_1749889.html

Bridging the (Thompson) Divide

Help Protect an Area Vital to Western Colorado Fisheries

Senator Michael Bennet recently introduced draft legislation to protect the area known as the Thompson Divide, near Carbondale, Colorado. The bill is being labeled as a discussion draft with the intent of gathering public input before formally introducing it in the Senate.

Many of you may ask why this area matters to TU? That’s a good question with several answers. First and foremost, the Thompson Divide contains several genetically pure populations of cutthroat trout known as conservation populations. These populations are used as a pure source for repopulating areas where cutthroat have been extirpated and need to be restored. Second, the Thompson Divide is, in part, the headwaters to no less than four major rivers – the Crystal, the N. Fork of the Gunnison, the Colorado and the Gold Medal waters of the Roaring Fork. Third, the area is a premier hunting destination in Colorado. And finally, the Roaring Fork Valley has a decades-old sustainable, recreation-based economy that can remain so, as long as the pristine landscapes that attract anglers, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts remain intact.

The next question you’ll likely ask is what does this legislation intend to do and why? The legislation aims to permanently withdraw the area from future oil and gas development and provide a mechanism for current lease holders to divest in an equitable manner. For those of you who follow TU across the country, you may remember similar situations we worked on in Wyoming, Montana and New Mexico. The result in those three areas was legislation that did essentially the same thing Senator Bennet seeks to do in the Thompson Divide. The issue is salient right now because the area is under imminent threat to be developed. Citizens, conservationists, sportsmen, ranchers and recreationists are all in the midst of working towards averting any sort of development in the area due to its pristine nature and importance to the Roaring Fork Valley’s outdoor based economy and traditional pastimes.

Lastly, I’m sure you’re clamoring to aid in this effort right away. Well, there’s a way for you to do so. Senator Bennet’s office has set up a website that has maps, a copy of the bill and allows citizens to provide input. I suggest you go to this link and provide meaningful input that explains to the Senator’s office why this is important to you and that there are much more suitable and less pristine areas to develop our domestic resources. Here is the link: http://www.bennet.senate.gov/thompsondivide

We have also set up a couple of resources for your use. For more information got to: www.sportsmenfortd.org or search for Sportsmen for Thompson Divide on Facebook and be sure to like the page so you’ll receive updates. If you could not find something you were looking for or just want more information, please call or email Aaron Kindle at akindle@tu.org or 303 868-2859.

Colorado TU's End of Summer Bash 8/24

Colorado TU works hard to conserve Colorado's wild trout - and we also love to throw wild parties!

So join us at the d-Note in Old Town Arvada as we celebrate another summer of progress in protecting and restoring Colorado's rivers with our end-of-summer bash, sponsored by our friends at Charlie's FlyBox.

Featuring live jazz from Rough Satin during happy hour, followed by classic rock from Big Universe!  Can't get enough?  Stick around afterwards for a second show and enjoy some boot-stomping zydeco from Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe.

Friday, August 24th, 5pm - 9pm At the d Note, 7519 Grandview Ave, Old Town Arvada $10 cover to benefit Colorado TU

Door prizes, raffle, silent auction, live music, cash bar and restaurant (don't miss out on the d-Note's creative pizzas!), and GREAT company!

You can order your tickets for the bash online - click here to reserve your space!

And a big thanks to our sponsor, Charlie's FlyBox, located just down the street in Old Town Arvada at 7513 Grandview. Swing by this award-winning fly shop before you come to the d-Note (they are open until 6); and with your purchase of $100 or more, you'll receive a $20 gift certificate.

Let's Support Casting for Recovery

Casting for Recovery's annual fundraiser is 8/23 at the Wildlife Experience in Parker. Click here for tickets: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=4ecd65

Join Casting for Recovery-Colorado to celebrate 10 years of providing healing retreats that have given almost 350 Colorado women powerful tools to overcome the challenges of breast cancer! CFR's two-and-one-half day retreats are provided at no cost to participants, thanks to the generosity of our volunteers and donors.

This is a FUN event with a great selection of fishing and non-fishing items for you to bid on during the Silent Auction. 6:30-8:30 pm. Event details at https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=4ecd65 , email to coloradocastingforrecovery@gmail.com or call 303-694-4557.

Click here to learn more about Casting for Recovery.

Resources for Youth Programs

Colorado TU presents new resources for local youth education programs: Programs and Partners, details established programs that are conducive to our mission of inspiring the next generation of cold water conservationists.

Lessons and activities features proven tools to use in your youth education programs.

Please check back as additional content will be added to these pages as it becomes available.

If you have an activity, how-to guide, or other resource related to youth education that you think would benefit others, please contact Jake Lemon, Youth Education Coordinator, Colorado Trout Unlimited.

The Colorado TU Raffle is Back!

Picture yourself in a boat on a river...

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

And you just might find yourself fishing in one of Colorado's most Gorge-ous places ...

Our lucky raffle winner will enjoy a full-day fall fishing float trip for two anglers through the spectacular Gunnison Gorge - plus a night's accommodations and dinner for the evening prior to your launch - all courtesy of Black Canyon Anglers.

You’ll need to hike in about a mile with your personal gear down the Chukar Trail into the scenic Gunnison Gorge; then, 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 is for use this fall, by October 1, 2012.  Fall is prime time for streamer fishing and features the Gunnison's "hopper hatch."  For the lucky winner and their guest, this will truly be a trip to remember!

Raffle tickets are $10 each, or $25 for three. The drawing will take place at 8 pm at the Colorado TU End-of-Summer Bash on August 24th at the d-Note in Old Town Arvada. You need not be present to win.

ONLINE TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED.  YOU MAY STILL PURCHASE TICKETS TONIGHT AT OUR SUMMER BASH AT THE D-NOTE IN ARVADA.

Thanks to Black Canyon Anglers for their generous support of Colorado Trout Unlimited. To learn more about their fishing and rafting trips on the Gunnison, as well as their dinner and lodging packages, visit www.blackcanyonanglers.com.

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

Riverfest! 8/11 at State Bridge

The celebration begins at the State Bridge at 2:00pm. You'll raft - or paddleboard to the new Two Bridges access point, then be whisked back to State Bridge to enjoy dinner, good music from the Olora Brothers and good friends!  Moe's is making a delicious Surf & Turf dinner and Mississippi Mud Pie dessert.  Crazy Mountain Brewing Company is providing ERWC's brew, the Lava Like Wit. There will be wine too! (I've read enough - take me to the tickets page!)

The Eagle River Watershed Council is proud to announce Colorado RiverFest is presented by B&B Excavating and honoring Eagle County Open Space.

We will be celebrating two of the County’s new public access points along the Colorado River, join us! These new acquisitions will improve the diversity of trips along the Colorado River and spread out recreational use of this beautiful river for more enjoyable experiences.

We have Silent Auction items from Karats, SteamMaster, Woody's Bar and Grill, EcoTransit, KEEN, Glenwood Caverns, J.Scott Jewlers, Holy Toledo, Maximum Comfort Pool & Spa, Organic Housekeepers, Grappa Fine Wines, and a 5 bedroom house in Los Cabos, Mexico for 1 week!

All of the funds raised will support the Eagle River Watershed Council and our river advocacy programs in Eagle County. Click here to go to the sign up page.

Beginning Fly Fishing Class for Women

On Saturday, August 11th, the West Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited, in conjunction with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, will offer a full-day of learning to fly fish for women.  The class will take place at Lake Lehow (Waterton Canyon) and run from 9 AM to 4 PM, with a break for lunch. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the science of fly fishing (aquatic entomology), the art of fly fishing (fly tying), and the sport of fly fishing (casting), as well as how to tie basic fishing knots and how to select a basic set of fly fishing equipment.  Participants will also have the opportunity to fish the well-stocked lake under the tutelage of a TU member.

This class will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, and is limited to twelve women participants, ages 13 to adult.  Participants should bring rain gear, sun screen, water, insect repellant, and a lunch.  All equipment and materials needed to participate in the class will be supplied.

There will be a $10 fee charged to cover the cost of supplies.  Participants will need a valid Colorado fishing license in order to fish the lake.

For more information or to register for this class, please contact Charlie Horn at horndreams@msn.com or click here.

More Fishing is Even More Fun

Through the "Fishing is Fun" program, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has selected 11 projects to improve fishing around the state that will share in nearly a million dollars in matching funds as part of the 2012 grant cycle. Our own Southern Greenback and Cheyenne Mountain Chapters have teamed up with CPW, the City of Pueblo, Xcel Energy, and the Packard Foundation on one such project designed to improve aquatic habitat on a seven-mile section of the Arkansas River through Pueblo.

"This is an important project for a section of river that has been recognized as one of the Top 10 trout fisheries in the United States," said Doug Krieger, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Senior Aquatic Biologist for the Southeast Region, in a July 31, 2012 press release.

Other projects receiving funding include habitat work on the South Platte River in Denver, expansion of a community fishing pond in Kiowa County, aeration of Waneka Lake in Lafayette, an effort to build an ADA-accessible fishing platform on the Arkansas River at Canon City and projects to improve angler access to Clear Creek, the Swan River, Upper South Boulder Creek, Idaho Creek, the inlet to Lake San Cristobal in Lake City and three ponds in Loveland.

To read more about the "Fishing is Fun" program and these projects, please visit the CPW website here.

Hero for a Day: See the Movie

When Field and Stream chose The Trail Creek Restoration Project, a joint effort by the Cutthroat Chapter, the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) and the National Forest Foundation as one of its Hero for a Day Conservation Projects they sent a video crew along to tell the story. The result is a nice little story featuring some people you may know. Take a look:

http://www.fieldandstream.com/hero-for-a-day/videos