From 2010 through April of this year, we at Colorado TU had the good fortune to have a knowledgeable and committed supporter at the helm - Board President, Sinjin Eberle. A lover of rivers, fishing, bike riding, and more, he has been a tireless volunteer leader on efforts from the Buffalo Peaks habitat restoration project to the ongoing campaign to defend the Colorado River headwaters in the face of growing transbasin diversions. We've always appreciated Sinjin's efforts, but we're proud to say that his work has also been noticed by others! In 5280's annual "Top of the Town" issue, Sinjin was recognized as the "Readers Choice" for Top Environmentalist. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Sinjin - your hard work is making a difference for Colorado!
Our Colorado River: Cooperation, not conflict
For well over a decade, Trout Unlimited’s Western Water Project has partnered with the agricultural community and local TU chapters to improve habitat, upgrade aging irrigation infrastructure and boost stream flows throughout the West. In Colorado, TU’s field staff live and work in each of the major West Slope river basins that comprise the upper Colorado drainage. They work on projects that improve habitat, increase flows and help keep western Colorado streams and rivers healthy and productive. Their success is a direct result of cooperation with the agricultural community, not conflict. Agriculture is the primary user of water on the West Slope. Farmers and ranchers use the water to grow and send crops and animals to market each year. Their farms and ranches protect important riparian and aquatic habitats, winter range, migration corridors and the iconic western landscapes. This agricultural way of life is sustainable and deeply woven into the fabric of our communities and their economies. Like agriculture, recreation and tourism also rely on healthy flows in our streams and rivers. These uses are also sustainable and have also become critical to West Slope communities and their economic health. When agriculture and recreation-tourism clash over the use of water, the community, the economy and the river all suffer. When they cooperate, flows, communities and economies all benefit. To help tell this story and take it to a new level, TU this summer launched the Our Colorado River program, which has three primary goals:
1) Highlight our successful partnerships with agriculture in restoring habitat, upgrading irrigation infrastructure, and other efforts to boost healthy flows in our West Slope streams and rivers. 2) Promote cooperation between agriculture and recreation-tourism interests to protect the water resources that are the lifeblood of our West Slope communities. 3) Encourage that cooperation by asking West Slope residents, businesses, elected officials and organizations, to endorse some common “core values” on water, including cooperation, not conflict; modernizing irrigation; and maintaining open spaces.
We believe the Core Values are the centerpiece of the Our Colorado River program and provide the starting point for forging consensus on how to protect water resources in western Colorado. While West Slope residents won’t agree on everything regarding water, we are confident most can agree on these five commonsense values. The goal is to encourage a wide diversity of river users and community members to show their unity and resolve in protecting West Slope water resources as we move towards a Colorado Water Plan by December 2014.
When it comes to keeping our rivers healthy, we’re all in this together. Please help us out by going to www.ourcoriver.com and signing the core values and supporting our West Slope rivers.
- Richard Van Gytenbeek, Colorado River Basin Coordinator Colorado Water Project, Trout Unlimited
Coming together for Hermosa Creek
A bipartisan, legislative effort is underway in DC to protect the Hermosa Creek watershed just north of Durango, Colorado. Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Scott Tipton have joined forces to sponsor companion bills in both houses of Congress. When successful, this federal bill will protect an entire, intact watershed as a whole unit – a first in the US! The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act of 2013 represents ten years of exhaustive work by both TU volunteers and staff. In true “One TU” spirit, the Hermosa Creek area has long-been a focus area for TU. In fact, it is the Hermosa Roadless Area which prompted the formation of TU’s national public land division, the Sportsmen’s Conservation Project (SCP, formerly the Public Land Initiative) in 2004. At that time, the ‘Roadless Rule’ was more than controversial. Hermosa Creek contains Colorado’s largest, unprotected roadless area. For this reason, SCP was born, then employing just two staff. Today, SCP continues to be headquartered in Durango and has grown to 29 staff in twelve western states.
While Hermosa Creek is a favorite among all types of backcountry recreationists (mountain bikers, OHV enthusiasts, backpackers, campers etc.), the basin is particularly important to sportsmen. The upper third of the basin is home to CPW’s largest and most important native Colorado River cutthroat trout reintroduction areas. The remaining two-thirds of the basin is loaded with hungry rainbows, cutthroats and brookies, eager to take a summertime dry fly. In 2010, Hermosa Creek was featured in an episode of TU’s ‘On the Rise’, highlighting the cutthroat fishery. Furthermore, the western half of the basin contains some of SW Colorado’s most productive and spectacular elk habitat. In 2009, Hermosa Creek received a state designation of ‘Outstanding Waters’ for its exceptionally high natural water quality. Hermosa Creek is vital to diluting acid mine drainage from mines above Silverton into the headwaters of the Animas River. This recognition of water quality was a first for an area not designated as a wilderness area.
The proposal to protect Hermosa Creek was the result of an open, all-inclusive, stakeholder-driven process initiated by Five Rivers TU chapter president, Chuck Wanner, in 2008. The ‘Rivers Protection Workgroup’ met for 22 months and enjoyed participation by everyday citizens, conservationists, water development advocates, federal and state agencies, county governments, a tribe and representatives from every Hermosa recreational user group. In the end, the workgroup reached overwhelming consensus that the Hermosa Creek area is worthy of federal protection. Senator Bennet’s staff took the recommendations of the workgroup and created legislation, which was adopted by Representative Tipton in April of 2013. The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act has received unanimous support locally, across the region and the state.
Sportsmen have unified and spoken as one in support of protections for Hermosa’s exceptional backcountry. The ‘Sportsmen for Hermosa’ is a coalition of sportsmen’s conservation groups, fly shops, guide/outfitter services, hunting retailers, rod manufacturers and more. Learn more about the TU-led coalition and proposal at: www.facebook.com/sportsmenforhermosa or www.hermosacreek.org.
In a time when Americans can’t seem to agree on anything, it is refreshing to see a community, its elected officials and every user group can come together around a very special place, ensuring out sporting heritage is passed down to the next generation of anglers and hunters.
- Ty Churchwell, Backcountry Coordinator Sportsmen’s Conservation Project, Trout Unlimited
Fish and Wildlife Deserve It - Sportsmen Demand It
Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development (SFRED) is a coalition led by Trout Unlimited (TU), the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) and includes over 500 businesses, organizations, and individuals who are working to strike a balance between all forms of energy development and conservation in the West. Our goal is to reform the laws, regulations, and policies that ensure protection of important fish and wildlife habitats.
The guiding principles for the coalition are outlined in the Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development Bill of Rights. This document was created by hunters and anglers who want to ensure that our rights to hunt and fish on public lands are protected in the future. We recognize that our country needs energy and we know it is possible to develop resources and protect vital fish and game habitat at the same time.
TU’s goal for 2013 is to increase the SFRED coalition by a minimum of 100 business and organizations. Additionally we want to add a minimum of 1000 individuals. As a supporter of Colorado TU, you are encouraged to visit www.sfred.org to read and sign-on to the SFRED Bill Of Rights. You are also encouraged to get your local Colorado TU chapter signed on. Once you are signed-on, please encourage a local business to become part of the SFRED coalition. Our strength is in our numbers.
Should you have any questions, please contact Bob Meulengracht at rmeulengracht@tu.org or 303-514-8227. Bob is available to attend a Chapter meeting to discuss SFRED and other energy issues affecting Colorado. Thank you for your support and together we can conserve valuable habitat while developing energy resources responsibly.
Colorado Public Radio features Browns Canyon
U.S. Senator Mark Udall plans to introduce legislation later this summer that would create the Brown's Canyon National Monument. The monument would cover 22,000 acres between Salida and Buena Vista in Chaffee County and includes 10,500 acres of new wilderness. The proposal seeks to protect one of southern Colorado’s most coveted wild trout fisheries and surrounding outstanding backcountry hunting areas. Listen to Colorado Public Radio's Lesley McClurg's report on Browns Canyon.
Click here to follow Trout Unlimited's work on Browns Canyon.
Kerber Creek transformed
Valley Courier Many willing hands and hearts are keeping the Kerber Creek Restoration Project afloat, and were the reason for celebration on Thursday afternoon.
New Fundraising Partnership
The Colorado Council and TU National have joined forces in a new partnership to strengthen individual donor fundraising efforts to support TU’s work in Colorado. With over two dozen staff on-the-ground in Colorado, the need for coordination between all levels of the organization is vital. The new partnership is staffed by Chris Herrman, Colorado Director, Coldwater Conservation Fund (CCF). You can now direct individual contributions of $1000 or more for Colorado programs and projects, both Council and National, through the Coldwater Conservation Fund. CCF members enjoy benefits including exclusive trips and special gear. Donors of $1,200 or more directed to the Council through CCF, will also enjoy the benefits of our River Stewardship Council.
You can still support the Council or National directly through the web pages or the various mail-based campaigns. Regardless of how you give, thank you for your support!
To learn more about how you can support the work of TU in Colorado, visit the Coldwater Conservation Fund online.
Contact Chris Herrman, Colorado Director, CCF, via email here.
Fishing clubs offer new techniques, community involvement
Fishing is a wonderfully diverse sport. There are unlimited ways you can choose to participate. It can be purely an individual activity, where your only engagement with others is when you bid your spouse goodbye and hello at opposite ends of the outing. Or it can be with a large group of anglers, such as a sea-going party boat where there can be dozens fishing together.
While fishing alone or with a friend or two is often my preference, there are times when I like to engage with a number of anglers focused on a common goal. Fishing clubs and organizations are such groups. Throughout the years, I’ve been active to varying degrees with numerous clubs. There are many good reasons to belong.
In my case, the two important reasons include being part of a group of anglers with similar views — be it competitive fishing, fly-fishing or fishing for bass, trout, walleye or catfish — and I want to belong to a group that is involved in the community — be it helping youth learn about fishing, conservation or something else...
The Loveland Fishing Club and Rocky Mountain Flycasters Chapter of Trout Unlimited also do great work in the area. Both are active with youth and conservation, and they arrange fishing excursions. Plus, there are a number of statewide groups organized around nearly every species of fish or aspect of fishing that might interest you, such as muskie, northern pike, walleye, fly-fishing, kayaking and even bowfishing.
Read more from FishExplorer, David Coulson, in The Coloradoan online.
Colorado Continues Commitment to Water Quality Through Grant Awards
Governor Hickenlooper today announced state grants to local governments and special districts to help meet the challenge of protecting water quality from nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. The Governor highlighted the importance of clean water to Colorado's communities and economy, while noting the importance of the State being a partner in dealing with the financial burden of meeting these water quality standards. Colorado TU and its partners at Conservation Colorado, High Country Citizens Alliance, and San Juan Citizens Alliance issued a joint statement: "We are excited to join Governor Hickenlooper today to announce the awarding of grants to help domestic wastewater treatment plants address the serious problem of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in our streams and rivers. By awarding these grants, Governor Hickenlooper and the Colorado State Legislature continue their commitment to protecting water quality and healthy flows.
Water is a fundamental component of our life in Colorado - it is vital to growing our crops, supports our world class trout fishing, and is critical to Colorado’s burgeoning beer brewing industry. But nitrogen and phosphorous pollution present a real risk to our rivers and streams. If levels creep too high, they degrade water quality, cause algae growth, reduce the clarity of our waters, and negatively impact aquatic life by diminishing dissolved oxygen.
As a result of this growing problem, in 2012, Colorado adopted strong regulations and standards to address increasing pollution in our waterways. These standards take into account our multi-billion dollar recreation economy because protecting water quality IS good for business.
This past spring, our legislature and Governor Hickenlooper took the next step through House Bill 1191 which will help communities across Colorado implement these standards. We are fortunate through the passage of legislation and the awarding of these grants, the State is able to provide meaningful funding to begin to address our water quality problems.
We applaud Governor Hickenlooper and his commitment to strong phosphorus and nitrogen pollution controls. In doing so he supports the health of Colorado’s and the nation’s waterways. By creating these standards - and the means to implement them - we are working to protect the health of our water and economy."
Pete Maysmith, Conservation Colorado David Nickum, Colorado Trout Unlimited Dan Randolph, San Juan Citizens’ Alliance Greg Dyson, High Country Citizens Alliance
DRA project, a collaboration success story!
The Dolores River Anglers' (DRA) first river project at the confluence of Taylor Creek and Little Taylor Creek, tributaries of the Dolores River, was a great success! The Chapter received great support from the community, and their out lay of cash for the project was only about 25% of budget because of several generous donations, including one from Western Excelsior in Mancos. Chris Burkett, DRA Secretary/Treasurer, calculated over 160 hours of TU labor moved 10 tons of rock and emplaced more than 240 feet of Aspen fiber rolls.
The crew from the forest service’s hydrology group also provided great support. 
According to San Juan National Forest, Dolores District, Hydrologist, Shauna Jensen, "I couldn't have asked for anything better than this" at the completion. District Ranger, Derrick Padilla said "I am very pleased with the results of this partnership and look forward to more such projects." The USFS provided the technical expertise and engineering for the project and a core work crew that DRA supplemented with volunteers, funding, and donations of materials.
Dale Smith, chapter vice president and project coordinator said "This project was an excellent opportunity for Trout Unlimited's newest chapter in Colorado, the Dolores River Anglers, to partner with the local District of the San Juan National Forest. Our purpose was to prevent degradation of a wonderful resource, to help protect native cutthroat trout, and protect water quality in our homewaters drainage."
DRA learned a lot from these folks and are looking forward to their next project together. Fish sampling and a paper draft have already begun for a stream crossing rebuild on Rio Lado, another creek in the Dolores River drainage.
Check out The Cortez Journal's write up on this great collaborative project!
