CTU Presents: Behind the Fin

Everyone has a story to tell and now it’s time to tell yours. Colorado Trout Unlimited is bringing members a new online blog segment entitled “Behind the Fin,” a spotlight on a member of Trout Unlimited. Behind the Fin will take a deeper look into the personalities that make up Colorado Trout Unlimited and expose those responsible for all of the great work we’ve done together. Many projects have been completed to save water resources and restore fisheries in Colorado and now it’s time to recognize the volunteers who make it happen.

With help from the staff of CTU, members will be highlighted in an article on the CTU website that will recognize their achievements both within and outside the trout world. Behind the Fin will be a great way for fellow members to get to know each other better and enhance the member community.

To be highlighted, it’s as easy as answering a few questions. Some include:

• How long have you been a TU member?
• Why did you become a member?
• What is your favorite activity or project that you have done with TU?
• What is a favorite fishing spot and favorite fishing story?
• To you, what is the best tactic or fly for catching trout?
• Beyond being an awesome angler, what else do you do in your spare time or for work?

Using these answers and some other basic information, CTU will help write an article that can be shared and highlighted on the Colorado Trout Unlimited website – telling your story around the world.

If you’re interested in sharing your story with CTU and its members, or you know of someone who you think should tell their story, please submit any inquiries to Stephanie Scott at SScott@tu.org.

CTU, Partners Reach Settlement to Protect Roan

It has been a long road in a legal battle that has stretched back more than six years - and advocacy and conservation efforts that stretch back more than a decade beyond that.  But on November 21, a settlement of the legal battle over energy development on the Roan Plateau was announced, laying a "win-win" path forward that protects the Roan's most valued fish and wildlife habitats while also allowing for responsible energy development. The Roan Plateau supports remarkable natural values including habitat for rare native Colorado River cutthroat trout, scenic canyons and waterfalls, and outstanding big game habitat and hunting opportunities.  TU's Grand Valley Anglers chapter has for nearly two decades worked on projects to benefit Trapper Creek and the unique native cutthroats it supports - Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists found they are adapted to withstand warmer water temperatures than most cutthroats.

The settlement resolves litigation in which Colorado Trout Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation and eight other conservation groups were represented by Earthjustice. Among the key provisions of the settlement:

• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will cancel 17 of 19 leases held by Bill Barrett Corp. (BBC) atop the Roan within 60 days, and refund to BBC the money that was paid for those leases.  These leases include about 90% of the acreage on top of the Plateau, including all of the native trout watersheds.
• BLM will prepare a new management plan for the Roan, and as part of their analysis will consider a "settlement alternative" with terms from the settlement agreement.  While BLM legally cannot commit to adopting this alternative prior to completing their environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act, all parties have agreed not to challenge the new plan so long as BLM adopts the settlement alternative.
• Under the settlement alternative the areas covered by the canceled leases atop the Roan Plateau will not be subject to oil and gas leasing.  The two retained leases - located on Anvil Ridge in a portion of the Roan adjacent to existing drilling on private lands, outside of native cutthroat habitat, and lacking current public road access - will be allowed to develop responsibly with a limited number of carefully-sited well pads and management practices to minimize their impacts.
• The settlement alternative also allows for development under existing leases at the base of the Roan but strengthens "no surface occupancy" requirements, helping to secure important wildlife migration corridors, steep slopes, and other fragile resources.

The Roan Plateau is a great example of TU working together, with local volunteers from Grand Valley Anglers, Colorado TU staff and volunteer leaders, and National TU staff all helping contribute to our success.  We've also benefited from great partners including our outstanding legal counsel with Earthjustice who have been a model of dedication and skill in guiding the legal challenge and settlement talks over several years.

The Roan could also be a model for balance on energy development.  The oil and gas leaseholders - BBC, as well as Oxy, Ursa, and WPX (companies holding the leases at the Roan's base) - engaged with us in honest and constructive dialogue about a path for responsible energy development that includes strong protection for the Roan's unique fish and wildlife resources. Keeping disturbance out of the most important and sensitive habitats, while enabling responsible development to proceed on other portions of the Roan, is a great model for balance.  We appreciate these companies working with us in good faith to achieve a responsible settlement for the Roan.

Our work isn't over -- we will continue our cutthroat protection and restoration projects on the Roan in the summer of 2015 and beyond, and we must work to ensure that the BLM adopts the "settlement alternative" in its planning process.  Stay tuned for ways that you can get involved in the months ahead.

Fraser the Fish - The Man… The Fish… The Legend…

Behind that beautiful scaly head (ok it’s actually furry) is a hard working volunteer!!  CTU staff lucked out when we found Dustin McCory.  Or is it that he found us?

Dustin made a phone call to CTU one fateful day in 2013 “How can I get involved?”  Not a member of any one chapter, nor aware of what he was about to get himself into, he remembers the pause on the other end of the line…

“Are you available this weekend?” -  CTU Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Scott had just recruited her next Fraser.

“I was scared to death…terrified.  As soon as I put the head on, all the fear went away”

“It is difficult - I can’t see very well, and it is very heavy.  I almost fell off a stage once.”

Without further ado; the man behind the fish…

Dustin McCory

Dustin’s transformation into our hardworking fish began a deeper very personal transformation.  A web developer by day, he once allowed work to consume his life.  “I lived in Avon for two years, and never once fished…TU brought me back to fishing.” In his journey back to himself, he is compelled to leave the computer screen behind every chance he gets. Dustin spent every weekend in 2014 from June through October camping, hiking, and fishing.  “I just get in my car and go.”  It seems he is finding a more balanced life; time alone, time on a river, new friends, and fish heads…

                                                                                   by - Rachel Kohler

Next Sighting:  2014 Fly-Fishing Rendezvous – November 22/23 – The Apex Center, Arvada CO.

This weekend he is traveling with CTU staff to the Fly Fishing Rendezvouz!! Come on down, meet the legend, and start the conversation with your kids about why we must protect headwaters like the Fraser River.

"Will Work for Water"

The Fraser River, a major tributary of the Colorado River, flows from Berthoud Pass to the town of Granby. Denver Water is currently draining most of the Fraser River’s flows through its Moffat Collection System pipeline—and it wants to take more.  

St Vrain TUer Speaks Out on Flood Response

Erik Wilkinson, the Conservation Chair of the TU St Vrain Anglers chapter, recently published an opinion piece in the Longmont Times-Call, highlighting the role of the Land and Water Conservation Fund in helping to purchase properties from flood-ravaged families following the 1976 Big Thompson flood - and calling for local officials to learn from that experience as response work continues to the 2013 floods.  He also points out the importance of Congress acting to reauthorization the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which will expire in 2015 absent Congressional action. Wilkinson writes: "As our communities endeavor to rebuild, we should again look to the future and use this tragedy as an opportunity to reinvest in our infrastructure and river resources. We must strengthen our towns against future floods so that we aren't faced with the same rebuilding challenges in the coming decades. We must use this event to create and enhance habitat and water recreation along the rivers, providing economic stimuli (jobs) to the affected communities."

The piece was informed by a recent Colorado TU report, Land and Water Conservation Fund—A Source of Hope and Help in the Face of Disaster which was issued at the one-year anniversary of the September 2013 floods.  The report also highlighted the role of LWCF in helping Lyons rebuild its important St Vrain corridor trail - a key local connector and recreational feature.

You can read Erik's full piece here.

Hermosa Bill Takes Another Step Forward!

Legislation to establish wilderness and a special management area protecting Southwest Colorado's Hermosa Creek watershed passed unanimously through a US Senate Committee this week.  The legislation, S.841, was introduced by Senator Bennet and cosponsored by Senator Udall, who also serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee which passed the bill out of committee on Thursday, November 13.  A companion bill, HR 1839, is sponsored by Representative Tipton and already has passed out of House committee. TU and other supporters of the bill hope that it can get a floor vote in both chambers during the "lame duck" session, and be forwarded to the President's desk for signature.

The Hermosa watershed bill, which incorporates an agreement crafted by a broad range of local stakeholders, preserves an array of recreational opportunities in and around the areas designated for protection. The package of protections will help protect hunting and fishing values, motorized recreational opportunities, popular hiking and biking trails, and wilderness-quality lands.  The bill designates approximately 37,000 acres of new wilderness and a 70,000 acre special management area to protect watershed values.

On a disappointing note, specific reference to Hermosa's native trout was removed from the bill.  However, the watershed and land protections still accomplish protection for the area's highly-valued native cutthroat trout fishery.

You can read TU's press statement on the latest Congressional action here.

And a big "thank you" goes to Senators Bennet and Udall for their efforts in moving S.841 forward in the Senate, and to Representative Tipton for his continued leadership for Hermosa in the House.

Tell EPA and the Corps: Protect Our Headwaters!

Tell EPA and the Corps: Protect Our Headwaters!

Act by November 14 to help ensure that the Clean Water Act protects our headwater and feeder streams!

Here in Colorado, we are a headwaters state, and we understand the basic premise that if we don't protect the headwaters, we cannot protect our downstream rivers.

Colorado is a headwaters state, the birthplace of major rivers like the Rio Grande, Arkansas, Platte and the mighty Colorado - and so we understand how important it is to protect the headwaters.  Indeed, some 75% of Colorado's rivers and streams - 76,000 miles worth - may not be protected under the Clean Water Act if the new EPA and Corps guidance isn't adopted (these are the intermittent and ephemeral streams, shown in red on the map below).  Nationwide, some 60% of rivers and streams are at risk, as outlined in a recent Trout Unlimited report.

The agencies are taking public comment on this proposal until November 14.  Equally important, please let your elected representatives know you support these vital water quality protections.  If you haven't yet submitted comments, please click here to learn more and take action!

If you've already submitted comments, thank you for your help, and please spread the word with your friends.

It is simple common sense -- if we don't protect the headwaters, we cannot protect our downstream rivers.  

Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook and Twitter, and visit us online at tu.org.

Come to the Fly Fishing Rendezvous!!

You are invited to the first annual Front Range Fly Fishing Rendezvous. This event is to FREE to attend and guaranteed to be a great time. There will be great vendors there to talk about their products and fishing organizations there to talk about fishing opportunities across the state.

Here is a sneak peak at the vendors that will be there:

Accent Fly Fishing http://ascentflyfishing.com/

Slayfest http://slayfestfishing.com/

The Bug Guy http://www.the-bug-guy.com

5280 Angler http://www.5280angler.com/

Native Nets http://www.nativenets.com/

Titan Rod Vaults http://www.titanrodvault.com/

There will be a silent auction, raffle prizes and more!! Throughout the weekend the vendors and other fishing enthusiasts will be giving presentations, providing a great opportunity to learn from the experts!! The host of the rendezvous is donating all of the proceeds from the event to Colorado Trout Unlimited.

Come hangout and enjoy the fun!! Visit the event page on Facebook by clicking here.

8 River Rodeo Helps Support CTU

Last week, Clint Crookshanks - the event manager for the 8 River Rodeo fishing competition - stopped by the Colorado TU offices to pass along a $1000 contribution from the event proceeds to help support conservation of Colorado rivers. The 8 River Rodeo is a unique event that takes teams of two anglers across eight rivers in two basins over two days.  Each team member must catch at least one fish from each of four rivers in the Colorado basin on day one - the Colorado, Crystal, Fryingpan, and Roaring Fork - and then one fish from each of four rivers in the Gunnison basin on day two - the East, Gunnison, Taylor, and Spring Creek.  Teams that catch the required fish from each site qualify for prizes, with first place going to the team with the most total inches among their 16 fish.  Participants get to enjoy an intense two days fishing eight great rivers across central Colorado, followed by a Sunday barbecue and award presentation in Almont.  It takes place the final weekend in July.  For more information on the 8 River Rodeo, click here to visit their website.

Net proceeds from the event are donated to support charity - this year, they contributed to Colorado TU as well as an additional $1000 to Project Healing Waters.  A big thank you to Clint and all the participants in the 8 River Rodeo for their support!

WDTU hosts Landon Mayer in Golden

Join the West Denver Chapter of TU for a Chili Supper and presentation by fly fishing guide Landon Mayer on November 7, 2014. American Mountaineering Center 710 Washington St. in Golden

Silent Auction Wine and beer available

Click here for more information.

Sportsmen aim to put Browns Canyon on Denver Map

 Preserve Browns Canyon as a national monument

Denver—On a beautiful October evening, a crowd gathered in downtown Denver to watch Browns Canyon come alive on the façade of the McNichols Building, in an eye-popping display of light and images. The Oct. 17 event, called “Browns Canyon Live,” was sponsored by Sportsmen for Browns Canyon, a grassroots coalition of hunters and anglers committed to preserving Browns Canyon as a national monument.   Here’s a recap video of the event:

Click here to read the whole story

The group also paid for two billboards along I-70 through Denver from early September until the first week of November. One billboard features a striking image of an angler fishing in the canyon, and another shows the canyon awash in a starry nightscape, with the message: “Monumental: Protect Browns Canyon.” The billboard messages will reach an estimated 180,000 people a day who travel this major east-west corridor.

“We’re getting the word out: We have to protect this place or risk losing it,” said Kyle Perkins, Campaign Manager.

For more information, go to www.sportsmenforbrowns.com.