Fin Clipping Volunteer Opportunity!!

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!! This is a very rare volunteer opportunity. Colorado Trout Unlimited and our chapters are partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to help with a long term study they have going studying Rainbow and Cutthroat Hybrid trout. No experience necessary, and we need more people!!

We will be in need of volunteers to help us fin clip rainbow X cutthroat hybrid trout at Mount Shavano Hatchery (Salida) for our ongoing study comparing diploid versus triploid trout at Elevenmile Reservoir.  This year we will be clipping fish August 30^th – September 2^nd and could use your help. You can come one day or the whole time!! Last year we clipped 68,000 fish in three days with the help of 70 people over the three day period.

All of the work will take place outside at the Mount Shavano Hatchery in Salida. Parking will be available at the visitor parking area on the hill before you enter into the hatchery.  We will plan on starting each day at 8 A.M. and should finish around 4:30 P.M.  Volunteers should bring the following:

• Lunch
• Water
• Sunscreen
• Chairs
• Sunshades if available

If you would like to help please contact Stephanie Scott at sscott@tu.org or 720-354-2647

TU Aims to Find Common Ground with Oil and Gas Partners

By Shane Cross The oil and gas industry is hurting right now. Some folks are trying to kick it when it is down. At Trout Unlimited, we understand that many folks in the oil and gas industry are dedicated to the long-term vision of meeting energy needs and passing on a healthy and functioning landscape. While some see conservationists as being at odds with industry, that need not be the case. Some oil and gas companies have been working with groups like TU to develop partnerships which protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat in areas near oil and gas development.

For TU, industry partnerships are common sense. Oil and gas will continue to be developed, and it can either be developed in ways that minimize and avoid impacts to trout, or not – our job is to ensure the former. Many of our members depend on the oil and gas industry for their livelihoods, and we recognize that energy development is an important component of the Western economy.  TU and industry have worked together to plan development, protect and restore habitat, educate youth, and create responsible oil and gas policies.

Here's a look at some of the good conservation work the oil and gas industry has done with TU over the past few years.

Planning

Berry Petroleum, a subsidiary of Linn Energy, LLC, worked with TU to plan a well pad development near Lake Canyon Lake in the Strawberry River watershed in Utah. Lake Canyon Lake is a brood fishery for Colorado River cutthroat trout, and the local TU chapter had done extensive restoration and habitat work along the lake’s feeder stream.

To develop its pad, Berry needed approvals from Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Recognizing the importance of the lake and its fishery to local anglers, Berry Petroleum collaborated with TU before submitting its development proposal.

A happy angler with a Colorado River cutthroat trout caught at Lake Canyon Lake in Utah.

Specifically, Berry analyzed three different access routes to the pad, agreed to utilize a closed loop drilling system and pipeline infrastructure to minimize truck traffic, and maximized the distance between disturbed areas and the waterways. In addition, Berry Petroleum communicated with TU during the construction and reclamation phases – responding to local angler questions during those phases and reseeding a portion of the disturbed area along the lake. The collaborative effort has been beneficial – the Division of Wildlife has met its quota for trout eggs the past two years.

In Colorado, Gunnison Energy, LLC, has been proactive in working with TU and the local community to address concerns about energy development in the Thompson Divide.

The Thompson Divide lies between Mt. Sopris and Grand and Battlement Mesas. In 2013, Senator Michael Bennet introduced legislation, known as the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act (TDWPA), that would create a market to buy out existing leases and protect unleased areas from future development. The Senator continues to work with TU and other stakeholders to develop new legislation that will permanently protect the area.

The Thompson Divide in Colorado.

Gunnison Energy holds leases on the south end of the Divide near cutthroat trout streams and popular elk hunting grounds. After numerous meetings with TU and the Thompson Divide Coalition, Gunnison Energy agreed to support new legislation that will protect the Divide with an adjusted boundary that allowed oil and gas development near existing pads. The compromise is an example of industry and conservation interests working together to achieve mutual goals.

Protection

Part of responsible development is the recognition that some places are just too sensitive and are not appropriate for development. In places like Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front, Questar donated leases to be permanently retired with the passage of legislation withdrawing the area from future leasing.  Elsewhere in Montana, companies such as ConocoPhillips, Chevron and XTO Energy voluntarily relinquished more than 200,000 acres of leases in the North Fork of the Flathead River Valley, an area that was subsequently withdrawn from leasing with the passage of the widely supported, bipartisan North Fork Watershed Protection Act in 2014.

Restoration

TU’s bread and butter is designing and implementing projects that restore and rehabilitate trout habitat on both public and private land. Recently, Shell Oil worked with TU in Routt County, Colorado, to promote watershed health by supporting two of TU’s projects on local streams. Shell Oil contributed financially to projects to re-grade and plant bank stabilizers on Milk Creek and Armstrong Creek, revitalizing and extending habitat for Colorado River cutthroat trout in the process. In addition, Shell Oil organized a volunteer day with TU for employees to participate by planting willows along Armstrong Creek. Both projects have proven successful and TU is working on additional projects and partners in the watershed.

Education

TU’s Youth Education Program aims to promote awareness and interest in coldwater fisheries by creating opportunities for students to learn about and interact with aquatic systems and species in the classroom. Suncor has been a major contributor to Colorado TU’s Trout in the Classroom program in the Mapleton School District for the past two years. Through the program, students raised fertilized trout eggs into the fry stage and ultimately released them into the South Platte River.

Trout in the Classroom is often the first introduction to conservation for young students.

ConocoPhillips recently funded a similar program in Escalante High School in New Mexico that included coursework on water chemistry, stream ecology and geology to trout biology, trout behavior and the culture of the Rio Chama Valley. Both programs have been successful at engaging youth in watershed health and conservation. And both projects would not have been possible without key financial support provided by our oil and gas partners.

Policy

Against the backdrop of depressed oil and gas prices, it is more important than ever for industry and conservation groups to work together. The Colorado Oil and Gas Association has been working with TU for more than a year to develop pragmatic policy regarding oil and gas development near water resources.

Specifically, as a response to the Front Range Floods of 2013, COGA worked with TU to develop best management practices for oil and gas development in floodplains. Earlier this year, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission convened a rulemaking process to address development in floodplains. COGA and TU formed general agreement around many elements of the rule, which requires companies to anchor facilities, install remote “shut in” capabilities on new wells to minimize spills, and install steel ring or other deflectors to reduce under-cutting by floods. TU also recognized that the regulations would come at a cost to industry, and supported a compliance schedule that allowed companies additional time to bring their facilities under the new regulations. We look forward to continuing to work with oil and gas industry associations on policy measures in the future.

Conservation groups and the oil and gas industry – like most of society – will have both conflict and common ground. The conflict, it seems, is talked about more often than the cooperation. We’re here to tell you that dialogue – and collaboration – is occurring between industry and conservation groups and it will continue to occur to ensure that both energy development and fish and wildlife remain strong assets to Colorado’s future.

Shane Cross is Western energy counsel for TU’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project

Rain Barrels are Officially Legal!

On Wednesday, August 10, using a a barrel to collect rain water is legal in Colorado. Coloradans can now collect up to 110 gallons of rain water and store it for outdoor usage on yards, gardens, or plants. According to Conservation Colorado, using rain barrels could conserve up to 1,200 gallons of water each year per household. A study by the state of Colorado found that in just Douglas County alone, 97 percent of rain water was lost to evaporation and vegetation. Using these barrels, the rain will be collected in a covered unit to reduce the amount of evaporation.

Using rain barrels will also allow users to become more connected to water- the most valuable resource in the West. When collecting water through a rain barrel, it will give users a better idea of how much water they have received recently, how much they're using, and how clean the water is.

For anglers using a rain barrel will not only help keep water in rivers but it will also provide a demonstration of the current state of water. The barrel's fluctuation provides a good example of how the highs and lows of rivers fluctuate with rainfall amounts.

For more information about the collecting rain water, visit The State Website or check out this Fact Sheet from CSU

The Year After Gold King

It's been a year and a few days since a spill at the Gold King Mine near Silverton released three million gallons of heavy-metal-laden, mustard yellow sludge into the Animas River. Photos of the yellow water dominated headlines all over the world. Words like "disaster" and "catastrophic" were used. While the initial spill came as a shock to most, the river was able to withstand the blow. One year after the sludge came through, the river is back to it's usual state of water quality.

There was no fish mortality documented from the spill, while bug sampling by an aquatic biologist with Mountain Studies Institute indicates a still thriving population of mayfly nymphs and caddis pupa. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) had installed pens of fingerling trout in the Animas before the plume arrived- and none of those fish died either. CPW ran an electro-shocking episode after the “Spill” with the usual re-capture protocol and got essentially the same results as the year before. Actually, the survey showed a slight improvement.

"This is not to diminish our concern for the Animas River and the fishery in the canyon below Silverton. This reach has been substantially impacted by three draining mines at the headwaters of Cement Creek, which flows into the Animas at Silverton," said Buck Skillen, President of the 5 Rivers Chapter of TU. "This, plus the Gold King Spill, highlights the very need for Good Samaritan Legislation for which TU is strongly advocating – so that abandoned mine cleanup projects can proceed here and elsewhere."

Getting the river back to it's usual state was no easy task but Trout Unlimited and partners were willing to take the lead. "It’s been quite a year since the Gold King spill sent a torrent of yellow, metal-laden mine water down the Animas River in SW Colorado," said Ty Churchwell, TU San Juan Mountains Coordinator. "But long before this unfortunate event, TU was deeply embedded in the water quality conversation – and now we’ve doubled down. Our efforts to pass Good Samaritan legislation are bearing fruit in the form of a bipartisan discussion draft now working its way through the halls of Congress. We hope to see the bill formally introduced this session."

The 5 Rivers Chapter of Colorado TU worked with Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) in Durango by taking water samples every two hours from before the plume arrived until days later. They also monitored the macro-invertebrates in the river as the disaster unfolded. The year previously, 5 Rivers Chapter had worked with MSI to do a macro-invertebrates study that served as a baseline for clean-up efforts following the spill.

Also prior to the spill in August, Trout Unlimited teamed up with other partners to form the San Juan Clean Water Coalition. The intent when forming the coalition was to produce a site-specific Good Samaritan legislation for the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. In the wake of the spill, the intentions have broadened to use the Animas as an example for the potential issues in the West.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, abandoned hard rock mines affect 40 percent of headwaters in the western United States. Just in the San Juan Mountains, slow acid drainage has led to the death of multiple rivers. "The community of Silverton, at the Animas’ headwaters, is now pursuing a Superfund listing to finally, once and for all, deal with the lingering problem of acid mine drainage (AMD) from dozens of old mining sites," said Churchwell. "The TU-led, San Juan Clean Water coalition, has grown dramatically and we’re making a real difference.  In the wake of the spill, the coalition’s objectives have expanded to include a comprehensive, five-point plan to greatly improve the overall health of the watershed and the world class trout fishery in Durango"

The Good Samaritan Legislation would address the current pollution clean-up laws in the United States. Currently, the Clean Water Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, place the clean-up burden on the property owners. But in the case of these abandoned mines, the owners are long-gone. Now the clean-up falls on the shoulders of Good Samaritans like TU and other partners. However, the liabilities in the laws- requiring a project to show significant improvements for a specific period of time and makes the Good Samaritan liable for any failures in improvements- have caused a legal gridlock.

Since the Gold King Mine spill, Colorado’s Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner, and Representative Scott Tipton have taken the issue to Washington where the Good Sam legislation has been moving along.

"If there are any silver linings to all of this, it’s that citizens, elected officials and communities all over the west are now aware of the massive problem of acid mine drainage, and people are paying attention. The Gold King spill was a wakeup call for the nation," said Churchwell. "Thank goodness the Animas didn’t die to make a point.  In the end, there was no real ecologic ‘disaster’, as was portrayed in the media. There was no die-off of fish and our bug studies are showing excellent insect populations in the Gold Medal water in Durango. But, there is a real problem at the top of the watershed and we’re moving in the right direction. The Animas remains one of Colorado’s premier trout fisheries."

Elk Creek Fish Passage Project

Last week Trout Unlimited was granted a $78,000 Fishing Is Fun grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife for a fish passage project on Elk Creek near New Castle, Colorado. TU partnered with CPW to design and build a fish passage channel around the Ware and Hinds irrigation diversion structure on Elk Creek, a tributary to the Colorado River main-stem with its confluence at New Castle, CO. The Ware and Hinds diversion structure spans the width of the channel and presents a barrier to spawning fish moving out of the Colorado River main-stem

This project is intended to serve as an additional source of fishes to the Colorado River by providing access to spawning, nursery, and rearing habitats above the dam- roughly 3.3 miles of currently unused spawning habitat. Native and non-native fishes will have the opportunity to recruit both within the Elk Creek drainage and downstream to the Colorado River. The completion of this project would increase public angling opportunities for wild trout, and in doing so, has the potential to benefit local businesses that rely on these increased recreational opportunities and associated revenues.

The total $166 thousand project is slated to be completed in June 2017 with the passage construction beginning this November.

The fish passage project could not have moved forward without the work from the Ferdinand-Hayden Chapter by raising $3,000 that allowed for the preliminary engineering to be completed. "This came at a critical time when I needed to finalize our design drawings," said Richard Van Gytenbeek, Colorado River Basin Outreach Coordinator. "Their contribution allowed me to pay the engineer and complete the drawings which kept the project going."

TU also acknowledges the Fishing Is Fun review committee for funding a project that has a different approach to their stated program goals. "Normally successful grants improve habitat, facilities (ramps, docks, bathrooms, etc.) and public access. The key is that they all have a direct link to public access," said Van Gytenbeek. "In this approach TU made the case that if we could get these fish upstream to spawn that their progeny would, over time, increase population numbers in the Colorado River main-stem; one of the most publicly accessible river sections in the state. The project will effectively create a wild fish hatchery that feeds the main-stem and benefits all anglers."

The Elk Creek passage also demonstrates the growing relationship between TU and agriculture partners. The fish passage is actually cutting through the Ware and Hinds irrigation and diversion structure. "We got the cooperation and unanimous support of the Ware and Hinds Ditch Co. board and shareholders and the underlying agricultural landowners (Burning Mountain Cattle Co. and William Family Partnerships)," according to Van Gytenbeek. "This continues to demonstrate the importance of sportsmen and agricultural interests working together for the betterment of local rivers and streams and the communities that depend on them."

The Greenbacks New President

Heather holds a nice South Platte River rainbow.

Photo Courtesy of Brandon Miller

Colorado Trout Unlimited’s The Greenbacks have a new president. Founder of The Greenbacks Nick Hoover has recently handed the position of president off to Heather Sees. Heather is a dedicated fly fisher, employee, volunteer and steward of the land. Her passion for protecting and conserving wild, native spaces falls right in line with The Greenback’s original goals and has allowed her to make a few of her own. Her ability to articulate the needs of a community allow her to cast a wide net over a diverse group of peoples; this combined with her dedication to involving disenfranchised youth in the outdoors ensure The Greenbacks will not feel the growing pains that usually come with leadership change. Heather’s no bull all straight talk leadership style combined with her community based approach to relationships make her the perfect fit for the job.

Before Heather was president of The Greenbacks I knew her through time spent on the river. She is a fishing machine to say the least. We spent a day on the frying pan together fishing the toilet bowl and I remember her catching far more fish than me and loosing far less flies. Unlike most fisherman, she is humble, willing to hear all side of an issue and does not fall prey to fallacious arguments. To get to know Heather better as a professional and a leader I was able to ask her some questions about her new found responsibilities.

Why are native trout important to you?

“The Greenbacks are important to me because they represent one of the most diverse trout species in North America.  When it was determined that the “pure” strain of Greenbacks was on the verge of extinction I knew that I needed to get involved because I believe it’s important to protect a fish that plays an important role in Colorado’s ecosystem and natural heritage” Heather Sees, President of The Greenbacks.

Why did you take the job as president of The Greenbacks?

“I took this role because I looked at it as a great opportunity to challenge myself personally and challenge those folks who are involved with the Greenbacks.  This role also presents an opportunity to build on the strong foundation that we have and expand our role within the fly fishing community and CTU organization.”

What is the keystone character trait in a leader? How do you hope to exemplify that trait in your own leadership?

“For me a key trait is integrity/consistency along with being very self-aware.  I am a strong believer that a great leader must lead by example and is consistent in their actions.  I consider myself to be one of the most honest (almost to a fault) folks that you will meet.  I am also very self-aware – I am tuned into my own limitations and know where I thrive and where I have challenges.  Knowing this, I tap into the other Greenbacks members for support so that as a whole we are successful in our mission.”

What are your short term goals for The Greenbacks?

“As of right now the short term goals are to educate folks on the state of the native greenback here in Colorado, engage and recruit new volunteers/members along with partnering with the local Colorado Trout Unlimited chapters on their projects.”

What are your long term goals for The Greenbacks?

“Long term we have plans to champion a big greenbacks recovery project where we can plug in our strong volunteer base.  We will also continue to strengthen our youth education program by engaging the local college fly fishing clubs, high school clubs and youth organizations (i.e. BBBS, Girls, Inc, etc).”

Heather has a lot of work to do. Organizing a group of volunteers to complete what may seem like an unattainable goal, requires dedication and perseverance. Heather embodies both of these traits. These traits do not define her though. She fishes often in her free time and enjoys the social aspect of The Greenbacks. Her passion for the outdoors runs deep. She exudes stewardship and genuinely cares about the health of ecosystems. Thank you Heather for striving to make Colorado a more native place.

If you would like to get involved with The Greenbacks check out their website for awesome fly tying events, volunteer projects, and monthly meetings.

Trout Unlimited praises compromise reached on Thompson Divide

Carbondale, CO –Trout Unlimited and Sportsmen for Thompson Divide praised a negotiated compromise reached by stakeholders of the Thompson Divide area that allows Gunnison Energy LLC (GELLC) to continue operating working leases in the area while protecting critical fisheries habitat and watersheds in Gunnison County’s Clear Fork Roadless Area. The deal was approved by GELLC, the Thompson Divide Coalition (TDC), Senator Michael Bennet’s office, conservation groups and officials in Gunnison County. As part of the deal, GELLC now supports Sen. Bennet’s Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act, which would prohibit future oil and gas leasing in the area and create a market for willing buyers and sellers to retire existing leases.

“The Thompson Divide area contains some of the best trout streams and hunting grounds left in Colorado. We applaud Gunnison Energy, Senator Bennet, and everyone involved for listening to sportsmens’ concerns and working together in the spirit of compromise,” said Shane Cross, Western energy counsel for Trout Unlimited. “It’s a good day for the tens of thousands of hunters and anglers that rely on the Thompson Divide for incredible outdoor opportunities.”

At the center of the negotiations was where to draw the southern boundary under Sen. Bennet’s legislative proposal. In a letter to Sen. Bennet, Gunnison Energy President Brad Robinson expressed support for the compromise agreement and revised boundaries. “GELLC is concerned that merely having gas operations within the TDC area boundary will lead to permitting delays and increased environmental compliance costs.” He added, “With the change in boundary and the assurances I have received concerning our continued normal operations in this area, I support passage of the Act.”

The Thompson Divide is one of most pristine, high-value wildlife areas in the lower 48. The Divide’s vast and roadless backcountry harbors elk, deer and other big game and clear, cool cutthroat streams, making it an outdoor paradise for sportsmen and recreationists of all kinds. Preserving the Thompson Divide watershed is important to the outdoor-based economy of the area. Collectively, hunting, fishing, ranching, and recreation in the Thompson Divide area support nearly 300 jobs and $30 million in annual economic output for local communities.

Wildfires and Wildlife habitat

By: Ameen Hosain In spite of recent events concerning numerous wildfires blazing in the forests of Colorado, it is important to address the effects that these wildfires can have on Trout and the environments they exist in.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, "The biggest negative impact in burn zones is to fish."  With wildfires comes an increased amount of sediment that runs through river systems.  This increased sediment can clog the gills of trout, as well as suffocate many of the organisms living on the bottom of a river, both of which can severely affect any wildlife populations that exist in an area.

Trout populations can be negatively affected by this excessive sediment, and it can take years for these populations to recover.  According to CPW, "The South Platte River in and downstream of the Hayman burn area has only recently begun to return to the quality fishery that it was prior to the fire."  The Hayman fire occurred in 2002.

For rivers effected by fires, things can be done to counter the negative effects on fish populations, and CPW has been doing these things for many years, working to ensure that burned environments recover as quickly as possible.  Monitoring fish populations, restoring stream banks and fish habitat, and restocking fish when necessary are only a few of the actions taken towards aiding the recovery of streams.

Another notable affect of wildfires is the increase in the amount of runoff water that reaches streams and lakes.  Fires can rid huge areas of the trees and plants that absorb much of the runoff from mountains, and thus largely increasing the probability of flooding.

Floods can be detrimental to fish populations and stream ecosystems, as they can be very powerful, with the ability to flush entire populations out of a stream and severely erode entire stream banks.

A well known example of this kind of occurrence is the flooding of fountain creek in Colorado Springs as a direct result of the Waldo Canyon fire.  This flood destroyed many roads and homes in the Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs area, as well as eliminated the population of wild brown trout that once existed in the creek.

Alongside the increased threat of flooding, wildfires are also able to severely reduce the biodiversity in the areas they burn.   Frequent fires can eradicate many native plant species, and encourage the growth of fire resistant plants, as well as encourage the growth of invasive plant species.

Often times these invasive species are much more flammable than the native species they replace, thus often creating a perpetual cycle where there is increased fire danger in areas where there have already been fires in the past.  The ash produced can also destroy available plant nutrients, greatly effecting what kinds of plants can grow in burn areas

It is important to realize that the long term effects of wildfires can be beneficial to environments, and most negatives are only present for relatively short amount of time. According to CPW, benefits of wildfire include "[the] burned trees [allowing] sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor, which allows the growth of ferns and grasses that wildlife species rely on for food," as well as the "young plants that appear after fire [being] nutritionally superior to older, decadent plants."

Wildfires can prove to have huge affects on the fragile environments that exist within Colorado, and it is important to realize the negative and positive effects that come with these occurrences. It is important for any person who uses wildlife areas to be mindful of fire regulations and dangers, in order to prevent the negative consequences that can spring from the burning of wildfires.

Denver Trout Unlimited's Carp Slam After Party!

Denver TroutUnlimited is hosting the Colorado Carp Slam after party on September  10th, following the Carp Slam fishing tournament!  Bring friends and join with Trout Unlimited for an evening of food, drinks, and music, all in the name of fly fishing!

Celebrate Colorado River Day!!

Each year on July 25, urban and rural groups, progressives and conservatives, and people near and far all come together to celebrate the Colorado River. As the hardest working river in the West, it's up to us to work together to protect the future of the water- and while the river has seen some hard times, the future is looking bright. On this day in 1921, Congress voted to change the name of the river from "Grand" to "Colorado." But while the name change doesn't necessarily affect the river, many other changes have. As the West had continued to expand, the river serves as an economic engine for the entire country. The river supports 16 million jobs, generates $1.4 trillion in economic benefits, and supplies drinking water for 38 million people across seven states and two countries.

Apart from the economic benefits, the river supports an abundance of recreational activities. The river is home to 30 native fish species, two-thirds of which are threatened or endangered, and over 350 bird species.

The mighty river also irrigates more than 1.8 million acres of land- producing about 15 percent of the nation’s crops and about 13 percent of livestock. These totals generate about $1.5 billion a year in agricultural benefits.

It's easy to see how the river may be overused and while it still faces serious hardships, some say the best days of the Colorado River are right now.

In the headwaters of the Colorado, a Learning by Doing initiative is underway to ensure that the health of the river and it's tributaries remain at the forefront even with additional diversion structures. Through Learning by Doing, the water is constantly monitored for temperature, riparian vegetation, and aquatic macro-invertebrates. If there is a problem detected, the appropriate measures will be implemented to make sure the water quality and trout habitat is preserved.

“The so-called “Learning by Doing” program sets up a collaborative process that requires water users to monitor the health of the river in coming years and adjust operations to address unforeseen challenges and opportunities," said David Nickum, Executive Director of Colorado Trout Unlimited.

Another project in place to keep the Colorado River healthy is the Windy Gap Bypass. Issues with the reservoir's placement have put a stretch of river between Granby and Kremmling is jeopardy. But steps are being taken to bring the river back to health. A plan to bypass the reservoir and reconnect the river's natural flow is underway. “We wouldn’t be at this point without the leadership of Grand County and their persistent efforts to improve the health of the Colorado River,” said Kirk Klancke, president of TU’s Colorado River Headwaters chapter. “And the Northern subdistrict also deserves credit for listening to our concerns and working with all stakeholders to find solutions.”

The river also saw a major victory when the Colorado Department of Public Health released a final 401 permit that affirms the health of the Colorado through the Windy Gap Firming Project. “This long-term monitoring and flexibility of response use is called ‘adaptive management’—and it’s a critical feature of the permit requirements,” said Mely Whiting, counsel for Trout Unlimited. “Adaptive management recognizes that stakeholders can’t foresee every problem, and it provides a process for ongoing monitoring and mitigation of river problems as they arise.”

While further on down from the headwaters, Trout Unlimited is teaming up with ranchers and cattlemen to use water more efficiently and responsibly. "Continued development of the reservoir storage system is necessary, too, but ranchers need to realize their role and the opportunities they have to manage their water in a way that protects agricultures’s viability," said T. Wright Dickinson, former president of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association.

Down river, more awareness is being spread about safe water usage in dessert climates like Nevada and Arizona. And thanks to strong El Nino winter, a lot of California reservoirs were full this spring for the first time in years.

While the river provides life the west, the west is starting to supply like to the river. Through projects at the headwaters down to where the Colorado meets the Pacific, steps are being taken to ensure that the health of the river remains at the forefront for everybody who calls the west home.