Groundbreaking: Reconnecting the Colorado River

Repost from TU.org by Nick Gann

A Q&A with the woman behind the long effort to reconnect the Colorado outside Rocky Mountain National Park

This week, Trout Unlimited field staff joined U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and a collection of partners outside Granby, Colorado, to break ground on a $33 million river restoration project that is decades in the making.

Senator Bennet and TU project lead Mely Whiting breaking ground

Built to supply water to booming Front Range communities of Colorado in the 1980s, the Windy Gap Reservoir collects water from the Colorado River, pumps it to nearby Lake Granby, and then delivers the water to the Front Range via the Adams Tunnel underneath Rocky Mountain National Park.   

Although the project has helped with the water supply demands of these growing communities, it has also done considerable damage to the river’s fish populations and water quality, leading TU to champion a solution: Build a natural stream channel around the reservoir to improve the quality of this Gold Medal trout fishery and nearly 30 miles of the Colorado River.

At a time when the Colorado River Basin is experiencing a historic drought, people are looking for significant wins to show we can work together to meet multiple needs, combat the impacts of climate change, and make our waterways more resilient.

MELY WHITING, TROUT UNLIMITED

We speak with TU’s lead on the project, legal counsel Mely Whiting, who successfully championed this project for years, and worked to build bridges and partnerships—some of them with former adversaries—to bring the Colorado River Connectivity Project to fruition.

TU: Why is this such a big deal for the Colorado River?

At a time when the Colorado River Basin is experiencing a historic drought, people are looking for significant wins to show we can work together to meet multiple needs, combat the impacts of climate change, and make our waterways more resilient. The Colorado River Connectivity Channel Project is an example of how we can accomplish just that. By building a natural stream channel around the reservoir and reconnecting the river, we are not only preserving the reservoir’s ability to supply water to municipalities, but are also taking steps to improve the resiliency of the river and its aquatic habitat in the face of drought and climate change.  

TU: Why did this project take so long to get off the ground?

Originally proposed as a solution by a local resident in the 1990s, the project required artful negotiations, significant funding, and willing partners to get it across the finish line. Coupled with the historic drought we are experiencing and the increasing demands for water because of the Front Range’s explosive population growth, we knew we had to work together to address these challenges.

We are truly proud of the work we have done with our partners–which include those initially opposed to the project—and the steps we have taken together to overcome our differences and solve these pressing issues. (Ed: See below for the list of partners on this project.)

TU: What was TU’s role as this project evolved?

As with any coalition of partners, you need to remain optimistic, find common ground, and seize opportunities when they appear. Although our role changed over the years to accommodate the needs of the project—ranging from legal challenges to fundraising—the most consistent theme of our work was our pragmatism as an organization. We put the project ahead of needs of singular organizations. Between our local chapters, members, and staff, this formula has proven to produce results across the country for TU as a whole and has helped cement our reputation as a partner across the aisle.

TU: What does this project mean for the future of the Colorado River Basin?

Thinking about all the federal money available for conservation through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and now the climate law to combat the historic drought across the Southwest, this project is a prime example of how communities can come together to identify solutions to this challenge. It is going to take everyone working together to decrease our demands on the Colorado River while also respecting the needs of ranchers, energy providers, manufacturers, local populations, outdoor enthusiasts, and other groups dependent upon the same water supply.

TU’s approach proves this is possible and the Colorado River Connectivity Project will stand as an example of the good work to come.

Partners in the Colorado Connectivity Project include:

• U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

• Federal, state, county government: Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Municipal Subdistrict; Grand County; Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Colorado Water Conservation Board; Colorado River Water Conservation District; Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

• Corporate: PepsiCo Beverages North America; Frito-Lay; Intel; Coca-Cola; Swire Coca-Cola USA; Climax Molybdenum

• Other partners: Upper Colorado River Alliance; Bonneville Environmental Foundation; RESTORE partners
  
  

Art, Conservation, and Giving Back - Dave Richardson Art

It’s not all that often we run across someone that is incredibly talented and also wants to give back to conservation. Dave Richardson is one of those people. In 2009, Dave opened Richardson Studio and his work is now in public and private collections throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

As an avid angler, Dave chose to give a portion of his sales of two unique Colorado Trout Unlimited bronze buckles to CTU. These highly durable casted pieces, one a cutthroat trout, and the other an Adams fly, are custom items made per order.

Don’t delay to get yours! The holidays are right around the corner! Click the buttons below to learn more about Dave or to order your buckle now.

August 2022 Currents

Including information on Colorado water temperature concerns, our Troutfest recap, TU supported programs, , and More! You can read the August issue by clicking here.

West Denver Chapter's Fishing Day at Bartle Lakes

This past Saturday, August 6th, CTU’s West Denver Chapter held their annual fishing day at Bartle Lakes. The net proceeds help West Denver accomplish its mission of providing education for children through Trout in the Classroom programs; teaching youngsters at Windy Peak about entomology and the environment; providing at least one scholarship to the annual CTU camp; providing a fellowship to a student at CSU's Warner College of Natural Resources; bug and water sampling in various watersheds through Riverwatch and working with the state and other stakeholders to develop a long term plan for the Clear Creek watershed. Recently West Denver partnered with the City of Lakewood and Colorado Parks and Wildlife to assist with a day of fishing, education, and camping at Bear Creek State Park.

Bartle Lakes is a private 160 acres nestled away at over 10,000 feet in elevation. Located in Park County and offering 2 lakes to fish, the water holds thousands of wild brook trout, as well as trophy rainbow and brown trout. Owner Kevin Kasparek says the land has been in his family for 98 years. You can find more information about Bartle Lakes at http://www.bartlelakes.com/

19 people took part in this year’s Bartle Lakes fishing day. The weather turned out excellent, and many folks landed some of the trophy fish.

Photo: Troy Bloom

Photo: Troy Bloom

Photo: Troy Bloom

As always, volunteering makes these types of event go smoothly. Thanks to Matt Rivera for all the hard work putting this event together and Laura Beer for co-hosting. David & Cindy Dudden provided an excellent lunch for everyone. Finally, thanks to Greg Johnson from Golden River Sports for guiding from the boat!

For more information on West Denver’s chapter activities and to volunteer, please visit https://westdenvertu.org/

STREAM Keepers Event at The Nature Connection in Delta, CO

Colorado Trout Unlimited had a blast last week exploring nature with kids from The Nature Connection, a Generation Wild Community in Delta, CO! First, we caught macroinvertebrates, including over a dozen crawdads, out of the Gunnison River and Confluence Park! We learned what makes up a healthy Stream Ecosystem and found those elements during a scavenger hunt. Lastly, all the kids got a chance to catch an elusive Lawntrout and cast a line or two for some real trout as well! We are so thankful for our partners at The Nature Connection for collaborating and helping to support this event with their amazing counselors and staff!

Troutfest at Coors Field

With over 400 people in attendance, Troutfest at Coors Field in Denver on July 18th was a success. CTU would like to thank the volunteers, vendors, and attendees that made the initial event more than we could have hoped for. Stay tuned for updates on the planning for our next Troutfest. In the meantime, please enjoy some photographs.

Photos courtesy of Evan Cresap

CTU's River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp

This year was an blast at CTU’s River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp! Twenty-two teens attended our camp this summer and learned about CTU conservation projects, invasive species, fly fishing skills and ethics, fly tying, macroinvertebrates and much much more! We went fly fishing, participated in electroshocking, planted willows, and visited Roaring Judy Hatchery!

Below are some pictures of the fun we had!

We want to give a HUGE shout out to our volunteer Camp Staff, Counselors, and Directors! Thank you for making this camp possible!

July 2022 Currents

Including information on our upcoming Troutfest at Coors Field, new water quality protections for southwest Colorado streams, searching for the Colorado Yellowfin cutthroat, and more! You can read the July issue by clicking here.

TU Report Shows Risks of Speculative Leasing for Oil & Gas - Take Action!

In collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation and Rocky Mountain Wild, Trout Unlimited has released a new report highlighting the Bureau of Land Management’s wasteful and detrimental practice of selling oil and gas leases on land with little or no potential for oil development.

Known as speculative leasing, this process not only diverts agency resources and taxpayer dollars away from other public lands priorities, but it also prevents these lands from being adequately managed for the more valuable resources they offer – important coldwater fish and wildlife habitat.

The new report identifies the following issues with the way the BLM administers these leases and urges Director Tracy Stone-Manning to update the agency’s leasing practices.

Imbalanced priorities on millions of acres

From 2012 to 2020, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leased five million acres – roughly the twice the size of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks combined – that had little potential for energy development but overlapped valuable fish and wildlife habitat. Specifically, since 2012:

• 55 percent of federal oil and gas leases were on lands with little to no potential for oil and gas development

• 60 percent of leases on public lands with limited potential were sold for the minimum bid of $2 per acre

• 66 percent of leases on lands with little to no development potential were sold non-competitively

Critical habitat and tourism destinations at-risk

Currently, 5.1 million acres of greater sage grouse habitat, 1.8 million acres of sensitive big game habitat, and more than 1 million acres of native trout watersheds are tied up in federal oil and gas leases on lands with limited development potential. What’s equally concerning is the number of popular destinations across the West impacted by these leases. These include Colorado’s own North Park, with its Gold-Medal quality fisheries and high-value wildlife habitats (see map below).

You can help

With growing pressure on fish and wildlife habitat throughout Colorado and nationwide, we must do better. Please take a moment to encourage BLM and Director Tracy Stone-Manning to revise regulations governing public lands oil and gas leasing and development, to better balance responsible energy development with the conservation of our cherished public lands, waters, and wildlife.