The New Fall Issue of High Country Angler is Live!

Your new Fall 2023 issue of High Country Angler is here!

Check out the Fall 2023 issue of High Country Angler e-zine, including these stories:

· Landon Mayer looks back on the 8th annual Clean the Dream;

· Brian LaRue looks at Muddy Creek, a tributary to the Colorado River with What's in a Name Anyway?;

· Colorado TU Staff celebrates the 2nd annual Troutfest Colorado with a Photo Essay;

· Hayden Mellsop with Another Tough Day on the River;

· Colorado TU Staff with New Hope for Colorado River Protection from Oil Trains;

· Peter Stitcher with What You Need, the River Will Become;

· Other columns by CTU Staff, Mark Shulman, Joel Evans and the Old Professor!

Be sure to see information for the CTU Fall Rendezvous in Glenwood Springs!

September 2023 Currents

THIS MONTHS ISSUE OF CURRENTS FEATURES 2023 Rendezvous, Colorado CX3 Awards, Eleven Mile Canyon Diversion Dam Removal Update, and more!

Eleven Mile Canyon Diversion Dam Removal Update

On Tuesday, August 29th, members of the Pikes Peak chapter attended a site visit for stakeholders of the Eleven Mile Canyon Diversion Dam Removal project. Partners include the Coalition for the Upper South Platte, US Forest Service, Colorado Springs Utilities, Park County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and FlyWater, Inc.

The project is on track to completely remove the dam by the end of the year. All remaining work, including the parking lot, restrooms, trails, revegetation, and a new pay station, is scheduled for spring 2024.

The project follows several steps for removing the dam structure, which include:

• Creating a channel around the diversion dam to route water during removal

• Rerouting the river into the newly created channel

• Removing and storing dry sediment behind the diversion dam to be used as fill later in the project

• Demolishing the main diversion dam structure down to the original channel

• Rerouting the river into the newly restored channel

The clear channel around the diversion dam has been created, and engineers are beginning to reroute the river. They have installed two bridges over the channel to transport heavy equipment to the original channel. A rock weir has been created below the dam to help contain any sediment, and a boom is set up across the channel to contain any accidental petroleum spill. In addition, a French drain has been created to capture seepage from the river and route it back into the channel below the dam via a notch cut in the dam.

The clear channel was designed to handle flows up to 300 cfs, but the current protocol calls for a maximum flow of 150 cfs in case of significant rain events. Additionally, sediment behind the dam is being tested for toxins and will continue to be tested as the dam is removed.

Before the diversion dam removal, USFS and CPW will perform a fish salvage near the dam. After removing the dam structure and restoring the original channel, the old parking lot will be revamped with new restrooms. An ADA trail with additional fishing access is also planned. The temporary clear channel and bridges will be removed, and all the disturbed areas will be restored and revegetated with willows and other native plants.

Colorado Awards at Trout Unlimited's CX3 National Meeting

The national CX3 meeting takes place in Spokane, Washington September 27th - October 1st and will feature two Colorado awards. First, the Gold Trout award for chapter of the year goes to Rocky Mountain Flycasters in northern Colorado. The Rocky Mountain Flycasters Chapter takes innovative and thoughtful approaches to building community and advancing Trout Unlimited’s mission. The creativity, dedication and commitment of the chapter’s leaders has resulted in a high-functioning organization that serves its community and state, engendering community involvement, inclusion and conservation advances.

Despite facing numerous challenges, including wildfires and flooding, the chapter’s leaders have shown exceptional creativity and commitment. They have formed coalitions with stakeholders, agencies, and nonprofits to address post-fire and post-flood actions, becoming a model for Northern Colorado Basins. The chapter’s involvement in the Big Thompson Watershed Coalition and the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed has allowed them to actively engage in restoration and education programs. RMF’s flagship conservation program, the Poudre Headwaters Native Cutthroat Restoration Project, focuses on reintroducing the threatened Greenback Cutthroat Trout into over 38 miles of streams in the region. They collaborate closely with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the US Forest Service and the National Park Service to achieve this goal while also involving volunteers in field work, community science and monitoring.

RMF excels in communication and outreach efforts, utilizing various platforms to engage a broad audience. They have upgraded their website and integrated it with social media platforms, allowing them to effectively communicate with a big and diverse group of anglers and coldwater conservationists. A monthly newsletter is shared via email, Facebook, and Instagram, and their events calendar serves as a hub for coldwater conservation and education opportunities, linking events with fly shops, partner organizations, other TU chapters, and agency partners. RMF’s community engagement spans multiple levels, including participation in community-wide festivals and events, providing classes for underrepresented communities, organizing chapter events and establishing partnerships with local businesses.

RMF actively cultivates future leaders through a robust leadership development program. Their commitment to diversity is exemplified by the inclusion of a CSU Fisheries student and a CSU Costa 5 Rivers Club member on their board. The chapter fosters a culture of gratitude through annual volunteer recognition events, acknowledging the outstanding work of their volunteers and promoting a path from volunteering to leadership. Through innovative fundraising strategies, including sustaining donors, corporate sponsorships, grants and community activities, RMF ensures the financial sustainability of their programs.

This chapter’s continuous growth, effective leadership and impactful initiatives make them an exceptional choice for TU’s highest award for chapters, the Gold Trout Chapter Award.

In addition, Dick Shinton of St. Vrain Anglers chapter will be presented the Distinguished Service in Youth Education award. Dick Shinton’s dedication to Youth Education has had a profound and lasting impact on his local chapter, state council, and hundreds of young people throughout Colorado. As a longstanding volunteer and leader of the Colorado River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp for teens, Dick has been instrumental in shaping the program for 15 of its 18 years of existence. He fully embodies Trout Unlimited’s values and recognizes that engaging youth from diverse backgrounds is crucial to the sustainability of TU’s mission.

Dick’s contributions to the camp go beyond being a counselor and co-director. He invests numerous hours each year in planning and executing the program, ensuring a balanced focus on conservation awareness and fly-fishing skills. Drawing on his experience as a retired Human Resources manager, Dick creates a welcoming and supportive environment for both youth and fellow volunteers. His mentoring of youth counselors and dedication to their leadership development exemplify his commitment to fostering lifelong relationships.

In addition to his involvement with the Camp, Dick has played an integral role within the St. Vrain Anglers Chapter of TU. Since 2007, he has served on the board and held various positions, including Treasurer and Youth Education Chair. His visionary leadership led to the establishment of the Kids Learn to Fly Fish program, which has engaged young people aged eight to 13 in fly fishing and stream conservation. The program, delivered annually over six sessions, has attracted over 150 participants and garnered significant volunteer support. Dick’s proactive approach in connecting engagement programs, such as Kids Learn to Fly Fish and the State Council teen camp, has paved the way for youth to become lifelong leaders within TU.

Dick consistently volunteers for various TU projects at both the chapter and council levels, sharing his knowledge and passion for TU’s mission. His exemplary dedication and partnership have inspired others to engage with youth and become advocates for coldwater fisheries. Dick Shinton’s leadership, mentorship and tireless commitment embody the spirit of TU and make him incredibly deserving of the Distinguished Service for Youth Education award.

Fishing The Good Fight's Green Line Festival

Join Fishing the Good Fight this Saturday, September 9th from 2pm to 8pm at the Breckenridge Brewery's Barbox (Aspen Grove Littleton, CO) to enjoy some great music, increase awareness around mental health resources in the community and raise funds for Fishing the Good Fight. The festival includes an epic Silent Auction, booths from our Mental Health Partners, food trucks, and activities for the entire family. 

Tickets are not required to attend, however, they would really appreciate the support! Proceeds go directly to support Fishing the Good Fight programs, which includes mental health retreats and financial assistance for men who cannot afford the cost of therapy. 

CTU X RareWaters Special

CTU STREAM Girls Opportunities September 9th & 10th

Colorado Trout Unlimited and the Cutthroat Chapter are excited to host a STREAM Girls 1.0 and STREAM Girls 2.0 this weekend at the Kassler Center and Lake Lehow in Littleton! We still have 10 slots available for our STREAM Girls 1.0 on Saturday, Sept. 9th from 8 am - 5 pm at the Kassler Center and 7 slots available for STREAM Girls 2.0 on Sunday, Sept. 10th from 10 am - 2 pm. 

 STREAM Girls is an outdoor watershed experience that employs STEM-education (science, technology, engineering, math) plus recreation and arts to explore a local stream.  By visiting a local stream and having the opportunity to observe it as scientists, anglers, and artists, Girl in the 4th through 8th grade will get the complete picture of what their stream could mean to them.

 STREAM Girls 1.0 is a full day program which includes local stream exploration, collecting flow data, sampling macroinvertebrates, tying flies, and learning fly casting. If you aren't a Girl Scout no worries -- you can join in the fun too. Please note STREAM Girls 1.0 does not include fly fishing due to our limited time, that comes in STREAM Girls 2.0.

 STREAM Girls 2.0 is a half day program which builds upon their already learned casting skills and grow into confident anglers and river conservationists. It is highly recommended that you have already taken STREAM Girls 1.0 before enrolling in this event.

RMFTU Helps Stock Rainbows in Poudre River

From Denver7:

Bucket by bucket, thousands of tiny rainbow trout were released into the Poudre River on Wednesday morning, part of an ongoing effort to restore the fishery that was decimated by a massive debris flow in 2021.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) worked alongside volunteers from Rocky Mountain Flycasters, the local Trout Unlimited Chapter, to introduce 108,000 little trout — no more than 2 inches in length — to their new habitat. Under scorched hillsides from the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire, they carried buckets of the fish from parked trucks to the waterway, and gently released the animals.

Read more at Denver7.

Update on Cheesman Canyon

Ivan Orsic at Trout’s Fly Fishing provides us an update on the Cheesman Canyon event that dropped 2.5 inches of water, bumping flows from 239 cfs to 630 cfs.

August 2023 Currents

This months issue of currents features Cheesman Canyon Flooding, STREAM Keepers, Chapter Events, and More!