Hunters and Anglers Push for New National Monument in Colorado

The Dolores River offers world-class hunting and fishing opportunities but faces threats from industrial-scale mining, habitat fragmentation, climate change, and unmanaged recreation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:          

• Jay Chancellor, Trout Unlimited, jay.chancellor@tu.org, 720-484-9247

• Kaden McArthur, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, mcarthur@backcountryhunters.org, 435-770-3774

Today, Trout Unlimited and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers launched Sportsmen for the Dolores, representing anglers and hunters across Colorado. The purpose of this coalition is to conserve fish and wildlife habitat, as well as sustain sporting opportunities, on Bureau of Land Management and National Forest Service lands in the Dolores River watershed. The Dolores River offers world-class hunting and fishing opportunities but faces threats from industrial-scale mining, habitat fragmentation, climate change, and unmanaged recreation.

The Dolores River watershed provides habitat for big game species including elk, mule deer, and desert bighorn sheep and includes some of the most sought-after hunting units in the state. Tributaries of the Dolores River hold wild trout populations as well as native Colorado River cutthroat trout. The Dolores River, a tributary of the Colorado River, weaves for 241 miles from south to north.

Sportsmen for the Dolores supports the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act, championed by Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper along with Representative Boebert. This legislation would conserve nearly 70,000 acres of public lands, which would be managed to enhance fishing and hunting opportunity. Further north along the Dolores River a national monument designation is currently being discussed and vetted. When created with the input of sportsmen and sportswomen, national monuments are an effective tool for protecting areas important to hunting and fishing on federal public land.

Sportsmen for the Dolores seeks to permanently conserve the Dolores River watershed, critical to retaining its high-quality sporting values. The coalition supports a national monument designation as a means to achieve that conservation goal and is committed to ensuring a final Dolores Canyons National Monument aligns with principles outlined in National Monuments: A Hunting and Fishing Perspective, to receive the support of hunters, anglers, and sporting businesses. These principles include creating monuments that safeguard fish and wildlife habitat, maintain reasonable public access for hunting, fishing and wildlife management, and provide assurance that authority over fish and wildlife populations will be retained by state management agencies.

Jay Chancellor, Colorado Campaign Manager for Trout Unlimited, said, “After decades of trying to protect the Dolores River, now is the time for action. The Dolores River represents one of the largest angling and hunting conservation opportunities in Colorado.”

Craig Grother, Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Board Member/Central West Slope Regional Director/Norwood resident, said “Healthy, intact public lands are essential to sustaining and improving hunting and fishing opportunities. More than one million hunters and anglers enjoy the pursuit of fish and game in Colorado each year, and the conservation of these wild landscapes is critical for many who rely on them for their sporting traditions.

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Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to caring for and recovering America’s rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon. Across the country, TU brings to bear local, regional, and national grassroots organizing, durable partnerships, science-backed policy muscle, and legal firepower on behalf of trout and salmon fisheries, healthy waters, and vibrant communities. 

Public invited to Westcliffe, Monte Vista to discuss fisheries management related to Rio Grande cutthroat trout

CPW will hold two public meetings in early June to discuss issues related to Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

MONTE VISTA, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has scheduled two public meetings to discuss proposed fishing regulation changes that are aimed at advancing conservation goals related to Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

One meeting will be held in Westcliffe and another in Monte Vista. The meeting in Westcliffe will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. June 10 at the West Custer County Library located at 209 Main St. The meeting in Monte Vista is slated for 6 to 8 p.m. June 13 at the conference room at CPW’s office located at 722 Henderson Rd.

“We are proposing restricting harvest and tackle in the Sand Creek drainage to allow for the reestablishment of a self-sustaining Rio Grande cutthroat trout population,” said CPW Aquatic Biologist Estevan Vigil. “In addition to changing the regulations at Sand Creek, we are also proposing to restrict harvest and tackle at Rito Hondo Reservoir and the creek above the lake also to restore Rio Grande cutthroats.”

Both the Sand Creek and Rito Hondo drainages have recently been reclaimed by removing non-native fish from these drainages so Rio Grande cutthroat will thrive. The proposed regulations are aimed at protecting populations during the rebuilding process, which can take up to five years.

Additionally, another regulation change is also proposed for Kerr Lake within the Rio Grande National Forest south of South Fork. CPW has proposed the removal of special regulations involving fly-and-lure fishing only that has been in place at Kerr Lake since 1955. CPW has also proposed removing the limit of two fish and returning Kerr Lake to statewide regulations on bag and possession limits of four and eight.

CPW has found there is no biological reason to keep the special regulations at Kerr Lake in place.

“The cutthroat in Kerr Lake are sustained through stocking and are not genetically pure,” Vigil said. “In order to match regulations to other waters managed the same way, we are proposing the removal of the special regs at Kerr Lake.”

CPW will discuss these proposed changes and be available to discuss issues related to Rio Grande cutthroat trout conservation at these two meetings. All are welcome to attend.

“It is important we hear feedback from the public and local anglers before implementing any regulation changes,” Vigil said.

No fishing License Required During Free Fishing Weekend on June 1 - 2

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) invites resident and nonresident anglers of all ages to participate in Free Fishing Weekend. On June 1-2, 2024, the fishing license and Habitat Stamp requirement will be waived, allowing anyone interested in fishing to try it out and hopefully get hooked.

Fishing offers a variety of health benefits and is a great excuse to get outdoors and you can even try to put some food on the table. For experienced anglers, Free Fishing Weekend offers a perfect opportunity to introduce someone interested in fishing who might be hesitant about purchasing a license.
From reservoirs, lakes and ponds to rivers and high-altitude streams, Colorado is a highly-regarded fishing destination. The state features nearly 9,000 miles of trout streams -321 miles of which are designated Gold Medal waters - and over 1,300 angling locations, all managed for high-quality fishing. Colorado offers an opportunity to catch some 35 species of warm-water and cold-water fish. 

“The outdoors are for everyone, and fishing is a great way to discover and enjoy Colorado,” said Angler Outreach Coordinator Andre Egli. “The fish are biting and Free Fishing Weekend is the perfect opportunity for everyone to give fishing a try.”
All other fishing regulations, including bag and possession limits still apply. Learn more about fishing regulations and license fees in the 2024 Colorado Fishing Brochure. 

For more information about licenses or fishing, including the Stocking Report and Fishing Atlas, visit cpw.state.co.us/Fishing. 

May 2024 Currents

THIS MONTH’S ISSUE OF CURRENTS FEATURES Troutfest Colorado 2024, CO Legislature Protects Wetlands and Water Quality, Protecting Trout and Water Quality on the Roan Plateau, and More!

Fun and Fund-Raising with Local Chapters

It’s Fun and Fund-Raising with your local chapters! Five Rivers Trout Unlimited, Gunnison Angling Society, San Luis Valley, and Colorado River Headwaters all have fun events with important fundraising components over the next few weeks.

June 1st - Trout-a-palooza Durango - Pinesong, Bayfield - Join the Five Rivers Chapter for fly fishing games and fun! Learn more. You can also see their online fundraiser featuring a custom bamboo rod here. 

June 1st - Fly Fishing Film Tour - Big Trout Brewing, Winter Park - Join the Colorado River Headwaters chapter for a showing of F3T. Learn more.

June 1st - SLV 2024 Fundraising Event - Knee Knockers Bar & Grill, Alamosa - Join San Luis Valley Chapter for their annual fundraiser in person or online. Learn more. 

June 15th - International Fly Fishing Film Festival - Majestic Theater, Crested Butte - Join the Gunnison Angling Society for a showing of IF4 - Learn more.

Protecting Trout and Water Quality on the Roan Plateau

TU volunteer leader Ken Neubecker fishing on East Parachute Creek.

Trout Unlimited has a long history of work for and on the Roan Plateau, northwest of Rifle. Home to outstanding big game habitat and some valuable native trout habitat. Protected above some spectacular waterfalls, the Roan is a fish and wildlife treasure deserving of protection.

Over decades, the Grand Valley Anglers (GVA) chapter has supported fencing, tree planting and habitat projects on Colorado River cutthroat trout streams atop the Roan; Colorado TU installed a fish barrier on the East Fork of Parachute Creek to facilitate native trout restoration in its headwaters, which was later connected to restoration down to East Fork Falls by Colorado Parks and Wildlife; and all levels of TU collaborated in opposing proposed widespread oil and gas leasing on the Roan, culminating in a settlement allowing limited leasing on a portion of the Plateau adjacent to existing oil and gas development on private lands.

Grand Valley Anglers volunteers started planting willows and cottonwoods along Trapper Creek on the Roan Plateau in the 1990s.

Just this spring, TU joined with other conservation partners to seek and secure an agreement with the holder of that more limited oil and gas lease for them to relinquish the lease – leaving the public lands atop the Roan free (for now) from the specter of new oil and gas drilling in its sensitive habitats.

At the same time, with thoughtful collaboration from an adjacent energy company landowner, Colorado TU staff and GVA have been collecting water quality information on the East Fork of Parachute Creek. Based on that data, and the stream’s importance as a native trout recovery habitat, TU and other conservation partners are seeking to designate the stream as an Outstanding Water through the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. An “OW” designation offers the strongest protection for existing levels of water quality, preventing new permits that would lead to any decline from current high-quality conditions.

You can help today by signing on a petition to the Commission urging them to adopt OW designation for the East Fork of Parachute Creek, along with 17 other west-slope waters that have similarly been monitored by our conservation allies for their water quality and that support important water-dependent natural resources. You can see a map of the 17 watersheds proposed for this protection here, and can read and add your voice to our coalition petition by clicking here.

Trout in the Classroom Biggest Release Year Yet!

Over 45 Trout in the Classroom (TIC) Sites have released the rainbow trout, they raised since October, into local watersheds. This year we had over 60 sites/schools participate in the TIC program, and thus far 2,865 trout have been released. We still have a few more schools set to release, but overall, the program has been a huge success and our biggest year yet.

Some schools even made the local news and made videos of their TIC Release Events!

Ute Pass Elementary TIC Release Event

Shepardson STEM Elementary TIC Release video.

We are excited to announce some additional capacity and training that will be added to the 2024/25 TIC Program. This summer we will be offering three (possibly more) TIC trainings for educators and TU Chapter Coordinators/Volunteers. Check out our dates and events below.

• July 22, 2024 - Western Slope TIC Training in Grand Junction

• July 27, 2024 - Front Range TIC Training in Denver

• Aug 3, 2024 - 2nd Front Range TIC Training in Denver

Charles Hay Wood TIC Release Event

Grand River Academy TIC Release Event

Outdoor Wilderness Lab TIC Release Event

To help with this training we have hired a part-time seasonal employee (who will be starting in late May/early June) and we will be hiring two part-time TIC Seasonal Coordinators (one from the Front Range and one for the Western Slope). These new TIC Coordinators will help coordinate the TIC program during the school year, support our TIC Sites and Educators, and connect the program more with CTU, TU, and TU Chapters.

Colorado Legislature Steps Up to Protect Wetlands and Water Quality

In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court authored the largest rollback of protection under the Clean Water Act in that law’s history through their decision on the Sackett case. While Colorado had strong state-level protections for point-source discharges such as from an industrial or water treatment facility, the decision potentially left many Colorado wetlands and seasonal streams at risk of being dug out or filled in – Colorado had no program equivalent to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act that handled permitting for dredge and fill activities in waters of the United States.

Now, thanks to a dedicated coalition of conservation interests and some true legislative champions, Colorado has become the first state to pass new state-level laws to restore protections lost under the Supreme Court’s decision. This is great news not only for the seasonal streams (as shown on the map below) and wetlands that will be protected, but for downstream water quality, which is fundamentally shaped by the health of those sources higher in the watershed.

Recognizing that getting major water legislation passed through the General Assembly was more than any group could tackle alone, CTU joined with many other conservation-minded partners including Conservation Colorado, Earthjustice, Green Latinos, and the National Wildlife Federation, to create the “Protect Colorado Waters” coalition. We came into the legislative session benefiting from grant support from the nationwide Protect Our Waters campaign, and brought on strong professional expertise from Mark Eddy (TU volunteer, communications consultant and former Denver Post reporter) and National TU’s Mely Whiting (who delayed her retirement to help with policy and legal support).  Hundreds of TU members also lent their voices to the effort, reaching out to urge their Senators and Representatives to support wetland and water protection.

Perhaps most importantly, we were blessed to find strong champions for water quality protection with the Polis Administration and its Department of Public Health and Environment, and with three key legislators who sponsored HB 24-1379:  Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie, House Ag Committee Chair Rep. Karen McCormick, and Senate Ag Committee Chair Sen. Dylan Roberts. These leaders for water quality worked tirelessly to advance legislation that would ensure protection of Colorado waters.

Legislative sponsors held extensive discussions with stakeholders from all sides of the issues in the bill and worked through multiple iterations of amendments along the way. Our coalition reached out with various other interests that were open to discussion about mutually agreeable solutions. Ultimately, a number of important compromises were reached that helped pave the way for the bill’s ultimate passage. 

• The program will be housed with the Water Quality Control Division/Commission but with measures in place to ensure the agency secures additional staff and funding if needed to ensure the timely processing of permits. Opponents had proposed creating a costlier (and slanted toward polluters) commission and division to be housed in the Department of Natural Resources.

• The standard of protection would be as strong as previously existing federal criteria and could be made stronger if the Commission determined through public rulemaking that more protective criteria were needed to maintain the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of Colorado waters.  Opponents had sought to make federal standards a hard ceiling rather than a floor for state protection.

• The program will protect waters of Colorado broadly, not excluding (as opponents had sought) those wetlands beyond 1500 feet from rivers. This was a key issue given the important role such wetlands play as natural filters maintaining downstream water quality. Under the compromise developed by our colleagues at the Colorado River District, those more distant wetlands will be handled under a statewide ‘general permit’ with appropriate best management practices to protect waters of the state. This provides needed protection for those waters while also offering regulated users a streamlined and reliable permit system they can rely on in planning activities around such wetlands.

The end result is a model for other states to step up in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision and is arguably the most significant water quality legislation that Colorado has seen since the original 1973 passage of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act. Colorado TU thanks Speaker McCluskie, Rep. McCormick, and Sen. Roberts for their exemplary work in protecting headwaters, wetlands, and water quality for Colorado.

Blue Valley Ranch land exchange in Colorado proceeds to next steps

Organization

Bureau of Land Management-Colorado

Media Contact:

JD Emerson

BLM_CO_NWD_Media_Contact@blm.gov

(970) 826-5101

Steve Hall

sbhall@blm.gov

(303) 239-3672

May 3, 2024

KREMMLING, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is completing a proposed land exchange with the Blue Valley Ranch in order to increase public access for fishing, hunting, and other recreation in Grand and Summit counties, Colorado.

“I spent many days over the past 20 years enjoying the Blue River in my kayak and with my fly rod. I am excited that access to this magnificent stretch of river will be improved for people of all abilities who wish to visit the area to enjoy the scenery, boat, fish, hike, or hunt,” said BLM Colorado State Director Doug Vilsack. “We coordinated closely with local governments, other agencies, and the public to ensure that this land exchange provides benefits for all.”

The Blue Valley Ranch land exchange decision authorizes the BLM to exchange nine parcels of federal land totaling 1,489 acres in Grand County for nine parcels acres of private land totaling 1,830 acres in Grand and Summit counties.

The exchange expands access along about a mile of the Blue River near its confluence with the Colorado River, plus an additional 1.66 miles of hike-in access to the Blue River that is currently inaccessible except by floating. The exchange consolidates public land and transfers small, isolated public land parcels that have little to no public access, and results in a net gain of 341 public land acres.

“Access to and preservation of our outdoor spaces remains a high priority for Summit County, which is why we continue to be a strong supporter of this exchange.  We are anxious to see it get underway so that our citizens and recreationalists may enjoy the many benefits, including river restoration, public open space, and more walk-in access to the Blue River,” said Summit County Board of Commissioners Chair Tamara Pogue.

Grand County commissioners stated the county continues to strongly support the exchange and local communities look forward to the many public benefits it will bring, including the new Confluence Recreation Area near Kremmling funded by Blue Valley Ranch.

Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Dan Gibbs said, “We appreciate the work of the Colorado Bureau of Land Management and other local stakeholders in enabling this new access and recreation opportunity along the Blue River. The Blue River is treasured by Summit and Grand County residents and all Coloradans. This Land Exchange will provide new improvements along the river benefiting our wildlife, increased access to the river for rafts and kayaks, include wheelchair access, and other amenities to ensure Coloradans can enjoy this fantastic stretch of the Blue River for generations to come.”

“The Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited has supported this land exchange because the Blue Valley Ranch has given up so many concessions that are either good for fishing access or for the Blue and Colorado Rivers. The most important concession for us was the almost 1 mile of river improvement project just before the confluence of the Blue and Colorado Rivers,” said Trout Unlimited Colorado River Headwaters Chapter President Kirk Klancke. “This project will have positive impacts on the aquatic ecosystem in this stream and reach downstream on the Colorado River. We are a project-based organization and raising funds and overseeing projects consumes most of our effort. We applaud the BVR for helping us with this work by improving this stream reach. This puts the headwaters of the Colorado River one mile closer to returning to a healthy aquatic ecosystem.”

Land ownership and public access at Blue Valley Ranch will not change until the BLM and ranch owner Galloway Inc. formally close on the exchange. More information and maps of the proposed land exchange is available at the BLM National NEPA Register.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

"Protect Colorado Waters" coalition praises House passage of House Bill 1379

Groups urge Senate to pass House Bill 1379, reject the weaker and more expensive Senate Bill 127

The Colorado House of Representatives today passed House Bill 1379, Regulate Dredge & Fill Activities in State Waters, to protect Colorado’s vulnerable wetlands and seasonal streams. The legislation now moves to the state Senate for consideration.

House Bill 1379 establishes protections for wetlands and streams that were previously in place under the federal Clean Water Act, but were eliminated by the Supreme Court last year. Without these protections, Colorado’s waters are currently at risk from pollution and degradation from industry and developers.

“We are supremely grateful to Speaker McCluskie, Representative McCormick and their House colleagues who passed House Bill 1379 today to restore protections for Colorado wetlands and seasonal streams,” said Josh Kuhn, Senior Water Campaign Manager, Conservation Colorado. “We worked with other stakeholders to pass more than 25 amendments to this bill. Now, we urge the state Senate to pass House Bill 1379 and reject the weaker and less protective Senate Bill 127.”

“We applaud the House members who voted in support of House Bill 1379, which creates a new program to protect vulnerable state waters from mining, development and other polluting industries. Protecting wetlands and small streams is vital to safeguarding the headwaters of Colorado’s nine major river basins, which are sources of drinking water for millions of people,” said Jennifer Peters, Water Policy Advisor, Clean Water Action.

“House Bill 1379 enjoys support from a broad range of environmental conservation organizations representing more than 275,000 residents, local elected leaders and Governor Polis. We urge the Senate to quickly pass this bill to show Coloradans they understand how important protecting wetlands is to our health, safety, wildlife and way of life,” said Suzanne O’Neill, Executive Director, Colorado Wildlife Federation.

“Colorado’s hunting and fishing community thanks Speaker McCluskie, Representative McCormick and all the House members who voted in support of House Bill 1379 which provides important safeguards for Colorado’s sporting heritage and economy, and fish and wildlife habitat,” said Alex Funk, Director of Water Resources, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

The coalition also voiced its strong opposition to Senate Bill 127, which is backed by the mining industry and other big polluters. Unlike the well-defined safeguards included in House Bill 1379, Senate Bill 127 lacks the parameters needed to protect Colorado’s waterways and wetlands. Instead, Senate Bill 127 creates loopholes and exceptions that could be exploited by industry, opening the door to pollution, threatening Colorado’s drinking water and increasing the likelihood of flooding as more wetlands would be destroyed.

“Water is our state’s most valuable natural resource. House Bill 1379 provides real safeguards to ensure those waters can safely benefit our economy for generations to come. As where Senate Bill 127 leaves much of Colorado's waters unprotected allowing industrial entities to destroy critically important wetlands and streams without an environmental review,” said Margaret Kran-Annexstein, Director, Colorado Sierra Club. “I think we all agree, and public polling demonstrates that Coloradans want real protections for their water, not a law that is riddled with loopholes that benefit industry.”

“Protecting water quality for our communities, fisheries and outdoor economy must start at the source: the wetlands and seasonal streams that shape the health of everything downstream. We are grateful to Speaker McCluskie, Rep. McCormick and all those who supported House Bill 1379 to ensure protection for our Colorado headwaters,” said David Nickum, Executive Director, Colorado Trout Unlimited.

“House Bill 1379 would restore critical protections to the state’s wetlands and streams. It ensures that Colorado has the ability to protect its water supply and wildlife habitat while also building resilience to climate change. We thank legislators in the House for passing House Bill 1379 and ask the Senate to do the same,” said Joro Walker, Senior Attorney, Western Resource Advocates.

The Protect Colorado Waters coalition urges the Senate to quickly pass House Bill 1379, and to vote against Senate Bill 127.

About the Protect Colorado Waters coalition:

The Protect Colorado Waters Coalition consists of 17 environmental conservation organizations, representing more than 275,000 Coloradans, who have come together to pass legislation in Colorado in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision. The coalition’s goal is to restore the level of protections that existed prior to this decision, ensuring creation of a permitting program allowing for responsible development activities to occur without irreparable harm to Colorado’s wetlands and streams.

Members of the coalition include:

• Alamosa Riverkeeper

• Animas Riverkeeper

• Audubon Rockies

• Clean Water Action

• Conservation Colorado

• Colorado Sierra Club

• Colorado Trout Unlimited

• Colorado Riverkeeper

• Earthjustice

• Green Latinos

• Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO)

• Natural Resources Defense Council

• San Juan Citizens Alliance

• Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

• The Nature Conservancy

• Upper Green River Network

• Western Resource Advocates