Blog — Colorado Trout Unlimited

Colorado TU Annual Awards Honor Contributions to Conservation

At the annual Fall Rendezvous in Glenwood Springs on November 2, Colorado TU presented its annual awards to a slate of chapters, partners, and volunteers whose contributions helped advance the cause of coldwater conservation over the past year and beyond.  Winners of the 2024 annual awards were:

Trout Conservation Award

Representatives Julie McCluskie and Karen McCormick, and Senator Dylan Roberts, were recognized for their collective leadership in passing landmark legislation establishing a state-level program for regulating dredging and filling of waters and wetlands in Colorado. Passage of the bill, HB 24-1379, made Colorado the first state to restore protections to waterways that lost their federal protection under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v EPA, which rolled back Clean Water Act jurisdiction from isolated wetlands and seasonal streams despite their significant impact on the health of downstream waterways. McCluskie, McCormick and Roberts were the original sponsors and key legislative leaders in shepherding the bill through a challenging and sometimes contentious 2024 legislative session. Thanks to their efforts, Colorado’s waterways once again enjoy water quality protections that will help maintain their health and that of the downstream rivers that sustain our fisheries and communities.

Exemplary Chapter

The San Luis Valley Chapter was recognized for their outstanding work engaging with local communities, landowners, agencies, and other partners to advance conservation efforts in San Luis Valley. The chapter was honored for its strong accomplishments in multiple dimensions of chapter activity – strong growth (4-fold) in Trout in the Classroom programs offered through schools in their region; engagement with the community in promoting conservation and addressing shared battles such as the efforts to export San Luis Valley groundwater to the Front Range; and leadership with collaborative conservation efforts from restoration work on Rio Grande Cutthroat trout populations to flow and habitat efforts on the Rio Grande and Conejos Rivers. The San Luis Valley Chapter has been small but mighty – with a more limited population and membership base, they have made large impacts for the trout and water resources of Colorado’s Rio Grande watershed.

Bruce Hoagland Award for Leadership in Conservation

Long-time TU leader Dave Taylor was selected for this lifetime award recognizing both efforts in promoting trout conservation and in strengthening the capacity of Trout Unlimited in Colorado. Taylor has served with distinction in multiple capacities – as a chapter president in Boulder, as the Executive Director of Colorado TU during the Two Forks battle, as President of the Council Board of Directors in helping to revitalize CTU in the late 1990s, as a grassroots voice with the National TU grassroots board during a nationwide reorganization, and most recently as the chair of the Troutfest Colorado event at Coors Field taking TU community event engagement to a new level.

Exemplary Industry Partner

The St. Peter’s Fly Shop in Fort Collins was recognized for their engagement and support of conservation and education efforts in the northern Front Range of Colorado. St. Peter’s has helped support TU efforts, especially youth education and community engagement. They have sponsored a local film event that helped raise funds for TU activities in the Ft. Collins area but have also contributed time and talent with guides and staff from the shop helping with programs like the local chapter’s annual summer day camp where youth learn about rivers and fly fishing.

Exemplary Landowner

Kay Roth was honored for her participation in mineland reclamation for the Orphan Boy mine site, an abandoned mine located on her property, including entering into a long-term covenant to preserve the restoration work over time. Through her efforts not only will the Middle Fork South Platte watershed benefit from the clean-up efforts, but she is also providing an inspiring example for other landowners with abandoned mine sites on their properties.

Exemplary Project

The Cutthroat Chapter in the south Denver metro area was honored for its rapid and effective response in assisting the US Forest Service and other local partners in stabilizing and restoring the Gill Trail within Cheesman Canyon in the aftermath of a major rainstorm that led to wash-out and mass sedimentation in this high-use hiking and gold-medal fishing destination.

Outstanding Chapter Communications

The Five Rivers Chapter in Southwestern Colorado was recognized for its strong work across multiple communications platforms, including unique efforts to engage and inform constituencies not only in Colorado but in neighboring New Mexico around the shared resource of the San Juan and Animas Rivers.

Exemplary Youth Education

The Rocky Mountain Flycasters Chapter on the northern Front Range was honored for its diverse education offerings including introduction to fly fishing courses with local rec centers, Trout in the Classroom programs in local schools, and the nation’s only chapter-run youth summer camp.

Outstanding Volunteer

Four local volunteers were selected for this award in 2024:

·         Mark Miller for his work with the Poudre Headwaters Project and in growing the strength of the Rocky Mountain Flycasters Chapter including its northern Colorado fly fishing expo.

·         John Semich for his collaborative efforts in connecting West Denver TU with programs for engagement and education with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Jefferson County, and other local partners.

·         Buck Skillen for his long-time leadership with conservation projects and mobilizing volunteers in support of agency partnerships in southwest Colorado.

·         Michele White for her work with the Pikes Peak Chapter in promoting effective advocacy, youth education and engagement programs, and public outreach efforts including greater angler awareness around stream temperatures.

Silver Trout Award.  In addition to Colorado TU’s annual awards, the Silver Trout Award – a lifetime recognition for contributions to coldwater conservation in Colorado – was presented at the Rendezvous. Recipients of this award are selected by a vote of past Silver Trout recipients. Greg Hardy – current NLC Representative and past president of Colorado TU, and a long-time leader of the Gore Range chapter in Summit County – was honored for his leadership on conservation efforts ranging from habitat efforts with the Blue River watershed, to advocacy on behalf of improved rail safety and emergency response measures in light of oil train deliveries along the Colorado River and Boulder Creek.

 

Congratulations to all the 2024 award recipients!

Denver Prop 308 a Threat to Fishing, and Not Only for Denver

Photo courtesy of Denver Trout Unlimited

In September, CTU noted that the Denver Fur Ban was a threat to fishing, but now more information is available about the proponents’ intentions. A recent Outdoor Life article has several concerning statements and quotes.

The author reports, “Natalie Fulton, a spokesperson for Pro-Animal Future, is aware that the ban would include some materials commonly used in fly fishing. She says fly fishermen and others just need to adapt. (Conventional anglers would be affected as well since some lures, like bucktail jigs, call for the same natural materials.)”

In addition, this may not just be about Denver. Fulton is quoted as saying, “We would love to go statewide. We’re not going to stop fighting until fur is a thing of the past.”

Colorado Trout Unlimited urges a NO VOTE on Initiated Ordinance 308! Live outside of Denver? Tell your friends and family to VOTE NO!

Blue River Habitat Restoration Project

Blue River Watershed Group and Trout Unlimited begin community-led design to improve the Blue River in Silverthorne

On behalf of the Blue River Watershed Group, we are excited to announce the launch of a community-driven river improvement project on the Blue River. 

The Blue River Watershed Group (BRWG) non-profit organization was founded in 2004 by local community members passionate about protecting the health of the Blue River basin. Our mission is to promote, protect, and restore a healthy Blue River watershed through cooperative community education, stewardship, and resource management. As a result of the Gold Medal delisting of sections of the Blue River below the Dillon Dam in 2016, our community came together to address the underlying causes of the habitat decline. 

The Integrated Water Management Plan was conceived by BRWG and Trout Unlimited to research the reasons behind the degraded ecosystem and provide restoration-based solutions. Through this research, the Blue River Habitat Restoration Project was conceived and is currently in the planning phase.

The Blue River Habitat Restoration Project (referred to as Project) addresses the significant decline in habitat quality on the Blue River as outlined in the IWMP. The Verdantas team was recently contracted to provide design engineering services on his highly anticipated project. The most important aspect of the design process is that it will incorporate the input from a wide variety of stakeholders to ensure the redesign of the river is accomplishing the needs of its many users while capitalizing on the opportunities this restoration project offers our diverse community for future benefit. 

Your input is paramount. To ensure we obtain sufficient community input, the design team has developed a substantial outreach plan including the following components: stakeholder interviews, a design workshop, public meetings, a technical advisory team, and an iterative design process. You are invited to participate in the process of  redesigning and revitalizing the Blue River in your community.

The Project will address two sections of the river, one through the Town of Silverthorne and the other 7 miles north of town near the Blue River Campground. The Project will enhance degraded aquatic habitat and restore the Blue to a more sustainable and healthier ecosystem. Enhancements will likely include channel shaping in overly wide and shallow areas, creating appropriate pool-riffle-glide spacing, adding fish habitat features, planting riparian vegetation, importing gravel for fish spawning habitat, and improving access trails, stairs, and ramps for all recreationists.

The Town is interested in evaluating its recreational in-channel diversion (RICD) water rights for potential coordinated releases from the Dam, which could enable significant improvements for non-motorized boating opportunities. All designs considered (such as a whitewater course, a freestyle hole, or a standing wave) will prioritize compatibility with the Project’s goals of enhancing aquatic habitat and providing for fish passage. Other aspects of this urban project include consideration of the FEMA-regulated floodplains, the need to address current stormwater infrastructure concerns, a possible new pedestrian bridge, and a new bridge downtown to alleviate pressure when the Town is inundated with traffic from the I-70 closures.
 
Please don't hesitate to reach out directly to Kendra at projects@blueriverwatershed.org and 719-838-1525 or Nancy at nancy.johnston@tu.org and 970-462-6750 with your feedback or opinions about this project.

Fall Fundraising Fun

Highlighting a few fundraising efforts from across Colorado:

Colorado TU 2024 Raffle Benefiting Cutthroat Chapter

Support Colorado TU’s Cutthroat Chapter’s conservation, education, and community engagement projects including restoring habitat and trail access in Cheesman Canyon - with a chance to win one of 25 great prizes valued up to $695!

Colorado TU 2024 Raffle Benefiting Five Rivers Chapter

Support Colorado TU’s Five Rivers Chapter and their efforts to restore the native San Juan Cutthroat Trout along with programs for youth education, conservation, and community engagement - with a chance to win a custom bamboo rod celebrating the San Juan Cutthroat valued at $1,800!

Colorado TU encourages a YES vote on Proposition JJ

The Colorado Water Plan embraces four key values for our state’s vital water resources – a productive economy supporting vibrant cities, agriculture, recreation and tourism; efficient and effective infrastructure; supporting healthy watersheds, rivers, and wildlife; and an informed public with creative solutions for sustainable and resilient water systems.

Through Colorado Water Plan grants, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) has been able to fund important projects advancing these goals – including TU collaborations with water users. For example, water plan grants are helping with our work to restore cutthroat in the Poudre Headwaters, to improve efficiency and reconnect habitat on tributaries to the Colorado River, and to develop infrastructure improvements along South Boulder Creek that allow fish passage and delivery of low flow releases to preserve instream flows.

Key funding for these grants comes through voter-approved Proposition DD in 2019, which allocates funding raised from sports betting in Colorado to support the water plan.  Proposition DD has generated nearly $77 million new dollars for water plan efforts in the past five years – benefiting our watersheds, farms, and communities.

Today, funding from this initiative is exceeding all original expectations – with revenues going over the original cap of $29 million per year. Proposition JJ will allow those extra dollars to be invested in the water plan; if it does not pass, those extra dollars will be returned to casinos and sports betting companies.

The Colorado legislature with bipartisan and near-unanimous support referred JJ to voters so that funds from sports betting can provide much-needed support for our state’s precious water resources.

Colorado TU encourages a YES vote on Proposition JJ

Celebrating STREAM Girls with Awesome Kids and A Special Guest Volunteer

Margot giving the Girl Scout Handshake and STREAM Girl patch to Eloise, a participant in the STREAM Girls program.

We had a wonderful STREAM Girls program on Sept. 21st at the CSU Environmental Learning Center in Fort Collins. Margo Iwanchuk, Great-Great Niece to Juliette (Daisy) Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, was among the volunteers that helped make this program possible.

Margot, an avid angler herself and lifetime Girl Scout said “Aunt Daisy was an avid fly fisher both in Georgia as well as Scotland. Juliette Low, Founder of the Girl Scouts, would approve of TU’s STREAM Girls.”

18 girls attended this event with about 10 volunteers. They learned about the Cache de Pourdre, caught aquatic macroinvertebrate, experienced a hatch of mayflies, and learned some fly fishing skills. At the end of the program the girls (who were all Girl Scouts) received a STREAM Girls patch for their sash.

CTU is excited to continue partnering with Girls Scouts and offering STREAM Girls across the state. Learn more about Juliette Gordon Low, her life, and her legacy on the Girls Scout website. Check out some photos below of the fun we had at STREAM Girls.


CCTU Fly Tying Fanatics Fest

Join Cutthroat Chapter on October 26 at Orvis Park Meadows from 10 am - 4 pm to hang with 27 of Colorado's finest fly tyers!

There will be refreshments, a Chili Cook Off, and raffles for prizes donated by Orvis, Umpqua, Montana Fly Company, and Solarez. Bucket raffles will be held for flies donated by each of the tyers. Enter your chili into the Cook Off - the winning chili will also be awarded a prize!

This is a fun opportunity to meet and talk with greats of the Colorado tying community, many of whom are signature tyers, fly designers, and artists.

This is a FREE Event, in a comfortable setting that is kid-friendly, where tyers are up close and approachable.

Come by and spend an hour or the day! Browse the latest Orvis products in the store, vote on the best chili, and learn about the origins of tyers' most effective designs!

CPW introduces Trojan Male brook trout in a historic effort to protect native cutthroat trout in Colorado

Aquatic Biologist Jon Ewert stocks Trojan Male brook trout into Bobtail Creek during a historic stocking event in the headwaters of the Colorado River basin.

From Colorado Parks & Wildlife:

HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS, Colo. - On Tuesday, Sept. 17, in an effort to restore native cutthroat populations in the headwaters of the Williams Fork River, Colorado Parks and Wildlife stocked 480 Trojan male or YY brook trout into Bobtail and Steelman creeks.

“This is a pretty historic moment for Colorado and native cutthroat trout restoration across the state,” said CPW Aquatic Biologist Jon Ewert. “This is a combination of both the hard work and dedication of CPW biologists current and retired.” 

“This is yet another example of the groundbreaking work done by CPW biologists and researchers to preserve native species,” said George Schisler, CPW Aquatics Research Section Chief. “While Bobtail and Steelman creeks are the first to be stocked with YY brook trout, they will not be the last. This is just the first of many for Colorado.”

In 2010, an alarming number of non-native brook trout were discovered after completing a fish survey in the headwaters of the Williams Fork River. While it is unknown when brook trout invaded these creeks, it was evident the thriving brook trout had nearly decimated the native cutthroat population over time.

Cutthroat trout found within these two creeks are some of the highest-valued native cutthroat populations in the headwaters of the Colorado River basin. Considered a species of special concern in Colorado, this subspecies of trout is genetically pure and naturally reproducing. 

“In 2011 we found 123 cutthroat trout combined in both creeks. Today, after 13 years of hard work by dedicated biologists we are seeing a little more than 1,400 cutthroats in these creeks,” said Ewert. 

Trojan male brook trout are often called YY because they have two Y chromosomes, unlike wild males with an X and Y chromosome. These trout are stocked into wild brook trout populations and reproduce with the wild fish, producing only male offspring. Without a reproducing population (male and female fish), the brook trout will eventually die out, allowing for native cutthroat trout to be restored.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will continue to stock both streams with YY brook trout over the next several years to sustain the number of Trojan males in the population, eliminating the production of female brook trout in the creeks. 

To learn more about Trojan male brook trout and cutthroat trout restoration project in the Upper Williams Fork drainage, read our latest Colorado Outdoors Online Magazine article. 

The New Fall 2024 Issue of High Country Angler is Live!

Your new Fall 2024 issue of

High Country Angler is here!

Check out the Fall 2024 issue of High Country Angler e-zine, including these stories:

  • Landon Mayer with Getting Lined Up

  • Jeff Ditsworth with A Tribute to My Dad

  • Brian La Rue with Texas Intercoastal Redfish

  • Colorado TU Staff with Good News for Abandoned Mine Restoration

  • Hayden Mellsop with Into The Flattops

  • Other columns by Barbara Luneau, CTU Staff, Peter Stitcher, and Joel Evans