Building Community Through Conservation: A Chaffee County Project Tour

On the weekend of July 12, Colorado Trout Unlimited welcomed a group of supporters to Chaffee County for a tour highlighting recent and ongoing conservation projects in the South Arkansas River watershed. The weekend included visits to project sites, time on the Arkansas River, and meals with TU staff, volunteers, and partners. 

These tours are an opportunity to bring people together around shared conservation values. They allow River Stewardship Council members and other supporters to see their impact on the ground, connect with one another, and learn more about TU’s approach to protecting and restoring Colorado’s rivers and wetlands. 

The projects visited during the tour reflect strong collaboration between Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service, state agencies, private partners, and the local Collegiate Peaks Chapter. Together, these efforts are improving stream health, reducing erosion, restoring fish habitat, and expanding public access. 

Here is a summary of the projects featured during the tour: 

Monarch Head-cut Stabilization 
Near the top of Monarch Pass, the South Arkansas River begins at a steep head-cut that had been eroding rapidly toward Highway 50. In 2023, TU and the U.S. Forest Service worked with a local contractor to stabilize the site and prevent further damage to the stream channel. Project cost: $15,000. 

Monarch Gravel Mine Reclamation 
In 2019, TU’s Abandoned Mine Lands program partnered with Frontier Environmental to reclaim 2 acres of a former gravel mine that was sending sediment into the river. Funding came from a CWCB grant, the NFF Ski Conservation Fund, and private donations. The success of this work led Monarch Ski Area to adopt similar erosion control techniques on its own property. Project cost: $81,000. 

Monarch Park Ponds Habitat and Access Improvements 
This partnership project involves TU, the Collegiate Peaks Chapter, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, CDOT, the U.S. Forest Service, US Lime and Minerals, and private landowners. The goal is to improve fishing access and habitat in a high-use area, especially for anglers with limited mobility. In 2023, 1,500 cubic yards of sediment were dredged from Ponds 4 and 5 and repurposed at the Madonna Mine reclamation site downstream. Additional dredging and 450 feet of stream habitat restoration are planned. The total project cost remains under $100,000 due to in-kind support and matching funds. 

South Arkansas River Restoration in Salida 
This project will restore 1.2 miles of the South Arkansas River between its confluence and County Road 107. The reach spans nine landowners, including the City of Salida. Planned improvements include better fish habitat, sustainable public access, an educational trail, improved fish passage, and increased flood and wildfire resilience. A CTU Colorado Rivers grant was used as match funding to secure a CWCB grant for engineering design. The 60 percent design milestone was reached in mid-July. 

Conservation tours like this one are not just about seeing projects. They are about strengthening the network of people who care about Colorado’s rivers and building a sense of shared commitment to their future. 

With an annual gift of $1,000 or more, you can become a member of Colorado TU’s River Stewardship Council. Your support helps us protect native trout, engage future conservation leaders, improve habitat, and advocate for smart, fish-friendly management of our public waters. RSC members receive invitations to exclusive donor trips and our annual donor dinner. 

Learn more at https://coloradotu.org/donate 

CTU STREAM Keepers Partners with Adams County 4-H and CSU Extension

Colorado Trout Unlimited’s STREAM Keepers program partnered with Adams County 4-H and Colorado State University Extension to lead a two-day youth camp focused on river science and watershed education.

As part of their summer programming, seven to eight middle school-aged participants from Adams County 4-H explored two locations along the South Platte River. On July 8, they traveled to Waterton Canyon near Littleton. On July 10, they visited Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton. At each site, the group studied aquatic insects and measured water quality to assess the health of the river.

Using seine and dip nets, the students collected macroinvertebrates and observed which species were present at each site. From the samples, they learned how certain bugs can help tell the story of a river’s health.

In the cooler waters of Waterton Canyon, the students found a greater variety of coldwater species, including stoneflies, caddisflies, midges, crayfish, and flatworms. At the Brighton location, the group found a different mix, including small mayflies, scuds, crane flies, leeches, flatworms, and bloodworms. Many of these are more tolerant of warmer water and higher nutrient levels. Everyone was surprised to discover just how diverse a warmwater ecosystem can be.

At both sites, the students also measured temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and pH using water quality kits. They took turns leading the tests and explaining the results. Waterton Canyon recorded a water temperature of 62 degrees, while Brighton came in at 72 degrees. The other measurements also pointed to healthier water quality in the Waterton Canyon site, which flows directly from the mountains and Strontia Springs Dam. In contrast, the river at Brighton flows through Denver and other urban areas before reaching the park.

Both days brought the heat of summer in full force. The students cooled off by playing in the river and explored nearby habitat, spotting toads and lizards as they went. After lunch on the second day in Brighton, they began learning how to cast a fly rod. Unfortunately, a storm rolled in with thunderstorm warnings, and the fly-casting activity had to be cut short for safety.

CTU’s Youth Headwaters Program was proud to lead this experience and connect with the Adams County 4-H youth and staff. The camp was a powerful reminder that different ecosystems can reflect a range of conditions and still support healthy aquatic life. It was a fun, educational experience, and everyone walked away with new knowledge and a deeper connection to their home waters.

Follow Along: See What Clean Water Looks Like in Action

At Colorado Trout Unlimited, our mission is rooted in rivers and in the people who care about them. Whether it’s restoring native trout habitat, helping students understand where their water comes from, or working with partners to protect the streams that sustain us all, we are part of a growing community of Coloradans committed to conservation.

These stories don’t just live in the field. They come to life through the voices, photos, and videos we share online.

If you care about rivers, wild trout, or the future of clean water in Colorado, we invite you to follow along:

• Facebook: Colorado Trout Unlimited

• Instagram: @colorado_trout_unlimited

• LinkedIn: Colorado Trout Unlimited

• YouTube: Colorado Trout Unlimited

• Threads: @colorado_trout_unlimited

You’ll see the places we work, the partners who make progress possible, and the real outcomes of community-powered conservation. From field projects to classroom programs, each post tells a part of the story of how rivers connect us.

Our social media isn’t just a feed of updates. It’s a place where you can see conservation in motion. It’s a way to learn about the challenges facing our waters and the solutions that give us hope. And it’s one more way to be part of the movement to protect Colorado’s waters for generations to come.

Follow along and help share the story of clean water, healthy rivers, and the people who make a difference.

The New Summer 2025 Issue of High Country Angler is Live!

Your new Summer 2025 issue of

High Country Angler is here!

Check out the Summer 2025 issue of High Country Angler e-zine, including these stories:

· Landon Mayer with Breaking the Surface;

· Brian LaRue with Beaver Creek;

· Colorado TU Staff with Inside Colorado Trout Unlimited's New Look;

· Other columns by Barbara Luneau, Joel Evans, and CTU Staff, Haden Mellsop, Peter Stitcher, and Joel Evans.

June Currents Newsletter

This month’s issue Stand Up for Public Lands, Connectivity Channel Success, Troutfest Recap, and More!

Troutfest Colorado: Where Conservation Meets Community at Coors Field

On May 31, Colorado Trout Unlimited welcomed thousands of attendees to the heart of Denver for Troutfest Colorado, a free celebration of coldwater conservation, outdoor education, and community connection. Hosted at Coors Field, the event brought together families, anglers, outdoor enthusiasts, and curious newcomers for an afternoon of hands-on activities and inspiration.

From casting clinics and fly tying demos to live music, kids’ education zones, and stadium tours, Troutfest offered something for everyone. This unique setting highlighted that conservation belongs everywhere, from wild rivers to city ballparks. With support from the Colorado Wildlife Council and the Colorado Lottery, and in partnership with the Outside Festival, Troutfest Colorado helped connect thousands to the mission of protecting and restoring Colorado’s rivers and streams.

The following photographs capture just a glimpse of the energy, excitement, and community spirit that made this year’s event unforgettable.

TU & Partners Host Water Quality Leaders on Wetlands Education Tour

In mid-May, Colorado TU and its partners with Audubon Rockies and Conservation Colorado hosted a tour for members of the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission as well as staff with the Water Quality Control Division. The tour offered the opportunity to see first-hand isolated wetlands and non-perennial streams that lost protection under the Supreme Court’s Sackett decision in 2023, and which will now be managed under a wetlands protection and permitting program under Colorado state law.

By December 2025, the Commission is charged with adopting rules for a state “dredge and fill” authorization program – similar to the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting program managed through the US Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency. Perennial streams – those that flow year-round – and wetlands with a surface connection to those more permanent waters will continue to be regulated through the federal program, while Colorado’ state program is needed to maintain protections for isolated wetlands and intermittent and ephemeral streams that do not flow year-round.

On the tour, we visited Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge and Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, to see different types of isolated wetlands – ranging from the namesake Two (actually three) Ponds, to a mix of perched groundwater-fed wetlands and ephemeral stream systems cutting across portions of Rocky Flats. While these specific waters were on protected federal lands, they are examples of the kind of waters throughout Colorado that lost their status under the federal Clean Water Act and in future will rely on state regulations for their protection.

In addition to seeing such waters on-the-ground and hearing from the federal land managers who steward them on the refuges, the tour included presentations from outside experts including Gene Reetz (retired from EPA’s regional water program), Abby Burk (restoration and policy expert with Audubon Rockies) and Colorado TU board member Ashley Giles (wetlands ecologist and consultant). Our experts shared with attendees background on the waters we visited including the functions they and similar waters serve within our watersheds across Colorado – as habitat for a range of species, as contributors to downstream watershed and stream health, and as buffers that help mitigate impacts from natural disasters like floods and wildfires.

Our hope is that the first-hand visit and education about these systems will help Colorado’s Water Quality Control Commission to be well-informed about the resources they address in the upcoming rulemaking, helping them to consider thoughtfully the proposals and information presented during the rulemaking, and to ask thoughtful questions to help shape the ultimate policies they adopt from a place of greater up-front knowledge and familiarity.

We are confident that well-informed decision-makers will help produce better final policies that responsibly address wetland and water protection within the context of Colorado’s laws, communities, and watersheds. We deeply appreciate the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s assistance in touring wetlands on their refuge properties, and the Commission and Division representatives who took part in this afternoon of shared learning and conversation.

The Fight Isn’t Over: Tell the Senate to Protect Public Lands

In May, the House of Representatives passed their reconciliation bill. Thanks to many of you who spoke up, an amendment to sell half a million acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah was removed from the bill before passage. Unfortunately, the bill passed with other harmful provisions including efforts to do away with commonsense oil and gas reforms, greatly expand drilling on public land, eliminate critical agency funding and roll back protections for the Boundary Waters in Minnesota.  

Now, the Senate is drafting their own reconciliation budget bill, and we have a new need and opportunity to advocate to the Senate to drop these provisions and to ensure that public land sales are kept OUT of this and future legislation. 

With the lack of public process and transparency, budget reconciliation is not the right place to make consequential decisions about our public lands and watersheds. Please join Trout Unlimited in telling your Senators to stand up for public lands and coldwater resources. We've provided a draft message for your Senators, but please feel free to add or create your own personalized narrative.  

A Decade of Multi-Species Madness: The 10th Annual Mile High 25 on the Fly

This June marks the 10th Annual Mile High 25 on the Fly. What began as a wild idea in a Littleton fly shop has grown into one of Colorado’s most creative and unpredictable fly fishing events.

The idea was simple. Celebrate the species diversity of the Front Range and challenge anglers to go beyond trout. The result is two days of fast-paced, strategy-heavy, and often chaotic fishing that rewards creativity as much as skill.

How It Works

Teams of two anglers fish public waters on June 21 and 22. The goal is to catch and release as many different fish species as possible using only flies. There are 25 target species on the master list, each with a different point value. You get points for your first catch of each species. Catching duplicates does not help your score.

Fish must be documented and submitted through the tournament scoring app. You can fish from shore or boat, as long as you follow Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations. You will need to adapt, think on your feet, and be ready for anything. Some teams have fished through snow, rain, and even tornado warnings.

Tips from Past Participants

• Scout your spots before the weekend. Know what species live where and make sure the access is solid.

• Don’t waste time chasing multiple species from one location. Catch what you can, then move.

• Bring a versatile fly box. Include streamers, poppers, and panfish patterns, not just trout flies.

• Use the right gear. A 5- or 6-weight rod works for most species, but it helps to bring a heavier option.

• Plan your route and manage your time carefully. Have backups for your backups.

• Stay organized and stay safe. Fishing is more fun when your gear is in order and your team is clicking.

Why It Matters

The Mile High 25 has always been about more than just points. It’s a celebration of community, creativity, and the waters we love. This year, a portion of every registration supports Denver Trout Unlimited and their work on the South Platte River.

If you’ve ever wanted to test your skills, meet great people, and support conservation all at once, this is your chance.

Join us June 21 and 22, 2025
Learn more and register at milehigh25.com

Join the River Champions Circle and Receive an Exclusive River Quiver from Riversmith

If you love rivers, wild trout, and unforgettable days on the water, this is for you.

Colorado Trout Unlimited is proud to partner with Riversmith to offer a special appreciation gift for our most generous supporters: a custom Trout Unlimited River Quiver. Available exclusively to donors who contribute $3,000 or more, this limited-edition River Quiver is a way to show your commitment to Colorado’s rivers every time you hit the road.

When you join the River Champions Circle, you’ll have the option to receive a Silver or Black branded 2-Banger or 4-Banger River Quiver (standard mount). Shipping is included, and the gift comes directly to you.

But the River Quiver is just the beginning.

As a River Champions Circle member, you’ll gain access to unforgettable experiences on some of Colorado’s most iconic and hard-to-reach waters. You’ll join other members for weekend tours that connect you directly with the conservation work your support makes possible. These tours are available at cost and offer a rare chance to explore legendary stretches of river alongside fellow anglers and CTU staff.

You’ll also receive:

• Membership in your local TU chapter, with access to stream restoration projects, Fish-With-A-Member outings, and local meetings.

• One-on-one conversations with CTU Executive Director David Nickum.

• In-depth updates on our top strategies for coldwater conservation in Colorado.

• An invitation to our January 2026 project briefing reception.

• Access to CTU’s monthly Currents e-newsletter and TU’s national Community Forum Digest.

• A one-year subscription to TROUT magazine.

Most of all, you’ll know that you’ve made a powerful commitment to the places you love to fish - and to the next generation of river stewards.

To learn more, contact Cheyenne Johnson, CTU Director of Philanthropy, at cheyenne.johnson@tu.org or call 720-383-4373.

Special thanks to Riversmith for their generous support and for making this appreciation gift possible.