Bringing Native Trout Back to the Clear Fork

In the high country above Paonia, Colorado’s native trout are returning home. Over the next several years, more than 13 miles of habitat in the Clear Fork of Muddy Creek will be restored for green lineage Colorado River cutthroat trout.

This long-term project has unfolded in two phases. In the first, a concrete fish barrier was constructed to prevent non-native trout from moving upstream. That work was completed in 2023 and created a secure zone for native fish in the upper watershed.

Phase two is now underway. This August, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will carry out a targeted removal of non-native brook trout from the watershed above the new barrier. Using a combination of organic piscicide and mechanical techniques, the agency will clear the stream to prepare for reintroduction of native fish. Monitoring will continue in the seasons ahead to evaluate barrier success and track the progress of native trout repopulation.

The goal is not just to bring native fish back to Clear Fork, but to reconnect and strengthen nearby tributaries, allowing native trout to expand into adjacent watersheds. Cutthroat from isolated headwater creeks in the drainage will provide the foundation for this effort. These fish carry a rare and important genetic lineage that still persists in the landscape.

In addition to native trout, the project will also restore other native aquatic species, including mottled sculpin. Looking ahead, restoration of native bluehead and flannelmouth suckers may also be possible.

This effort would not be possible without a broad coalition of partners who contributed funding, expertise, and on-the-ground support. Colorado Trout Unlimited is proud to stand alongside Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Western Native Trout Initiative, Colorado River District, Running Rivers, Fresh Water Life, Grand Valley Anglers, Gunnison Gorge Anglers, Trout and Salmon Foundation, and Ross Reels.

Ross Reels contributed to the project through its Native Series campaign, which includes the limited release of the Colorado Cutthroat Reel. A portion of each sale supports the Clear Fork restoration and other native trout conservation efforts in the region.

Together, we are helping bring native trout back to places where they belong. With healthy habitat, strong partnerships, and science-driven restoration, the Clear Fork of Muddy Creek is on track to become a vital stronghold for Colorado River cutthroat trout.

Rivers Can't Recover Alone: The Urgent Work of Post-Fire Restoration in Colorado

When a fire tears through a forest, the destruction is easy to see. What often goes unnoticed is the quiet damage that unfolds after the flames. Rivers choke with sediment. Hillsides collapse during heavy rains. Fish disappear from streams. Roads wash out. Drinking water supplies grow more fragile.

In northern Colorado, we have seen this firsthand. The Cameron Peak and East Troublesome Fires in 2020 burned more than 400,000 acres combined. Years later, the land is still suffering.

This is not just about burned trees. It is about the health of our rivers, our communities, and the fish and wildlife that depend on them.

A Partnership to Rebuild What Fire Took

In response, the U.S. Forest Service and Trout Unlimited launched a long-term partnership to restore these fire-affected landscapes. This $10 million, eight-year effort focuses on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, where the Camerron, Troublesome and Williams Fork fires created an urgent need.

The goal is twofold. Half of the funding supports stream and habitat restoration to stabilize degraded ecosystems. The other half funds critical infrastructure improvements, including culverts, stream crossings, and road repairs.

This work is about more than replacing what was lost. It is about preparing these watersheds to withstand the next big storm or fire. It is about making rivers more resilient.

Working with Nature to Restore Balance

Trout Unlimited brings a science-based approach to recovery. Instead of engineering rivers into rigid forms, we work with the landscape. Native willows are planted to hold soil in place. Streambanks are rebuilt with natural materials. Structures are installed to slow water and trap sediment. These techniques also create cool, shaded habitat that trout need to survive.

This approach reduces the risk of downstream flooding and keeps drinking water cleaner for the people who rely on it. It helps fish, wildlife, and communities.

Restoration is already underway. This is not a one-time fix. It is a sustained effort built on monitoring, fieldwork, and collaboration.

Why This Work Matters Now

Recent fires, including the South Rim Fire in Black Canyon of the Gunnison, are a clear reminder that the risk of fire is growing. But what happens after the burn is just as important.

If we do nothing, the damage will compound. Sediment will continue to flow into rivers. Trout populations will shrink. Roads and water systems will fail again. These problems do not fix themselves.

But we do not have to stand by. We can take action. We can invest in recovery that makes rivers stronger. We can restore habitat, protect clean water, and help wild and native trout come back.

The Path Forward

Within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, the Forest Service and Trout Unlimited are prioritizing the places with the most urgent needs. Restoration work will continue across northern Colorado. At Colorado Trout Unlimited, we are proud to support this partnership. We are advocating for continued recovery funding, working with local leaders, and helping volunteers and chapters stay engaged.

Rivers cannot recover alone. But with the right people, resources, and commitment, recovery is possible. And it is already happening.

Keep The Colorado River Flowing

Ask the CWCB to Keep the Colorado River flowing and accept the Shoshone Water Rights

Photo courtesy of Colorado River District

For more than 100 years, the Shoshone Hydropower Plant in Glenwood Canyon and its non-consumptive water rights have played a critical role in sustaining the Colorado River.  With two senior water rights (1902 and 1929), the Shoshone plant has ensured year-round flows through the Colorado River both upstream and downstream - calling water past upstream trans-basin diversions that could otherwise deplete the upper Colorado River even more heavily, and delivering flows that also maintain the Colorado River below the Shoshone outflow, in and below Glenwood Springs. Unfortunately, the power plant's infrastructure has been aging leading to periodic outages and highlighting the need for a more permanent solution for preserving the water rights whose operation has sustained the Colorado River, its gold medal fishery, endangered fish habitat, and communities and working lands that rely on the river. Shoshone is especially essential for keeping the Colorado River flowing in the winter non-growing season, when other senior irrigation water rights in the Grand Valley are not drawing water down the river. Shoshone is the essential senior right that keeps the Colorado flowing 12 months of the year.

The Colorado River District has entered into a $99 million purchase and sale agreement to acquire the water rights from Xcel Energy, and is working to establish instream flows in Glenwood Canyon as an additional use of those water rights - so that regardless of when and how the power plant can continue to operate, the Colorado River will continue to have water delivered as it has been for more than 100 years. By preserving that status quo on a permanent basis, the River District's proposal will benefit fish and other aquatic life, Colorado's outdoor recreation economy, and the communities that rely on continued historic flows along the Colorado River.  The only difference is that when the rights are exercised for instream flow, water will flow in the river channel in Glenwood Canyon from the existing Shoshone diversion to the powerplant outlet, rather than through the pipelines that would otherwise use the water for hydroelectricity generation through that reach.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is the entity under state law that can hold water rights for instream flow purposes, including through acquisitions/donations/leases of senior water rights as would be the case with the Shoshone water rights. The CWCB is currently taking public comment through September 18 on whether it should accept donation of these water rights into the state Instream Flow Program. 

Please ask the CWCB to accept the donation of Shoshone flows in the State's Instream Flow Program and keep the Colorado River flowing year round. You can use the template comments provided here, but your comments will be most effective if you also add personal details about why the Colorado River and its health are important to you.

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.