On October 22nd, CTU announced its annual awards at the Fall Rendezvous in Glenwood Springs.

Outstanding Volunteer:

Jim Williams – for his 17 years of committed service to the river conservation and fly fishing youth camp, as a counselor on site in 15 of those years and as a supporter and advocate for it throughout

Duncan Rose and Raymond Rose – for lending their scientific expertise and leadership in developing river conservation strategies for the upper Dolores River grounded in strong science and addressing the risks posed by changing climate in the basin

Chapter Communications:

Gunnison Gorge chapter for their commitment and consistency in maintaining newsletter and online communications with their members and community throughout the challenges of the Covid pandemic.

Chapter Youth Education:

Denver for their innovation in strengthening the Trout in the Classroom including adaptations that helped sustain it through pandemic challenges with participating schools – including community tanks, live streaming of tanks for remote learning, and improved telemetry for tank condition monitoring.

Chapter Project: 

San Luis Valley for their multifaceted work on Jim Creek in partnership with NTU staff (Kevin Terry) including fencing and maintenance to protect the stream, culvert replacement to reconnect it, habitat improvements to restore habitat, and ongoing brook trout removal to sustain the native Rio Grande cutthroat fishery.

Exemplary Chapter:

Rocky Mountain Flycasters for their strong programs across all aspects of chapter activity, including community partnerships with local businesses, governments, and watershed coalitions; leadership in native trout restoration in the Poudre Headwaters; wild trout habitat protection through riparian fencing with CPW at the Cherokee SWA; and youth education including TIC tanks and an annual summer day-camp

Trout Communications Award:

The Colorado Sun for their extensive efforts to provide meaningful and in-depth local coverage of water issues and challenges – making relevant news and analysis available to educate Coloradans about issues from water quality protection on the Denver South Platte to the basin-wide challenges with demands exceeding supply in the Colorado River basin.

Exemplary Industry Partner Award:

Rare Waters – for their generous support of conservation as part of their business model and their leadership in engaging private landowners with angling recreation and river stewardship.

Mayfly Outdoors – for their support of conservation through various collaborations and their vision and leadership in improving habitat and providing public angling access along the Uncompahgre River in Montrose

Trout Conservation Award:

Andrew Todd for his work in building public interest in angling and native trout through the Flyathlon (combining trail running, fishing, and craft beer drinking) and establishment of Running Rivers as a nonprofit to crowdsource funds through Flyathlon events in support of native trout conservation – to the tune of more than $500,000 to date.

Bruce Hoagland Award for Leadership in Conservation:

Ken Neubecker for his lifetime of conservation leadership as an advocate, educator, and conservator – especially for the Eagle, Roaring Fork and Upper Colorado Rivers; as well as for his efforts in strengthening Trout Unlimited as a force for conservation through his work in helping to establish the Eagle Valley and Colorado River Headwaters chapters.