APRIL 2022
“We are close. So close to a new mile of the Colorado River.”
– Mely Whiting, Trout Unlimited attorney who has led the Colorado River Headwaters Connectivity Project for more than a decade.
Welcome to Colorado Gold!
As a Trout Unlimited supporter, you may have seen Mely Whiting’s quote in the Colorado Sun story published on March 22. Her comment referred to the mile-long Colorado River Connectivity Channel designed to bypass Windy Gap Reservoir near Granby, CO, and unwind nearly 40 years of damage to the river by restoring flows and once again allowing fish passage through what was once one the state’s most prolific trout fisheries.
She’s been waiting – and working – more than 10 years to utter those words, and thanks to the sustained efforts of folks like Mely and our partners at Northern Water, Grand County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Colorado River District and NRCS, we really are close. So close to restoring one of Colorado’s iconic Gold Medal fisheries for generations to come.
The ongoing effort to reconnect the upper Colorado River at Windy Gap serves as one of the signature restoration projects of the Colorado Gold campaign designed to help give Colorado’s “highest quality cold-water habitats” the protection they need and the conservation champions they deserve. That’s where you come in. Your support as a member of the rapidly expanding Colorado Gold Coalition is a vital piece of the conservation equation. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all of you who have already joined us in this mission, along with an invitation to everyone else interested in joining the movement we’re creating.
In this inaugural newsletter we also want to give a shout out to our Gold Level sponsors at Northwest River Supplies (NRS) and Down River Equipment (DRE) for donating a shiny new NRS Otter 142 self-bailing raft and custom-built XD fishing frame for our first Colorado Gold fundraiser. Valued at more than $13,500, the raft is adorned with the Colorado Gold logo and comes with dual rod holders, diamond-plate casting platforms and other deluxe accessories hand-crafted by DRE. It’s currently on display at the DRE showroom in Wheat Ridge.
If you haven’t bought your raffle tickets yet (or maybe just decided you want to buy a few more), you can do that here. The drawing takes place on June 1 at the Colorado TU offices in Denver. Unfortunately, it’s only open to Colorado residents.
We’ve got a lot more brewing on the Colorado Gold calendar, including some timely upgrades to our website incorporating more detailed angling info on Colorado’s Gold Medal fisheries as we head into high season. Meanwhile, be sure to buy your raffle tickets, encourage friends and local businesses to join the coalition and stay tuned for news on more ways you can tap into Colorado Gold!
COALITION PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: BLUE RIVER WATERSHED GROUP
The mission of the Blue River Watershed Group is to promote, protect and restore a healthy Blue River watershed through cooperative community education, stewardship, and resource management. And they’re working hand in hand with TU on revitalizing 19 miles of the former Gold Medal fishery through the “Getting the Blue back to Gold” campaign. Link up to learn more about how you can get involved here.
Colorado Gold Medal Waters in the News:
Demand Management Planning is on Hold in Colorado – For Now
Management Pause Doesn't Bode Well for the Future of Lake Powell – Where the Forecast Calls for Pain
TU Supporter Paul Bruchez of Kremmling Selected to Fill Colorado Water Conservation Board Seat
Recent Snowfall has Pushed Summit County's Blue River Basin to Almost 100% of Average
But the Snowpack Totals Aren't as Good as They Might Sound in the Roaring Fork Valley
Meanwhile, the Fishing Must be Good Somewhere
2022 State of the River Meetings Schedule
The Colorado River District is holding its annual State of the River events across the 15-county River District, bringing District staff, local partners, hydrologists, and water users together to discuss and address the most pressing water issues facing West Slope communities today.
Visit the sites below to register for a State of the River event near you:
Where: Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction
Where: Old Ace High, Rangely
Where: Morgridge Commons, Glenwood Springs
May 16 – Delta County
Where: Robideau Room, Delta
May 17 or 19 – Grand County
Where: Location TBD
May 24 – Summit County
Where: Silverthorne Town Pavilion, Silverthorne
June 8 or 9 – Gunnison County
Where: Gunnison River Festival, Gunnison
TBD – Eagle County
TBD – Crystal River State of the River
Where: Redstone Church, Redstone
F3T IS BACK!
The Fly Fishing Film Tour returns to Colorado with a series of upcoming shows around the state. Get your fishing stoke on with the best in fly fishing films - and meet up with your local TU chapters who will be on hand as well! Upcoming stops include: April 29 (Gunnison), and May 11 (Longmont). Check out their stoke reel trailer here, and find details and ticketing here.
