Richard Van Gytenbeek, Colorado River Basin Outreach Coordinator

My interest in trout streams started early, armed with a used Sila-Flex fly rod, Pflueger reel and a worm I fished the Tarryall Creek with my father. Twenty years later those experiences would translate into a Fisheries degree and a job working for Colorado DOW in Montrose. My boss, Barry Nehring, helped to change my raw enthusiasm for the sport into a real understanding of the resource and how to protect it. I took those lessons, added a Masters in Landscape Architecture and worked on land and resource planning in northwest Wyoming for another 25 years. Three years ago I returned home and after 18 months as TU’s Colorado River Basin Outreach Coordinator, a lot of hours of windshield time and meeting time the experience has been, well, “living the dream.” Moving back to Colorado, living on the West Slope and getting to tell people about this amazing organization and our mission to keep the life blood of the West flowing and healthy is a privilege. As the outreach person here on the West Slope of Colorado, my job is to inform people about the importance of healthy rivers and streams and how TU is working to improve and protect our western Colorado waterways. To deliver that message, the Our Colorado River (OCR) program was created. The OCR program has two goals: first, to highlight the ongoing restoration efforts of our Western Water Project staff and their collaborative work with their local basins and agricultural communities. That work is spearheaded by Brian Hodge in the Yampa/White; Rob Firth in the Upper Colorado; Jesse Kruthaupt and Carey Denison in the Gunnison; Matt Clark in the Dolores/Mancos; Mely Whiting in the San Juan/Animas; and Kevin Terry in the Rio Grande basin. Upgrading irrigation infrastructure, improving habitat and promoting smart water use all help our farmers and ranchers and improve flow and temperature regimes. In the last few years, this staff has hit the ground running in getting restoration projects completed. I’m helping to get the word out about that good work and the benefits for landowners and habitat.

My second goal is to enlist support for the OCR program’s core values, which we established to encourage cooperation and common ground among diverse water users. These five values—which we believe most West Slope water users can embrace--speak to cooperation with the resource, protecting agriculture, protecting open space and wildlife habitat, improving aging irrigation infrastructure, and promoting innovative water management. When I make presentations to organizations, businesses and elected officials, I ask for their support by becoming a signatory to the core values. So far, I’ve gotten a positive response from most water stakeholders—they “get it” that we have to keep our rivers healthy.  Later in 2014, the core values and the list of supporters will be presented to the Colorado Water Conservation Board with a clear message that, while western Colorado citizens may not agree on all water use issues, there is strong grassroots consensus on these five values, which should be reflected in Colorado’s Water Plan.

Richard Van Gytenbeek - r.vangytenbeek@tu.org or 307-690-1267

Garrett Hanks, Colorado TU Youth Education Coordinator

I work to achieve the goals of Colorado Trout Unlimited through the engagement of Colorado’s youth. Raised on the Front Range, I was fortunate to be taken into the outdoors frequently growing up. I had family and friends who taught me not only the beauty of these places but also their value. These experiences shaped who I am and what I have chosen to do with my education and career. I am excited to give back some of those experiences to the next generation of conservation stewards. It is through them that the hard work we do now will have the greatest impact. My job takes me state wide in support of our Chapter’s efforts to engage their local youth. Outreach in schools is one way we provide youth education. The Trout in the Classroom program has been a proven success and is expanding every year to provide aquariums with trout to be raised by students then released into the wild. New initiatives like the Stream Explorers have been extremely successful in engaging students in hands on conservation and fishing, while hopefully providing a continued experience year after year.

The Outdoor Mentors is a program designed to provide youth a chance to get outdoors that would not otherwise have family or friends capable of taking them. Colorado Trout Unlimited partners with local and national organizations and other outdoor focused groups to give as many kids as possible a quality an outdoor experience. Opportunities also exist for families to learn to fish together, no matter the previous skill level, in our family fishing camp.

Each year Colorado Trout Unlimited puts on a week long fly fishing youth camp. Campers from ages 14 to 18 engage in conservation and science based classes in between time on the water. The camp hopes to provide a direct connection to a possible future in natural resources. Many of the campers go on to be successful in their continued education, and we hope as the next generation of leaders in coldwater conservation.

The first annual CTU Intercollegiate Fly Fishing Tournament was held this year in Steamboat Springs, CO. In an attempt to bring together new and old Five Rivers Chapters, six teams from four different colleges across the state participated. The tournament scoring was structured such that the team had to complete different challenges to earn points, rather than simply the most and the biggest fish taking home the trophy. The true message of the tournament however, was conservation and camaraderie for the individuals who will soon be the ones making the decisions on how our river’s resources are stewarded.

For more information on Youth Education programs in your area, or to get involved, contact Garrett Hanks at 720-354-2646 or ghanks@tu.org.

Ty Churchwell, Backcountry Coordinator, SCP

Having spent the last ten years or so engaged with TU, both in chapter leadership and on staff, I have a wonderfully unique perspective on our work as a ‘One TU’ team.  A decade ago, I had the pleasure of joining our local chapter in Durango just in time to fill a vice president’s void, then two years later stepped into the president’s seat.  I cut my conservation teeth performing chapter fundraising, youth education, learning water policy and developing relationships at all levels, all as a volunteer.  I found a family of trout warriors and a great desire to do conservation work full-time. Six years ago I joined the team of National TU’s public land programs, the ‘Sportsmen’s Conservation Project’ (SCP), headquartered in Durango.   I share office space with the director of our programs, Steve Kandell, who oversees about 28 staff in all eleven western states.  We’re the ‘…and their watersheds’ part of TU’s mission statement.  It is my pleasure to represent hunters and anglers in discussions around our public lands.

I primarily work on placed-based initiatives, which are directed at being legislative in nature at the federal level.  The campaigns I’ve coordinated were for special areas of BLM or USFS public land that had been identified as vital to sportsmen, such as the Alpine Triangle and Hermosa Creek.  I’ve also had the opportunity to assist colleagues in all areas of TU, on campaigns such as Browns Canyon, the San Juan Wilderness bill, Thompson Divide, Roan Plateau and the Public Land Renewable Energy Development act.  My work takes me to discussion around ATVs, mines, native trout, timber, oil/gas development, elk habitat, mountain bikes, sage grouse and on and on.  Our public lands are our birthright and trout fisheries rely on them.

At present my time is almost exclusively directed at the Hermosa Creek effort, a campaign of somewhat notoriety.  Hermosa Creek has long been a focus area for TU in SW Colorado.  A bill to protect the entire basin now works its way through the halls of Congress, including a wilderness component.  Each day seems to bring new developments.  Many consider Hermosa Creek to be one of the top bills in the country to possibly break the gridlock of public land bills in DC.  Congress has only enacted one wilderness bill since 2009.

The Animas River, my home water, is the poster child for Acid Mine Drainage in America.  The upper basin near Silverton is laden with heavy metals from historic mining.  I work with local stakeholders such as BLM, EPA, CDPHE and mining interests to resolve our water quality problem.  I worked with Rep. Tipton and Sen. Udall in crafting ‘Good Samaritan’ legislation, which was introduced in 2013, but has languished.  Thankfully the Animas’ water has been diluted by the time it reaches Durango and we enjoy a world-class brown trout fishery right in town.

I have always been a trout bum, for as long as I can remember.  Those beautiful trout have brought me great joy with wonderful friends and exciting travels.  I owe them!

Ty Churchwell - tchurchwell@tu.org

Sportsmen Thank Secretary Jewell For Her Strong Support of the LWCF

Today, organizations representing hundreds of thousands of hunters and anglers delivered a letter to Interior Secretary Jewell thanking her for her leadership on the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in front of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week.  In her statements, Secretary Jewell called for full and dedicated funding for this tool which has helped protect some of the country's best fish and game habitat.  Created in 1967, LWCF funnels revenues from offshore oil and gas extraction to purchase public land from willing landowners.  This tool has been used to secure new public lands, provide access to existing lands for hunters and anglers, and fill in patchwork public lands, allowing for continuous habitat for fish and game.  Originally authorized at $900 million per year, this non-taxpayer funded program has dwindled in recent years, creating a backlog of needed acquisitions.  By making the fund a mandatory spending program, it would prevent Congress from cutting it to fund other projects, and ensure a consistently full funding level from year to year.   America's hunters and anglers know the value of these public lands better than any group, as they often hold the biggest fish and game, and support local rural economies by providing destinations for sportsmen.  The letter,signed by  The American Fly Fishing Trade Association, Bull Moose Sportsmen's Alliance, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Isaak Walton League of America, National Wildlife Federation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Trout Unlimited, pledged that sportsmen would continue to work with Secretary Jewell and Congress to protect our public lands by investing in LWCF.

Read the letter to Interior Secretary Jewell.

San Miguel remains free flowing

A western slope river as old as the Rocky Mountains will live on. One of the last free-flowing rivers in Colorado, the San Miguel will continue to course through the western slope unchecked by mankind, thanks to a May 20 Colorado Water Court ruling granting it protected status. Granted "in-stream flow protection," the San Miguel will continue to be a natural habitat for three fish species, as well as fuel the down-stream rafting economy, said John Fielder, a landscape photographer and champion of natural resources preservation.

"Like the Yampa (River), the San Miguel is one of the last undammed major rivers in the state," Fielder said.

Read more about the ruling protecting the San Miguel in The Gazette.

Brian Hodge, Project Coordinator, Yampa and White River Basins

As a member of TU’s Colorado Water Project, I work to meet TU’s mission through on-the-ground projects.  My goal is to plan and implement projects that benefit coldwater fish and landowner alike.  By helping to improve irrigation efficiency, for example, we can, under the right circumstances, both improve ranch operations and increase stream flows for trout.  I frequently work with private landowners and agency partners to reach conservation goals. Here’s a flavor of happenings in the northwest Colorado:

In 2012, I worked with Yampa River Ranch and Partners for Fish and Wildlife (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to protect a 1.6-mile segment of the Yampa River. The Ranch wanted both to run cattle and to maximize habitat for brown trout.  So we constructed a riparian fence that enhanced the ranch’s ability to concurrently manage for a livestock operation and trout fishery.

I’m currently working with the U.S. Forest Service to reconnect Poose Creek.  Poose Creek is occupied by native Colorado River Cutthroat Trout.  However, since the 1960s a large culvert under a county road has prevented cutthroat and other fishes from accessing the headwaters.  We’re installing a fish ladder to restore fish passage in Poose Creek.

This year, I continued working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and others on multi-phase efforts to restore Armstrong and Milk creeks.  Both streams are home to native cutthroat trout and to two lesser-known native, coldwater fishes: mountain sucker and mottled sculpin.  Additional information is available at the following links:

Armstrong Creek.   http://www.tu.org/blog-posts/a-small-creek-a-grand-vision-of-restoration

Milk Creek.  http://troutunlimitedblog.com/climate-adaptation-one-stream-at-a-time/

We’ve implemented successful projects and developed valuable partnerships in northwest Colorado. Additional opportunities await.

Brian Hodge - bhodge@tu.org

Aaron Kindle, Colorado Field Coordinator, SCP

My name is Aaron Kindle. I am the Colorado Field Coordinator for National Trout Unlimited's Sportsmen's Conservation Project or SCP. The SCP is essentially the public lands protection arm of TU. We work in three main program areas: energy development, off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and backcountry protection. I have been with TU for three years now and have worked on several issues you are probably familiar with - the Colorado Roadless Rule, energy development in the White River Basin, and travel management planning across the state. I'm currently engaged in efforts across Colorado in all three of our program areas. One you may have heard of is the Thompson Divide. This area is a unique 200,000 plus acre landscape just west of Carbondale. We are engaged there due to the outstanding fish and wildlife habitat, including several cutthroat trout populations, and the potential for energy development. Our goal is to pass legislation to permanently withdraw the area from future development and to broker deals with energy companies to buy, retire or exchange currently held leases.

I also work just south of the Thompson Divide in Gunnison County. Last year Senator Michael Bennet began a process to examine the potential for protective designations for federal lands in the county. Gunnsion County is a sportsmen's haven, boasting abundant world class fish and wildlife habitat. We are working to with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to determine the most appropriate ways to protect the outstanding values of the area. Keep an eye out for more on this effort in the coming months.

In the realm of off-highway vehicles, I have two main campaigns. The first one is working in the state legislature to pass a bill requiring that all OHVs have visibly identifiable license plates. We regularly hear from wildlife officials and sportsmen that they witness off-highway users violate laws but lack a mechanism for identifying these violators. We want to change that and believe that visible identification in the form of license plates is the  essential tool to effective management of OHVs.  The second campaign I work on is Bear Creek. Bear Creek is a small stream near Colorado Springs that holds the one and only population of wild greenback cutthroat trout. Poor management and user abuse, including poorly managed OHV use, has caused the degradation of this stream. We are working diligently with trail users, agency officials and members of the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of TU to correct the problems, restore the stream and implement a sustainable management scheme to ensure the persistence of these rare fish. TU has also developed a nationally recognized OHV program, dubbed Sportsmen Ride Right, to address many issues related to OHV use on public lands. Look for us at rideright.org.

If you have any questions or comments about the work I do, please do not hesitate to contact me. I enjoy working with chapter members across the state and find their knowledge invaluable to many of my campaigns so please do get in touch when a public lands issue arises in your neck of the woods.

Aaron Kindle - akindle@tu.org or 303-868-2859

TU hires new Rio Grande basin project manager

Trout Unlimited today announced the hiring of Kevin Terry as project manager for the Rio Grande basin in southern Colorado.  Terry will develop projects that preserve and improve trout habitat on the Rio Grande River and its tributaries. Terry will work closely with agency staff, water users, and private land owners, and he will seek projects that benefit both stream habitat and agricultural operations.  Projects may include removal of fish barriers, instream and riparian habitat restoration, irrigation infrastructure upgrades, or stream flow improvements. All projects will be cooperative and undertaken with support from the community and local landowners.

“The Rio Grande River is an important resource that serves many needs, from recreation to agriculture,” said Drew Peternell, director of TU’s Colorado Water Project. “With this position, TU is making a commitment to do collaborative conservation work to promote the health of  the Rio Grande and its tributaries.”

Prior to joining TU, Terry worked as a fish biologist for the Jicarilla Apache Tribe Fish and Game Department, where he managed the recreational fishing program and oversaw habitat restoration and conservation projects. He has worked extensively with private landowners and irrigators.

“Kevin Terry understands the Rio Grande basin and the communities there, and he’s passionate about working with landowners to improve habitat,” said Peternell. “Kevin brings a wealth of fisheries experience and practical problem-solving skills to his new position.”

The Rio Grande is one of the largest river systems in Colorado. In recent years, Trout Unlimited, a grassroots sportsmen’s conservation organization, has expanded its river restoration work in several river basins within Colorado, including the Yampa, Gunnison and Dolores basins. TU has completed scores of successful restoration projects with ranchers and landowners across the West.

“I grew up on the Rio Grande, and I’m excited about the opportunity to do restoration work on my home waters,” said Terry. “I look forward to working with landowners and local partners to protect and enhance this incredible resource that we all depend on.”

For more information, contact Kevin Terry at (970) 799-7682, kterry@tu.org.

Boulder Flycasters get Fairview High School On the Water

Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado recently began implementing the National Fishing in Schools Program through their Physical Education Department. In order to enrich the program experience, the Boulder Flycasters got involved by offering additional instruction and education opportunities. Our support of this program got the kids outdoors seven days working on casting, fishing & streamside entomology. This is six more days than they had been outdoors all semester!  Two days were spent on the school softball field receiving casting lessons from Bruning Rangel, Manager of the Boulder Orvis store, and a casting competition led by Larry Quilling.

Wallace Westfeldt from Front Range Anglers and Jim Shelly from the City of Boulder Water Treatment Department, tag-teamed for great sessions on entomology. Wallace taught the classroom basics and shared samples while Jim led a stream side collection day on South Boulder Creek near the McGinn ditch diversion. It was a strategically placed sampling location close to the US 36 highway bridge where students could escape the persistent rain showers. This is a great learning experience for the students. The biggest disappointment was running out of time to sample more than one location.

Ron Donahue, Drew Thomas and Larry Quilling led the students through fly tying. Ron is the expert demonstrator, Drew is a natural teacher and I am a hack! The cool part of these sessions is the concentration and focus the students have during their tying sessions. The flies they tied were used by the students to catch fish later at Viele Lake.

George Gumerman, Robert McCormack, Jake Lemon and Larry Quilling all helped the students test their skills at Viele Lake. There were four days the students spent at the lake and each day 5 to 6 fish were caught. It was not always pretty but the fishing caught the attention and interest of many of the kids. With high schoolers in the last two weeks of the spring semester, this is quite an accomplishment.

In summary, this program takes a lot of work and coordination but it is fully worth the outreach effort. We may only teach twenty-seven students in the class but the effect of our class goes well beyond the classroom. Other teachers and administrative staff know who we are and what we are doing for their school. Principal Don Stensrud asked that I thank our board for the program. Students shared their experiences with other students and other teachers noticed our presence. I am glad we have been able to re-establish this program and look forward to the fall when we can hopefully connect the class with a fishing field trip on the Poudre as we have done in past years.

---by Larry Quilling

The National Fishing in Schools Program (NFSP) has added numerous school sites throughout Colorado over the past year and will continue to expand with assistance from Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. This program provides a great first touch that gets students excited about fly fishing. TU can be a great partner by enriching the programs as detailed above. To bring NFSP to your school or find existing NFSP programs in your area, please contact Jake Lemon, Colorado TU Youth Education Coordinator at 720-354-2646 or jake.lemon@coloradotu.org.

Denver Water and Colorado TU

Jim Lochhead is chief executive of Denver Water. David Nickum is executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. They represent groups that often have opposing views, but worked together on an opinion piece in the June 1, 2013 edition of the Denver Post. Conservation groups and water utilities don't always see eye-to-eye on every water resource issue.

A case in point: Trout Unlimited and Denver Water have yet to agree on what constitutes an adequate package of protections for the Fraser River, a Colorado River tributary and stellar trout fishery that is also an important source of water for metro Denver. We're trying to find a package of protections that keeps the river healthy while ensuring that Denver Water's need for system reliability are met through the Moffat Firming Project.

We face tough, complicated issues. What we agree on, though, is the need to preserve the long-term health of the Fraser and Colorado Rivers, and the value of working toward collaborative solutions.

Read the full article, "Together, we can meet Colorado River challenges," in The Denver Post.