Blog — Colorado Trout Unlimited

Secretary Salazar Commends President Obama's Intention to Nominate Michael L. Connor to Lead the Bureau of Reclamation

Dept. of the Interior News Release

“With growing water challenges facing communities across the country, Mike Connor’s deep background in water, Indian rights and energy issues will help us find common sense solutions,” said Secretary Salazar.  “Mike has a proven track record of building consensus with a wide range of stakeholders and is the right pick for Commissioner.  I look forward to working with him to ensure that we are wisely managing our nation’s precious water resources.” Read more.

Avoiding boom-bust cycle requires protecting our natural resources

Grand Junction Sentinel Friday, April 10, 2009

Guest column from Tom Burke, former chairman of the Colorado Wildlife Commission and Ken Neubecker, president of Colorado Trout Unlimited.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/opin/content/news/opinion/stories/2009/04/10/041209_wildlife_column.html

Group forms to prevent gas development southwest of Carbondale

By Pete FowlerPost Independent Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
CARBONDALE, Colorado — A new group is banding together in Carbondale to oppose oil and gas development on at least 221,500 acres of land southwest of the town.

The group, called the Thompson Divide Coalition, includes ranchers, farmers, hunters, anglers, recreationists, conservationists and community leaders. It formed in recent months with the goal of figuring out how to permanently protect federal lands in the area from leasing for oil and gas development.

The coalition’s members include: North Thompson Cattleman’s Association, Wilderness Workshop, Colorado Mountain Club, Roaring Fork Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, Aspen Valley Land Trust, the Wilderness Society, Colorado Mule Deer Association, EcoFlight, Mt. Sopris Nordic Council, Sustainable Settings, and ranchers and landowners.
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20090409/VALLEYNEWS/904089967/1083&ParentProfile=1074

Joint effort may reopen angler access

Mountain Mail

by Paul Goetz Mail News Editor

A joint effort that may reopen a portion of road used by anglers was endorsed by Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area task force members during their regular meeting Thursday.

The road in question is a quarter mile section on the north side of the Arkansas River near Stockyard Bridge.

It was closed following a three year travel management plan process that ended with implementation March 5.

Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Arkansas Valley Audubon Society may adopt the road to allow for environmental education and access.

In exchange the Bureau of Land Management would reopen the road.

Whether the BLM reopens the road will ultimately be the decision of Roy Masinton, Royal Gorge Field Office Manager.

http://www.themountainmail.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=16104

Suit forged pact on trout repopulation

Coloradoan April 5, 2009

A further comment on the March 25 front page Long Draw article. The local Trout Unlimited chapter, Rocky Mountain FlyCasters, sued the U.S. Forest Service. What the article left out was why. The lawsuit forced the USFS's obligation to care for a watershed instead of blindly permitting a privately held water company. The lawsuit was actually filed in 1994, not 2004. It languished in appeal until the volunteer efforts of a lawyer brought it before a judge.

What the judge remanded was absolutely remarkable and a victory for the people of Colorado. He said put the water back in the stream or mitigate - make up for your sins. Winter water flow to La Poudre Pass Creek was impossible because of a dam enlargement, so it forced an historic compromise. The USFS, Trout Unlimited and the Water Conservation District had to sit down and hammer out a compromise to please the judge. Amazingly, that is what they did.

Now, partially funded by the Water Conservancy District and in coordination with the USFS and Rocky Mountain National Park, the largest native fish restoration in the United States will occur in our backyard. The watershed above Long Draw will be repopulated with Greenback Cutthroat Trout. TU volunteers will help. This historic victory proves something. Solutions do exist when organizations sit down to talk. I applaud the courageous individuals who helped it happen: Doc Sheets, Paul Fromme, Dave Piske, Ken Eis and other local heroes who care!

Greg Evans,

past president Rocky Mountain FlyCasters

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090405/OPINION03/904050321

Pipe dream: Water plan has a lot of hurdles

April 4, 2009 - 3:40 PM
R. SCOTT RAPPOLD
THE GAZETTE

Depending on whom you ask, Aaron Million's idea is either the solution to Colorado's water problems or a quixotic scheme with no anchor in reality.

The Fort Collins entrepreneur wants to build a pipeline from western Wyoming to Colorado's Front Range, a 560-mile journey that would terminate at a new reservoir in eastern El Paso County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a series of public meetings this month on the proposal.

Water suppliers here aren't banking on the $2 billion to $3 billion pipeline being built.

"Physically, it's feasible. Politically, that is a whole different question," said Kip Petersen, general manager of Cherokee Metropolitan District.

"It's going to foreclose other water users," said Drew Peternell, with Trout Unlimited. The group is also worried how taking the water would impact endangered fish in the Green River.

http://www.gazette.com/articles/water_51221___article.html/million_colorado.html

Congress passes wilderness bill; 2 West Slope canyons protected

By DENNIS WEBB/The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

Chris Hunt of Trout Unlimited said 26 million acres nationally have conservation area status. The omnibus bill gives them permanent protection under law, rather than protection by order of presidential administrations, which can be reversed, Hunt said. Read More

Former energy worker lends support to rules

Grand Junction Sentinel- By Dennis Webb

He conceded the rules — scheduled to take effect this spring if approved by the state Legislature — do add some expense. But he called them “a necessary cost of doing business.”

The Centennial resident, 61, is retired and active with Trout Unlimited. Trout Unlimited supports the new rules, which aim partly to protect fish and other wildlife habitat. Ives cites his industry background in expressing his belief that oil and gas companies can comply with what he considers to be flexible, fair and balanced rules   Read More

Thirsty Cities, Dolphins and Dead Clams

New York Times by Andrew C. Revkin

Over all, though, he said, the biggest ecological impact around the delta has come from the depletion of the Colorado. For years, Dr. Flessa has, along with Mexican communities around the delta, been calling for the water planners doling out Colorado River quotas to leave just a little bit more to rejuvenate ecosystems downstream. He and other biologists pointed out to me how certain flora and fauna showed a remarkable ability to revive if just a small flow is allowed (like the Colorado River Delta clam). Read More