Blog — Colorado Trout Unlimited

Western Slope taking a dim view of exports

By CHRIS WOODKATHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

BASALT - While the Arkansas River basin celebrates its supplementary supply of water now being imported in sheets, the basin where that water chiefly comes from is raising concerns about its own water supply.

Water users in the Roaring Fork basin staged a summit of sorts Tuesday to consider the state of their watershed, an aspen-leaf shaped area of 1,453 square miles that, coincidentally, has Aspen at its heart.

Those who spoke at the meeting emphasized that leaving water in the river for recreational purposes is an important benefit to the Western Slope.

“We have to change the mindset we have in Colorado that water left in the river is a waste,” said Ken Neubecker, president of Colorado Trout Unlimited.

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/05/13/news/local/doc4a0a598657d15540868905.txt

Rulings drain protections for state waterways

Supreme Court decisions and the Bush years limited the Clean Water Act's scope, but guidelines are changing.

By Mark Jaffe The Denver Post

An analysis by Trout Unlimited, a sportsmen's group, of 500 discharges found that a quarter of them were on nonperennial streams.

"Those plants could make an argument they are no longer under the Clean Water Act," said Melinda Kassen, a Trout Unlimited attorney. "We have to be careful we don't treat our streams and rivers as industrial sewers."

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_12335006

Black Canyon river flows swell after 36-year fight

By Mark JaffeThe Denver Post

After one of the biggest water battles in Colorado history, extra water began flowing out of the Crystal Reservoir on Thursday to restore Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Releases will increase over the next few days until the Gunnison River in the canyon rises to six times its current flow — aiming to simulate natural spring runoff and help restore the park's river ecosystem.

The National Park Service fought in state and federal courts for 36 years to obtain a water right for the park.

"This was bitterly fought and had more opposition than any other water right," said Drew Peternell, an attorney for Trout Unlimited.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_12321529

In Black Canyon, a New Era of Water Management Begins

Fly Rod & Reel The rebirth of a Colorado river begins this month, as water officials start to put the landmark 2008 Black Canyon of the Gunnison settlement into effect.

On May 7, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) operators made the first release in a new flow regime that is expected to help restore the Gunnison River canyon ecosystem and return it to a more natural state.

“After years of hard work by Trout Unlimited and other conservation groups, this is the payoff,” said Drew Peternell, director of Trout Unlimited’s Colorado Water Project. “With these renewed flows, the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon will experience a rebirth, and its priceless natural resources will be safeguarded for generations to come.”

http://www.flyrodreel.com/node/12228

Water deal still a work in progress

Summit Daily News by Mely Whiting

A recent Denver Post article about the conflict over proposed Colorado Basin water diversions to the Front Range proclaimed that “Water war ends in deal.” As appealing as the headline may be, it is inaccurate.

No deal has been struck. No agreement reached. Denver Water and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District did unveil last week a joint proposal to mitigate the impacts of their respective proposed transmountain diversion projects on the Fraser and Colorado headwaters. The proposal is promising, as is Denver and Northern’s good-faith effort to respond to concerns raised by many. But, far from a done deal, the proposal signals only the beginning of serious discussions.

Denver and Northern have an opportunity here to make history — to create transmountain water diversion projects that serve the needs of the Front Range, while protecting and even improving the rivers, their outstanding fisheries, and a quality of life for both county residents and visitors. Whether the Post’s optimistic headline comes true depends on the outcome of discussions slated to take place over the next several weeks. For those talks to succeed, anglers and other key stakeholders must be at the table. We urge Denver Water and Northern to extend an invitation to these stakeholders and make this a truly historic agreement.

Mely Whiting is an attorney for Trout Unlimited’s Colorado Water Project.

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20090506/LETTER/905059987/1025

Surge of water projects show little coordination

The Denver Post

A $3 billion scrum of water projects is being developed along the Front Range — but their cumulative impacts, and whether there is water enough for all, remains to be sorted out.

Still, from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, the projects are moving forward, powered, attorneys and water managers say, by Colorado water law's first-come-first-served principle....

"We don't have a water plan; prior appropriation is our plan and it's every man for himself," said Melissa Kassen, a director of Trout Unlimited's Western Water project.

Read More

Durango river steward honored

Durango Telegraph

One of Durango’s leading river stewards received national recognition last week. Ty Churchwell, of the Five Rivers Chapter of Trout Unlimited, was recognized as Colorado Trout Unlimited’s 2009 Volunteer of the Year last weekend at the group’s Spring Rendezvous.

Churchwell commented that he volunteers out of a sense of obligation both to the Durango community and the Animas watershed. “Those trout keep me sane and our rivers are my ‘church,’” he said. “Healthy rivers are the lifeblood of our communities, and I’m thankful Durango recognizes the value of the Animas to our community.”

The award also spotlighted the Animas River Restoration Project, which Churchwell is helping to spearhead. The City of Durango was awarded an $86,000 grant from the Colorado Division of Wildlife for habitat improvements and bank stabilization for the stretch of river between 9th Street and the Highway 160 bridge. The project, which is planned for August, is meant to improve fish habitat while restoring riparian areas along the western river bank. With the high flows and increased use of the area in recent years, a number of native cottonwoods and shrubs along the banks have disappeared, leading to further erosion and habitat damage.

“The restoration project we are doing on the Animas is symbolic of the spirit of Durango,” he said. “The great success we are experiencing at the chapter is a function of the wonderful people in Durango who come out and donate to our causes. We could not do this type of project without the people who support us.”

Colorado Court: Coal Bed Methane Producers Need Water Permits

Environment News Service "This is a victory for both ranchers and our streams," said Mely Whiting, an attorney with the conservation group Trout Unlimited, which participated in the appeal in support of the ranchers. "The decision sends a strong message that just because you are part of the oil and gas industry, you are not above and beyond Colorado water laws," she said. Read More

Clear Creek Project is Golden

West Denver Trout Unlimited will dedicate its Golden Mile stream restoration project on Friday, May 15, at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony will be held along Clear Creek, a short walk upstream of Golden’s Lions Park, on W. 10th street. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Tom Remington, Director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife. He will be accompanied by Brad Coors, Chair of the Colorado Wildlife Commission. Also speaking will be representatives from the Jefferson County Commission, Mayor of the City of Golden, and various other persons involved with the project.

The restoration project, a seven year effort completed in March, involved stream-bed reconstruction and other restoration of about 2200 linear feet of stream, beginning just above the City’s kayak course, and extending to the Jefferson County Open Space Park foot bridge 3300 feet upstream.

Completion of the project, when added to the previously-existing kayak course, will provide prime trout habitat, including stream-born brown trout, on over a continuous mile of stream. The Golden Mile project is the first phase of West Denver TU’s program to promote enhancement of fishery habitat on Clear Creek and provide desperately needed new opportunities for quality urban fishing and recreation.

The project, with a value-added worth of just under $300,000, was funded through a combination of grants from City of Golden, the State’s Fishing is Fun program, Albert Frei and Sons, Jefferson County, Miller Coors, Orvis Company, Frontier Environmental Resources, and West Denver TU and other Trout Unlimited and private sources. West Denver Trout Unlimited also donated in excess of 3000 volunteer hours to the project. The public is welcome. Parking is available along Lions Park, W. 10th Street. In the event of bad weather, the Dedication will be moved to the east pavilion in Lions Park, north side of 10th.

West Denver Trout Unlimited: Contact: Miles D. Williams, WDTU Director, Clear Creek Initiatives, mwilliam71@msn.com. 303 980-1322