Helping CTU Move Forward

By Sharon Lance

Greetings to Colorado Trout Unlimited members and anglers across our beautiful state.

We just finished our most successful annual conservation auction ever on March 16th.

A big thanks to all of you who attended and especially to Bill Schorger, Carl Griffin, Doug Houser, Gil Hassinger, Mel Davis and Riley Floyd, who sold gold tables and got donations. If it wasn’t for the tremendous support from these volunteers, it would not have been as successful.

The reason we raise money is to support our many projects. One of our upcoming one day events will be on Saturday, May 21st  in Elbert County at the Peaceful Valley Boy Scout Ranch.  We will be introducing hundreds of cub scouts and their parents (and sisters) to fly fishing. We will have 4 stations that need volunteers – fly tying, entomology, casting and fishing !!!  If you would like to volunteer, please send me an email message (stlance@comcast.net).

National Trout Unlimited continues to help us in Colorado in funding not only the Colorado Water Project but some chapter projects as well.  We recently received $19,400 from National for improving Colorado River Cutthroat trout habitat on Red Dirt Creek near Minturn, cutting burned trees and using them for stream rehabilitation in South Park and trout habitat improvement on the Fraser River near Granby.

Another statewide project that I am excited to share with you is our new partnership with the Colorado Watershed Network and the Colorado Division of Wildlife in a program called “River Watch.”

River Watch is a water quality monitoring program that involves volunteers in protecting the quality of Colorado rivers. The program began in 1990, and the data collected is used by federal, state and local agencies to make decisions about river and water management. The Colorado Department of Health has already used data collected from Clear Creek in hearings to determine water-quality standards for the stream.

Volunteers will collect metal, nutrient and macroinvertebrate samples throughout the year for analysis at the River Watch laboratory. Volunteers will receive training, support and supplies to monitor their river in a consistent and accurate manner. I am hoping that all 20 of our chapters across the state will get involved, as well as other concerned citizens.

Thanks again for all of your support in preserving, protecting and conserving Colorado’s water.

About The Author

Sharon Lance is President of Colorado Trout Unlimited, and a self-proclaimed “fly fishing addict.” For more about CTU, visit www.cotrout.org.