On a typical Colorado mountain weather day, which started out threatening to snow but turned out to be a calm, sunny 39 degree day, a group of 32 volunteers from the Boy Scouts, CUSP and the Cutthroat Chapter of Trout Unlimited worked together to plant over 4000 willows! This number exceeded expectations and set a record for the number of willows planted per hour.Our chapter provided 7 of the volunteers. We had a good group of hardworking folks including the youngest member of our chapter, Julia Klug age 9. Many thanks to the following Cutthroat Chapter participants:Kent HigginsBill HoneyfieldJim KlugJulia KlugMarti KlugSharon LanceJim RasmussenThe purpose of the project was to stabilize erosion control in Trail Creek in order to protect the downstream water supply from sedimentation. Slips from three native willow species were harvested locally and planted along the creek bed drainage damaged by the Hayman fire. In addition to erosion control the project benefits aquatic and wildlife habitat. Our seining found a good variety of aquatic insect life indicating a healthy stream environment. Willows planted one and two years ago are thriving indicating the feasibility and success of this type of rehabilitation.In addition, the project was supported by the Boy Scouts as an Eagle Scout Project to earn the William T. Hornaday badge which is a combination of environmental management merit badges and a conservation project that the candidate organizes and leads. It requires research, fundraising, publicity/advertisement, documentation (like how many service hours, photos and maps etc.) and a continuation statement (how the project will continue to help the environment for years to come).Thanks to the Scout Troop for providing a hot lunch for all.
Off to Work!
Checking Stream Life
This Year's Willows
Last Year's Established Willows
Harvesting Operations
Cutthroat Crew
Horse Creek Restoration Project
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY – Horse Creek Restoration ProjectSaturday, May 21st at 9am in Deckers, CO.Horse Creek, which joins the South Platte River at Deckers dumps a tremendous amount of Hayman fire generated sediment in the river every time it rains in the area. As a small start to recovery of the South Platte in the Deckers Area, the Cutthroat Chapter is joining with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) to plant willows in an infamous section of Horse Creek known as ‘the swamp’. A few years ago the swamp filled with logs and debris and the loggers of CUSP removed much of the wood, leaving the area denuded of vegetation. The purpose of this day’s work will be to plant native willow slips in this area.The day begins at 9am in Deckers, CO behind Flies n’ Lies fly shop. Lunch will be provided and the day’s work usually ends around 3:30pm, which leaves plenty of time to fish.If you’d like to join us, contact Jim Rasmussen by phone (303) 773-2772 or email.See the CUSP flyer for even more details.
Come out and watch three award winning films
The Greenbacks, a group of young TU members are putting another event to help native fish here in Colorado. The group is showing three award winning films at the Oriental Thursday April 7th. Learn more over at their website. thegreenbacks.org
Jim Klug named CUSP "Winter Watershed Hero"
Jim Klug, Cutthroat Chapter Conservation Director, has been named the Coalition for Upper South Platte's (CUSP) "Winter Watershed Hero". This past season, under Jim's leadership the, the Cutthroat Chapter planted over 2300 willows on Trail and Michigan creeks in the South Platte river watershed. Additionally, our Chapter removed a few thousand noxious weeds in Eleven Mile Canyon and Happy meadows along the South Platte and under the able leadership of member Doug McFarland, collected piles of trash from along the river in the Deckers area. For more information go to CUSP'S newsletter "Water Watch", Winter 2010 at http://www.uppersouthplatte.org/pdf/WWNov2010.pdf
January Fishing Trip
Gary Thompson is going to be taking the chapter out for the 1st trip of the year. He's been scouting the Arkansas River and is preparing a trip for the 1st of January. You can head over to his blog to see the details and sign up for this free trip from the Chapter. I think we all need to give ourselves a belated christmas gift and head out on this trip...http://www.silklinesandpaperhulls.com/2010/12/tu-trip-january-1st-new-years-day-on.html
New Arkansas River Catch & Release waters
The Wildlife Commision has approved new Catch and Release Waters for the Arkansas River below Pueblo Dam. See page 12 (special regulations Arkansas River -Fremont-Chaffe and Lake Counties) of the following link for location and regulations.
Auction Item-Orvis Pace Changer bamboo rod
Another excellent item being auctioned off in our verbal auction is a lightly used Orvis PaceChanger bamboo rod. This rod has to be seen to be truly appreciated.The rod is a 6 weight 7' to 7'3" 3 piece rod with a metal case. These rods were manufactured in the 60's and 70's and is really a one of a kind item at this year's auction.
Auction Item-Guided Trip with Pat Dorsey
Once again Pat Dorsey is helping out the Cutthroat Chapter by donating a personally guided trip on the South Platte but this might change depending on the weather conditions. This trip is for two people.The Blue Quill Angler offers guided fly fishing trips to a multitude of public and private water destinations in the Rocky Mountain region. The amount of permits that we hold, and the variety of water they represent, allows our award winning Orvis Endorsed guide staff to put you on the hottest action, no matter what time of year. We are known across the country for our expertise in guiding the infamous ‘Cheesman Canyon,’ which is without-a-doubt, as technical as it gets. Inherently, guiding is much more than just catching fish. We want you to feel confident in our staff’s understanding of what it truly means to make this experience as comfortable, safe, and memorable as possible.
Auction Item- G Loomis Max GLX rod
Another Great rod up for auction this year is the Loomis Max GLX. This rod is a four piece 5 wieght rod.From the Loomis website - "The Max GLX are the result of the need for ultimate speed and control under the most demanding casting and fishing conditions. Ideally suited to casters who demand fast cycle time, these rods have the extra-stiff action and fast taper needed to push either Hi-D or floating lines with ease, from the drifting boat or while drifting the river in a raft. Also excellent for long line nymphing with weighted fly or indicator, or to make a tight cast into a stiff wind.When you want to take control no matter the conditions the Max GLX is your rod."
Auction Item- Guided Trip on the Green River
Old Moe Guides Service has donated a fly fishing trip on the Green river in Wyoming."Old Moe Guide Service is a small, very personable Green River fly-fishing guide service operating on Utah's Green river for 29 years. We run some very capable guides with enough years of experience to give you the best trip possible. Their objective is to create a very learning experience to those of you who may need it and for the pros to put them in the best casting spots along the way, and while they are doing this expect to have an extremely fun and exciting tripIn June of the 2008 season we were blessed to be able to assist Rivers of Recovery, a non-profit organization that helps wounded veterans on their recovery therapy. This is definitely some of the most meaningful trips we have ever conducted and created somewhat of a healing for our own state of minds. Please visit their link for some of the pictures of these trips"This sounds like another great trip brought to you exclusively by the cutthroat chapter. Enjoy these amazing pictures of fishing the Green River from Mark Lance while you contemplate bidding on this item.
