The Cutthroat Chapter Ready Response Volunteers in action! Jim Rasmussen and Peter King got up at 4am and made the drive north to Zimmerman Lake for a Greenback Cutthroat Trout Recovery event. Lake Zimmerman (west of Ft. Collins at ~11,000 ft.) is the only lake in the US that is stocked with greenback cutthroat. CPW is improving the gene pool by conducting spawning on these very healthy, wild fish and then taking the eggs to fish hatcheries in Colorado. They set long nets in the lake and left them overnight. In the morning they collected the fish from a central trap and sorted them by gender and tags. Then they collected the eggs and milt, mixed them and stored them on ice for transport. Jim and Peter assisted on the last day of a four day project. It was a great experience as the lake is remote and very beautiful, and the fish were big and healthy! Great project as it's designed to help the survival of this endangered trout.
Cutthroat Chapter Rapid Response Volunteers
Volunteer opportunities frequently come up on short notice. We would like to reach out to the CCTU chapter membership and sign up a list of people that would like be contacted when volunteer opportunities appear quickly. Frequently these events happen on weekdays and they often require carrying, lifting, scrambling up and down stream banks or wading in strong flows. For example, the Greenback Cutthroat Recovery restocking asks for individuals that can carry a 40 lb. pack for a couple miles on a steep mountain trail.Upcoming events of this nature include…
- Greenback Recovery at Rock Creek, located South of Jefferson CO
- Wk of 8/28 – Carcass removal when a section of stream is poisoned to make way for Greenbacks. Dead fish must be removed to prevent the return of Whirling disease.
- September – Fish stocking in Phase I (Lost Creek Wilderness). Pack in backs of fish for 1-2 miles. This is the second stocking of this area.
- Bear Creek
- 9/12 – Electrofishing with Colorado Parks & Wildlife biologists on urban Bear Creek downstream from Bear Creek Dam in Lakewood. Must be able to wade confidently on slippery bottom and get in and out of the stream easily.
If interested, please contact Jim Rasmussen at jiber2@msn.com or George Franklin at georgefr@aol.com.
Check Out CCTU's New YouTube Channel
That's right, there's a YouTube Channel for the Cutthroat Chapter. Put together by Brian Young and George Franklin (thanks guys), the channel will feature videos from our events and fishing trips. Please check it out by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO1z28Pg09DweF6RJ5jmzWg
Earth Day 2017 Bear Creek Conservation Project and Fishing Contest – RECAP FROM 4/22/17
In spite of a snowy start, over a dozen CCTU members and friends were ready to work with the City of Lakewood to help restore neglected lower Bear Creek on April 22. As the sun broke out into a beautiful spring day we helped Lakewood Rangers plant 700 saplings of native dogwood, chokecherry, and plum along the stream. After lunch we had a low key fishing contest in order to supply CPW with angling data as they prepare to do their part to restore this urban fishery. Fish were landed within yards of busy streets and residential neighborhoods. Contest awards were given for the largest fish (10.5" smallmouth), largest trout (10" brown), fastest fly (first angler to send a picture of their catch- only 37 minutes!), and most flies lost (ten!!). CPW is so encouraged by these results that they plan to electrofish survey this urban stretch for the first time on September 12, 2017. We hope that Cutthroat members will be willing to volunteer on that day as we attempt to conserve, restore, and protect this urban fishery. If you are interested in helping on that day please contact George Franklin at georgefr@aol.com or at (303) 902-9827.Go to the CCTU YouTube page to see a video of rising brown trout taken day, only yards from a bike path.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90eHuPyu9DUSee the original event notice here.
Bob Saile, Former Denver Post Outdoors Editor, Passed Away in January
Long-time Denver Post Outdoors Editor Bob Saile, passed away on January 16. CCTU member Ray Nagashima was Bob’s opthamalogist and friend for many years, and asked that all chapter members remember Bob for the kind of man he was, and for what he did for the Colorado outdoors. From helping stop the Two Forks Dam, to his nearly 30 years of beautifully written and insightful columns…he will be dearly missed.http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/17/kiszla-rip-bob-saile/
CCTU Conservation Survey Results Are In
The Conservation Team would like to thank all those Cutthroat Chapter members who shared their thoughts in the recent Survey Monkey Conservation Survey. We are currently in talks with our partners in an attempt to tailor the 2017 conservation projects according to your preferences. A big thanks to chapter members who have helped in past projects. We hope the changes to chapter projects based upon the survey feedback inspire those of you who have been unable to participate to step up and share in the pride of helping to conserve, protect and restore Colorado's fisheries and their watersheds in 2017!In order share the results of the survey with all Cutthroat Chapter members, the Conservation Team has prepared the Key Findings summary below.Key Findings
- The types of conservation projects offered in the past were evenly received – river clean-up was most popular, weed mitigation least popular
- Four to five projects during the season is optimal
- Enough members felt breakfasts and lunches are important that we will offer one or both on all projects going forward
- After project raffles not important – the long-time raffle at the end of the Clear Creek Clean-up Project will be the only project with a raffle program going forward
- Not critical to have 100% board member participation in conservation projects, although we will keep this goal going forward
- Majority of respondents want published summary (email newsletter, website, social media) of project upon completion
- Few respondents felt the need for individual official recognition beyond a verbal “thank you”
- Several watersheds were mentioned for future project focus - however, the South Platte River and the Deckers area were mentioned most often
- Members get word of our upcoming conservation projects from a variety of sources and media
- Members willing to travel up to two hours to participate in to these projects
- Most members are willing to work past a lunch-time break
- Majority of members place value on fishing time with friends or mentors after the project
- Interest was divided regarding participation in Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) projects, but enough interest was shown that the Conservation Team will personally reach out to those individuals
Complete results of the survey can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-RNM7JYXF/We so appreciate your feedback on this survey. Every one of these preferences will be addressed in our choices of conservation projects for 2017. We urge you to continue supporting our mission, and if you were unable to get out to help us in 2016 we would hope you will find the time and energy to step up in the New Year! If you would like to add something to the discussion, please contact George Franklin at georgefr@aol.com or at (303) 902-9827.Our Most Sincere Thanks,Cutthroat Chapter Board
Trail Creek Conservation Project / Then and Now
The Trail Creek area was swept clean of vegetation by the 2002 Hayman Fire. As a result of the fire that creek continues to transport harmful silt to the South Platte River. That river is our CCTU home water and we feel obligated to help it heal. On August 20, 2016 ten members of CCTU volunteered to help. With the help of members of CUSP and of Boy Scout Troop 88, we spent the day stabilizing the stream bank of Trail Creek. We seeded about half an acre of stream bank and planted an estimated 1300 willows. These plants will help stop a portion of the estimated 70 tons of silt that flow annually into the South Platte River near Deckers. CCTU members Jim Rasmussen and Jerry Shin had the opportunity to work this exact area about four years ago. These two volunteers were overjoyed to see the pine saplings they planted back then have survived and thrived to become 3 to 4 foot tall pine trees. Grass that was seeded then has transformed charred earth into meadows. Willows have grown into patches so large that we were able to harvest some of them for the current project. Leopard frogs have returned. Although much work remains, it was heartening to see the improvement thanks to the work of volunteers like CCTU members. Here is a link to CUSP's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/uppersouthplatte/videos. The video titled "Our very own drone pilot shot this neat video of…" is a drone video taken during the August 20 Trail Creek Conservation Project. The folks on the ground are Cutthroat members, Scouts from Troop 88, and CUSP members.This is Trail Creek four years ago, ten years after the Hayman Fire. There was little evidence that native plants had been able to reestablish themselves.
This is the Trail Creek area today. The improvement is largely due to the efforts of CCTU volunteers four years ago. Planted grasses created a meadow and the lowest sediment trap has become a pond lined with willows.
The willows were now so dense in the lower parts of the wash that they could become source materials for new plantings. Here Jim prepares some willows for planting.
Sediment traps farther up the drainage were the focus of the current project. Willows were planted in these areas that have now silted in and require stabilization.
Thank You Note from CUSP
2016.07.25 CUSP thankyou12016.07.25 CUSP thankyou2
Here is a little summary of our last conservation project on July 23. with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte.
Thank you to the thirteen volunteers who worked very hard on a hot day to eliminate the Musk Thistle, Canada Thistle and Mullen population along the road and river bank from the Deckers stores to the cable delineating private property on the South Platte River. You all know and have fished this famous stretch of the South Platte. Our crew and CUSP made a very good efficient team and by working together the project was completed 2 hours early. As a result of our efforts, 18 full sized garbage bags were filled with the buds and flowers of the thistle plants which were subsequently destroyed by CUSP. This was an important accomplishment as each flower can produce up to 2500 individual seeds.
The attached link contains photos that depict the days efforts and results. Also, there is a photo of the new truck CUSP purchased with the help of our chapters donation.
CUTTHROAT CHAPTER 2ND HALF FABULOUS FUNDRAISING PROGRAM
PAY $20/MONTH FOR CHANCE TO WIN FABULOUS PRIZES
This year, for the 2nd Half fundraising program, CCTU is offering a simple, easy new way to fund chapter projects and win fantastic prizes.Pay $120 (check or credit card) and receive one ticket for a chance to win one of 10 great prizes, totaling nearly $5k in value. Each additional $120 payment = one additional entry ticket. Funds will be used for the key CCTU chapter programs, including the CSU Steve Bailey scholarship, Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) grants, River Watch Analysis, and more. Participants don’t have to be a TU member to enter…friends & family welcome!THE 10 FABULOUS PRIZES ARE ALREADY FULLY SET!
| PRIZES | RETAIL VALUE | |
| 1. | Full day Cast & Blast for 2 with Rudy Schreider, incl all meals that day | $1,500+ |
| 2. | Orvis Superfine 8’ 5wt Glass Rod, CFO Reel, and Hydros Line | $849 |
| 3. | Full Day Guided Fly Fishing Trip for 2 – Pat Dorsey | $600 |
| 4. | Full Day Guided Fly Fishing Trip for 2 on Private Water – Brian Young | $570 |
| 5. | Remington 870 Pump Shotgun | $330 |
| 6. | Orvis Park Meadows Gift Certificate | $300 |
| 7. | Dave Whitlock Custom Signed & Numbered Framed Print | $250 |
| 8. | ½ Day Guided Fly Fishing Trip for 1 on South Platte – Flies & Lies | $195 |
| 9. | 48 hand tied flies by Rich Pilatzke in CCTU Umpqua Box | $157 |
| 10. | 48 hand tied flies by Bud McAllister in CCTU Umpqua Box | $157 |
| TOTAL PRIZE VALUE | $4,908 |
Prizes will be awarded at the Fundraising Party on September 22nd from 5PM-10PM at the Breckenridge Brewery. The party should be a blast…it will include a separate Silent Auction, food & drinks, and more. Winners do not have to be present at the party.For only $.67/day ($120 over 6 months) you can help the chapter attain its 2nd Half fundraising goal, and help continue all the great conservation programs CCTU delivers.Contact CCTU Board members Brian Young (brianyoungco@comcast.net) or Mac Ishii (conradishii@yahoo.com) for more information.
Gill Trail Work Wrap-up
On a beautiful Saturday June 4th morning eight members of CCTU and four members of CUSP (Coalition for the Upper South Platte) met at Deckers to finish the Gill Trail Maintenance project begun last year. We concentrated on the first half mile of the upper trail, and when all said and done we had accomplished quite a bit of work. According to Emma Ravage of CUSP we repaired 150 ft of trail tread, built 15 check dams, extended 3 rock steps, built 5 new rock steps, and built two water bars, and blocked a host of social trails. That was a ton of work, and these projects go a long way toward protecting the watershed and keeping hikers, fishermen, and fisherwomen safe. At the CCTU board meeting the following week thanks had already been heard from three guides out of Blue Quill Anglers who saw us hard at work and really appreciated our efforts. Many thanks to the hardworking volunteers that included Mark Hasseman, Greg Ledges, Derek Hankins, Bill Wiebesiek, Michael Brandt, Eric Philyaw, and Ted Philyaw.Come join us for the next conservation project at Deckers on Saturday, July 23. Details are on the CCTU website at this link,http://www.cutthroatctu.org/?page_id=11796Submitted by George Franklin