Have you guys seen the new facebook page for Defending the Colorado that Colorado TU put together. Why not head over and give it a "like" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Defend-the-Colorado/164537183632898You can also head over to their webpage and sign their online petition to defend the colorado. They had some really cool videos online the last time I was there. We need to come together to help protect this fragile resource.http://www.DefendtheColorado.org
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: River Watch on the South Platte River
River Watch sampling and testing for October will be on Sunday the 16th. These events generally occur during the week so this is a great opportunity to see what River Watch is all about. Also unique to this month's River Watch is the macro invertebrate (bugs) collection. The report produced as a result of this collection is a great insight into the major food sources available to the South Platte trout. But why wait for the report? Volunteer and you can get a look at the bugs first hand. We will car-pool for those wanting to share a ride. Meet at the Park N' Ride at University and E470 at about 8AM. For those wanting to fish later, you will want to provide your own transportation and meet behind the Deckers store at about 9:30AM. Our collection site is across from Lone Rock Camp Ground just upstream about 1/4 mile from the bridge on the dirt road. We will collect water samples for testing and seine for macro invertebrates (bugs) at 2 sites. The collection process will probably take about 3 hours. For those wishing to help with water testing, we will return to Parker. The bugs will be shipped to Ft Collins where a private lab counts and records the various kinds. For further information and to confirm your participation contact Bill at 303-771-1855 (blhoneyfield@comcast.net) ir Jim Rasmussen at 303-773-2772 (jiber2@msn.com).
Update:
Bill Honeyfield sent in some pictures of the day on the river. Looks like they had a good turn out and a beautiful day to boot!
Clear Creek Clean Up Collaboration Completed, Idaho Springs, CO
Trout Unlimited’s Cutthroat chapter and Cherry Creek Anglers chapter teamed up to organize the collaborative effort to remove trash from a 12 mile stretch of Clear Creek along Route 6 and Interstate 70 in the Idaho Springs area. In addition to the Trout Unlimited chapter volunteers, Mile-Hi rafting supported the effort with nine volunteers and door prize items. In addition, four seniors from Clear Creek High School pitched in to help. In all, 39 volunteers worked hard all morning to collect and remove a record amount of trash and debris from the stream and its immediate surroundings.
Support from the local merchants was again outstanding as they appreciate the effort to keep their local resource in good condition. In addition to Mile-Hi Rafting, Starbucks provided coffee and door prizes, Beau Jo’s supplied Mountain Pies and door prizes and Clear Creek Outdoors gave a nice selection fly fishing door prizes. Door prizes were also provided by Orvis, CO. Clear Creek County provided the big orange trash bags, safety vests and the all important trash pick-up! We also thank the City of Idaho Springs for the use of the Courtney-Ryley-Cooper Park facilities for our project headquarters.
A special thank you goes out to Ray Carney, Cutthroat chapter, for his efforts in organizing and managing this important conservation activity.
Thank you to all of our volunteers for making this effort a great success!
Sept. 20th Meeting – Jeff Spohn “State of the So. Platte River”
September 20th Chapter Meeting - 7 PM. Jeff Spohn is CDOW's aquatic biologist for the Upper South Platte River Basin. The Upper South Platte River is the Cutthroat Chapter's "home waters". Jeff knows more about this section of the state than anyone you're likely to meet. Jeff will spend the first part of his presentation discussing the biology, management, and issues with the fishery in the Spinney, Cheesman and Deckers areas after which he will take questions and topics from the floor.Jeff graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BS in Limnology & Fisheries and a second degree in Aquatic Biology. Don't miss this chance to hear him talk about what's going on in our own "backyard".
Gill Trail Conservation, Restoration Project Successfully Completed On August 20, 2011
Thank you to our nine hearty Cutthroat Chapter volunteers who contributed a good day’s effort to help restore and protect a ¼ mile section of the heavily used Gill Trail in Cheesman Canyon. The work was performed in conjunction with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) at an elevation 7660 feet in 90 degree temperatures. 
The goal of the project, to close eroded social trails and encourage use of the main trail, was achieved. Slash (cut timber, limbs and brush) were transported and strategically placed to route hikers and fishermen along the main trail. The end result is to reduce further erosion and sedimentation which in turn benefits the fishery and wildlife habitat. 
Lunch (compliments of our chapter), refreshments and homemade brownies (provided by CUSP’s Lisa Patton) were wheel barrowed in and enjoyed in the shade of Ponderosa pines at rivers edge. Afternoon fishing and catching were accomplished by some chapter members. 
We could not accomplish these important conservation and restoration projects without the support of our TU chapter volunteers. A big THANK YOU to the following participants! Ray Carney Jim Klug Jim Rasmussen Ed DeAntoni Jim Mann Jerry Shin Bruce Foss Greg Martin Alex Speicher Each of our volunteers earned a raffle ticket making them eligible for our 2011 Cutthroat Chapter Conservation Volunteer Recognition Award Raffle to be held at our annual auction. See our website, www.cutthroatctu.org for details! Hope to see you at Clear Creek on September 24th. for our annual Clean Up Project.
Female volunteer to solicit "non-fishing" items
We need an auction diva ! to ask for spa donations, jewelry, crafts, anything a woman would want to bid on. This might involve someone who is a patron of a clothing company or spa or jewelry store or cooking class ....etc. The possibilities are endless!
Volunteer Opportunity - Auction program
We need someone to put together the final verbal auction program. It will take approximately 5 hours the weekend of November 12th and 13th, 2011. Sharon will help the volunteer.Thanks for volunteering for this most important fundraising event !Please contact Sharon Lance at (303) 694-3409 or by email at stlance@comcast.net if you’re interested in any of these volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer Opportunity - Auction
Give us a hand to raise money for conservation and youth education.We need two volunteers to gather and prepare photos for a slide show during our auction. The slide show would include images of all our work throughout this past year. The photos will need to be gathered from various people on the board, for which we will provide the contact info. The slide show will include photos from this year's youth camp as well. We will also provide a large screen. Please contact Sharon Lance at 303-694-3409 or at stlance@comcast.net.
August lake trip
Richard Pilatzke and Gary Thompson will be leading an August chapter trip to Silver Dollar Lake. This is a hike in lake off Guanella pass that is located at 12,200 feet elevation. The trailhead is at 11,200 feet and the distance to the lake is 1.6 miles. We will leave from the South Suburban Board of Realtors parking lot at 6:00 am on Saturday, August 20th. We are starting early due to the common thunderstorms on Guanella. Participants should bring water, a good hat, sunblock, camera, bug spray, and any other necessities, but remember that you will be carrying everything you bring for 1.6 miles. Silver Dollar has greenback cutthroats, the trail is open , and the lake is fishing well, according to Your Fishing Partner in Idaho Springs.
Looking for a volunteer for the auction
We need some help for the upcoming auction. The Chapter is looking for someone to help us put together a powerpoint slide show of our projects from the last year and highlight some of the bigger items we will have in the auction. We would provide all the images, we just need someone to put them together into a simple slideshow.If you are interested leave a comment below or send me an email nick (at) nibydesigngroup.com.