2014 South Platte River Clean Up at Deckers July 12

Our CUSP Leader, Lisa Patton!Trout Unlimited Cutthroat Chapter South Platte River Cleanup Workday: Saturday, July 12th, 2014Project Location: Meet behind Decker’s store (directions below) at 9:00 am, work until noon; have lunch on CCTU, then go fishing!Description: We will be collecting litter after the Fourth of July holiday traffic at sites along the South Platte River near Deckers.  Please come help us clean up this beautiful section of the river. This day will also be a great opportunity to fish with your TU buddies. Your participation is appreciated.Important Notes: Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) will provide all necessary materials, and trash bags to complete project work, then remove and dispose of litter.Weather which could create hazardous conditions may cause projects to be canceled or rescheduled; staff will monitor the weather and notify you of any changes in a timely fashion. Please register by Thursday, July 10th by contacting Jim Rasmussen 303-663-6707 or Jim Klug 303-565-7504, TU Cutthroat Chapter.  Lunch will be provided by Trout Unlimited Cutthroat Chapter, for registered participants so please let us know by July 10th.. Thank you.Requirements of Volunteers: Please complete a CUSP liability release form (unless you’ve submitted a 2014 release at a prior CUSP (pr0ject this year) A CCTU Liability release form is required as well. These forms will be provided by the Cutthroat Chapter at the parking lot.Please Bring: Any applicable medications (including epi-pen and inhalers) Sun block Sun glasses or safety glasses Layered clothing, trash grabber, work gloves and shoes with good tread – please be prepared to get dirty! Water proof boots or waders – not everyone will need them, Water bottles; water refills are provided. CUSP encourages the use of reusable containers.Directions from Denver to Deckers: From C470 take Hwy 285 southwest to Pine Junction At Pine Junction, turn left (south) on Jefferson County Road 126 Follow Jeff CR 126 through Pine and Buffalo Creek about 25 miles to Deckers We will meet at the parking area behind Deckers store.Directions from Highlands Ranch: Take Hwy 85 to Sedalia, turn right on Hwy 67 To Pine Creek Road Turn Right and proceed to Co Rd 97/ South Platte Rd. Turn Left and Proceed to Deckers.CARPOOLING IS AVAILABLE Meet at the parking lot next to the railroad tracks in Sedalia, (just past Buds) betweent 7:15AM and 7:30AM. We will leave at 7:30 Sharp.Directions from Colorado Springs to Deckers: From I-25 in Colorado Springs take Hwy 24 (Cimarron Rd.) to Woodland Park Turn right on to CO Hwy 67, travel north 23 to Deckers We will meet at the parking area behind Deckers store Please note that GPS systems are often misleading in mountainous areas.Cell phone service will be inconsistent   Coalition for the Upper South Platte PO Box 726 Lake George, Colorado 80827 719.748.0033

Springer Gulch Fire Restoration Initiated 6-15-2013

Ten amazing hard working volunteers set a shining example of the collaborative effort of two TU Chapters in the 6-15-2013 Springer Gulch Fire restoration project.  Six volunteers from the Cutthroat Chapter and three folks from the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter plus one independent volunteer completed five “Flying V” and 12 “Tow Wood” ephemeral draw sedimentation flow mitigation structures.         These are innovative and cost effective techniques being used in many of Colorado’s current wildfire restoration efforts.  All structures were built with material found on site.  No materials were brought in from the outside.  Pine logs and cut burned trees were used as well as stakes cut from burned Aspen trunks.It was good to see the emergence of wildflowers and new Aspen trees just one year after the fire.This work is just a start, but it will help reduce sediment and flooding issues above the South Platte River along Eleven Mile Canyon, our beloved trout habitat.Volunteers, your hard work, good cheer, partnership and commitment to these efforts are greatly appreciated.   We all looked like coal miners at the end of a rewarding  day.

June Mtg: Ron Belak on Fishing for Wild Cutthroat Trout

Tired of seeing stocked rainbows? Want to see some REAL WILD CUTTHROAT TROUT? This is what Colorado is known for. Come to our June CCTU meeting presentation and get some new fishing destinations and the flies to make it all happen.Ron Belak from our neighbors at Evergreen TU will share some valuable information that most guys will show photos of the fish, but rarely share their secret fishing locations.Ron sent me an email saying my creek rod was fine for the creeks, but the lakes would require my 6 weight. That alone should have you entering the date on your smartphone right now. Just picture that fish rising to your dry fly or getting the take as you strip a big streamer.On June 18th, doors open at 6:30 PM and the meeting starts promptly at 7:00 PM

Another Great Success for Trout In The Classroom

Another Great Success for Trout In The ClassroomMore than 50 members of Christopher Lambrecht’s Stream Ecology class have moved on.No, they’re not graduating. In fact, they’re not even students — they’re rainbow trout.The trout, which hatched from eggs donated to the classroom by the nonprofit organization Trout Unlimited, were released into the Blue River Friday.“This is a big day for these guys,” Lambrecht said before the release. “It will be strange not to have the tank in here.”The stream ecology students have been involved with the trout from the very beginning. The class, which requires an application and teacher permission to join, is popular among high school students. Lambrecht said the class is intended to be “a biology class from a fisherman’s perspective,” with the goal of educating the students on the biology and chemistry behind steam and river ecology, as well as its potential for recreational enjoyment. One of the aspects that make the class popular is its hands-on outdoor components. Students regularly visit the river across the street from the high school, gathering insects to study and taking other data-gathering measurements.Through a partnership started last year with Trout Unlimited, Lambrecht is able to have that hands-on component in the classroom as well. The trout donated by the organization live in a large tank at the back of the room, right there within arm’s reach of the students, who all have a hand in feeding, cleaning and general care of the fish.While the first year was mostly a learning experience without any trout released, Lambrecht’s class hit its stride this year.Before any trout could be released, testing was required to make sure the fish were disease-free. While this process is important, it isn’t exactly free. Trout Unlimited’s Gore Range Anglers chapter (Summit County) and Cutthroat Chapter (Littleton) both donated funds for the fish to be tested. At about $30 per fish, the cost came to just around $1,000.One of the diseases tested for is called whirling disease. Caused by microscopic parasites, it attacks most salmon, trout and whitefish, remaining in the environment after the infected fish dies.Fortunately, Summit High’s fish all came back with a clean bill of health, meaning they could release the remaining fish into the wild. The release was the first trout release done by high school students in Colorado into a Class A watershed.“It is a huge success, because trout are very difficult to keep alive in a tank,” Lambrecht stated in an email. “It allowed students to see something through from beginning to end and to learn something about a complex living thing in a more meaningful way than textbook/lecture setting.”With the help of 15 students, Lambrecht and representatives of Trout Unlimited and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the fish were released at the foot of the four mile bridge along the Blue River near the high school.Lambrecht said his class will certainly be repeating the process next year.“Our level of success will be used as an example of how successful the program can be in a classroom setting,” Lambrecht said. “It also shows how much support there is in the community for these types of projects. More of these learning opportunities need to made available to students.”Sharon Lance, of the Trout Unlimited Board of Trustees, said she’s happy to see young students connecting with the environment and learning to understand the importance of its conservation.“I hope we can foster a conservation ethic through this program,” she said. “They are the next crop of conservationists and if we don’t teach them this, we won’t have anyone to protect Colorado.”Reprinted from the Summit Daily News; Reporter Jessica Smith jsmith@summitdaily.com (970) 668-4633Photos by Mark Lance

Help the Yellowstone Cutthroat in Yellowstone Lake from a New Threat

Many of our Cutthroat Chapter members have had the pleasure of fishing for cutthroat trout in the legendary Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park. I have listened with great envy to these stories of 50+ fish days and sometimes catching them with barely more than a hook. Most of those stories are of trips before 1994 when the lake trout was mysteriously introduced into Yellowstone Lake. Since then, the National Park Service has been trying to remove the lake trout as they have decimated the Yellowstone cutthroat trout population which is sending not yet fully realized ripples through the entire ecosystem.As if the lake trout wasn’t enough, there is a new threat in the form of a human who has established a campaign to stop the lake trout suppression in the name of ‘wild trout conservation’ (by which is meant, lake trout conservation in Yellowstone Lake). I don’t think there is any need to explain how absurd this is. But if you need some information, attached are several documents explaining why this is absurd.Our request of you is to take action and write a letter that includes your experience(s) on Yellowstone Lake prior to the decline of the cutthroat trout population. The details of where to send your letters as well as some guidelines as to what to include in the letters are listed below.Our members are some of the most active so we'd like to thank you in advance for your action.Call to Action:The Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) of Yellowstone Lake (YL) need your voice. A minor but vocal few have criticized the National Park Service’s (NPS’s) actions to suppress lake trout (LT) via netting and ova suppression. They have suggested that the Park discontinue LT suppression in the name of ‘wild trout conservation’ (by which is meant, lake trout conservation in Yellowstone Lake). This would doom the majority of the remaining cutthroats in the system. Please write to Superintendent Daniel Wenk to voice your support for the efforts of the NPS (in conjunction with the USGS, TU, GYC and NPCA) to control the invasive LT in the system thus allowing the cutthroats to survive and repopulate.Mail your individual and chapter letters to:

Superintendent Daniel WenkYellowstone National ParkP. O. Box 168Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190

Please personalize your letter, especially include any past experiences that you may have had before LT invasion of the system and your desire to see that restored. We need to share what this system meant to the angling public before LT.Talking points might include:

1. The overall decline of YCT’s throughout their range (currently 43% of historical with ¼ of that suffering from hybridization). YL used to be the stronghold for the species with 4 million individuals, safe from climate change, habitat loss, development, hybridization. Current YCT populations are less than 10% of historical in the Lake.
2. The YCT is the only native trout to the YL system. The YL system was the single largest genetically pure remaining population of YCT’s anywhere. As such, it is a key population to the health of the species and needs our help to be recovered.
3. The YCT is the keystone species to an entire ecosystem. The decline in its population has impacted this entire ecosystem and some 40 other species.
4. The YCT in YL was a huge economic driver both as a popular sport fish but also a tourist draw to Fishing Bridge, Le Hardy Rapids, and elsewhere.
5. The LT is an invasive, no matter how it was introduced, that has not only decimated this YCT population but doesn’t fill the ecosystem needs that the YCT did. It is also not a replacement sport fish of the same caliber as the YCT.
6. The NPS is using the best available science, supported by a Science Review Panel of fisheries professionals from academia, governmental agencies, and non-governmental groups (TU, GYC and NPCA).
7. Bottom line, make your letter about your experiences, not just a repeat of these points. For example relate why you would or have visited Yellowstone specifically to fish for YCT’s or if you had a chance to witness the incredible spawning runs of cutthroat before the impact of lake trout. We need to show the value placed on this fishery the way it was by anglers like you who had a chance to know and love this incredible place and who value the recovery of the Yellowstone Cutthroats to this system.

We've attached some copies of the correspondence about the new threat as well as a TU Fact Sheet about Yellowstone Lake trout. Please feel free to review by clicking on their respective links. Thanks again for your support!TU Fact SheetTU Support for NPS Efforts on Yellowstone LakeLake Trout Suppression Program Scientific Review Panel Response to Moyer Letters

Trout in the Classroom Makes a Splash in the Blue River

If you're not familiar with our Trout in the Classroom program, it's a program that provides the resources to a willing teacher to raise a tank full of trout. Well, last week there was a great success story out of Summit High School in Dillon, CO where they finally passed the required tests and received approval to release their trout into the Blue River. Read the article in the Summit Daily News about the Trout in the Classroom program's recent release into the Blue River where our very own Sharon Lance was in attendance.Summit High students the first class in Colorado to release trout into a Class A watershed

Dream Stream Seeding Effort Success

My wife dropped me off at the Dad Clark Park N Ride at Oh Dark 15. After a few sips of my fufu coffee, I realized that as the sky was turning azure, there was not a single cloud to be seen, no breeze, and all indications were for a perfect day. Another truck was waiting, then Jim's Banana Cruiser came along with a small parade of pickups. Fishermen love their trucks.Lists were checked, Release Forms signed, and we all saddled up for the Dream Stream. The trip went quickly and the scenery just kept smiling back - including Cow Rock.The group totaled about 25. The Ranger briefed us on the project, we picked up a rake and bucket and hiked downstream for what seemed like a mile - stealing ganders at the stream and occasionally seeing fish. The Ranger drove the ATV with the precious cargo: $2500 worth of prairie seed.We worked our way back to the parking lot just in time to share a great meal put together by Jim Klug. Jason Agin handed out the new CCTU Conservation T-Shirts. Beautiful green with the CCTU logo on the front and a modified (improved) NTU logo on the back. It has purple!Everyone was well-fed. Even the cows were escaping through the fence to see what we were up to. Sub sandwiches, condiments, fruit, chips, cookies, and drinks. Plenty for seconds. No grumbling in this crowd. Plenty of photo ops.A Ranger with a horse showed up to patrol the area and another ranger showed up wondering why we had a crowd of people and asked if we were all there to fish. Not often you see 25 people show up together to go fishing. She was excited to hear about our project, but still checked our fishing licenses. Actually, word was out that we had food.Sadly, some left to go home but most donned waders to stalk the stream for large trout. Results were mixed. Some caught a couple small rainbows. We saw a few people catch 24 inch fish, and most watched fish tease, but not take a fly. The rainbows had already spawned and the water level was low. Still it was a beautiful day shared by wonderful folks helping preserve a true Coloradan legacy.Y'all join us! Your name goes in to the raffle bucket for each project you help with. The prizes are pretty grand, but the bragging rights for the accomplishments are better when you return to each site to go fishing with your friends and family.

Springer Gulch, 11-Mile Canyon Erosion Control Project with CUSP, June 15, 2013

Work Date: Saturday, June 15^th, 2013

Project Location: above the South Platte at the Springer Fire Burn Area

Project Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a lunch break around noon

Volunteers needed: up to 40

Project Meeting Location: CUSP Office, 38000 Cherokee, Lake George, Colorado, 80827. Group will travel from the CUSP office to the site of the Springer Fire – off of FS 246. Due to the restricted access and location it is essential you arrive promptly as no directions will be given to the work location. Four wheel drive vehicles are preferred.

Please bring a backpack lunch and water to carry with you.

Workday Description:Work will occur in the approximate 1,200 acre Springer Fire area. Work will include installing erosion control structures in ephemeral drainages to reduce downstream impacts within the Eleven Mile Canyon area and South Platte River. This is a joint project with CUSP and the Cutthroat and Cheyenne Mountain Chapters of Trout Unlimited.Important notes:

• CUSP will provide materials and necessary tools to complete project work.
• A restroom will not be available on site.
• You may register by contacting Jim Klug at 303-953-8046, jjklug1@comcast.net or Jason Agin at 303-653-6057, jagin2023@msn.com

Mandatory Requirements of Volunteers:All volunteers must complete a CUSP liability release form and submit to CUSP on the day of the project. At CCTU Liability Waiver is also required. Jim Klug will provide copies of these forms to complete on Saturday morning.Please Bring:

• Any applicable medicines (including epi-pen and inhalers, if needed).
• Sunscreen
• Sun glasses or safety glasses
• Layered clothing appropriate for outdoor work
• A container for water, the use of reusable containers is encouraged
• Work gloves and shoes

Weather:Events may be canceled or rescheduled due to bad weather, which could create hazardous conditions for volunteers and staff. Any changes will be posted at: www.uppersouthplatte.org/Volunteer 719-748-0033 ALSO….We will be carpooling from the Dad Clark RTD Lot in Highlands Ranch at University and Dad Clark right off 470. Please be there by 6:15am as we will leave at 6:30am sharp.For additional information or car pool arrangements please contact Jim Klug or Jason Agin, Cutthroat Chapter TU at the above numbers.Hope to see you there,CUSP_Lake_George_ortho (1)Jim Klug, Director for Conservation, Cutthroat Chapter, Chapter, TUCell: 303-565-7504 Email: jjklug1@comcast.net

CANCELLED! Springer Fire Burn Area Conservation Project May 11, 2013

 PROJECT CANCELLED DUE TO TOO MUCH MOISTURE 

RAKING AND SEEDING WILL NOT BE FEASIBLE

Call Jim Klug @303-953-8046 with any questions.

Our next Conservation Project is Scheduled for June 15, 2013

with CUSP

Mine Reclemation at Buckskin Gulch (Alma)

Pending NEPA Approval

Jim Klug, Director for Conservation, Cutthroat Chapter, Chapter, TUCell:  303-565-7504 Email:jjklug1@comcast.net  

2013 CCTU -- UPDATED -- Conservation Project Listing

Cutthroat Chapter Trout Unlimited

 2013

Conservation Projects  

UPDATED!

Dates and Activities

 April 27>>>>>>>>>>>>>Re-seed certain areas of the Dream Stream COMPLETE!CANCELLED!   May 11>>>>>>>>>>>>>Joint project with Cheyenne Mountain Chapter Re-seeding Springer Gulch Fire Area 11 Mile Canyon  CANCELLED!June 15>>>>>>>>>>>>CUSP / Joint Project with Chyenne Mountain Chapter, Installing Erosion Control Structures in the Springer Gulch Fire Area in 11 Mile CanyonJuly 13>>>>>>>>>>>>>CUSP Deckers South Platte Clean UpAugust 10>>>>>>>>>>>CUSP 11 Mile Reservoir Deer Island Noxious weed removal/restoration Needs USFW approvalSeptember 7 >>>>>>>>Clear Creek Clean Up, Idaho Springs. Ray Carney Is heading up this project.October 12>>>>>>>>>>CUSP South Platte Wildcat Canyon Stream clean up.  (Tough hike but good fishing) Plan B>>>>>>>>Mine Reclamation Buckskin Gulch ( Alma) Needs NEPA ApprovalAnd, we will continue to do our monthly River Watch activities and our quarterly temperature monitoring on the South Platte near Deckers. Please call Jim Klug at 303-565-7504 or Jason Agin at 303-653-6057 If you have any questions or would like to join us on a project.May 21, 2013