MINERAL PARK PROJECT POST-PROJECT REVIEW

It was a cool morning on August 14 when 24 volunteers from Cutthroat Chapter Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service, National Trout Unlimited, other TU chapters, and even some members of the public (and their children) gathered to revegetate a reclaimed mine site above the town of Alma in Colorado. The gathering place was at an elevation of over 10,000 feet, but the project itself was at over 11,400 feet, just below tree line. The project area had been the site of settling ponds used by the Mineral Park Mill, a cyanide leach mill last operated in 1943.  The 1.7 acre site was was on Forest Service land and the entire project was a coordinated effort of Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service, and local partners Anglers All and Cutthroat Chapter. Most of the funding for the reclamation project was provided by the Forest Service.  Check out the area via this drone footage courtesy of Trout Unlimited OneDrive (sharepoint.com).

 After a quick safety briefing, tools were distributed, and the volunteers were shuttled up to the project site. The work for the day was to plant 550 tufted hairgrass plants, 140 water sedge plants and 240 bristlecone pine seedlings. The site had previously been treated for lead contamination and recontoured to correct the drainage around the old settling ponds. This work involved moving about 1850 cubic yards of material to cap the site with clean fill and constructing a rip rap lined drainage channel to divert the natural drainage away from tailings. The planting was accomplished in about four and a half hours and the volunteers returned to the Alma Town Hall for lunch. Many of the volunteers afterward enjoyed hiking or fishing in the area, which is a popular recreation destination.

 The United States has thousands of mining-impacted sites that need actions to reduce the impact of contamination associated with them.  Most of these sites are in prime recreation areas and remediation projects can restore the locations to public access recreation uses. This project is a model for cooperative work between National Trout Unlimited, the USFS, and local partners. It is a very small first step, but to accomplish anything, you need to take that first step.

COLO RIVER HEADWATERS CHAPTER HEALTHY RIVERS CONCERT II HEADWATERS RIVER JOURNEY, SAT, AUG 21 12-5PM

The 2019 Healthy Rivers Concert was such a success that the Fraser Valley community asked for a repeat performance.   Originally scheduled for 2020, it will now occur on August 21, 2021.  Doors open at 12pm, music will run on the outdoor stage from 1-5pm.  Admission is $20/adult and $10/children under 12…and includes a Headwaters River Journey admission for each ticket.

 Caitlyn Taussig will play 1pm-2pm.  She is a singer, songwriter, and working rancher in the Kremmling area and a true Grand County treasure.

The main act is the Rifters and they will play 2:30-5pm.  The Rifters are a nationally known 3 piece band from the northern New Mexico/southern Colorado high desert region.  They play their own brand of southwestern folk-country Americana.

 For more info, go to https://coheadwaters.org/healthy-rivers-concert.

ALMA RIVERWALK PROJECT UPDATE

On July 23, 2021, three CCTU board members paid a visit to the Alma area.  We were there to confer with representatives from National TU and USFS about a CCTU volunteer project that will be coming up very soon.  Spoiler alert, mark Saturday, August 14, on your calendars to come help us near Alma on an abandoned mine reclamation effort (see separate Mineral Park Project event).  Since we were in the neighborhood we stopped by to admire recent progress on the Alma River Walk.  CCTU has contributed funding and volunteer time to this wonderful effort by the Town of Alma.  Their goal is to conserve and protect a stretch ecologically important wetlands of the Middle Fork of the South Platte River that runs through the center of town.  The River Walk will eventually include ADA accessible trails, educational opportunities, and fishing access, while shielding this sensitive headwater environment from development and abuse.  Jara Johnson of the Alma Foundation gave us a tour of recent work done by the youth of the Southwest Conservation Corps.  The young people are working on a trail spur leading to the interior of the River Walk property.  The first part of the spur is roughed in and will be soon be finished in cinder fines.  The second part of the spur will be a boardwalk that extends into the wetlands ending in a fishing/observation platform overlooking a beaver pond.  This part of the spur has already been cleared of willows, the lumber has been obtained, and a contractor has been hired to start work soon.  This entire spur with trail and boardwalk will be finished this summer.  A new rock garden is coming along well, with native plants like currant and sedge providing both beauty and and educational opportunity.  By fall we will should see the first couple of many interpretive signs and kiosks that will welcome and inform visitors.  When you come up to volunteer with us on August 14, please take time afterwards and check out the River Walk!

July Meeting Presentation on CCTU YouTube Channel

Another excellent chapter meeting last night is now up on the CCTU YouTube channel. Noah Parker from Land of Enchantment Guides in the Santa Fe area gave a great presentation on “Fly Fishing Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado”. He hit both private and public water in multiple areas. Waters discussed included The Chama, Conejos, Navajo, Brazos and Upper Brazos, Los Pinos, San Juan, Valles Caldera, Rio Grande Pecos Rivers. Great info on locations and some excellent photography. Amazingly big fish. Good to hear about the excellent water flows this year as well as a lack of the type of crowding we experience on Front Range Waters (if you are willing to walk a bit). For more info on Land of Enchantment Guides, go to https://loeflyfishing.com/.

The full presentation is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am7_UcuNx8I

Thanks as always to Zoom Master George Franklin for managing the show and the recording.

#troutunlimited #coloradotroutunlimited #coloradoconservation #newmexicoflyfishing #landofenchantmentguides

CCTU CLEANS UP THE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER NEAR DECKERS

After a holiday weekend that saw people enjoying the South Platte River, on Saturday, July 10th CCTU patrolled the river from Cable Hole to Nighthawk picking up trash that had inadvertently escaped from tubes, rafts and vehicles. 

CCTU members and guests, including five CCTU Board Members, broke into 8 teams, each team covering a mile.  Trash was collected and placed in orange bags provided by the Jefferson County and the Coalition for the Upper South Platte.  The bags were placed along the road for  Douglas and Jefferson Counties to pick up during the business week.

The most interesting finds during the day were a bull snake, a fishing license, a driver’s license and other ID…both by Ray, and Bill found a 10 dollar bill.  Hold on to your stuff people!

A special thanks to the Coalition for the Upper South Platte for providing access to the community center in Deckers and to Deckers Corner for providing lunch.

TU Teen Essay Contest

This summer, Trout Unlimited wants to hear from any young person ages 12-18 why public spaces and lands are important to them. Judges will choose three winners from two categories: 8th grade to 10th grade & 11th and 12th grade. When teens enter our TU Teen Essay contest, they get the chance to win a new Temple Fork Outfitters AXIOM II flyrod and reel plus their winning essay will be published in Trout Magazine. There are also prizes for second and third place winners.

Visit www.tu.org/teen-essays for the essay prompt, contest rules and details. Contact Headwaters Youth Program staff (brett.prettyman@tu.org) with questions and to enter.

#troutunlimited #coloradotroutunlimited #coloradoconservation

JUNE CHAPTER MEETNG PRESENTATION NOW ON CCTU YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Another excellent chapter meeting last night is now up on the CCTU YouTube channel.  Patrick Blackdale from Three Rivers Resort and Willowfly Anglers in Almont gave a great presentation “

SOURCE-DOWN, AN OVERVIEW OF THE UPPER GUNNISON DRAINAGE”.  He gave a broad overview of the fishery, touching on high alpine lakes, small streams, freestones, tailwaters and reservoirs.  Great info on locations in an excellent, photo-laden presentation.  Three Rivers Resort is located in Almont, Colorado on the Taylor River.  The resort features rustic cabins from the 1800s, as well as brand new cabins with the comforts of home.  They have access to both public and private water and set you on amazing fish in stunning surroundings.  For more info go to https://3riversresort.com/.

The presentation is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRcT1qJWk4U.

CCTU EARTH DAY – THEN, NOW, AND THE FUTURE

In order to celebrate Earth Day in April 2021 members of CCTU recently planted native cottonwood trees and shrubs along urban Bear Creek.  This project was in cooperation with the City of Lakewood and has been an annual chapter event since 2017.  The project was cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19, as were most of our chapter's other activities.  It was nice to get out with friends to do something constructive for Mother Earth.

 It is one thing to buy a plant, put in the ground, and then forget it.  It is quite another thing to nurture that plant and ensure its long term survival and growth. The City appreciates our chapter's donation to buy these plants as well as our chapter's volunteer labor to plant them.  The City takes our investment in the survival of these plants very seriously.  They make sure the saplings are protected from beavers with fencing and they make a point to water the plantings regularly while the young plants are becoming established.

After the most recent Earth Day event, Jerry Shin took some time to go back and check on the cottonwood trees he helped plant in 2018 and 2019.  He was glad to see those trees thriving, several feet taller and inches larger in circumference compared to when he helped put them in the ground.  This is clear evidence the City intends to nurture these trees, and that those trees will be a lasting legacy for all the Cutthroat Chapter members who's fundraising and labor are helping to protect and conserve that urban riparian environment.  Thanks to all their hard work these cottonwoods will likely be here years in the future, continuing to protect this urban oasis long in the future after we have passed from this Earth.

 The pic with John Cristantiello and Jerry was from 2018 showing one of several cottonwoods they planted that day. The pic of Jerry alone is from 2021 showing one of those same thriving and much larger cottonwoods.

2018

2021

MAY CHAPTER MEETING PRESENTATIONS NOW ON CCTU YOUTUBE CHANNEL

We had an excellent chapter meeting last night, May 18, with two local biologists.  Tawni Riepe was our Steve Bailey Memorial Scholarship recipient at CSU and a doctoral candidate at the Dept of Fish, Wildlilfe and Conservation Biology.  She spoke about the growing danger of bacterial kidney disease in Colorado Trout, both hatchery and wild fish.  Something few of us knew about, and definitely a looming threat.  Tyler Swarr, the CPW Aquatic Biologist for the Upper South Platte Basin gave fascinating presentation on the daily/annual responsibilities of a State Fisheries Biologist.  He touched on a ton of things from CPW fish sampling techniques to the role of state fish hatcheries…it is amazing the diversity of responsibilities each biologist has, and how busy they truly are across the entire year.  Thanks to both speakers for excellent discussions.

Catch the presentations at the CCTU YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/XUBMGTFRn60

CCTU CONSERVATION PROJECTS ARE BACK! BEAR CREEK EARTH DAY CONSERVATION PROJECT WRAP-UP

After a year hiatus due to Covid concerns, Cutthroat Chapter volunteer boots are once again on the ground. 21 chapter members and friends, including six CCTU board members, joined forces with the City of Lakewood for an Earth Day planting event. On Saturday April 24, 2021 we met with four City employees at the Bear Creek Greenbelt. Ten narrow leaf cottonwood trees and two dozen shrubs, all native plants, were transplanted on a Bear Creek streambank damaged by excessive beaver activity. Beavers are an integral part of many watersheds, and they greatly enhance those areas with their dams which create wetlands. This activity diversifies habitat and increases species counts, both great things for these environments. Beavers with no predators can overdo things and create some damage to local flora. Funding from the Cutthroat Chapter paid for both these native plants and the fencing materials that will protect the trees and shrubs in their first few vulnerable years. These plants will shade and cool the water which is great for the fish. They will stabilize the streambanks while providing habitat for a multitude of animals. This project will allow coexistence of animals and plants in this urban oasis. It was a great day in celebration of our Mother Earth.