Colorado Wildlife Federation Banquet May 10
This year’s Colorado Wildlife Federation Banquet for Wildlife celebrates the CWF’s 55th Anniversary. The event is Saturday, May 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wildlife Experience, 10035 S. Peoria Street (off I-25). Tickets $50 per person. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Tom Remington, Director, Colorado Division of Wildlife. Purchase reservations by mail, telephone 303-987-0400x1, email cwfed@coloradowildlife.org, or on-line via www.coloradowildlife.org
Salazars, Udall Propose Bill to Protect Key Habitat on Roan Plateau
The BLM admits its plan to lease and drill the Roan plateau could have serious impacts to wildlife and habitat, particularly to the Roan’s native cutthroat trout fishery and mule deer. Now, legislation proposed by Senator Ken Salazar and Representatives John Salazar and Mark Udall (S.2879) - and drawing support from a sportsmen's coalition that includes TU - would protect many key habitats and require phased leasing for development on other portions of the Roan. Read more. You can help the Roan by calling or emailing Senator Wayne Allard and encouraging him to also support this legislation. Click here for CTU's Action Alert on the Roan.
A Great Sign!
On Monday April 21, Governor Ritter signed HB 1280 into law. The first in a series of bills called the Healthy Rivers Initiative, HB 1280 eliminates penalties on water rights holders who lease their rights to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for instream flow purposes. Two other funding proposals to support instream flow acqusitions are also moving forward; unfortunately HB1369 - to provide tax incentives for donations of water - died in the Senate Local Government committee. Read more about the Healthy Rivers Initiative
Long Draw Reservoir EIS Released
Long Draw Reservoir, located in the headwaters of the Cache la Poudre, has been at the epicenter of a battle over "bypass flows" - minimum releases required from dams and diversions as a condition of their permits for occupying National Forests. The Forest Service has now released a new Environmental Impact Statement for Long Draw, including four alternatives - one for the status quo under which no winter releases are made, one involving wetlands mitigation in the Kawuneeche Valley in the Colorado headwaters, one requiring minimum releases in the winter from Long Draw, and one restoring 45 miles of river for Greenback cutthroat trout as mitigation. Read more.
Neubecker Elected to CTU’s Top Volunteer Position
Ken Neubecker of Carbondale was elected president of Colorado Trout Unlimited – the state council of the national Trout Unlimited organization - at CTU’s annual meeting at Redstone, April 13. A teacher, naturalist and land surveyor, Ken is a long-time TU activist who has served as President of both the Eagle Valley and Ferdinand Hayden Chapters, and as a founder of the Eagle River Watershed Council. He succeeds Salida’s Steve Craig, who was honored for his many years of service to CTU with the Bruce Hoagland Award.
Other officers include Sinjin Eberle (Cutthroat Chapter), Vice President, Allyn Kratz (Cheyenne Mtn. Chapter), Secretary, and Michael McGoldrick (Evergreen chapter), Treasurer. For a complete list of CTU’s Board of Directors and Officers, click here.
Why We Need the Clean Water Restoration Act
A combination of Supreme Court rulings and Bush Administration guidance have rolled back Clean Water Act protections, so that ephemeral and intermittent streams - those that do not flow year-round, as well as isolated wetlands and fens, may no longer be protected under the Clean Water Act. This puts wetlands and water quality at risk - both in Colorado and nationwide. Click here to find out more.
Make Your Chapter Famous!
Denver TU’s Tim Emery has launched the "Elk Horn Fly Rod and Denver TU Fly Fishing and Conservation Report" on 104.3 FM’s ‘The Fan Outdoors with Terry Wickstrom,” every Saturday at 9am. Tim’s 15-minute segment will feature one local TU chapter every week. The show’s coverage area ranges from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins on the Front Range, and into the mountains.
If you have an upcoming event or project you think Tim’s radio audience would like to know about, he’d like to hear from you. Contact him through his website at www.fishingrealtor.net
CTU Annual Report
CTU's 2007 Annual Report is available for download by clicking here.
TU has Colorado Covered
TU's presence in Colorado includes its 20 chapters, the state council, the Colorado Water Project and TU's Public Lands Initiave, which works issues such as preserving roadless areas, preventing damage from irresponsible ATV riders, moderating the effects of oil and gas development and promoting wilderness designation in key areas. Click here to read more about the PLI and find out how to sign up for their newsletter.
Where TU Stands on Access 
Over the past six months, a lot has been said and written about TU’s position on public access to streams. Some of it has even been accurate. But a resolution – if not reconciliation – on the access issue was reached at TU’s national meeting in September. CTU’s national leadership council representative sorts it out. Read More.