COLORADO RIVER HEADWATERS CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED
Board/Membership Meeting MInutes
May 17, 2023
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by president Kirk Klancke. 13 Board/members participated in the meeting in person or via Zoom.
Mark Eddy gave an update on the status of the Uintah Basin Railway. The railway is in appeals court in Washington DC and it will be months before a decision is made. The 2 billion dollar bond decision to fund the railway is in a full court press with our US Senators and Representative leading the charge. They are questioning the use of private utility bonds from the US Department of Transportation being used to fund this project. Charley reported that Denver Water has sent a letter of opposition to the USDOT.
The 2023 banquet discussion led to the Board raising the price of diner tickets to $100 to cover the escalating costs in the food industry. Tom Caldwell was at the meeting and stated that Big Trout will be contributing kegs of beer and silent auction items to the banquet. Kent stated that the venue and caterer have been secured.
With 10% of our membership present, Dave Schlichting moved to approve our revised by-laws. Charley Garcia seconded the motion which passed.
Mark gave the CTU Bull Moose committee update. The stream restoration bill passed with no impact to small stream projects but will have an impact on analog beaver dam construction. On the national level, he asked us to pay close attention to the Waters of the US bill. This bill omits small seasonal streams from any protections and opens the door for resource extraction in the high mountain valleys. Dennis Buechler is working with CTU to stay abreast of this issue and keep us informed.
Jerry has updated the website and hopes that board members can review and comment.
Our willow planting project was postponed due to exceptionally high flows on Willow Creek in the fire recovery area that we are planting this year. The Board set a new date of July 22nd to harvest and August 5th to plant.
Kirk reported that CTU is looking for volunteers for their July 8th Trout Fest event at Coors Field and he will be sending more information to the Board in the near future.
Kirk gave an update on the West Grand Middle School science classes visit that Tony and he attended. He reported that we spent our money wisely to sponsor their field trip. The students were enthusiastic about participating and gained a great deal of knowledge about water issues in Colorado.
Kirk reported that Learning by Doing has sent out the Request for Proposals for the design engineering on the Kaibab Stream Channeling project. We will be providing $10K as the matching funds for the grant to pay for the study. The Board expressed an interest in attending the Operations Committee and Projects Committee meeting of LBD. Kirk will make sure that they are able to attend.
Mark Schneider volunteered to be Kirk’s alternate on the Drought Preparedness Plan Committee.
Kirk reported that our bank statement reads the same as last month.
Under other business, the Board agreed to move our meeting to the 4th Wednesday of the month so that Kirk could participate in the CTU Board meetings. Charley suggested that we hold an additional meeting in early July to assure that we are fully prepared for our banquet on July 17th. Kirk also reminded the Board that the State of the River meeting will be held on May 22nd at Sun Outdoors in Granby.
Our next Board meeting was set for Wednesday, June 28th at 6:00 PM.
With no other business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.
COLORADO RIVER HEADWATERS CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED
Board Meeting Agenda
Wednesday May 17, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Big Trout Brewery and Via Zoom
Call Meeting to Order
Uintah Basin Railway / Status Update
2023 banquet / July 17th
Sponsors
Auction Items
Venue contract and Caterer / Kent
Ticket Price
Approval of revised by-laws
Bull Moose update
Web Site Page Management / Update / Brad and Jerry
Chamber memberships
Board review of website
Willow Planting
C Lazy U Guest Ranch
Harvesting on May 20th and planting on June 3rd
CTU Troutfest / July 8th / Volunteer Opportunities
West Grand classroom visit
Kaibab Engineering Study RFP
Alternate for Drought Preparedness Committee
Treasurer’s Report
Required Minimum Distributions campaign
Other Board Business
Next Board meeting
Adjourn
COLORADO RIVER HEADWATERS CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED
Board Meeting
April 26, 2023
The meeting was called to order at 6:03 PM by President Kirk Klancke and was attended in person and via Zoom
Rich gave an Update of the Uintah Basin Railway. Charley was able, through the Citizens Advisory Committee of Denver Water, to get DW to send a letter to the US Department of Transportation asking for proper mitigation before allowing waxy crude trains to travel through Colorado. Their letter went to several elected officials too. Rich also reported that Governor Polis still has not made a public statement on this issue.
Kirk asked Board members to be looking for sponsors and auction items for this year’s July 17th banquet. Jerry stated that the sponsor forms are on our website. The Board had a brief discussion on what auction items have been acquired to date.
We failed to find a camper from Grand County for the CTU Youth Conservation camp by April 10th. In lieu of not sponsoring a local camper, the Board approved a $500 donation to help support the camp.
The Bull Moose update was tabled until the May meeting
Jerry reported that he has loaded a lot of new items on our website and encouraged the Board to review the changes.
The C lazy U Guest Ranch, which was heavily impacted by the East Troublesome fire, has agreed to work with us on this year’s willow planting project. The Board agreed that we should harvest on May 20th to allow us time to solicit volunteers. The Board then agreed that June 3rd will be our planting day which allows time for the willow stakes to establish roots. Dennis and Cyndie agreed to Co-chair the project. Kirk will meet with Taylor Swift of the C Lazy U Ranch to scout the harvesting area. Jerry, Brad, Kirk and Paul will work on marketing. Kirk asked Jerry to create a sign up sheet and a waiver on the website. All marketing will direct people to our website to register.
We were asked by the Peak Expeditionary School in Denver to help with a third grade river field trip on May 17th and 19th. Due to extremely high river flows this spring the Board felt that it would be too dangerous for third graders to be near the river and opted not to participate.
CTU is looking for volunteers to help with their Trout Fest event on July 8th at Coors Field. Kirk will send the Board more information on this event.
The 6th and 7th grade science classes from the West Grand Middle School have asked our Board to attend a presentation they put together on the 3 day water seminar that we helped sponsor their attendance at. The Board agreed that May 4th would be the best day to maximize our attendance. Kirk will work with the science teacher to confirm the date and set up the best time for her classes to give their presentation.
Our amended by-laws will need to be approved by 10% of our membership at our May board/membership meeting. Kirk will send out copies of the original and new versions of our by-laws before that meeting.
Kirk reported that the new Projects Committee of Learning by Doing has written a request for proposal for the Kaibab Park Stream Channeling project and will be sending it out on May 1st. We have committed $10K as seed money to help get a grant to pay for the study. On completion of the study, the Projects Committee feels that they can get Federal money to do the project.
Kirk gave the Treasurer's report and stated that we have a healthy account balance. The joining of all 4 chambers of commerce in Grand County came up and the Board agreed to try this for 1 year to see if they help drive more people to our website. Brad will follow through with the applications to join.
Under other Business:
Cyndie stated that we should research Science on the Fly to see if they would be useful here in Grand County. Kirk will contact CTU to see if he can get more information on this organization.
Gary Behlen brought up a question about the port a potty that we told Headwaters Trail Alliance we would pay for at the trailhead to the Fraser River access trail. He will talk to them to find out if they are still interested in that offer.
Gary and Len reported that Earth Day at the Headwaters Center has been moved to July 8th due to an electrical problem.
Our next Board meeting is scheduled for May 17th and our membership will be invited to that meeting.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.
COLORADO RIVER HEADWATERS CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED
Board Meeting Minutes
March 15, 2023
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 by President, Kirk Klancke. The meeting was attended in person by 7 board members at the Big Trout Brewery and by 5 board members via Zoom. Len Jagelski attended the meeting to introduce himself to the Board.
The first item of discussion was the Uintah Basin Railway project. Mark Eddy and Rich Newton gave some project background to the Board and discussed potential next steps. One of those next steps will happen within a week. We are waiting for CTU to compose an action alert that we can share on our social media and email list. CTU is also sending a letter to Transportation Secretary Buttigeg and they are working on getting Governor Polis to take a stance . Charley Garcia reported that the Citizens Advisory Committee of Denver Water is sending a letter to the DW Board to get them to take a stance based on the exposure that Gross Reservoir has of a spill on South Boulder Creek.
The 2023 banquet was discussed next. The banquet will be held on Monday, July 17th. The venue and the auctioneer have been reserved. Kirk will ask Paul Hollrah to update the sponsor forms and send them to the Board.
The Colorado Trout Unlimited Youth Camp has a deadline of April 10th for us to find a participant to sponsor. Dave Schliting asked Kirk to send him the information so that he can contact West Grand schools to see if they can help find a student to sponsor. If we don’t find a camper, Kirk asked the Board to make a donation to the camp.
Mark Eddy gave the Bull Moose (CTU legislative committee) update. Two water bills pending are:
The stream restoration bill introduced by DNR which will prevent requiring water augmentation plans for stream restoration projects. Support
A Waters of the US bill will give the State power to protect small headwaters streams not protected by the Waters of the US legislation. Support
Jerry Nissen asked the board members to review the website and give feedback. He thanked Tony Eason for already doing this.
Kirk reported that he offered the C Lazy U guest ranch help with riparian restoration after the East Troublesome fire but hasn’t received a return phone call yet. This will be a May project so he will keep working to get an answer from them.
Our bylaws will be discussed and approved at our May meeting if we have at least 13 chapter members at that meeting.
Learning By Doing has created a Project Committee and is writing a Request for Proposal to hire a firm to do an engineering study on the Kaibab Park stream reach that needs restoring. We will fund the study. The engineering is scheduled to be done in 2023 and construction in 2024. LBD hopes to get a grant to cover most of the project with some matching funds from our chapter.
Under Other Business:
Jerry Nissen brought up joining the Winter Park Chamber. The Board discussed this and felt that since we are a county wide organization, we should join all of the chambers or none. The Board decided to join them all which besides WP would include Granby, Kremmling and Grand Lake. This will be done on a one year trial basis. Brad Johnson will research what this will cost and what is involved in joining them.
Kirk brought up the Headwaters Center Earth Day event coming up on April 22nd. They are looking for a sponsor and the Board agreed to be a $250 sponsor. Len Jagelski and Gary Behlen agreed to man a table at the event with a macroinvertebrate display and chapter information.
Mark Eddy recommended that we find a quieter place to hold our meetings.
The next board meeting was moved to April 26th which is the 4th Wednesday of the month.
Since all of our beer glasses were empty and we had no further business to discuss, Charley suggested we adjourn, so we did.
Colorado River Headwaters Chapter
Trout Unlimited
PO Box 325
Fraser, CO 80442-0325
Meeting Minutes
February 15, 2023
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM and attended by board members both in person and on Zoom.
The Uintah Basin Railway was our first item of discussion. The Board discussed the Grand County Commissioners letter to Governor Polis. They decided that now is the time to write a letter from our chapter and get it to the marketing committee for distribution. Charley will get the Commissioners letter in front of the Citizens Advisory Committee of Denver Water.
Finding a camper to sponsor for the CTU Youth Conservation was discussed. Kirk brought up the possibility of also sponsoring the sixth and seventh grade science classes from West Grand Middle School who want to attend a 3 day seminar on water at the Keystone Science School. $1,836 will cover the balance needed to send 43 students to the seminar. The Board agreed to do this provided none of that money was to cover the damage deposit.
New water legislation being introduced at the State Capitol was talked about. Charley informed the Board that while not much has been introduced yet, it’s early in the session and we will have much more to talk about in the coming months.
The website was discussed next. Brad reported that we are getting a few hundred hits per month. The Board discussed joining the Winter Park/Fraser Valley Chamber to increase the number of hits that we are getting. This subject was tabled until the March meeting.
Tony reported that the Headwaters Land Trust has received an extension from the Town of Granby allowing them one year to come up with the final $200K to secure the easement.
Kirk reported that the chapter bylaws have been updated for Board review. We will approve the changes at our May meeting.
The Kaibab stream channeling project is in the design phase. Learning by Doing is forming a Projects Committee and they will be writing a RFP to solicit bids for an engineering study that we will pay for.
Under Other Business, Kirk asked for recommendations of local businesses that could be approached to do a roundup program to help raise funds CTU. Charley asked for the information to be sent to him so that he could solicit a couple of Front Range businesses. Kirk also stated that these local businesses could be added to the River Collective list to sell stickers that raise money for our chapter.
The Board thought it would be a good idea to contact the C Lazy U Guest Ranch to see if they could use some post fire willow planting. Kirk will follow up with this idea.
Our next meeting was set for March 15th.
With no other business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.
COLORADO RIVER HEADWATERS CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED
Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2022
The meeting was held via Zoom and called to order at 6:05 PM
The Headwaters Land Trust / Town of Granby land easement discussion was moved to the top of the agenda. Tony gave the background on the easement and presented our Chapters concerns. Our ask is that the Land Trust keep CPW and us in the loop on easement discussions concerning the Colorado River. We want to see permanent protection for the river on the easement reach. Jerremy Krones from the Land Trust is good with this and will contact us when those discussions take place.
Next the board formally inducted Tony Eason, Dave Schlichting and Gary Behlen to the Board.
Kirk reported that the High School teacher looking for fly fishing lessons for her class was told that we would like to do a river ecology lesson instead. She said that she would like to see both and nothing will happen until next fall.
Jerry asked all Board members to review the website and make suggestions for updating. He also reported that there are links to our Facebook and Instagram accounts on the site.
The next item of discussion was the Uintah Basin Railway project. CTU and several members of our Board are concerned with the proposed project. 10 trains up to 2 miles long of heated waxy crude are proposed to be traveling through our County, following the Colorado and Fraser Rivers through winding canyons. A Chapter committee was formed to represent our concerns. The committee members are: Mark Eddy, Dennis Bueichler, Rich Newton and Kirk Klancke.
Kirk reported on the CTU Fall Rendezvous. National Trout Unlimited was there to educate chapters on risk management. He reported that we need to have one Board member that is not the Treasurer or the Bookkeeper look at bank statements each month. Mark Schneider volunteered to be that person. Kirk also reported on the requirements of holding a raffle license. The Board agreed that it would be better for now to use CTU’s license.
Kirk has been in contact with the Town of Granby about the 2024 scheduling of the Kaibab Park project. He also asked if the town could participate financially. Ted Cherry, the Town Manager, asked him to apply for funding in their 2024 budget period.
Kirk presented the financial report with recent expenses going to stream monitoring, museum admission for children, the showing of the film “Watering the West” and our website.
Other Board Business:
Mark Schneider asked the Board if we will make a $500 contribution to the Drought Preparedness Plan Education Outreach fund. The Board agreed to do this.
Rich reported that Charley Garcia has applied for his vacated seat on the Denver Water Citizens Advisory Committee and that ex Colorado River District employee, Mike Itell has applied for the open West Slope position. Both are strong candidates.
Kirk reported to the Board that in the summer or fall of 2023 we will be asked to find volunteers to help with fire recovery projects.
Kirk also reported a youth outdoor adventure company called Lillard Expeditions is hoping to help in our conservation projects in 2023.
The river museum fundraiser held at the Headwaters Center has asked our Chapter to pay for a snowboard and donate it to the silent auction. The snowboard has a river/trout theme. The Board agreed to make that donation. The Yule Celebration will be December 10th at the Headwaters Center.
Mark Eddy gave an update from the recent Bull Moose committee meeting. He reported that after the November election the Democrats hold the House and Senate and that we are going into a legislative session that should be friendly to environmental bills. Bills requiring funding will be harder to pass because the people of Colorado voted to reduce State taxes.
With no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned.