Fortunately, spring flooding at Windy Gap is not expected to delay the construction project. The photo, by Jennifer Mirczak, is from June 2, just a few days before the damage.
Water Allies At Audubon
What’s good for the goose is good for…the trout. Audubon Society and TU are really working for the same thing: a healthy environment including our rivers and the entire riparian ecosystem. What’s good for birds is good for fish. We often cooperate with Audubon because it helps both organizations accomplish our respective missions. Audubon has an excellent trove of articles on our rivers and even has one employee who’s focus is water in the west. Read Jennifer Pitt’s articles on water at the link below.
Adapting to Colorado River Crisis
The crisis of diminishing water in the Colorado has finally grabbed the attention of national media and lawmakers in the last year or so. Read the March 2, 2023 article in Colorado Politics about the chess game being played with water between California and the six upper basin states. Then hear one of the latest discussions (from February 13) or read the text. Representatives from a California water district, the Audubon Society and Arizona State University answer questions you want answers to..
Sky Hi News Water Trifecta
Our local Sky Hi News has featured three great water-related articles since February 8. On Wednesday, February 8th an op-ed by chapter president Kirk Klancke clarified the benefits of the Blue Valley Ranch land transfer. On Friday, February 10, the proposal to run dangerous “waxy crude oil” trains through Grand County made the paper’s front page. TU worked with the commissioners to oppose the trains unless conditions are met. Also in the February 10 edition was a thoughtful article about balancing water rights with environmental concerns. We encourage you to read all three by clicking here.
Money to Remove Grass
Oil Spill Risk
Utah produces some of the most environmentally damaging crude oil around. Called “waxy crude”, it’s hard to get out of the ground, to process into useful petroleum products and especially difficult and dangerous to ship.
The current proposal for moving this goopy petroleum to refineries includes via train through Grand County along the Colorado River. As many as ten trains as much as two miles long would move the crude through Grand County each day.
Drain Lake Powell?
The Glen Canyon Institute advocates draining Lake Powell rather than simply letting it go dry on its own. Draining Powell would help replenish Lake Mead and restore Glen Canyon. Draining it would also shut off Powell’s generators which create carbon-free power for 5.8 million households so this proposal is not without controversy.
One Key to Saving the Colorado?
Kemp-Breeze Enhancement
Supreme Court vs the Environment
Climate Change Pushes the Colorado Into Crisis.
The whole nation is learning about the water crisis in the west. Our TU chapter president, Kirk Klancke, and others were sources for this great May 14 article in the Washington Post.
Climate Change Threatens Fly Fishing Industry
The Headwaters Chapter celebrates Earth Day
The Colorado River Headwaters chapter of Trout Unlimited joined in on the Earth Day Celebration & Community Festival at the Headwaters Center in downtown Winter Park. At our booth, we showcased aquatic insect specimens collected from the Fraser River, and discussed how these bugs are an “indicator species” in the discussion about river health. The event was a lot of fun, and really cool to see that many folks gaining awareness about our rivers and water in Colorado. Thanks to everyone who joined us!
Most Endangered River for 2022
River Talk Video Available From April 9, 2022
Windy Gap Bypass Scores $2 Million!
Fishing Camp For Teens
CO Headwaters Connectivity Plan Meeting
Strange Bedfellows
Our Trout Unlimited Chapter’s relationship with Denver Water and other diverters has evolved considerably over time. Not that long ago, we fought bitterly in court with diverters. Ultimately, we came to recognize that the diverters had both the well-established legal right to the water as well as the political clout and deep pockets to doom virtually all litigation on our part. We acknowledged that legal battles with the diverters were doomed to failure.
We realized that the strategy that would yield the best real-world outcome to protect our rivers was to communicate and (when appropriate) cooperate with the diverters. Our strategy of working with the diverters, while continuing to apply pressure on them to do the right things has resulted in many, many successes. Read Kirk’s letter for more insights.
