Bristol Bay Conservation Campaign

February 22, 2009

The Honorable Ken Salazar
Secretary of Interior
1849 C Street NW, Rm. 5665
Washington DC 20240


RE: Protection of Fish and Game Resources in the Bristol Bay Watershed


Dear Secretary Salazar,

We the undersigned hunting and angling businesses and organizations representing millions of sportsmen, outdoor recreation groups and related businesses congratulate you on your appointment as Secretary of the Interior. We sincerely appreciate your past leadership on conservation issues in the United States Senate and look forward to working with you in your new role to conserve the rich hunting and fishing traditions in Alaska.

As hunting, fishing, and outdoor enthusiasts, business owners and representatives and members of organizations who care deeply about the long-term health and productivity of the Bristol Bay watershed, we are deeply concerned about an attempt by the previous administration to remove protections for fish and wildlife in the Bay Resource Management Plan. Over 1 million acres of the Bay RMP lie adjacent to the Nushagak and Kvichak Rivers - two of the most productive wild salmon producing rivers in the world. The Bristol Bay watershed also supports healthy runs of five species of Pacific salmon, trout, artic char, grayling, northern pike, and Dolly Varden. The region is home to populations of caribou, moose, and bear which are pursued by both sport and subsistence hunters. From an economic standpoint, the region's sport, commercial and subsistence fisheries generate approximately $320 million per year and provide jobs for some 12,500 people. Unfortunately, the current RMP fails to account for the natural values in this area and unnecessarily jeopardizes a world class fishery and sporting destination.

The undersigned businesses and organizations respectfully request that the Bureau of Land Management maintain the current prohibition on hard rock mining and oil and gas development on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the Bristol Bay region. We further request that the BLM supplement the Bay RMP to analyze an alternative that will ensure the long term health of this world class commercial, sport and subsistence fishery.

We are convinced that your agency can produce and implement a land use plan for Bristol Bay that will generate economic opportunities while also conserving sporting and indigenous traditions for future generations. We look forward to working with the BLM as we move quickly to reverse the wrong-headed decisions that were made in the closing months of the last administration and implement a common sense plan for fish and wildlife in Bristol Bay.

Please note this request is being signed on behalf of the entire Board of Directors and the 870 members of Boulder Flycasters, a TU chapter located in Boulder, Colorado. Further, it will be placed the the minutes of record for our organization.

Sincerely.

Paul Prentiss, Boulder Flycasters Conservation Chair


Front Range Anglers ~ Boulder, CO
Fly Fishing Exchange ~ Boulder, CO
Colorado Trout Unlimited
303-444-0270
270-394-1115
peprentiss@gmail.com

50 Years of Conservation Success

2009 marks the 50th anniversary of TU's founding on the banks of the Au Sable River near Grayling, Michigan. The 16 fishermen who gathered at the home of George Griffith were united by their love of trout fishing, and by their growing discontent with the state's practice of stocking its waters with "cookie cutter trout"—catchable-sized hatchery fish. Convinced that Michigan's trout streams could turn out a far superior fish if left to their own devices, the anglers formed a new organization: Trout Unlimited dedicated to ensuring that wild and native trout populations were allowed to thrive, as nature intended...find out more about the 2009 celebration.

Denver Post Article 1/10/2009

Investing in Colorado's natural beauty pays off....Charles E. Bedford

In days when most of our personal financial performance amounts to bad news left in unopened envelopes, there is some good news about the ways our investments in our natural resources are paying off.

True, many people don't think about ecosystems — clean water, air and open space — as investments with a financial value. Rather, we think of them as priceless. But it is imperative that we recognize and re-invest in our natural resources just as we plan our country's economic future. Nature has real economic value to us all when left intact and functioning, and not just when we turn it into a commodity.....read the full article

Colorado Trout Unlimited

Update ~ Middle Boulder Creek Enhancement Project

From the Desk of Roger Svendsen

Just a note to let you all know where things stand. Our Boulder County Permit Application is in the hands of the Boulder Land Use Dept. After a review of the documentation, the planner, Hannah Hippley, wanted an application sheet from CDOT as well as Boulder County. After a few mis-fires with CDOT, we managed to connect and I obtained Bob Hays signature this morning. I delivered the document to Hannah this afternoon and she said it was what she wanted. She wants to do a site visit as part of her review, however schedules and the Holidays will probably make that necessary in January. Since the area will probably be snow covered, we will want to have pictures for her. The visit will probably be made by Dave Blauch, Hannah, and myself. Coordination will be through Claire DeLeo from Parks and Open Space. I will be the primary interface for BFC and ERC while Claire will be the interface for the Boulder County organizations.
I remain hopeful that this project will come before the commissioners in January. Hannah is the one that schedules that meeting. I tried to get a peak at the January calendar, but was unable to do so. I was told that Hannah typically schedules the meeting as soon as she has all the documentation she needs in hand.
The critical path for scheduling our "in-stream" work is now obtaining agreement from CDOW to work in the stream prior to June 1, which is the current stipulation in the Corp. of Engineers permit. The Corp. gets direction from CDOW on such things. Larry Q. has the monkey on this task and we are optimistic.
I will be in touch with Ed Self from Wildlife Restoration Volunteers relative to the work we hope they can do with/for us. There will need to be a lot of coordination with CDOT on these tasks, since it is all on CDOT land, however Bob Hays was very positive this morning about allowing us to do what we want.
Also, CDOT is continuing to sift the soil and move rocks around up at the turnout at the top of the project. Bob Hays remains hopeful that we will not have to incur expense to relocate our rock pile. Keep your fingers crossed.
Roger

Photographed at Arapaho Summit Ridge, Indian Peaks, CO on 2004-05-09 11:19:32 by Bryan Keith from North Star Couloir on North Arapaho

The area pictured here - just to the east of the ridge connecting North and South Arapaho - is closed to the public. It's the City of Boulder's water supply.

Sucking the Colorado River Dry for Colorado's Front Range Cities

With 60% of the Upper Colorado River already being diverted, the Windy Gap Firming Process will take another 20%. This trans-basin diversion project will move water in the yet-to-be-built Chimney Hollow Reservoir in Larimer County. Chimney Hollow, with a capacity of 90,000 acre feet, would provide water to Front Range cities including Longmont, Broomfield, Greeley and Loveland. Read CTU's take on this project.