Boulder Creek Project

Bristol Bay Conservation Campaign

2009-02-22T11:54:00.001-07:00

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

2009-01-18T10:42:00.002-07:00

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

2009-01-10T22:23:00.006-07:00

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

2009-01-06T11:00:00.002-07:00

Update ~ Middle Boulder Creek Enhancement Project

2008-12-04T13:22:00.001-07:00

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

2008-12-03T21:39:00.002-07:00

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

2008-11-25T21:47:00.004-07:00

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.

Boulder Help on Nederland Wastewater Plant

2008-11-25T07:56:00.003-07:00

A proposal to work with Nederland on building a new wastewater treatment plant is under consideration. Boulder draws about 40 percent of its drinking water from Barker Reservoir just outside Nederland. The mountain town's discharge permit, which allows it to empty filtered wastewater into the reservoir, expires next year.....read the story in the Camera

Follow-up on SBC Flows

2008-11-21T17:15:00.004-07:00

Conversations with DWB management over concerns/objections pertaining to the ramp down rates below Gross on October 22, 2008 (80 cfs to 11 cfs in under 5 hours) which stranded fish in side channels and impacted spawning. Reached the end of the road last week.

Keep in mind when the flows are reduced to winter levels the entire lower section of South Boulder Creek is de-watered (we’re talking flows of .5 to 1.5 cfs compared to what it takes to sustain a minimal fishery 7.5 cfs). This is caused by no water flowing through the upstream canal due to concerns over icing. Also be aware that below Eldorado Springs the DWB takes no responsibility for flows caused by diversions.

The fact of the matter is that the DWB acted in line with a program agreed to/proposed by National TU some 10 years ago. Part of the ESI inclusion authored by TU is set forth below. It basically says that ramp down rates of 30 cfs per hr. for flows between 100 cfs and 40 cfs are permissible.

The DWB did acknowledge that the drastic reduction could have been handled differently & with less impact.

Three things to keep in mind:
1. These ramp down rates were established some years ago when the flows were much higher
2. TU acted on the basis of input received from the DOW.
3. These ramping rates and in stream flow must be a part of the permitting process for the expansion of Gross.

The silver lining is that CTU is very much aware of the problems caused by drastic flow reductions in the fall.

At the end of the day, we lost fish for no particularly good reason!

Progress on McGinn Ditch Fish Passage

2008-11-21T17:00:00.002-07:00

These pictures of construction in progress were taken by Larry Quilling several days ago. This South Boulder Creek project is being undertake by the Boulder Flycasters via a grant from the Trout & Salmon Foundation. This fish passage will have a major impact on upstream spawning activity out of Baseline Reservoir.

Status on South Boulder Creek Flows

2008-11-10T13:45:00.006-07:00

I have talked with TU and the DOW. In the later case I have provided the Mark Uppendahl pictures and information on what happened. No one believes there is any concrete agreement on ramp up/down rates. The only thing we can do is register a complaint/concern and place it in the que for future interaction with the DWB.

The fact of the matter is that the fish and aquatic life in Boulder Creek have no right to any water.

Fish Passage on South Boulder Creek

2008-11-09T08:15:00.002-07:00

A new concrete ramp covered in flowing water will let fish swim all the way from Valmont and Baseline Reservoirs in eastern Boulder to Eldorado Springs.

The city’s Open Space and Mountain Parks Department is working to install a “fish passage” at the McGinn Ditch diversion on South Boulder Creek just north of U.S. 36. When the passage is finished, the 20 or so species of fish that live in the creek will be able to move more freely across Boulder’s waterways.....read the Daily Camera Article

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan

2008-11-06T18:17:00.004-07:00

On September 24th Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Christopher Bond (R-MO), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), and George Voinovich (R-OH), introduced the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act of 2008, a comprehensive strategy to allocate conservation dollars for effective restoration of our national waterways

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan is a national investment strategy to maximize the impact of conservation dollars on the ground. Under the Action Plan, Federal, state and privately-raised funds will be the foundation for building regional partnerships that address the Nation’s biggest fish habitat problems. This is the most comprehensive effort ever attempted to the causes of fish habitat decline, not just the symptoms.

The legislation was spearheaded by numerous leading environmental organizations including the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, the American Sportfishing Association, The Nature Conservancy, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and Trout Unlimited, all of which share a common interest in the success of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

LINK

Using 1872 Standards for Environmental Management!

2008-11-04T08:48:00.005-07:00

Why are we still operating under the framework of the 1872 Mining Act on federal lands that was designed to encourage extraction of natural resources? The law takes presidence over all other uses including hunting and fishing and includes zero environmental provisions. The EPA estimates that 40% of western headwater streams are polluted by mine tailings .....read more about this in the Fall Issue of Trout or go to the TU web site and read it on-line.

EPA Awards

2008-11-03T07:06:00.001-07:00

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced their 2008 Clean Water Act Recognition Awards. Winning second place in the Stormwater Management Awards category was, "Keep It Clean Partnership - City of Boulder, Town of Erie, City of Longmont, City of Louisville, Town of Superior, and Boulder County, Colorado."

Water Management?

2008-10-31T20:52:00.003-06:00

What does the above chart tell you about the water management practices of the Denver Water Board in connection with Gross Reservoir?

Letter sent to citizensadvisorycommittee@denverwater.org.....I would be interested to learn why Denver Water finds it necessary to abruptly change the flow rates out of Gross Reservoir. Is it impossible to plan or make gradual changes that minimize the impact on the fish and invertebrates that reside in Boulder Creek?

Water Groups Decry Amendment 52

2008-10-31T13:43:00.004-06:00

Amendment 52 — which would redirect some oil-and-gas severance-tax revenues from water to highway projects — is drawing fire from water officials and conservation groups across the state.....read more

Colorado Climate Change

2008-10-31T13:33:00.002-06:00

A warming Colorado likely means a reduction in the state's water supply later this century, according to a new assessment by the University of Colorado at Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration......
read more

2008-01-17T10:30:00.001-07:00

Project Summary

What - Revitalize 2000-feet of Boulder Creek through a series of instream habitat improvements

Where – 9 miles up Boulder Canyon

When – Conceptual Design work is already complete & final design could commence immediately – permits to be obtained during the winter of 2007/2008.

Why – create an important and highly visible fishery and riparian resource in close proximity to a substantial urban population

How Much - $169,330 requested and $65,700 contributed from private sources

Who - Ecological Resource Consultants, Inc. will provide engineering, permitting and construction services and Boulder Flycasters will direct the project and secure private funding

Risk – Boulder Flycasters has a 50 year history with Trout Unlimited and has been involved in a variety of successful projects. The chapter is financially strong and has a history of raising significant amounts of money for its projects and programs.