In Colorado, water is a more precious commodity than almost any other natural resource. Since 1969, Colorado Trout Unlimited has been the state’s leading advocate in conserving, protecting and restoring Colorado’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. For more than 35 years, CTU has made significant contributions to Colorado’s environment, including battling the effects of disease on wild trout, defeating harmful large dam and diversion projects, passing important stream flow legislation, spearheading youth conservation education, protecting water quality, restoring native trout, improving drought-stricken rivers, establishing healthy fishing regulations and promoting water conservation. CTU has been Colorado's leading non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting the health of Colorado's rivers and lakes.
The America Cup Sept. 17, 18, and 19
Volunteers are needed to be Controllers. A Controller measures and records the trout for a competitor. This is a great opportunity to watch and learn from the experts. Daily box lunches and water are provided to all Volunteers and a great awards banquet Sunday evening the 19th.
learn how to volunteer and participate in this great event!
Ladies Fly Fishing Clinic was a big hit. From bugs, to gear, to casting, to catching, to releasing!
The day was fantastic and thanks to all the guides, helpers, and participants. See photos of this day here
The Trout Unlimited Mission Statement
To conserve, protect, and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds!
The Ferdinand Hayden Chapter is a local chapter of the nation's leading coldwater conservation organization, Trout Unlimited. Our chapter, Number 008, was chartered in November 1970.
Our chapter has about 300 members. The chapter includes the I-70 corridor betwen Glenwood Springs and Rifle, Colorado and the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, and Crystal River Valleys between Glenwood Springs and Aspen. We are one of about 20 active chapters, totaling some 9000 members, within Colorado. The state council, Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU), is one of the few councils that maintains a full-time staff working with state resource issues.
Ferdinand Vandiveer Hayden
Ferdinand Vandiveer Hayden, after whom our TU chapter is named, was an explorer who led one of four special surveys of the American West. Wheeler, King, and John Wesley Powell led the others. These surveys became the US Geological Survey and Hayden became its first director. Hayden's survey covered the whole northern mountain area of Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. William Henry Jackson, his photographer, was the first to picture the Mount of The Holy Cross and make its fame worldwide.
It was also around a campfire during Hayden's survey, at the headwaters of the Madison, Gallatin, Snake and Yellowstone Rivers that the idea of setting aside a part of the west from open exploitation first was brought up. Yellowstone, the National Park system and a great deal of conservation are the results. The fight to establish Yellowstone was hard. It was a beginning from which we all owe a debt of gratitude. The fight to keep the idea alive isn't over. We are the heirs of Hayden's most significant contribution.
Thanks to Ken Krehbiel for the use of these photos