Local Wildlife Conservation Strategy News Items
Video highlights the exciting arctic grayling spawn at Joe Wright Reservoir7/7/2020 12:39:41 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jason Clay
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-291-7234 / jason.clay@state.co.us
@CPW_NE
Video highlights the exciting arctic grayling spawn at Joe Wright Reservoir
Aquatic biologist Kyle Battige shorts the arctic grayling into two different holding containers of males and females
[WATCH] https://youtu.be/LuJif1T3oDs
LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. - Just upstream of Joe Wright Reservoir, Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologists, technicians, researchers and hatchery personnel conducted its annual spawning operation for a fish that most Coloradans might be surprised to find here in the Rocky Mountains.
Arctic grayling were first stocked in Colorado in the late 1890s, but it wasn't until the mid-1960s that CPW had success with a self-sustaining population.
This year’s arctic grayling spawning operation was conducted June 23 on Joe Wright Creek. Aquatic biologists from CPW’s Northeast Region have been coming to this spot every year since 1994 to collect and fertilize grayling eggs to deliver to the Glenwood Springs State Fish Hatchery. The annual egg request has ranged from 100,000 to 275,00 grayling eggs over the last decade, with 100,000 eggs needed for 2020.
“They will get stocked out at various lakes throughout the state,” Aquatic Biologist Kyle Battige said. “It depends on the year, but we generally stock between 5-10 lakes around the state of Colorado with grayling.”
The goal of the 2020 spawn was to catch around 100 ripe females via electrocking near the creek’s inlet to the reservoir to meet the established egg quota. However, the spawning operation entails far greater numbers of fish.
“In the quarter-mile of stream we shocked today, we caught almost 1,000 grayling,” Battige said. “Arctic grayling are not native to Colorado, the fish here in Joe Wright Reservoir originally came from Montana. They’ve been in Joe Wright Reservoir for about 30 years, we have been spawning them for over two decades now and there is an annual spawning run that is just a spectacle to see.”
If you came up to Joe Wright Creek during any other time of the year than during the spawning run, you likely would not find a single grayling in the creek. Joe Wright Reservoir and Creek provide a unique habitat for them. The arctic grayling population in Joe Wright Reservoir is not stocked and is maintained solely through natural reproduction from fish spawning naturally in the creek.
“Grayling do really well in Joe Wright Reservoir and Creek because it is crystal clear, great mountain water with appropriately-sized spawning gravel,” Battige said. “They run up the creek out of the reservoir towards the end of June every year, spawn, and then migrate back downstream to the reservoir where they spend the other 11 months of the year.”
The fish that are caught via electroshocking are sorted by males and females into holding nets on the creek. The females are massaged and stripped of their roe, or eggs, and the males of their milt, or semen, which are then carefully mixed in plastic tubs with filtered creek water. Once fertilized, the eggs are sent to the Glenwood Springs State Fish Hatchery.
The fertilized eggs will be hatched and raised at the hatchery then stocked out in the fall as one to two inch fish.
Grayling are in the salmonid family - they are related to trout - and have tasty white meat. CPW has always made an effort to offer anglers a wide variety of fishing opportunities when it comes to sport fish, and the arctic grayling is rather extraordinary.
“They are really pretty fish, but don’t get that big in Colorado,” Battige said. “A really big grayling in Colorado would be around 16 inches, but they just provide a unique angling opportunity. They are a lot different than a rainbow or a brown trout. The males this time of year have an elongated dorsal fin that gets really colorful.”
The state record for biggest grayling was caught in Jackson County on Lower Big Creek Lake in 2002. Derik Drinnen caught a 17 ¼-inch grayling weighing one pound, 10 ounces.
Other grayling waters across Colorado include Pearl Lake north of Steamboat Springs, Silver Lake and Bonham Reservoir in Mesa County and Pomeroy Lake near Salida.
The Colorado Fishing Atlas , the latest interactive mapping tool offered by CPW, allows users to search for fishing opportunities by species, specific interest or proximity to your home or destination.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 7/7/2020 10:37 AM
Northeast Colorado anglers invited to CPW ZOOM meeting on fishing issues7/6/2020 5:24:41 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jason Clay
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-291-7234 / jason.clay@state.co.us
@CPW_NE
Northeast Colorado anglers invited to CPW ZOOM meeting on fishing issues
DENVER - Discussion of proposed changes to statewide fishing regulations will top the agenda when Colorado Parks and Wildlife hosts its Northeast Angler Meeting, July 15, using a public Zoom online webinar platform.
The 90-minute meeting will begin promptly at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, and end at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend online, but must register in advance at this link: https://cpw-state-co.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VqqWnlKhST6VO9VOmR3ImQ . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Northeast Region aquatic biologists will make presentations on management topics in the regions. That discussion will be followed by proposed changes to statewide regulations. The webinar will give anglers the opportunity to ask questions about fishery management in rivers, lakes and streams across CPW’s Northeast Region.
“This opportunity gives both biologists and anglers the chance to interact,” said Jeff Spohn, Senior Aquatic Biologist for the Northeast Region. “We are looking forward to the evening and discussion.”
Two proposed statewide regulation changes will be explained during the webinar. One would set clear guidelines for when emergency fishing closures can be implemented when environmental conditions could potentially damage fish populations. It was drafted after the 2018 drought raised agency awareness of specific challenges with the current closure criteria. The other statewide regulatory change will expand spearfishing opportunities in Colorado.
The webinar will be conducted using the Zoom platform and is available on personal computers, smartphones or via call-in telephone access.
After brief staff presentations, the meeting will be open for attendees to ask questions or submit comments on the proposals.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 7/6/2020 3:22 PM
Operation Dry Water aims to reduce boating under the influence this holiday weekend7/2/2020 5:19:41 PM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rebecca Ferrell
Public Information and Website Manager
720-595-1449 / rebecca.ferrell@state.co.us
Operation Dry Water aims to reduce boating under the influence this holiday weekend
Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be a part of Operation Dry Water July 3-July 5, with increased patrols to enforce boating under the influence (BUI) laws over the holiday weekend.
DENVER – Boaters heading out onto Colorado waters this weekend will see additional Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers enforcing boating under the influence (BUI) laws as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign from July 3-July 5.
This three-day enforcement operation is timed closely to the July 4th holiday each year and is designed to both educate boaters on the dangers of boating under the influence, as well as reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to alcohol and drug use on our waterways.
"It's so important for people to understand the dangers of drinking and boating, especially heading into a busy holiday season," says Grant Brown, Colorado’s Boating Safety Program Manager. "Alcohol use is the leading factor in recreational boating deaths in the United States. CPW wants Colorado boaters to get out on the water and have a great time, but you have to do so responsibly. At a minimum, you may receive a citation, but there's a chance that serious injuries can also happen. Your adult beverages will be waiting when you get back to shore - taking chances with other people's lives just isn’t worth it.”
Operation Dry Water’s mission is to raise awareness among recreational boaters about the dangers and consequences of boating under the influence, which include:
Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, vision and reaction time; on the water, that can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion.
Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion are added factors found in a boating environment; all of these intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs, and some medications. A general rule to remember is that one drink on land is equivalent to three drinks on the water.
Alcohol can be dangerous for passengers, too. Intoxication on board can cause injuries from slips, falls overboard, and other dangerous accidents.
Penalties for boating under the influence include receiving fines, having your boat impounded, potential jail time and loss of boating privileges. Boaters with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level above the .08 state limit should expect to be arrested for BUI. In Colorado, Operation Dry Water operations will include increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, and checkpoints as well as boater education and outreach. Despite increased patrol activity, the best enforcement tool CPW has is hearing from other boaters out on the water.
“If you're on the water and see other boaters drinking while manning their boat, or acting dangerously on their watercraft, please let us know,” says Brown. “Just as you'd call 911 to report a drunk driver, calling 911 to report drinking and boating allows dispatch to get the nearest authorities out to help eliminate potential safety issues for your family and fellow boaters."
The dangers of operating under the influence of marijuana are the same as those from alcohol, and the penalties are identical for either substance. Open display or use of marijuana is illegal on public property, which includes many of the lakes, reservoirs and rivers in Colorado.
Learn more about the consequences of boating under the influence at www.operationdrywater.org . For more information on boating safety, visit cpw.state.co.us .
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 7/2/2020 3:18 PM
Innovative Shooting Clays Courses Open at Cameo7/2/2020 3:04:41 PM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Randy Hampton
Northwest Region Public Information Officer
970-640-1647 / randy.hampton@state.co.us
INNOVATIVE SPORTING CLAYS COURSES OPEN AT CAMEO
Shooters checking out the sporting clays courses at Cameo Shooting and Education Complex
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Are you ready to try the sport that some people say is “like golf with guns?” Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Cameo Shooting and Education Complex (CSEC) has two new sporting clays courses that are now open to the public.
These courses were crafted by legendary designer Neil Chadwick, who was inducted into the National Sporting Clays Association Hall of Fame in 2016. Chadwick and equipment guru Corey Howell of Howell Shooting Supplies thoughtfully laid out the two courses to challenge all levels of shooters. The South Course has 15 shooting stations, while the North Course has eight stations. Each station features trap shooting launchers which are hidden by the rugged terrain at Cameo making for an exciting outing for shotgunners from around the world.
The sporting clays course cost is 40 cents per clay (plus tax) or 30 cents per clay for annual pass holders. For the rest of the facility, there is a day use fee of $12 per person or an annual pass is available for $150. The day use and annual passes provide access to rifle sight-in bays, pistol bays, archery lanes, 3-D archery target loops, and a long-range rifle range that is available on specific days. Later this year, CSEC will be adding a mountain bike biathlon course.
“This is really a world-class shooting facility right here in the Grand Valley,” said Walt Proulx, CPW Range Coordinator. “Because COVID restrictions have limited international visitors and postponed some of the national events at the site, now is a great time for people in the area to check out what we’ve got to offer.”
The CSEC is located off Interstate 70 at Exit 45 in Debeque Canyon, just three miles east of Palisade.
Sporting clays courses are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations are not currently needed and courses are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Side-by-side OHVs which seat six people are available to rent for $25 plus $5 per additional adult. Shooters will need to bring their own shotguns and ammunition (7 1/2 or smaller shot, 2 3/4 inch shells - no magnums). Full range rules are available on the CSEC website .
The Cameo Shooting and Education Complex is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through mid-October with shorter daylight hours in the winter.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 7/2/2020 1:02 PM
First fishing trip post-pandemic illustrates the beauty of State Wildlife Areas and the need to protect them via hunting, fishing license sales7/2/2020 1:04:41 PM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bill Vogrin
Southeast Region Public Information Officer
719-466-3927 / bill.vogrin@state.co.us
FIELD NOTES OF A COLORADO SPORTSPERSON –
First fishing trip post-pandemic illustrates the beauty of State Wildlife Areas and the need to protect them via hunting, fishing license sales
Travis Duncan casts into the Middle Fork of the South Platte River as it runs through the Badger Basin State Wildlife Area in Park County. Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Jamey Hastings
July 2, 2020
By Travis Duncan
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
HARTSEL, Colo. – The world sure feels like it has changed a lot since my last Field Notes column back in early March. Since then, many of us have adapted to life in the “new normal” as each day brings updated developments in the global COVID-19 pandemic.
I, like many in Colorado, cancelled my out-of-state vacation plans in June due to pandemic concerns. Instead, my family decided to stay closer to home, opting for a few days of fishing at CPW wildlife areas in the South Park area.
It was a good time to go. As a public information officer with CPW, I’ve been answering quite a few questions from the public about a new rule that started July 1 requiring all visitors to Colorado’s State Wildlife Areas (SWA) to hold a valid hunting or fishing license to access the more than 350 of these properties in Colorado.
Colorado’s SWAs are acquired with license dollars from hunters and anglers – and are managed with that funding today – primarily to restore, conserve, manage and enhance wildlife and wildlife habitat.
Across the state, CPW has seen increasing use of state wildlife areas inconsistent with their purpose. A good example is camping, including people taking up temporary residence in SWAs. We’ve also seen vehicular use on big game winter ranges, pressure from hikers, maintenance issues, trash, vandalism and other uses detrimental to wildlife and wildlife-related uses.
And those aren’t the only problems.
As Colorado’s population has grown and physically expanded into closer proximity with many of these SWAs, public uses have increased and are reaching the point where they are not compatible with the original wildlife purpose.
These other public uses have placed increasing pressure on the property infrastructure and habitat, resulting in wildlife being pushed off the properties, habitat degradation and increased costs for CPW.
Before heading to South Park, I looked at the SWAs we were planning to visit using CPW’s SWA finder to make sure fishing was allowed there.
Our first stop was the Badger Basin State Wildlife Area outside of Hartsel.
On June 11, I traveled with my girlfriend, Jamey Hastings, and daughter, Natalie, from Colorado Springs up U.S. Highway 24, up and over Ute Pass and Wilkerson Pass, before turning north at Hartsel, heading a few miles up Park County Road 439 to the second and final parking lot.
Badger Basin SWA has 752 total acres with 22 miles of the Middle Fork of the South Platte RIver fishing access. It is absolutely beautiful country.
It’s obvious why some would try to camp here, or have a picnic, or hike the SWA. But this is an important point about Badger Basin SWA: It is a fishing-only property. It’s not meant for other forms of outdoor recreation.
When we got out of the car to put on our waders, I noted a sign indicating there was a Hartsel Easy Access River Trail. This is a neat amenity at Badger Basin and the kind of thing CPW uses angler license revenue to build on SWAs. It was a section of trail right off the parking lot that has been groomed for folks of all abilities to get close to the water, even if they had limited physical abilities, and do some fly-fishing.
Natalie noticed all the frogs talking and quickly found one to show me.
A sign indicated the fishing here was artificial lures only. I’m still a novice fly-fisherman, but we were determined to do our best. Careful to keep my distance from the bull that had decided to graze quite close to us, I tied my last stone fly on and waded out into a small eddy, hoping to cast into the still water just past a section of ripples.
Success! I got a small brown trout on the line and Jamey helped net him on the river bank. We took a quick photo op before I released the brownie back into the stream to grow larger for the next angler.
The following day, we headed up the road to Tomahawk State Wildlife Area just northwest of Badger Basin, for more fly-fishing on the middle fork.
Tomahawk SWA offers 1,655 acres of public access for fishing (artificial lures only) as well as hunting for deer, elk, pronghorn and waterfowl. The mosquitoes were out in force and we quickly regretted not bringing any insect repellant.
Jamey had more luck than me on this day. She took a look at the kinds of bugs that were flitting around us and tied on a black artificial fly that landed a small brown trout. (She didn’t need my help landing it.) It was fairly small, so she decided to release her trout as well. We’ve both been skunked on more than one flyfishing expedition, so we were thrilled to have each reeled in a fish.
Coming home and reviewing our trip, we really enjoyed our socially distanced mini-vacation and appreciated the fantastic outdoors opportunities available to us in Colorado.
Back at work, I continued answering calls from the public from folks who’ve grown accustomed to engaging in their chosen form of outdoor recreation on state wildlife areas, often for free.
I took calls from river rafters who put in at an SWA. Hikers who use the trails on a particular SWA to connect to other public properties. OHV riders who use the trails on an SWA. All wanted to know if their trail use now requires a license.
My answer has been the same: If you’re on an SWA, you need to possess a valid hunting or fishing license.
And I’ve tried to emphasize the important point that much of the unintended use of these properties is driving wildlife off these sanctuaries – the very reason these properties were acquired or leased in the first place.
If you care about wildlife in Colorado, buying a hunting or fishing license is one of the best ways to protect it, whether or not you actually hunt or fish.
Many have asked why a wildlife-watching license isn’t offered instead. CPW actually offered a wildlife-watching license in the past, but it ran afoul of the federal rules of wildlife conservation funding.
Here’s the short explanation. (And it’s not very short.) The majority of funding for wildlife conservation comes from federal grants based on each states’ sales of hunting and fishing licenses and from excise taxes on firearms and archery equipment.
Several years ago, the General Assembly voted to require all users of SWAs to purchase a state Wildlife Habitat Stamp as a way to generate conservation funding.
It failed for a couple reasons. First, only hunters or anglers complied, for the most part. Those who only hike or watch wildlife or camp didn’t bother to buy the stamp.
Second, funding for SWAs actually fell because federal officials ruled the Habitat Stamp was classified as “program income” and it ended up decreasing our federal grant money by the same amount we were able to bring in.
The General Assembly eventually repealed that statute.
In hopes of increasing conservation funding and reducing unintended use of SWAs, the CPW Commission on April 30 voted to require users of SWAs to purchase a fishing or hunting license for entry. CPW will receive additional property-management funding, unlike the prior Habitat Stamp requirement.
So if you’re thinking of visiting an SWA, check it out first on CPW’s SWA finder and make sure you know what kinds of activities are allowed there and what wildlife it is meant to protect.
And don’t forget to get your hunting or fishing license at cpwshop.com before you go.
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Travis Duncan is a public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Denver. Travis has lived in Colorado nearly 20 years and loves the outdoors. If you have a question, please email him at travis.duncan@state.co.us
PHOTOS
All photos are courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Travis Duncan displays a trout he caught while fishing the Middle Fork of the South Platte River as it runs through Badger Basin State Wildlife Area in Park County.
Travis Duncan and his family also fished in Tomahawk State Wildlife Area in Park County. A new rule requires anyone accessing Colorado Parks and Wildlife's State Wildlife Areas to buy and have in their possession a hunting or fishing license.
Jamey Hastings displays a trout she caught while fishing the Middle Fork of the South Platte River as it runs through Tomahawk State Wildlife Area in Park County.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 7/2/2020 11:00 AM
The Spawn Must Go On7/1/2020 5:24:41 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jason Clay
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-291-7234 / jason.clay@state.co.us
@CPW_NE
THE SPAWN MUST GO ON
Courtesy of Jerry Neal/CPW
LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. - On June 30, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials were met with a blizzard and 34-degree temperatures at Zimmerman Lake while conducting its greenback cutthroat trout spawning operation. This video from Senior Video Producer Jerry Neal highlights the dedication of CPW's aquatics staff working in these winter-like conditions, even if it says summer on the calendar.
[Link to video] - https://vimeo.com/434428021
While teamed up with CPW Cutthroat Trout Research Scientist Kevin Rogers, the Northeast Aquatics team collected spawn and mark recapture data from the greenback cutthroat trout "broodstock" population at Zimmerman Lake. Aquatic Biologists are always prepared for variable weather when working at 10,000 feet, but they certainly were not expecting blizzard conditions when they arrived at the lake early in the morning on June 30.
The team captured the fish using live "trap" nets that were deployed the previous afternoon (when it was sunny and warm). Eggs were collected from females and mixed with milt (sperm) from males. The fertilized eggs were driven in small one-gallon coolers to CPW's Salida Isolation Unit, operated by the Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery, where they are either reared to fry to be stocked back out into the wild at other reintroduction sites, or raised to one year of age to be stocked back into the wild and replenish the broodstocks at Zimmerman Lake and the Leadville National Fish Hatchery.
All of the fish that are stocked into Zimmerman Lake are given a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag, each with a unique alphanumeric code, and a color coded Visual Implant Elastomer (VIE) tag, with each color representing a different year class and family group. During the spawn operation at Zimmerman Lake, each fish was scanned for its PIT tag and visually checked for its VIE tag. Additionally, aquatic biologists measured length and weight and identified sex of each fish. All of this information enables biologists to assess individual fish growth rates and estimate survival of the different year classes and family groups, and thus evaluate CPWs efforts to maximize genetic diversity in the broodstock.
The broodstocks at Zimmerman Lake and the Leadville National Fish Hatchery, and associated hatchery operations, represent the backbone of efforts to recover the Federally Threatened State Fish of Colorado, the Greenback Cutthroat Trout.
"It is fun and rewarding work for the biologists, even though the weather isn't always ideal," said Boyd Wright, CPW Native Aquatic Species Biologist.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 7/1/2020 3:20 PM
Big prizes beckon smallmouth bass anglers to Ridgway State Park tournament6/30/2020 3:39:42 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joe Lewandowski
Southwest Region Public Information Officer
970-759-9590 / joe.lewandowski@state.co.us
$10,000 in prize money at smallmouth bass tourney
The 6th Annual Ridgway State Park Smallmouth Bass Tournament is July 11-Aug. 9.
Big prizes beckon smallmouth bass anglers to Ridgway State Park tournament
RIDGWAY, Colo. – If you need an extra excuse to go fishing, head over to Ridgway State Park July 11 – Aug. 9 to participate in the Sixth Annual Smallmouth Bass Fishing Tournament sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
CPW is reducing the population of smallmouth bass in the reservoir and needs help from anglers. To get that help, the state agency is providing major incentives to anglers: $10,000 in prize money. The more fish you catch, the more chances you’ll have for prizes.
No registration fee is required and all anglers over 16 years old must have a fishing license.
“Anglers have really helped us during the past five years and for the 6th annual tournament we’re again offering cash incentives for anglers,” said Eric Gardunio, aquatic biologist for CPW in Montrose.
A raffle category and a skills category for prizes will be offered. To qualify for any of the prizes, anglers must turn in a smallmouth bass head or the whole fish at the drop box located at the fish-cleaning station near the boat ramp. Every time an angler turns in fish he or she must fill out the registration card, sign it and place it with the fish in the plastic bags provided. Anglers can only turn in fish they’ve caught; anglers are not allowed to pool their catch.
All anglers who enter the tournament are eligible for the raffle and will receive one entry for every fish they catch. The raffle grand prize winner will receive $1,000, and ten second-tier prizes of $100 will also be awarded. All kids 12 and under who turn in a smallmouth bass will receive a package of fishing lures.
“Anyone who catches even one fish has a chance to win a big prize,” Gardunio said.
Anglers who catch a lot of fish could be rewarded generously: $5,000 for catching the most smallmouth bass; $2,000 for the second place finisher; $1,000 for third place. Each of the top three finishers will also receive a Colorado State Parks Pass good for all 41 parks. The winners in this category are not eligible for the raffle.
All fish must be in the drop box by 6 p.m., Aug. 9. Winners will be notified by Aug. 14 and prizes will be mailed.
The purpose of the annual tournament is to protect native fish and water users downstream of the reservoir. Smallmouth bass, introduced illegally to Ridgway Reservoir more than a decade ago, are predator fish that can survive in Western Slope rivers, including the Uncompahgre River which flows from the reservoir. There is a significant risk of smallmouth bass escaping from the reservoir into the river where they could reproduce and consume native fish species that are found nowhere else in the world. Smallmouth bass have escaped other impoundments in western Colorado and are adversely affecting populations of native fish in several rivers.
“By participating in the tournament and removing smallmouth bass, anglers will be actively helping with wildlife management in Colorado,” Gardunio said. “Anglers have been very effective at removing these fish in prior tournaments and we appreciate their assistance. There are no bag or possession limits on smallmouth bass at Ridgway.”
If you’ve never fished for smallmouth bass, or if you want to improve your chances of catching them, CPW has posted a web page that explains the best ways to catch smallmouth bass. The web page also includes tournament rules and an in-depth explanation of issues related to smallmouth bass at Ridgway Reservoir: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Tournament.aspx .
Ridgway State Park, located about 20 miles south of Montrose in southwest Colorado is one of the state’s most beautiful parks. Camping, playgrounds, hiking trails, picnic areas, a swim beach, boating and river fishing are available. Entry to the park is $9 per vehicle; rates for camping range from $24-$36. An $80 annual pass provides entrance to all 41 Colorado State Parks.
Boaters are reminded that their craft must be cleaned, drained and dry before entering the reservoir at Ridgway State Park. All boats are subject to inspection for aquatic nuisance species.
For more information about the park and to make camping reservations, go to: http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Ridgway/Pages/default.aspx.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 6/30/2020 1:37 PM
Fishing is Fun grants awarded for 8 Colorado angling projects6/30/2020 2:44:42 PM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Travis Duncan
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-595-8294 / travis.duncan @state.co.us
Fishing is Fun grants awarded for 8 Colorado angling projects
In-stream habitat improvements for brown trout on this section of the Conejos River in the San Luis Valley will occur thanks to this year’s Fishing is Fun grants. This is one of eight projects providing funds to improve angling opportunities in Colorado.
DENVER - Colorado Parks and Wildlife has awarded $650,000 to eight Fishing is Fun (FIF) projects, all geared to improve angling opportunities in the state of Colorado. The approved projects include improved angling access, habitat improvement, and trail and boat access. Funding recipients include projects in the San Luis Valley, on the Yampa and Crystal rivers, and in the northern Front Range in Denver and Mead.
“The angling opportunities that Colorado waters provide are part of what makes this state so special,” said Dan Prenzlow, Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Not only does the Fishing is Fun program help revitalize aquatic ecosystems across the state, it also ensures that residents and visitors will continue to have improved angling access for years to come.”
Among the projects approved for funding are:
Wolf Lake in El Paso County
Angling access will be significantly improved with the construction of two fishing piers on a newly constructed reservoir in a rapidly growing area on the northeastern side of Colorado Springs. The project will increase angling access on a 12-acre reservoir in a part of El Paso County that currently has limited angling options. “It is great to have a project like this that local kids can use to get introduced to the sport and that experienced anglers can use to stay engaged,” said Jim Guthrie, CPW's Fishing Is Fun Program Coordinator.
Conejos Meadows in the San Luis Valley
In-stream habitat improvements will occur on 1.75 miles of the Conejos River downstream from Platoro Reservoir in the San Luis Valley. The project will address low-flow conditions during droughts and winter reservoir operations and will protect conditions for the existing self-sustaining brown trout population.
“The Conejos Meadows Resilient Habitat project is a model for projects that benefit fish habitat and wild self-maintaining trout populations, while also providing benefits to irrigation water users below a working reservoir,” said Kevin Terry, Rio Grande Basin Project Manager for Trout Unlimited. “Partnerships on the Conejos River between Trout Unlimited, CPW, and the Conejos Water Conservancy District ensure that each project identifies and maximizes benefits for the entire water community and the environment at the same time.”
Uncompaghre River in Montrose
This grant will restore quality angling conditions along a 0.65-mile section of the Uncompaghre River in the heart of Montrose. The multi-year project will cover 1.6 miles of river and develop in-channel habitat, stabilize river banks and connect to a major new GOCO-funded trail system.
"This project delivers on the Montrose community’s desire to see stewardship of the city’s natural resources, which was identified as a top priority during the city’s comprehensive planning process,” said City of Montrose Grant Coordinator Kendall Cramer. “The restoration of our river enhances aquatic and wildlife habitat, provides new opportunities for anglers and other recreationists, and will serve as a catalyst for economic growth, particularly in the outdoor industry sector in Montrose."
Fishing alone contributes $2.4 billion dollars in economic output per year, supporting over 17,000 jobs in Colorado according to CPW’s 2017 economic study.
For over 30 years, FIF has supported more than 375 projects in nearly every county in the state, improving stream and river habitats, easing public access to angling waters, developing new angling opportunities for youth and seniors and more.
The program typically provides up to $400,000 annually from the Federal Sport Fish Restoration Program (SFR). This year the program awarded an additional $250,000 from revenue generated through the wildlife sporting license plate. “Sportsmen and women who have signed up for the license plate have helped make more projects possible. That is a big boost to making angling accessible to many more people,” said Guthrie. The $650,000 total was met with more than $2 million in local support for the eight projects approved in 2020 (matching funds are required for the program).
Additional Fishing is Fun program details and requirements can be found on CPW's website .
Fishing is Fun 2020 grants include:
Denver Parks and Recreation
Lily Pond bank stabilization and habitat improvement
$40,000
Yampa Valley Stream Improvement Charitable Trust
Planning for 0.8 mile of in-stream habitat improvement at Pleasant Valley
$30,000
San Luis Valley Trout Unlimited
1.75 miles of in-stream habitat and low-flow improvement at Conejos Meadows
$110,600
City of Montrose
In-channel habitat improvement and realignment on Uncompaghre River
$284,588
Nor’wood Development Group, El Paso County
Fishing piers and angler platform at Wolf Lake
$38,075
Town of Mead
Fishing pier and boat ramp at Highland Lake
$89,625
Town of Carbondale
In-stream habitat and angler access at Crystal River Riverfront Park
$30,000
Town of Parachute
2 vault toilets near boat ramps on Colorado River
$27,112
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 6/30/2020 12:45 PM
Shuttle service from Boulder into Eldorado Canyon State Park being offered this summer6/30/2020 10:44:41 AM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jason Clay
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-291-7234 / jason.clay@state.co.us
@CPW_NE
Shuttle service from Boulder into Eldorado Canyon State Park being offered this summer
For additional information on the Eldo Shuttle, visit www.EldoShuttle.com.
ELDORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - In a cooperative effort between Boulder County and Eldorado Canyon State Park, a new weekend and holiday shuttle service to the park will be offered from Friday, July 3 through Labor Day.
Parking is extremely limited inside the state park, and no parking is available outside of it. When parking inside the state park is full, no additional vehicles are allowed in. The new shuttle service offers visitors another transportation method to the popular Boulder County destination that often is at capacity from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the summer on weekends and holidays.
There will be five stops and three parking lots in Boulder along the shuttle route, all offer free parking, however none allow overnight parking.
CU Boulder/Regent parking lot:
Lot 306 on Regent Drive, just east of Broadway. Shuttle stops in the parking lot.
Broadway and 27th Way: RTD Park-n-Ride on the east side of Broadway.
Catch the shuttle on the opposite side of Broadway at the southbound RTD bus stop.
Note: if your car is registered outside of the RTD District, you will need to pay for parking at this lot.
Broadway and Dartmouth: RTD Park-n-Ride on the east side of Broadway.
Catch the shuttle on the opposite side of Broadway at the southbound RTD bus stop.
Eldorado Canyon State Park entrance station
Shuttle stops in front of the entrance station bathrooms
Exit here to access the Streamside Trail
Eldorado Canyon State Park Visitor Center
Shuttle stops in front of the visitor center
Exit here for the Fowler, Rattlesnake, or Eldorado Canyon Trails and the picnic area
Shuttles will run on Saturdays, Sundays and on holidays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., departing every 15 minutes. The first shuttle leaves CU Boulder at 8 a.m. and the last shuttle leaves the state park at 7 p.m.
Personal belongings or equipment that will be allowed on the shuttle include:
2 bikes per shuttle (up to 29 inches in diameter, 3.2 feet wide).
Crash pads and climbing gear
Leashed, well-behaved dogs
Strollers
A valid annual park pass or individual daily pass is required for all passengers 16 and older to ride the shuttle into Eldorado Canyon State Park (there is no state park entrance fee for kids ages 15 and younger).
A valid individual annual pass is included as part of your annual vehicle pass purchase. Individual daily pass fees are $4 per person and must be purchased online prior to boarding. Annual park passes can be purchased at cpwshop.com. As a special promotion for the first two weekends of the shuttle service, Boulder County is covering the Eldorado Canyon State Park entry fee for shuttle passengers who do not have an annual pass.
National Park Passes (America the Beautiful) are not valid for entry into Colorado State Parks.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19, these policies have been implemented for 2020:
If you have recently experienced any symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough or sore throat, please do not ride the shuttle or visit the state park.
All passengers ages 12 and older are required to wear a mask or face covering. Please bring your own mask.
To promote social distancing, shuttle capacity is limited to approximately 10 passengers or three households, whichever is less.
On the shuttle, please sit in the sections labeled and leave at least one row of seats between groups.
Shuttles are disinfected once per day, and high touch surfaces will be wiped down after each trip.
For additional information on the service, visit www.eldoshuttle.com
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 6/30/2020 8:39 AM
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