We will be holding three raffles this year, each with a different prize and all drawings will take place during the General Membership Meeting on May 22, 2012 held at the Colorado Division of Wildlife facilities at 4255 Sinton Road, Colorado Springs.

This year, in addition to having tickets available for purchase from all of our board members, we have coordinated with Angler’s Covey to provide safe and secure internet sales of our tickets. Over the years, Angler’s Covey has supported CMCTU with many donations, both monetary as well as equipment, opened the use of their facilities for several CMCTU activities and provided many of their guide staff to participate in multiple membership meeting venues. The “Buy Now” buttons below will take you to a special secure Angler’s Covey website page they have provided to allow us to collect raffle ticket donations.

PLEASE NOTE: On-line ticket purchases are open to Colorado residents ONLY!

Special thanks go out to Angler’s Covey, Ghillies Fly Shop, Robert Younghanz, and Simms for their donations to the CMCTU Raffle Package!

Next CMCTU Membership Meeting

Vehicles for Charity makes all arrangements. If you need more information, check out their frequently asked questions.

- Vehicles for Charity will accept cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, campers and more!
- Free Pickup! They will come to your house or office.
- Get an Income Tax Deduction. Vehicles for Charity will provide the donation documentation that you need for your records.

When you donate your vehicle through Vehicles for Charity, you can be assured that 100% of the net funds generated from the sale of your donation will be distributed to legitimate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Vehicles for Charity, a division of the Metropolitan Association for Retarded Citizens, also a 501(c)(3) organization, acts as the agent for all other charities on the list. A split of the net proceeds goes to both.

CMCTU is found on the list of approved organizations under “Trout Unlimited, Cheyenne Mountain Chapter”.

CMCTU Fundraising Event

with Rick Barry

Click logo for directions

Date:  January 9, 2012
Time:  7:00PM
Location:  The Pinery
12375 Black Forest Road
Colorado Springs, CO

Please join us for a very special fundraiser night in Colorado Springs to benefit the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s Conservation, Restoration and Education Programs.

CMCTU and Basketball Hall of Fame Member, Rick Barry, along with the owner of the Boardwalk Lodge, have partnered to provide members and friends of CMCTU with a FREE night of drinks and buffet diner at The Pinery.

Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge is offering exclusive discounted trips on their Alaskan home waters to members and friends of CMCTU. A portion of the your trip fees will go to CMCTU’s Conservation, Restoration and Education Programs, benefiting our home waters here in the Pikes Peak Region.

The time to book 2012 Alaska fishing trips is fast approaching! Don’t miss this opportunity to meet Rick Barry and help fund CMCTU.

Event space is limited to 100 participants. Please RVSP by calling me at (719) 640-8792. Thank you!

Erik J. Heikkenen, President
Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited

More About

Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge

ALASKA’S BOARDWALK LODGE is located in the lush rainforest of Prince of Wales Island, just 35 minutes from Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska. This world-class fishing lodge bears the elite Orvis fly fishing lodge endorsement – demonstrating its exceptional fishing, facilities and commitment to excellence as one of the best fishing lodges in Alaska.

Three times voted “Lodge of the Year,” this breathtaking resort has been dubbed “King of Alaska Fishing Lodges.” The lodge offers the best of both worlds: exceptional saltwater fishing and fly fishing. Our Orvis endorsed guides lead daily freshwater excursions with your choice of 23 lakes, rivers and streams nearby. While U.S. Coast Guard certified skippers charter our 28-foot fishing boats for saltwater adventures – targeting halibut, king salmon, silver salmon and several other species.

At Boardwalk, it’s not just the fishing – there’s something for everyone. Many guests enjoy a host of non-fishing adventures for individuals, couples, families and large groups alike.

The lodge staff works tirelessly to ensure your Alaska adventure is most memorable. Our guests receive first-class accommodations and dine on gourmet cuisine prepared by our hand-picked culinary staff.

Members and friends of CMCTU booking trips at the Pinery event or within 2 weeks afterward will receive a 10% discount. Additionally, a portion of your trip fees will go to CMCTU’s Conservation, Restoration and Education Programs. Visit www.boardwalklodge.com for rates and more information on the lodge.

Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited

and Pikes Peak Brewing Company

Team Up with new “Bear Creek Porter”

Brewing Company Donating 5% of Proceeds

Brewing beer and fly fishing have a key element in common: both are crafts that cannot be fully learned over a weekend, but over a lifetime of passionate dedication to the craft of pursuing the perfect day on the stream or finding the right mixture of ingredients. On September 17th, both arts came together with the release of CMCTU’s Bear Creek Porter!

Many members and non-members gathered at Pikes Peak Brewing Company to “tap the kegs” of CMCTU’s specialty hand-crafted beer. Folks on hand all enjoyed the complex tastes of the porter, the fly fishing stories and the partnership formed by CMCTU and Pikes Peak Brewing Company .

Visit CMCTU’s Facebook page for more photos on the brewing and release of our Bear Creek Porter! And remember, 5% of sale proceeds of Bear Creek Porter will benefit CMCTU’s efforts to protect the threatened Greenback Cutthroat Trout and their habitats.

Meeting Location:

DOW Southeast Region Service Center
4255 Sinton Road
Colorado Springs CO 80907

Tuesday, October 25th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Please be advised, monetary donations will be accepted at the door to help send a breast cancer survivor to a retreat. Although CFR retreats are free to those that take them . . . CFR can use the funds to make such retreats possible.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPTER PRESIDENT . . .

I wanted to give you a quick update on CMCTU’s First Annual Tying and Giving Back fly tying event.

The night is shaping up to be a great event! Our special guest and fly shops are excited to tie flies for Casting for Recovery and their breast cancer survivors.

Don’t pass up this opportunity to sit down, at our member / audience tying table, next to some of “best of the best” professional fly tiers, guides and authors and tie up a few flies of your own.

The event is also a great way to acknowledge Breast Cancer Awareness Month and help Casting for Recovery. All flies tied by you and our guests will benefit breast cancer survivors attending Casting for Recovery fly fishing retreats!

With and through the guidance of former Chapter Board Member, Jim Williams, CMCTU members have tied and donated 92 dozen flies this year and over 250 dozen in the past 5 years to Casting for Recovery.

Are you ready to show the folks at Casting for Recovery we have a few more flies to tie for them?

Join us at Tying and Giving Back!

Erik J. Heikkenen, President
Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Craig Sommer, Vice President

Craig seems to be so busy fly fishing all the time, he has yet to write his biography for us. He also seems to be camera shy.

Click here to contact Craig.

Leah Fraser, VP of Membership

Leah grew up in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire. She started fishing at the age of 4, fishing for trout, bass and perch. She was introduced to fly fishing by her husband in 2008 while they were stationed in Alaska. Her favorite fishing experiences have been spending 2 weeks fly fishing the Kenai Peninsula in July 2010 and a horseback trip to the Marvine Lakes in the flattops wilderness in Meeker, Colorado in July 2011. Leah got involved with CMCTU after her husband was stationed in Colorado in 2009.

Click here to contact Leah.

September 2, 2011

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

BLM RGFO
OTR Comments
3028 E. Main St.
Canon City, CO 81212

RE: Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited – Comments on Over the River Project

Dear Sir or Madam:

The following are official comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FES 11-15) by the Board of Directors of Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

The Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited (CMCTU) is a chapter of Trout Unlimited which was incorporated in the State of Colorado in 1986. CMCTU is located in South East Colorado, based in Colorado Springs and has a total membership 920 members. It is governed and operates through a Board of Directors, elected annually. CMCTU is located in and intimately involved with the Arkansas River drainage. CMCTU strives to conserve, protect, and restore cold-water fisheries and their watersheds.

CMCTU’s Board of Directors has reviewed FES 11-15 in light of their mission to conserve, protect and restore cold water fisheries such as the Arkansas River. CMCTU has, in fact, pursued and completed stream improvement and restoration projects on the Arkansas River. CMCTU therefore has standing as an interested party in the subject matter of FES 11-15.

CMCTU urges the Bureau of Land Management to adopt the “no action” alternative presented in FES 11-15. This position is based on the review and analysis of FES 11-15 and the conclusion that none of the other proposed alternatives provide adequate protection for aquatic wildlife and habitat.

Section 3.3.1.2 of FES 11-15 identifies that “The fish community in the section of the Arkansas River between Cañon City and Salida is considered a cold-water fishery that includes trout, sucker, and minnow species. This section supports a high quality trout fishery composed of brown and rainbow trout.”

A significant portion of the project area in the proposed action alternatives (except for Alternative 4) occurs within an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the BLM is directed to “give priority to the designation and protection of areas of critical environmental concern.” BLM regulations state that plans “shall include the general management practices and uses, including mitigating measures, identified to protect designated ACEC” (43 CFR 1610.7-2). While multiple uses are allowed within ACEC, in light of agency direction the BLM must define mitigation measures to protect the values for which an ACEC is designated and demonstrate, through environmental documentation, that those values will not be adversely impacted by the proposed action. In the case of the Arkansas Canyonlands ACEC, it was designated “to protect, enhance, and interpret the significant scenic, historic, and archaeological values, the threatened and endangered peregrine falcon, key raptor habitat area, bighorn sheep habitat, and important fisheries.” Prior to approving an action alternative, the BLM must ensure that the proposed action will not harm these values.

In addition to the need to protect ACEC, the BLM’s Resource Management Plan for this area also outlines guidance that is relevant to the concerns identified with The Over the River Project (OTR). In terms of lands along the Arkansas River, the plan directs that:

• Stream fisheries on BLM surface lands are maintained;
• Improvements in condition and stability are accomplished through riparian, wildlife, forestry, grazing, and recreation programs where the potential exists;
• Fishery habitat in the Arkansas River is managed to maintain and enhance habitat values; and
• Conflicts with other uses (e.g., livestock grazing, mineral development, etc.) will be resolved in favor of fisheries.

FES 11-15 has identified significant harms that will result from the OTR project. FES 11-15 also fails to identify or consider certain inherent environmental conditions that, when considered, require that the OTR permit be denied.

The public comment summaries and responses in FES 11-15 (Appendix 5) establishes that OTR will have “moderate” level impacts on fisheries. “Moderate” impacts are defined as “readily apparent and has measurable effects of disturbance”. FES 11-15 4.3.2.1 states, “As a result, construction could result in moderate noise levels in the river environment and cause avoidance responses or physiological effects on fish populations.” The impact on the fish during the three month removal process would be the same as during construction.

The impact on the fish of the stress induced by “avoidance responses or physiological effects” will be amplified during the exhibition period. FES 11-15 4.3.2.2 identifies a litany of harmful effects to the fish:
• The presence of the panels in the river could affect fish movements and ecological functions, such as feeding.
• The increased activity could result in noise disturbance to fish. The typical reaction of fish to noise and surface disturbance to the water is to move away from the area. Fish also could be stressed by increased level of rafting and human presence along the river, which could affect feeding and growth for several weeks during the exhibition period.
• The effect of human activity and noise during the exhibition period is considered a moderate level impact. The duration of impacts could range from several weeks to over several months, depending on whether physiological effects persist beyond the exhibition period.

All of the impacts set forth above take place in the context of a naturally challenging environment. The Arkansas River is subject to extreme fluctuations in flow due to the “freestone” nature of the river. It runs from its headwaters 125 miles to Pueblo before its flow is controlled by a dam. During the runoff season which can run from early May to early August, flows can remain between 2,000 and 4,000 cfs or higher. This makes feeding difficult and requires a great expense of energy just to keep from being swept downstream. Also, monsoon season occurs in this area from about the second week of July to mid August. This period includes significant electrical storms and flash flooding of the tributaries with discoloration of the river, resulting in another interruption to feeding. The period of receding runoff and between monsoon storms is a very important feeding time for the brown trout to prepare for spawning.

FES 11-15 fails to take note of these factors with the potential for severe adverse impact on the wild brown trout population. These fish will be facing prolonged stress and disruption for over two years. It could be expected that a much higher than normal mortality of mature fish will occur. A weakened condition combined with the stress of spawning will be fatal. It is also possible that the spawn will be so disrupted that an entire year class may be reduced or eliminated. The attitude of the corporation seeking the permit seems to be “the fish will get over it…eventually.”

FES 11-15 3.3.2 acknowledges the significant role of BLM in administering the Arkansas River Management Plan and its goal “to provide for continued protection of fisheries and aquatic habitat, improvement projects to reduce impacts from recreation use, and strive for compatibility of sports fishermen with other recreation users.”

The proposal by a private corporation to disrupt and damage the fishery is unacceptable on so many levels. Their proposal is fundamentally an industrial construction project over miles of sensitive aquatic environment.

The Board of Directors of Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited stands unequivocally against BLM granting any permit to the Over the River Corporation for this proposed project.

If you have any questions, or require additional documentation regarding this matter, I may be contacted at [Erik's contact page] or (719) 640-8792. Thank you, in advance, for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

(signed)
Erik J. Heikkenen, President
Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited