Southern Colorado Greenback Chapter 509 Trout Unlimited, Inc. Our Mission: To Conserve, Protect and Restore Colorado's Trout Fisheries and their Watersheds.

Arkansas River Habitat Improvement Project in Canon City

The project is DONE. Donors to date have been Trout Unlimited, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Canon City Parks & Recreation Dept., Front Range Aggregate, Royal Gorge Anglers, Anglers' Addiction, Cotopaxi KOA, High Country Angler Magazine.

From Ted Sillox, Projects Chairman:

"After many months of fund raising and planning our first habitat improvement project has been completed. In late spring of this year, Greg Policky of the CDOW contacted us about helping with a project in the Canon City area. Fund raising was started and our annual raffle was the result.

"By successfully completing the project we formed a bond and developed some credibility with our partners on this project, the CDOW, Pete Gallagher from Fin-Up Habitat Consultation and the Canon City Park and Recreation District. This project also involved several other TU groups beside our chapter, even though the project is in our chapter's jurisdiction.  CTU provided a GOMO Grant, and both Collegiate Peaks and the Cheyenne Mountain Chapters contributed funds and volunteers to make this happen. CMC facilitated a "Trees for Trout" grant that helped toward reclaiming the streambanks that were impacted by heavy equipment during the instream work.

"There is a very good possibility we will be extending this project downstream in the future. I recommend you take the time to travel to Canon City to either fish the river or walk the trail and view the improvements this project has made.

"We were also fortunate enough to have Front Range Aggregate match our purchase ton for ton. How did we do this? All that was necessary was to explain our project and ask if they would participate. As we do more of these projects I am sure we will find many business owners willing to participate with us to improve coldwater fisheries.

"I would especially like to thank the members and friends who attended our planting day on November 22 and helped to bring this project to completion. You are really what it takes to make a chapter work! Congratulations.

"We will be holding our 2 nd Annual Raffle in 2009 and I have already been in contact with Kim Pacheco from the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce. The city of Trinidad is very interested in doing a project on the Purgatoire River similar to the Canon City project.

"Look for our fund raising booth at the Fly Fishing Show in Denver January 9, 10 and 11."

Photos from Volunteer Streambank Reclamation - Nov. 22, 2008 - with thanks to Pete Gallagher