Pikes Peak Chapter of Trout Unlimited #508

Home
United States
Colorado Springs, CO
Pikes Peak Chapter of Trout Unlimited #508

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

Trout Unlimited's mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's cold-water fisheries and is the largest organization for doing so Nationally

July 2009 marked 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 (the comma was dropped a few years later) dedicated to ensuring that wild and native trout populations were allowed to thrive, as nature intended. From the beginning, TU was guided by the principle that if we "take care of the fish, then the fishing will take care of itself." And that principle was grounded in science. "One of our most important objectives is to develop programs and recommendations based on the very best information and thinking available," said TU's first president, Dr. Casey E. Westell Jr. "In all matters of trout management, we want to know that we are substantially correct, both morally and biologically." In 1962-63, TU prepared its first policy statement on wild trout, and persuaded the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to curtail "put-and-take" trout stocking and start managing for wild trout and healthy habitat. On the heels of that success, anglers quickly founded TU chapters in Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, and Pennsylvania. From its hundreds of local stream restoration projects, to helping lead the way to remove the Edwards Dam on the Kennebec River in Maine, to compelling Congress to strengthen the Clean Water Act, TU has a strong 50 year track record of conservation achievements. Perhaps TU's greatest strength is that it works at multiple levels of society and government to achieve its mission. From the landowner on the stream bank, to the state fisheries agency, to the Halls of Congress, TU is working to achieve its vision. Today, the National Conservation Agenda of TU is set by the National Leadership Council, a body of TU volunteers and leaders from the grassroots.

-We are the Local Chapter for the Greater Pike's Peak Region and are proud to work with multiple other organizations to achieve these goals. As always we appreciate our volunteers as we could not operate without them and are always looking for more!

10/20/2026

Thought you might like to come join us for this and meet Lydia Wickizer ?

10/02/2026

This important because we ( you and I and us) we are conservationists and we are of the same clan as Theodore and Ted.

10/01/2026

This is what YOU do when you support / participate in PPCTU!

A native species once on the brink of extinction is now making a swimming comeback.

09/25/2026

Look at this. We gotta do sumfin, right?

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is proposing new water temperature standards for the Arkansas River below Pueblo Dam. The changes would apply July through December, when CPW says the river cannot consistently meet current standards. The agency says the proposal would protect the trout fishery while allo...

07/25/2026

Interesting!

A Moscow angler has set a new Idaho certified-weight state record a...

07/12/2026

And now this...

Trump administration rolls back a key protection for imperiled wildlife https://share.google/32kCFb23IMctvivQh

07/12/2026

Basically true, however the language here, "failed" ..."wrong"... is inferring incompetence, stupidity and wasted conservation funds. This post is wrong to portray the conservation efforts of this trout in this manner.

In the world of conservation, these initial efforts and projects are part of the evolution of a conservation program. If it weren't for the early recognition of this unique species, then Metcalf wouldn't have even been involved. BTW, Metcalf was a PhD student through CSU utilizing the new scientific analysis of DNA as her thesis study. Her multiple successes lead to CSU supporting a DNA laboratory under her direction. She made a successful career out of forensic analysis for human crime victims....

Also, the original trout being studied as Greenback Cutthroat (GBCT) were not misidentified and also were not Colorado River Cutthroat. They were hybrids of a variety of locally introduced "other Cutthroat species " crossed with original Greenback Cutthroat both through human intervention and wild hybridization. Their physical markings (these hybrid animals still thrive all over the front range) look very similar to the genetically pure GBCT tgat live in Bear Creek.

Of particular interest to this story, should be the incredible precarious existence of what is about 500 wild reproducing GBCT in Bear Creek - human recreation in Jones Park, Colorado Springs, is constantly threatening the pristine habitat where the wild GBCT are reproducing. El Paso County Commissioners change over time and the idea of expanding human recreation in Jones Park is a constant point of contention between Colorado Springs and Conservation Organizations and CPW.

Every bike and footpath trail channels the sediment from rain and run off to flow into Bear Creek, which covers the substrate where the eggs and food chain start.

CPW uses hatcheries to delicately trace genetics between generations of literally brother-sister-cousin offspring of GBCT in an effort to try maintain rhe greatest strongest genetic diversity.

The hatchery offspring are then placed in protected high alpine streams where those wild reproducing GBCT are monitored and protected.

Of interest to this conversation is that the survival rate of the hatchery/transplanted fingerlings is paltry in comparison to the spawn of original wild reproducing stock of genetically pure GBCT in Bear Creek, Jones Park, El Paso County, on Pikes Peak, Colorado.

The Pikes Peak Chapter of Trout Unlimited is a huge partner in the protection and restoration of the GBCT (and other species as well).

If you are at all interested in possibly contributing in some way to this historic conservation project, then I would urge you to donate either funds, or your time hands-on as a volunteer with PPCTU in one of our many projects that contribute to saving the GBCT.

PPCTU is a champion for the GBCT. It's our core mission.

Ways you can help:
A one time donation. You can donate cash or a car.
You can volunteer to help / assist in one of our youth education events, i.e. assist PPCTU when we teach students how to tie flies or cast a fly rod or catch a fish because these opportunities are when we tell youth about GBCT.

Attend one of our membership meetings when we bring speakers to present an interesting topic in conservation (we invite CPW to update us on the GBCT programs at least once a year).

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1dDV3HNRun/https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1dDV3HNRun/

Che ck out our website for other interesting information.

Www.ppctu.org

PPCTU strives to conserve, protect, and restore cold-water fisheries resources and their watersheds in the Pikes Peak Region and throughout the state of Colorado.

06/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GZqaL1bWm/

06/07/2026

I'm tying "Pride Streamers" for PPCTU at Pride Above the Clouds in Woodland Park, 2026.

06/07/2026

Pride Above the Clouds and Pikes Peak Chapter of Trout Unlimited, 2026

Address

Colorado Springs, CO
80901

Telephone

+17196414925

Website

http://ppctu.org/time-talent-treasure/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Pikes Peak Chapter of Trout Unlimited #508 posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.