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Projects
| Water Quality and Temperature Monitoring |
GRTU along with TPW maintains temperature monitoring equipment in the Guadalupe River to track seasonal variations in river temperature.
In addition, in low flow conditions, our chapter in monitoring water quality to insure the releases from Canyon Lake dam meet Texas environmental standards. |
| River Cleanups |
GRTU conducts river cleanups in the fall and spring of each year. We are also a supporting organization in the annual "Friends of the River" in New Braunfels.
We also conduct cleanups at all trout stockings
Watch the Announcement board for detailed information on these activities. |
| Trout In The Classroom |
This project connects students to their watersheds, by raising trout in a science classroom from eggs to fingerling's. You can find out more information about this program by visiting the website Trout In The Classroom
Hoffman Lane Elementary in New Braunfels was selected as this year's site for the project and has successfully release 700 trout fry into the Guadalupe River.
Contact Karen Gebhardt our education chair for more information. See contact list on main web site. |
Guadalupe Now
| Guadalupe River Bug Study |
The chapter has funded a year long macro invertebrate study on the Guadalupe River. The study is being conducted by Dr Archis Grubh from the Texas River Systems Institute at Texas State University.
Dr Grubh, staff and chapter volunteers will be collecting samples throughout the year. |
| Purpose |
In order to be effective stewards and advocates for the Guadalupe River and its trout fishery, we need a clear strategy to guide our efforts. To help us become more effective stewards of the river and to provide clearer guidance for our chapter’s future conservation and stocking efforts the chapter has teamed up with representatives from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Texas River Systems Institute at Texas State University, San Marcos to assist us in developing and conducting a priority list of study and work projects.
All monies donated to this fund are directed to conservation related activities on the Guadalupe River. |
Coldwater Outreach Conservation Fund
| COC Grant - Yellowstone Lake |
GRTU has received a grant request from David Sweet and the Wyoming state council to assist with the funding of telemetry equipment to study the movements and spawning areas of Lake Trout in Yellowstone Lake.
Lake Trout were illegally introduced to the Yellowstone Lake system at least a decade ago. They are aggressive predators and have taken a fearful toll on the native population of Yellowstone Cutthroat trout in the Yellowstone system. This core population is one of the best remaining genetically pure populations of this species, and critical to the efforts to re-establish them in their historic watersheds.
Estimates are that we have lost 90% of the Yellowstone Cutthroat population. The main culprit has been predation by the Lake Trout. The overall effort to reduce the Lake Trout population has been underway for about 4 years, and has included commercial netting of the fish. This has been helpful in managing the population, but the telemetry studies are recommended by scientists to better direct the netting activity, and also to identify Lake Trout spawning beds to reduce the recruitment of more of these predators.
In addition to affecting the Yellowstone Cutthroat fishery, the decline has lead to a implosion of the ecosystem that depends on the cutts' spawning runs into the rivers and tributaries of Yellowstone Lake. Predators like bears, foxes, ospreys, eagles, and many others depend on the cutthroats in the same way that ecosystems in the west are fueled by salmon.
The overall project will cost nearly $500k, the majority of that coming from large grants. TU has taken on the task of the telemetry study, which will cost about $87K. Nearly $60K has already been raised. GRTU has been asked to fund $3k, which is in line with the Coldwater Conservation Outreach Fund guidelines.
Timing is critical, as equipment needs t be purchased and in place by early June when ice-out occurs to allow the maximum time for study. This issue was first discussed by the board of directors at our January meeting. David Sweet joined a special board meeting held last night to answer questions about the proposal.
Because of the need to move with alacrity, the board approved the proposal.
This would be the 6th COCF project funded by GRTU, and extends our position as one of the premier chapters fighting the good fight of cold water conservation. We were the first chapter to contribute to the Save Bristol Bay effort, and are recognized for our conservation efforts by all of the leaders at the national level including TU CEO Chris Wood. |
| Los Alamitos Creek Project Update |
An update I recently received from Kevin Reilly, of Truchas River Chapter in New Mexico, about the status of the fish barrier to be constructed on Los Alamitos Creek. GRTU provided a Coldwater Outreach Conservation grant for to help fund the NEPA permitting process for this project two years ago and it is now moving forward. GRTU's name will be on the completed project.
In a nutshell, here's the status of the Alamitos project:
The environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act was completed last year. It was done in-house by a Carson National Forest (CNF) fisheries biologist under a contract between the Truchas Chapter and the CNF, and the GRTU funds paid for that work.
The Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI)--a federal source--granted $50,000 to build the barrier. The Fish and Wildlife Service contracted with TU national for TU national to handle the money and get the barrier built.
The CNF's engineer decided to move the site of the barrier downstream a little bit to the site of an existing irrigation diversion owned by two acequias, traditional irrigation organizations which are local governmental entities under NM law. The diversion needed to be replaced, and the acequias had access to state funds to cover the difference between the WNTI funds and the cost of the barrier. The engineer also concluded that the site was the best site for the barrier.
Construction on the barrier-diversion was partially completed this past fall, and the contractor is obligated under his contract with TU national to complete construction before runoff this spring. Once the construction is completed, we will give a full report (complete with pictures) and an accounting to GRTU.
The contractor and Joe McGurrin (who's been handling the project for TU national) are aware of the requirement of a sign acknowledging the grant from GRTU. We are planning to insert a plaque into the structure listing the groups that contributed to the project. When he pours the rest of the concrete, the contractor is to leave an indentation with bolt holes into which we'll fix the plaque.
Kevin |
| COC Grant Request - Mountain Fork, Oklahoma |
GRTU members -
We have recieved a grant request through GRTU's Coldwater Outreach Conservation (COC) grant program from the Eighty Niner Chapter of TU in Tulsa, requesting funding for assistance with work on the Lower Mountain Fork River in southern Oklahoma. Many of our Dallas and North Texas GRTU members fish these waters and their river and its history of conservation project work serves as a good model for us on the Guadalupe River.
GRTU Board member Roger Turner has worked extensively with the 89'er chapter and the LMF River Foundation in preparing an outstanding grant application with good background and supporting informtion for the GRTU Board and Chapter members to consider. You can review the grant application at this link:
http://www.viacoustics.com/LMFR_GRTU_CO ... cation.pdf
This will be the 5th major project that GRTU's COC project has funded, including projects that now bear GRTU's name in:
Trout Run Creek - Minnesota
South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon - Colorado
Los Alimitos Creek - New Mexico
Talarik Creek and the TU Pebble Mine Opposition Project - Alaska
GRTU members are urged to review the application and express their support for funding assistance via this forum or by talking to your GRTU Board members. The grant application will be introduced at the upcoming Oct meeting for consideration for funding by the GRTU Board in January.
Jeff Schmitt |
| Truchas River Chapter COC Project Update |
Chapter members may recall that last years Coldwater Outreach Conservation Program grant went to the Truchas River Chapter Trout Unlimited in New Mexico. (TRTU)
The grant money helped TRTU fund a NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) study of a project to place a barrier on Los Alomitos Creek to prevent encroachment of non-native trout into native Rio Grande cutthroat trout water.
TRTU has provided GRTU with an update on the project, as well as a copy of the agreement with the New Mexico Department of Fish and Game to conduct this NEPA study. This update and the NEPA study agreement can be found here:
http://www.viacoustics.com/NEPA_Agreement-Alamitos.pdf
http://www.viacoustics.com/Truchas_GRTU ... t_2-09.pdf
We may be able to learn some things about the conservation process, and gaining the necessary approvals, but watching TRTU as they go through the process.
As pointed out in the project update, funding for the actual construction of the barrier is easier to come by through various project grants, than was the funding for the NEPA study needed to approve the barrier. |
| Cheyenne Mountain, Camp Alexander Project Update |
GRTU provided funding to the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited (CMTU) to assist them with restoring a section of the South Platte River at Camp Alexander, a Boy Scout camp that is utilized by Texas Boy Scout troops.
The CMTU folks have been sending me updates on the projects progress. I have posted these progress reports under the following links:
Progress Report
Slides
Map
CMTU and Camp Alexander are very grateful to GRTU for the funding and for our interest in their project.
More reports will be issued as the work progresses. |
| Cheyenne Mountain Chapter Eleven Mile Canyon Grant Request |
GRTU has received a grant application from the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited (CMTU) in Colorado Springs for a stream improvement project on the South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon.
Specifically, this project would benefit a section of the South Platte at Camp Alexander, a Boy Scout Camp that is heavily utilized by Boy Scout Troops from Texas. The project is a “Trees for Trout” project, which utilizes trees and root balls from the Hayman burn area and installs them along the river bank to deepen the stream channel, provide cover for trout and a better environment for aquatic insects.
See full grant request at CMTU Grant |
| Purpose |
GRTU established the Coldwater Outreach Conservation Fund with the purpose of extending GRTU’s conservation influence beyond the Guadalupe River. The fund provides funding grants to other Trout Unlimited Chapters to assist them with river conservation projects in areas where our members fish outside of the Guadalupe River. |
| South Platte Eleven Mile Canyon COC Grant Request |
GRTU has received a Coldwater Outreach Conservation (COC) Fund Grant Request from the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter, Trout Unlimited, for work on the South Platte River in Elevenmile Canyon at Camp Alexander. This camp is owned by the Boy Scouts of America and is heavily used by Boy Scout troops from Texas. The project involved Trees for Trout, a program that was featured in 2005 on the Trout Unlimited National Conservation Tour. Both Mick and myself had a chance to witness this onstream conservation work and its benefits to the South Platte River.
Last year, GRTU established the COC Fund to assist other Trout Unlimited Chapters with funding of coldwater conservation projects thoughout the US. Our work with the Hiawatha Chapter Trout Unlimited on Trout Run Creek in Minnesota earned GRTU national recognization for it outreach conservation efforts.
This years application comes from a Colorado chapter and on waters familar to many GRTU members.
This application will be posted for member feedback and will be considered for funding by the GRTU Board at the April meeting.
Details of the grant application and supporting information can be found at:
http://www.viacoustics.com/CMTU07.pdf
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