The Board of Directors of Denver Trout Unlimited feels that it is important for Slamateurs, Pros, Controllers, Volunteers, donation contributors, and the Denver community to understand where Carp Slam donations are spent from a river conservation and programming perspective – past, present and future:
- $75,000 contribution to the Chatfield Environmental Pool.
From the inception of Carp Slam 16 years ago, funds that were raised during this event were pledged and spent in support of helping to improve river flows for the urban section South Platte River downstream from Chatfield Reservoir. In November 2020, Denver Trout Unlimited announced the final payment to the Greenway Foundation in support of the Chatfield Environmental Pool. The Environmental Pool was created to allow for strategic releases out of Chatfield Reservoir to enhance stream flows and water quality in the South Platte River below the reservoir. Environmental releases will not only provide water quantity and water quality benefits downstream of the reservoir but may be utilized downstream by the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District for agricultural purposes. This final payment caps an original donation commitment made in early 2017 of $75,000 to fund 10-acre feet (AF) of water to help improve the flows and the fishing experience on the South Platte through Metro and Downtown Denver. - The South Platte Protected – River Restoration, Protections and Improvement.
In the spring of 2022 Denver Trout Unlimited funded a water study by a professional Hydrologist and Ph.D. that was used to help reverse a decision made in 2020 that weakened protections to both the South Platte River and Clear Creek. The data and analysis that was funded by Denver Trout Unlimited came directly from Carp Slam contributions as well as other donors from 2020-2022. In September of 2022 The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission unanimously reversed a controversial 2020 decision and added new pollution protections for the South Platte River and Clear Creek through metro Denver, citing a “compelling” campaign by environmental justice advocates who demanded the repeal – including public testimony and other community outreach efforts by Denver Trout Unlimited. - Creation and Implementation of the Lifetime Angling Access Plan. During the next 15 years, DTU estimates that over a billion dollars will be spent on restoration in the Denver South Platte. By adding 10 lifetime beats to the DSP, with the help from local guides and DTU, we can maintain lifetime access to our river. DTU will pick beats and design a template for the engineers to include in their plans, along with their low flow channels and boulders. Biologists and Backhoe operators have a key role in placing rocks and boulders to keep sediment moving and to create fish habitat. When done properly, it can do amazing things. , we can make lifetime access to our own river possible.
- Contributions to Colorado Trout Unlimited’s Trout in the Classroom for Denver based Schools and communities. Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a conservation-oriented, environmental education program for elementary, middle and high school students. Throughout the school year, students:
• Raise trout from eggs to fry
• Monitor tank water quality
• Engage in stream habitat study
• Learn to appreciate water resources
• Begin to foster a conservation ethic
• Grow to understand ecosystems
• Most programs end the year by releasing their trout in a state-approved stream near the school or within a nearby watershed - Full Year Temperature Monitoring of Denver’s South Platte River. Previously, the metro section of the South Platte River had only one public water temperature monitoring site. DTU implemented data permanent six temperature sensor sites with input from Denver Parks & Recreation, Colorado Parks & Wildlife biologists, Urban Drainage and Flood Control, Colorado Trout Unlimited, Riverwatch, and Denver Trout Unlimited. This data was included and analysed by our water quality expert in our fight to help roll back the 2020 Antidegradation rule change to help protect the South Platte River & Clear Creek and will be used in the future to help measure changes to the river as we continue to fight and advocate for the South Platte.
- Carp Slam – it takes money to raise money – each year Carp Slam raises $10K+ for all of these different programs that benefit Denver’s South Platte River and Denver Trout Unlimited’s programming efforts. In addition to raising funds, Carp Slam is a way to help the Denver Community realize the outdoor recreational benefits of our Home Water. With Carp Slam we fight for the water we stand in.
- Membership Outreach – DTU makes a concerted effort of time/money to try to bring on new active DTU members; outreach events to connect with new members include a booth at Denver’s Annual Fly Fishing show; The South Platte Symposium – Denver South Platte/Fly Fishing for Carp Panel Discussion; the “Imagine a Great River” presentation/gathering, and other community events.
- River clean up projects and partnerships with other like minded organizations or businesses to help the South Platte. This includes gear necessary to remove trash and other large material that does not belong in or around the river.