 July 25, 2022
Where: Colorado Parks & Wildlife 4255 Sinton Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80907 Time: 6:30 – 9 p.m. Presenter: John Geerdes The presentation will cover the removal of the diversion structure at the mouth of 11 Mile Canyon. The structure was built in the early 1950's by Colorado Springs Utilities to divert water to their storage facilities. Once technology improved and other improvements were made to their infrastructure, they stopped using the diversion structure. The removal was identified by CUSP and USFS in the 2015 Roads to Rivers assessment. We will discuss the design process, the timing of the project, funding and what species it may impact. I have been Executive Director of CUSP since December 2019. My degree is in Natural Resources Management with an emphasis in Forestry and Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University. I worked for Colorado State Parks (later Parks and Wildlife) for 34 years, retiring in June 2018. I worked as a Park Ranger at 3 different parks, a Trail Coordinator for the SE Region, the Operations Manager on the Arkansas River, the Regional Manager for the SE Region where i oversaw 11 parks and 65 staff and finally after we merged with DOW, I scaled back from the region and managed Mueller State Park in Teller County before retiring.  Presentation
June 28, 2022 Colorado Parks & Wildlife 4255 Sinton Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80907 Time: 6:30 – 9 p.m. The presentation will give a history of our region and a context for the stormwater challenges that the City of Colorado Springs faces. We will view historic photos, see the native landscape and what an arid climate looked like in 1874, along with development’s growth and the implications this has on our watershed and the importance of managing stormwater. Come away with practical ideas you can implement at your home to reduce stormwater pollution. Jerry Cordova Biography Jerry is the Education & Outreach Coordinator for the City of Colorado Springs Stormwater Enterprise. He educates thousands of students each year through STEM school programs, engages with community members on the Adopt-A-Waterway Program, storm drain marking efforts, and through the Storm Drain Art Program. He is a founding member of the Creek Week litter cleanup and initiated Trash Mobs (costume litter cleanups). He is creating a culture for Complete Creeks that promotes educational and recreational opportunities throughout the community. Jerry serves as a Board Member of the Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC),served on the Colorado Stormwater Council as Chair of the Education & Outreach Committee, and co-leads the Pikes Peak Children’s Water Festival each year.  Todd Spindler of Peyton, CO is presented with his brand new Browning O/U 20ga Shotgun by Terry Deaton, Treasurer for PPCTU.
Todd had his winning ticket selected at the May 24th Membership meeting signaling the end of the PPCTU Spring 2022 Raffle. Congratulations Todd!!!! "Teaching Fly Fishing with Ute Pass Elementary School at the Green Mountain Falls pond using flies they tied with PPCTU! To help teach fly fishing or fly tying please contact Michele.white@ppctu.org"
"Annual Willow Planting at the Dream Stream success! To help with conservation projects please contact Michele.white@ppctu.org"
"Trout in the Classroom" program successful release by Cheyenne Mountain Jr HS.! To help teach fly fishing or fly tying please contact Michele.white@ppctu.org"
 Our May Membership meeting will take place on May 24th!
Location: CPW Classroom, 4255 Sinton Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 Social Time: 6:30pm Meeting: 7:00pm Pizza and Soft Drinks will be available! Tonight will be the drawing for our Raffle Prize! Partnering with Beaver to Restore Wetland The importance of partnering with beavers, the quintessential aquatic ecosystem engineers, has crystalized in recent years. In the past, restoration approaches have focused on stabilizing channels using engineered repairs. In many Rocky Mountain head water systems, it is possible to work with a native species to enable natural processes to improve the health of streams and wetlands. This talk explores the history of beavers in Colorado headwaters and why it makes sense to work with the ecosystem engineers as partners in restoration, rather than as products or tools for restoration. We will discuss practical approaches to beaver-related restoration including beaver relocation/reintroduction, conflict resolution, mimicry, and treatments aimed at promoting beaver activity. Partnering with beaver is an obvious, if not always easy, solution to restoring sustainable, resilient, naturally functioning headwaters streams and wetlands. Jessica Doran, Our Guest Speaker Jessica lives in Breckenridge, Colorado where her work as an ecologist is focused on headwater systems of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Years of monitoring streams led to the observation that the healthiest riverscapes were usually home to beavers. Since then, research and time in the field revealed the ecological importance of beavers, as well as their dramatically reduced presence across the region. Motivated to help in the effort to reclaim these lost systems, Jessica, and her colleagues at EcoMetrics, study beaver systems to better understand how to enable and restore beaver influenced riverscapes. An ecologist by training, her interest in the biological aspects of fluvial systems sent Jessica back to school to study wildlife biology conservation at CSU. Rooted in the belief that ecologically healthy systems benefit all life, Jessica hopes to contribute to our evolving fields of restoration and stewardship through practical experience and applied science. |
