PPCTU Trout Rescue a Success!!

​Fish Rescue at Badger Basin, August 23, 2024


PPCTU had a very successful fish rescue at Badger Basin State Wildlife Area. We had about 20 volunteers come out on short notice to help rescue trout from the Euhler Ditch which had been diverting water from the Middle Fork of the South Platte River. It is estimated that more that 500 fish were removed from the ditch and relocated back into the main stem of the Middle Fork. The volunteers also reinforce the levee blocking water from entering the ditch. I want to thank all the volunteers, some of which were not current members of TU, that came out and did an outstanding job helping us relocate these trout and reinforcing the levee to ensure that the Middle Fork will be a better fishery in the future.
PPCTU has been working with Water Commissioners at the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) for some time and they concluded that there was not a senior water right for the water going into that ditch. Resolving water rights issues can take a significant amount of time to reach a long-term arrangement with all parties. While these discussions are ongoing, PPCTU requested the ditch be closed so that the water would remain in the main channel of the Middle Fork and benefit that fishery. DWR personnel agreed and created a temporary levee that stopped water from entering the ditch. This will help the fishery in the Middle Fork by increasing the flow and creating more sustainable habitat for spawning trout. Many trout, rainbows in the spring and browns in the fall, come up from Spinney Reservoir to use this section of the river as their spawning grounds. The increased flow will also reduce water temperatures in the stream which can be a problem in the summer when flows are relatively low. Long term, the landowner does have a junior water right. If the landowner decides that they want to claim this right, they will need to install a head gate on the ditch so that the amount of water going into the ditch can be measured and regulated. If this occurs, PPCTU will investigate head gate designs that will prevent fish from entering the ditch and becoming stranded when water it turned off.
Note that in some online postings it was incorrectly stated that Denver Water played a role in stopping the water in the ditch. That was incorrect, PPCTU apologizes for any confusion that was caused.
I would also like to recognize all of the organizations that helped with this effort. DWR has been a partner from the beginning, coming out and visiting the site to determine the water rights as well as accommodating our request to stop the flow of water in the ditch while long term solutions are being determined. Anglers Covey and Tumbling Trout fly shops for their quick response at getting the word out to create an army of volunteers. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) for securing access to the private property needed to get to the stranded trout. CPW also did reconnaissance of the ditch to help focus our efforts on the locations with the most stranded fish. I also want to Thank the landowner who allowed access to their property so that we could get to the trout. Thank You also to all the people on social media that recognized the need and got the word out.
Thank You All!
Don Logelin
President of Pikes Peak Chapter of Trout Unlimited