The fly fishers, however, feel the study will not help the city come to any conclusions because of all the variables involved, such as the effect of construction and development on the river. That study is scheduled to get under way next year and has been earmarked for $75,000 from the 2001 budget. The city has already applied for grants for a River Management Plan from Great Outdoors Colorado twice in the past but was denied both times. Council, after reviewing a position paper from the fly fishers and hearing public comment, balked at the idea in favor of conducting a River Management Plan to assess the health of the river. Wilson, in cooperation with the YVFF, put the question of banning tubing and other outfitter and guide services on the upper part of the river to City Council on Sept. Tubing, proposed the YVFF, could continue below the Fifth Street bridge to the Stockbridge Center. Curd would not specify what the city could do to appease the YVFF, but he said they would support the council revisiting an ordinance banning tubing on the upper Yampa above the Fifth Street bridge. They have no intention of causing harm to a resource they depend on as long as the city plays ball, Curd said. But while the fly fishers may be hanging the investigation over the city’s head as a recourse to get their way, they have not yet offered the city a direct ultimatum, Curd said. The fly fishers have warned the city in recent months about their ability to instigate the investigation, Parks and Recreation Director Chris Wilson said. And much of the conflict, Delli Quadri believes, has to do with the land acquisition grants. The YVFF has only been involved in getting the river restoration grants, said City Grants Analyst Winnie Delli Quadri. “We’re supposed to maintain recreational habitats and fishing habitats, and I think we’re doing that,” Lettunich said.įishing-is-Fun money comes to the city for two specific purposes the acquisition of private property and river restoration. He believes that based on the language of the easement agreement, the city has been allowing appropriate uses of the river. “We feel as though the city is the steward of the river and must help mediate this conflict.” “We’re looking to take a cooperative approach,” Lettunich said. Lettunich is intending to cooperate fully with the DOW to resolve this issue. Werner said the DOW is interested in solving this conflict on the local level rather than getting the federal government involved. Cameron is planning to meet with the city and the YVFF in upcoming weeks to determine how the groups want to settle this issue. Werner discussed the issue on Thursday with the DOW’s attorney, Brad Cameron. Fish and Wildlife Department could join the investigation, said DOW Area Wildlife Manager Susan Werner. The “right to float” is presently being reviewed by the state Attorney General’s office but may apply to this case, City Attorney Tony Lettunich said.ĭepending on the DOW’s reaction, reverberations from an investigation could reach as far as Washington, where the U.S. For instance, the Supreme Court of Colorado has ruled tubers are allowed to float through private property if they do not touch ground. “We don’t want to be known as the city where the user groups got together and ended all of our funding,” Brenner said.Īt the same time, tubers have their own rights. The DOW has conservation easement agreements with the city on parts of the land the city acquired through Fishing-is-Fun funds and therefore has some control over what activities take place on that land.Īn investigation, said Councilman Ken Brenner, could put the city in jeopardy of losing its Fishing-is-Fun grant money. The fly fishers have already alerted the Division of Wildlife, through which the federal money is funneled, of these developments. The fly fishers have the ability to instigate an investigation of those funds because of what they believe is the improper multiple use of the river, said YVFF President Jim Curd.įor instance, a handicapped access ramp at Rotary Park paid for with Fishing-is-Fun dollars is used as a put-in for tubers. Now that money, which has helped ensure the health of the river for more than a decade, may be in jeopardy. Members of the Yampa Valley Fly Fishers were instrumental in getting grant money for the Yampa River through the federal government’s Fishing-is-Fun program. Steamboat Springs - Three weeks after City Council effectively killed an ordinance that would have banned commercial tubing on the upper Yampa River, an angry group of fly fishers are threatening the city with what could become a federal investigation of grant money.
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