The Fryingpan, Roaring Fork, and Colorado Rivers are each fly fishing destinations in their own right, with all of them supporting wild fish populations and legendary fishing. Whether you’re a 2 weight dry fly purist or an 8 weight streamer slinger, there’s a trout for you in one of these three Colorado streams. To me they were the back yard where I grew up, sneaking a few casts in after school on the Fryingpan, riding my bike to my favorite bridge pools on the Roaring Fork, and floating the Colorado River in search of massive brown trout.
I often find myself knee deep in my local river, in pursuit of trout, letting the stress of everyday life slip away in the current. Whether the news has me stressed about climate change, or the latest humanitarian crisis, spotting a few trout winding in the current always eases my mind. Fly fishing has become a place where I seek refuge from the rest of the world, where the mission of finding trout both sharpens my focus and relaxes me. But what happens when even your local river is already suffering from the impacts of a global issue?
The cold water rivers I grew up fishing always seemed like an endless resource, there was always a place to fish on a hot summer day, but the impacts of climate change have begun to prove that these fisheries are fragile, and their fate is tied directly to our actions. Climate change is often talked about as a looming threat, something we have to deal with at a later date, but the reality is it’s already affecting the trout in our back yards. This is no longer an issue that can be put off or waited out. Human driven climate change is responsible for major shifts in global systems, resulting in declines in biodiversity, frequent and higher intensity droughts, more destructive storms, and the overall warming of our planet.
Living in the Colorado mountains has afforded me the ability to fish often, at least a few days per week, in every season and every type of weather. I have already begun to notice changes in the rivers I grew up fishing, such as hatches arriving earlier, more destructive ice building up during winter, and an increase in algae blooms. These phenomena are all related to the issue of climate change, and other unanticipated impacts will likely follow suit. One of the most damaging impacts of climate change on our fisheries is the warming of our waterways.
In the last few years, low water and rising water temperatures have prompted Colorado Parks and Wildlife to instate voluntary fishing closures during the summer months across the state. Frequently included in these closures are the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers. While river closures are intended to help our fish survive, ultimately they are a temporary bandaid for a much larger issue.
Fishing closures reduce the amount of stress on our local trout during the hottest temperatures of the summer. All species of salmonids rely on cold, clean, water for survival. As a general rule, it’s best to stop fishing when water temperatures reach 65° F, otherwise, trout become stressed by a lack of oxygen. Combined with fighting an angler’s line, lower oxygen levels lead to a major increase in trout mortality, in otherwise catch and release fisheries.
As water temperatures rise in our local waterways, the water begins to lose its ability to hold dissolved oxygen, meaning our trout and other cold water species have a harder time breathing, and ultimately, existing. During the peak of summer water levels are typically low, making it more difficult for trout to find thermal shelter in deeper pools of the river. Additionally, low flows also mean our rivers warm up quicker, only adding to the issue of poor oxygen levels.
If you were thinking of going up in altitude to escape high water temperatures, and the effects of climate change, think again. Much like the polar regions of the globe, high altitudes will see some of the most extreme impacts of climate change. The native cutthroat that inhabit Colorado’s high mountain lakes and streams are in a very precarious situation. Cutthroat trout survive within a very tight set of ecological parameters, requiring water to stay cooler than 59° F. Comparatively rainbow trout can survive temperatures up to 67° F.
With small amounts of available habitat scattered throughout the Rocky Mountains, even minor increases in global temperature will put native cutthroat at risk. Trout Unlimited reported that as a result of climate change cutthroat trout “are expected to lose more than 50% of their remaining habitat by 2080”. Cutthroat populations often only exist in alpine lakes, tiny creeks, and streams. As more drought years occur in Colorado, these small tributaries become smaller and less dependable for the cutthroat trout’s existence.
I myself have witnessed cutthroat trout streams dwindle down to a trickle in the heat of August….These are creeks I’ve known my entire life, creeks that previously supported thriving fish, willing to jump out of the water for a yellow humpy or elk hair caddis. Now I find myself trying to catch a few, just to move them to a bigger pool so they have a chance to make it into the next season.
Andrew A. Soliday
I myself have witnessed cutthroat trout streams dwindle down to a trickle in the heat of August. Native fish find themselves in slowly drying pools. These are creeks I’ve known my entire life, creeks that previously supported thriving fish, willing to jump out of the water for a yellow humpy or elk hair caddis. Now I find myself trying to catch a few, just to move them to a bigger pool so they have a chance to make it into the next season.
Unfortunately, the Colorado River Basin has slipped into an era of perpetual drought, bringing with it smaller run offs, warmer water temperatures, and lower water levels. The US Department of Interior reported that the years between 2000 and 2016 were the hottest years recorded in Colorado in the last 100 years. On our current trajectory, the state of Colorado is expected to warm as much as 5° F by 2050. If warming by that magnitude occurs, our local trout will have a difficult time surviving, even in Colorado’s renowned rivers. Cold water habitats will shrink, with cold water species moving upstream in search of optimal conditions. Fishing closures will likely become more widespread, enforceable, and longer during the summer months.
As an angler, the loss of a local fishery would be devastating, not to mention the economic impact on our local fly fishing guides, and fly shops.
Andrew A. Soliday
Not only my local rivers experiencing lower flows, and warmer waters as a result of climate change, many other cold water fisheries across the United States are already feeling the impacts as well. Nearly all trout species, from the mighty bull trout of the Northern Rockies, to the elusive apache trout of the desert southwest, are at risk in a changing climate. States as far apart as Oregon and Maine are both preparing for the worst impacts of climate change, with Oregon requiring fishing closures due to high temperatures before July. Maine has already Identified that its cold water streams are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. These are just a few examples, climate change is already having a detrimental impact on cold water fisheries across the globe. I am sure anyone reading has noticed a change in their local fishery that can be attributed to the climate crisis.
As fly anglers, we generally hold ourselves to a high standard of conservation. With extremely high rates of catch and release, and multitudes of local, national, and international conservation groups focussed on protecting and restoring habitat across the world, the fly fishing community already has a reputation of being a leader in environmental causes. Why not use the momentum of the fly fishing industry to help lessen the impacts of climate change?
As terrifying as climate projections are, the climate solution is astonishingly simple; by reducing our carbon emissions we can avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change. Now is the time for us, as anglers, to recognize the impact climate change has on our fisheries, and participate in solving the climate crisis.
Some fly fishing brands are already taking initiative, by reducing their carbon outputs, using renewable energy, and moving away from single use plastics. Other brands are adjusting their missions, and including sustainability initiatives into their business practices. Major brands in the fly fishing industry are now using programs like 1% For the Planet, and other conservation initiatives to help keep our natural resources alive. With over 30 members, the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance is at the forefront of creating positive change in the fly fishing industry. By pledging to go carbon neutral by the year 2030, these individuals, guides, shops, lodges, brands, and nonprofits, have made it a priority to save what we love. Businesses, organizations, and individuals are making progress against climate change by reducing their carbon footprints. Now is the best time for both individual anglers and businesses to lessen their impact on our environment. Not only is reducing our impact good for the planet, it’s good business.
Climate change is both an extreme threat and an opportunity. The fly fishing industry now has a chance to become a leader among the other outdoor industries, proving that we care about our fisheries and their future. By reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and therefore lessening our direct contribution to climate warming, we can save our fisheries, sport, and livelihoods. Climate change is already impacting the rivers I love, and waterways across the world. My hope is that we can use our love of fly fishing as a call to action, that the people who love their local fishery will be driven to protect it and its future.
About the Author:
Andrew A. Soliday is a life long fly fisherman and professional fly tier from Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley. His passion for the outdoors and degree in Sustainability Studies keep him focused on the latest in ecology, conservation, and climate change.