Scholarships - Since 2009, YVSICT has awarded over $40,000 in college scholarships to Routt County students.
YAMPA VALLEY FLY FISHERS - YAMPA VALLEY STREAM IMPROVEMENT CHARITABLE TRUST
History and Achievements
1985 The YVFF receives a grant from the Steamboat Ski Corporation to improve trout habitat through the town of Steamboat Springs. The YVFF and the Friends of the Yampa complete a habitat restoration project in what is now Rich Weiss Park and down to the 5th Street Bridge. Colorado Division of Wildlife electro shocking study produces
just 17 trout.
1986 The YVFF receives a grant from the Steamboat Springs Summer Marketing Committee for stocking fish and constructing educational signage for the above Yampa Habitat Improvement Project.
1987 The YVFF receives a grant from the Chamber Summer Marketing Committee and in cooperation with the CDOW, the U.S. Forest Service and local anglers publishes the first brochure of its kind in Steamboat, "Making the Most of Your Fishing Vacation in Steamboat."
1988 The YVFF receives a co-funding grant from the CDOW's "Fishing is Fun" program for the volunteer
restoration of spillway and bank erosion problems on Service Creek.
1990 CDOW electro shocking studies produce 165 trout where just 17 were recorded before in 1985. The Division imposes a 2 fish limit to protect the resource, the first special limit regulation in the area.
1990 The YVFF are awarded "Sportsmen of the Year" by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Colorado
Wildlife Commission for their volunteer efforts in habitat restoration on King Solomon Creek, Service Creek, Pearl Lake, the Middle Fork of the Elk and the Yampa River. The U.S. Forest Service follows with two like awards.
1991 The YVFF receives an $8,565 grant from the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation to plant native trees
and shrubs, install flood control structure and low water trout habitat improvements on 1/4 mile of the Yampa in
downtown Steamboat Springs.
1992 The YVFF, Steamboat Donations Committee, CDOW, City of Steamboat Springs and the Nature
Conservancy co-op funds and material to stabilize some 1,500 feet of badly eroded riverbank. Over 5 days, YVFF members and local volunteers donate over 800 hours to complete the project on City land purchased with Wallop Breaux funding from the CDOW "Fishing is Fun" program. Location: Rotary Park - now the primary launching
point for commercial tubing companies.
1993 The YVFF receives $14,700 grant for the "Trafalgar Project" in downtown Steamboat Springs.
1993 The YVFF receives the Environment 2000 Shining Star Award.
1994 The YVFF receives a $7,260 grant from the Steamboat Donations Committee for low water trout habitat improvements in downtown Steamboat.
1994 The YVFF Yampa River Trafalgar Project receives the 1994 Steamboat Springs Chamber Beautification Award.
1996 The YVFF receives an $8,235 grant from the Steamboat Donations Committee for further trout habitat improvements on the Yampa in downtown Steamboat. YVFF contributes $9,650 in cash and in-kind services and receives co-funding of $23,877 from the CDOW "Fishing is Fun" program. Total project value: $41,762.00
1997 The YVFF receives a $7,000 grant from the Steamboat Donations Committee to co-fund "Project Transplant." Along with a $3,000 donation from the Fly Fishers, a Vermeer tree spade was purchased for use by city crews on revegitation projects around town.
1997 The YVFF completes the "Phase Eight" project on 1/2 mile of river behind the Super 8 Motel. A solar
irrigated tree nursery is part of the $25,000 project made possible by private donations and grants from the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, the CDOW, "Fishing is Fun", the U.S. Forest Service and the YVSICT.
1998 With grants totaling $29,000 from the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, Norwest Bank, the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, the YVSICT and the YVFF, Eagle Scout, Nathan Proper completes the Butcherknife Restoration Project.
1998 After a two year YVFF campaign, the Colorado Division of Wildlife grants "Catch and Release" status to the Yampa River between Walton Creek and the James Brown Bridge.
1998 YVFF volunteers post “Catch & Release” signage along regulated section of Yampa River.
1999 The YVFF donates $5,000 to purchase 3,000 Tasmanian Rainbow and Soda Lake Brown trout for stocking
the downtown section of the Yampa.
2000 The YVFF raises more than $7,000 for stocking and facility enhancement at Fetcher Pond and Casey's Pond over the next two years. The CDOW was forced to eliminate stocking at both locations due to the impact of Whirling Disease on state hatcheries.
2000 The YVFF donates $6,000 to the Yampa River Management Plan.
2002 The YVFF commits to partnering the Chuck Lewis Project with Colorado Division of Wildlife.
2002 YVFF GolfTrout Tournament raises $12,000 for Chuck Lewis Project.
2003 YVFF donates trout stocking at Fetcher Pond.
2003 YVFF receives $2,500 River Beautification Grant for riparian planting project completed that summer.
2003 YVSICT commissions hydrology study for Chuck Lewis Project.
2003 YVFF GolfTrout Tournament raises $18,000 for Chuck Lewis Project.
2004 CDOW and YVSICT draft Memorandum of Understanding for Chuck Lewis Project.
2004 YVFF GolfTrout Tournament raises $23,000 for Chuck Lewis Project.
2005 YVFF volunteers install 40 new “Catch & Release” signs and posts provided by CDOW along Yampa from Walton Creek to the James Brown Bridge.
2005 YVFF GolfTrout Tournament raises $28,000 for Chuck Lewis Project.
Fishing Is Fun grant of $150,000 to City of SS for CL Phase 1
2006 YVFF GolfTrout Tournament raises $38,000 for Chuck Lewis Project.
Over $100,000 expended for materials, work and equipment for Chuck Lewis. Humble Ranch donation of $15,000 for Phase II.
2007 YVFF GolfTrout Tournament raises $48,000 for Chuck Lewis.
Phase I of Chuck Lewis Project completed.
2006-2007 – Wayne Swanson, the Swanson family and friends donated approximately $25,000 to the YVSICT.
2007:
Colorado Group grant of $2000.00
Streamside Productions donated $604.00 in book proceeds
Community Foundation grants $2500.00 and $10,000 Steamboat Ski Corp Environmental Fund grant.
2008 GolfTrout Tournament raises approximately$60,000 for Chuck Lewis Project.
2009 GolfTrout Tournament raises $36,450.00 for Chuck Lewis Project.
2010 GolfTrout Tournament raises $37,750.00 for Chuck Lewis Project.
2011 GolfTrout Tournament raises $30,500.00 for Chuck Lewis Project.
2011 Yampa Valley Fly Fishers join Trout Unlimited as chapter 929.
2012 GolfTrout Tournament raises $32,500.00 for Chuck Lewis Project.
2013 GolfTrout Tournament raises $55,500.00 for completion of Chuck Lewis and new Pleasant Valley Project. Trousils/Humble Ranch donation of $21,000.
2013 received $158,000 in matching Fishing Is Fun grant from State of Colorado for completion of Phase III of
Chuck Lewis.
2014 GolfTrout Tournament raises $45,000.00 for new Pleasant Valley Project and other Yampa Valley river projects. YVSICT has invested over $20,000 towards the Pleasant Valley Project in 2014.
2015 YVSICT invested additional $25,000 towards design plans for the Pleasant Valley Project and commits to
$6,000 in college scholarships for the class of 2015.
2016 YVSICT commits $6,000 in college scholarships for the SSHS class of 2016, donated almost$5000 to the Burgess Creek Cutthroat Restoration Project, and continued to work towards the Pleasant Valley Project .
2017 YVSICT commits $6000 in college scholarships for the SSHS class of 2017.
2018 YVSICT commits $6000 in college scholarships for the SSHS class of 2018.
2018 Golf Trout Tournament raises approximately $28,000 for the Pleasant Valley Project and other Yampa Valley river projects.
2019 Golf Trout Tournament raises over $28,000 for the Pleasant Valley Project, YVSICT enter into contract with FlyWater, inc. for the design build of the Pleasant Valley Project and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the BLM for the project.
2020 YVSICT and YVFF donate $25,000 to the Yampa River Fund. The YVSICT was awarded grants through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation Covid Relief program, from the Atha Family Foundation and Ski Corp. Environmental Fund in the amounts of $1,000 and $2,000 respectfully.
YVSICT is awarded a $20,000 grant for the Pleasant Valley Project from the Healthy Rivers Fund.
YVSICT is awarded a $30,000 grant for the design phase of the Pleasant Valley Project from Fishing is Fun, as well as a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Water Plan Environmental Fund for the Yampa River Habitat & Recreation Improvement Project at Pleasant Valley project, in the amount of $117,990.
2021 YVSICT is awarded a $40,000 grant from Fishing is Fun and a $34,560 grant from the Yampa River Fund for the construction of the Pleasant Valley Project. Construction on the Pleasant Valley Project is completed in the fall of 2021.
2022 Golf Trout Tournament raises over $42,000 for stream improvement in the Yampa Valley.
2022 FlyWater, inc. provides the YVSICT with a preliminary Scope of Work for the proposed Butcherknife Creek Project at the Strawberry Park School Campus.
Butcherknife Creek Project - The YVSICT and YVFFTU propose a habitat improvement project at the Strawberry Park Campus of the Steamboat Springs School District. We anticipate this habitat improvement project on Butcherknife Creek in Steamboat Springs, CO to provide an overall uplift and enhancement to the creek as it flows through the Steamboat Springs School District land. It is a goal of the Trust and other project stakeholders to improve Butcherknife Creek into a healthy stream system that supports a robust riparian corridor that will support a wide variety of wildlife, as well as a creek that has increased habitat for fish and even the macroinvertebrates that call the creek home. In conjunction, we would also like to design and build an environment that allows for a great experience for the public as they walk along the creek, from bird watching to fly-fishing. Finally, we see this as a great opportunity for the students at the school to aid throughout the process of this project, with a final outcome of a one-of-a-kind natural classroom.
Pleasant Valley Restoration Project - The YVSICT completed the Pleasant Valley/Hubbard Cabin Project in the fall of 2021. The Project enhanced a very unique section of the Yampa River between Sarvis Creek and Lake Catamount, a section of river that naturally supports the Harrison Hofer Rainbow trout population. Seven years of planning, design and implementation has finally been completed. The time spent working with our partners, including BLM, CPW, FlyWater/Stillwater team, Yampa River Fund/TNC, Healthy Rivers Fund, Colorado Water Plan, Fishing is Fun, and the Yampa Valley Community Foundation has been well worth it and will benefit the community for years to come. Thank you.
Chuck Lewis Project -The Chuck Lewis project involved over one million dollars of river improvements over a period of 10 years of fundraising and river work on the stretch of the Yampa River through the Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area, just south of Steamboat Springs.
Scholarships - The YVSICT has awarded over $40,000 in scholarships to high school students in the Yampa Valley. We award scholarships based on need and a student's desire to benefit the environment and the community.