Contact:
Ty Churchwell, (970) 259-5116
Jim Bartschi, (970) 249-3180

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Scott Fly Rod Co. joins effort to protect Colorado's Alpine Triangle

Montrose, Colo.-based rod manufacturer endorses TU's efforts to keep the Triangle intact for all who use it today

MONTROSE, Colo.—Scott Fly Rod Co. of Montrose, Colo., has endorsed Trout Unlimited's efforts to protect the fishing and hunting resources of southwest Colorado's Alpine Triangle by joining a growing coalition of sportsmen, businesses and industry interested in keeping the Triangle just like it is today.

"The Alpine Triangle is what people think about when they think of Colorado," said Jim Bartschi, president and CEO of Scott, one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of fly rods. "Keeping it intact, and keeping its fishing and hunting resources viable well into the future is important to Scott, and we stand behind TU's efforts to protect this special place."

The Alpine Triangle is a 186,000-acre tract of Bureau of Land Management land located between Silverton, Ouray and Lake City (hence the "triangle"). It's home to trophy big game hunting and excellent fisheries resources, with potential for even better fishing as the area's century-old mining scars are cleaned up. Three of Colorado's trophy trout streams—the Lake Fork of the Gunnison, the Uncompahgre and the Animas—start in the Alpine Triangle.

"We're working with a diverse group of people that includes hunters, anglers, businesspeople and folks from all over the country who come to experience this amazing place," said Ty Churchwell, backcountry coordinator for Trout Unlimited. "This place is so unique, in that it has something for everyone, whether you like to ride off-road vehicles, fish for wild and native trout in a backcountry setting, explore old ghost towns or just experience that signature Rocky Mountain scenery. We'd like to make sure it remains just like it is for the next generation."

The Triangle has seen its share of abuse over the last 125 years or so. Its slopes are scarred with abandoned mines and mine tailing piles, some of which drain toxic, metal-laden water into the area's waterways. While some cleanup efforts are under way, much remains to be done. Additionally, TU would like to see any new mining in the area done responsibly to prevent new pollution from entering rivers and streams and further tarnishing trout habitat and angling opportunity.

The Triangle was also just recently named to the TU/Field and Stream list of Best Wild Places, which includes the Roan Plateau in northwest Colorado, the Outlaw Triangle in Utah and Wyoming, the Gila National Forest of southern New Mexico, the Cabinet-Yaak Mountains of Montana and the Blue Lakes-Pine Forest Range of Nevada.

For more information about TU's work on the Alpine Triangle, visit www.alpinetriangle.com. To learn more about Scott Fly Rod Co., visit www.scottflyrod.com.

Trout Unlimited is the nation's oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization. It has over 140,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America's trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.