From The Mountain Mail, May 10, 2016, edition.

by Marcus Hill, Mail Staff Writer

The 31st annual Caddis Festival, presented by the Collegiate Peaks Anglers Chapter of Trout Unlimited, will help the chapter continue to give to the community.

The Caddis Festival made “in the ballpark of $35,000,” which is on par with what the event has raised the past few years, said organizer Barbara Plake.

Money from the event will go toward scholarships, fishing derbies, cleanup activities and various other items.

Between 260 and 270 people attended the Caddis Festival Saturday at Chaffee County Fairgrounds, and Jim Impara, chapter vice president, said they hope to have a total of how much the event raised “in a couple of weeks.”

Impara said 150 donors and 200 sponsors helped make the evening possible.
One of the ways the chapter helps the community is by funding scholarships. This year’s winners were Adam Beede and Amy Harmon.

Beede was not in attendance.

Harmon, who attends Western State Colorado University, was awarded the scholarship for the second straight year.

“I’m always blown away and completely honored,” Harmon said. “It’s huge because not only do you have more time to concentrate, study and get good grades, but the biggest impact is when you’re not working as much to pay all of your bills, you have opportunities to volunteer for (Colorado Parks and Wildlife).

“You get to do so many things where you’re furthering your education and doing things you can’t in the classroom.”

Friends of Browns Canyon received the 2016 Stream Champion Award for “significant contributions” in restoring and conserving part of the Arkansas River within Trout Unlimited’s jurisdiction.
The award goes to “an exemplary volunteer who inspires, motivates and embodies TU’s mission through their commitment to grassroots conservation and outreach.”

Bill Dvorak accepted the award and let the audience know they’ve played an important role in the award.

“If it wasn’t for folks like you who come to public meeting and send in letters and all the things you’ve done,” Dvorak said, “we probably wouldn’t have had it done.”