CATCHING FOR CASA, FISHING TOURNAMENT

For Max Rodriguez, Pete Martinez and Ross Netherton, fishing at John Martin Reservoir on Saturday May 16 filled their wallets as well as their hunger; each received a $200 prize in adult class of the CASA (court appointed special advocates) fishing tournament. Zach Ramsey, Hunter Cowen and Rugger Stocking each pulled in $50 for their prize catches in the children's class.

Prior to the tournament, students in the Elementary and Junior High school in Lamar gathered dollars for CASA. Rugger Stocking gathered $110 and won four tickets to Elitch Gardens Theme Park, two Casa Bonita Restaurant dinner tickets and a free overnight stay in Denver. Bryson Cowen rounded up $69 and Arionna Brandenburg brought in $60; they each won four tickets to Water World plus a free overnight stay.

“Jammin' Jerry”, a talented guitar and Banjo player, entertained the crowd after the fishing festivities. Jerry’s musical history includes entertainers like Waylon Jennings, Johnny Paycheck and Freddy Fender. He received recognition from President Bush for his song “Freedom”.

T-shirts and caps with CASA logos were available. Everyone feasted on hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, potato salad and drinks. After all, fishing is hard work.

Other community donations, including dollars as well as items-in-kind for door prizes, came from Arkansas Valley Optometry, Mr. D's, Robinson Printing, KLMR and 36 other business throughout the southeast Colorado area. (A special thank you to P. J. Wilson). CASA operates from office space donated by P. J. and Brenda Wilson, Wilson Insurance Services, in Lamar.

A Seattle, Washington judge started CASA in 1977. By 1990, US Congress passed the Victims of Child Abuse Act which supported the expansion of CASA programs. According to the CASA tournament brochure, “...CASA has grown to a network of more than 59,000 volunteers that serve 243,000 abused and neglected children through 900 ‘+’ local program offices nationwide. Our volunteers, also known as court appointed advocates, are appointed by judges and act as officers of the court. Judges rely on the information these trusted advocates present.” More detailed information on this worthy organization will follow later in a more detailed article.

CASA volunteers cover the 15th, 16th and 3rd Judicial Districts which include the following counties: Cheyenne, Kiowa, Prowers, Baca (15th); Crowley, Otero, Bent (16th); Huerfano, Las Animas (3rd).

CAS A needs volunteers. If you can give two to four hours a week helping neglected and abused children find their way to a better life, please call Shelly Tombleson at 719.688.3245, Brianna Bourne at 719.468.3687 or Virginia Solano at 719.468.3688.

John Martin Reservoir CASA Fishing Tournament

Mark your calendars, all you fishing aficionados; May 16, 2009, John Martin Reservoir at Hasty, Colorado. Tournament registration - 8AM, Poles in the water - 10AM, weigh-in ceremony and fish-fry - 2PM.

Entry fees - $25 (16 +), $15 (juniors). Cash and door prizes. The best part: ALL PROCEEDS HELP ABUSED CHILDREN IN SE COLORADO.

For further info about the tournament - or CASA, call Shelly at 719.688.3245 or John Martin Reservoir State Park at 719.829.1801.

THE STILLING BASIN; monthly column on John Martin Dam

May 1, 2009

Water level at John Martin Dam was 78,300 acre-feet on 4/28 at noon. The maximum level was 84,400 acre-feet on 4/20. Over 500 cubic feet per second is releasing into the Stilling Basin.

Karen Downey, former Park Ranger at the Corps of Engineers, returned from duty in Afghanistan in early March. She is now Operations Manager for the agency at John Martin Dam. Welcome home and congratulations.

Duane Nelson, biologist for the corps, said he has counted 10 Plovers at John Martin as of 4/24. “We expect the Least Terns around 5/15,” Nelson said. Piping Plovers and Least Terns migrate to John Martin to nest and raise their young. “Piping Plovers were federally listed as threatened in 1986 and added to Colorado's threatened list in 1996,” according to the state park brochure at the following website (also available at the park office at John Martin): http://parks.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/0D3AEBE2-2547-428C-9B64-4215ED252405/0/JohnMartinBirdsBro.pdf. The brochure continues, “The Least Tern was federally listed as endangered in 1985 under the Endangered Species Act and listed by Colorado as endangered in 1996.”

The John Martin State Park office has a beautiful and informative display showcasing life-sized Plovers and Terns; spending a few minutes enjoying and educating yourself with this display may come in handy when walking the south side beaches of the reservoir. Since these birds are protected wildlife, there is a large fine/jail time for their accidental or intentional destruction. Please observe wildlife closure signs.

As of 4/24, only about two acres were closed for Plover protection on the south side of the reservoir. Since reservoir water is dropping in elevation, some additional nesting area closures will occur as more birds migrate into the area and more beaches surface. For information on either of these imperiled birds, call the corps, the park or DOW.

Restricted area signs are posted around the silt mitigation area about a mile west of the south end of the dam. The drying silt is similar to quicksand and is as dangerous. Call the corps at 336.3476.

Heath Kehm, Park Ranger for the state park, said boat inspections for Quagga and Zebra Mussels have begun. Please stop at the park office before launching.

These two imported, invasive species of mussels were found last year in Pueblo Reservoir. Tiny and prolific, they have and will continue to cost billions of dollars in damages in many parts of our country. All underwater surfaces are susceptible to their colonizing, such as live wells, intake areas and hulls. If they are on your boat when you launch, they may spread into that body of water. To any industry/operation that uses underwater machinery, these mussels are a formidable enemy. So far, our reservoir does not contain this problem: so far, our dam is safe. Let's do our best to maintain this situation. The park/corps/DOW agencies have available brochures. Several sites online have information including down loadable material for your own use: http://100thmeridian.org, http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=95 and http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/InvasiveSpecies/ZebraandQuaggaMussels.htm, are some examples.

“We should be fully staffed with summer seasonal staff by mid-May,” Kehm said. They are in the hiring process for a full-time Administrative person. Barb VanWinkle, park ranger, has transferred to Eleven Mile Reservoir. VanWinkle will be missed for her personality, knowledge and energy. Good luck Barb. Call the park at 829.1801.

According to the DOW website, “The 2009 spring turkey season starts April 11 and continues through May 24, although dates vary in some units. Over-the-counter licenses can be purchased for most units in the state; but some areas are limited so be sure to check the 2009 turkey hunting brochure.” For additional information, call Steve Keefer at 940.3586 or the DOW office in Lamar at 336.6600.