Beyond Bear Creek: What CPW’s Greenback Comeback Means for Colorado Springs Anglers
A Victory for Our State Fish
If you’ve spent time around the shop or on our local waterways, you know how deeply we care about the health of Colorado’s native species, the Greenback Cutthroat Trout. Recently, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with over 80 dedicated biologists, researchers, and partner organizations, completed Phase 2 of the ambitious Poudre Headwaters Project in Rocky Mountain National Park. Using precise science and painstaking fieldwork, teams cleared 14+ miles of headwater to make room for the reintroduction of pure Greenback Cutthroat Trout. While the Poudre Headwaters Project is happening north, its success hits remarkably close to home right here in Colorado Springs.
The Local Connection: Bear Creek & The Colorado Springs Root
Why does a project in Rocky Mountain National Park matter to us at Anglers Covey? Because Colorado Springs is where the modern Greenback restoration movement began. For decades, greenback cutthroats were presumed extinct. However, genetic studies led by University of Colorado researchers revealed that the only genetically pure, wild population of true Greenback Cutthroat Trout survived in a tiny, isolated stretch of Bear Creek, right in our backyard on the slopes of Pikes Peak. The very fish being stocked into high-country waters like the Poudre Headwaters trace their lineage back to those Bear Creek natives. (Learn more about these early days of discovery through historical blog posts on Angler’s Covey – just enter “Greenback” in the search tool for the website.)
What This Means for Local Anglers & Our Fisheries
While current Greenback reintroduction zones are strictly regulated or closed during initial stocking phases to allow populations to establish, these projects pave the way for sustainable, native trout fly fishing opportunities across the state in the coming decades, expanding our High-Country Opportunities! Removing invasive species like non-native brook trout allows native cutthroats to thrive without aggressive competition. This project highlights a shift toward prioritizing biological diversity and ecosystem health over high fish counts. CPW has named the Greenback Cutthroat a top priority in its new 10-year Strategic Plan. Expect to see continued investments in cold-water habitat restoration, fish passage improvements, and stream quality right here along the Front Range and South Platte drainage.
How You Can Protect Native Trout on Your Next Trip
First, when recreating in the Bear Creek Watershed, be respectful of the restrictions in place to protect this special habitat and the native Greenbacks that call it home. The US Forest Service, in cooperation with other agencies and local partners, has put in place certain restrictions to conserve and protect this species. Learn more: USFS Bear Creek Watershed Restoration Project.
Whether you’re fishing high-alpine lakes in the Pikes Peak region or hiking into backcountry streams, here is how the Angler’s Covey community can lead by example:
- Practice Mindful Handling and always wet your hands before touching a trout. Keep them in the water as much as possible and use barbless hooks for quick releases.
- Respect Seasonal Closures & Regulations. Keep an eye out for stream restoration signs, tread on-stream banks lightly to protect spawning redds, and follow local closures designed to give young fish a fighting chance.
- Clean, Drain, Dry! Invasive species and non-native pathogens are major threats to high-country fisheries. Thoroughly clean your waders, boots, and nets between watersheds.
Have questions about backcountry fishing or local native trout waters? Stop by the shop to chat with our staff, check out our latest stream reports, or pick up the right patterns for your next adventure!