Dennis received bachelor's degrees in communication and political science with a TAG degree in Spanish from The University of Akron in Ohio. He grew up in Ohio with two sisters and two brothers, one being his fraternal twin. He and his wife have two dogs: Bacio, and Cal. Dennis currently covers natural resource and environmental issues for The Daily Sentinel
Ground has broken on a project on Roan Creek designed to benefit native fish.
The project, years in the making, involves building a permanent fish barrier to protect a collection of fish native to Colorado including a rare genetic strain of Colorado River cutthroat trout, the bluehead sucker, the Paiute sculpin and the speckled dace.
Those species are increasingly rare in the Colorado River Basin, with the cutthroat trout occupying just 1% of its historic range, according to a news release from the Middle Colorado Watershed Council, one of the partners in the project.
The project is on a remote stretch of the creek in western Garfield County. The county is one of the partners in the project, and Garfield Commissioner Perry Will, a former longtime Colorado Parks and Wildlife wildlife officer and supervisor, said in the release that the cutthroat trout in the creek has an "incredibly unique genetic lineage" and is adapted to survive even in 80-degree waters.
"Keeping nonnative species like brook and rainbow trout out of this system is essential to preserving that rare genetic makeup and ensuring these fish continue to thrive," he said.
The project will cost more than $1 million. It also involves replacing outdated irrigation infrastructure and other work including installing a modern concrete diversion with a headgate, fish screen and flow-measuring device. According to the release, the work will improve efficiency for water users while benefiting stream function and aquatic habitat.
The project is primarily funded through the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART Program. Additional support has come from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Colorado River District's Community Funding Partnership and the Trout and Salmon Foundation.
The Middle Colorado Watershed Council is leading grant administration and stakeholder coordination, Wright Water Engineers is managing the project and Kissner General Contractors, Inc. is building the structure.
"The construction of the fish passage barrier on Roan Creek marks a major step toward protecting and sustaining its unique native fishery," Parks and Wildlife Assistant Area Wildlife Manager Albert Romero said in the release. "For more than 15 years, CPW and partners -- including the BLM, local landowners and many others -- have worked extensively throughout the drainage to conserve this vital resource."