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LATEST SACRED WATERS CO BLOG POST - UPDATES/INFO on OUR PROGRAMS, EVENTS, DONOR INFORMATION AND OF COURSE COVID-19 & DROUGHT CONCERNS. Conservation Advocacy Rehabilitation Education Hello All, Unfortunately, with great sadness & much regret we have temporarily shut down Sacred Waters CO again. With all the newest Covid concerns with ever escalating amounts of cases here locally, especially bad with our closest neighboring counties in SW CO and N NM as well as extreme hot spots/highest caseload areas from our main largest tourist/client bases of TX, OK, NM, AZ, & CA. "I hope we didn't jump the gun on this reopening date as stated in my last two email newsletters & blog posts we have been monitoring the Covid situation here locally and were waiting to see a decline in Covid cases which was improving till of course "Murphy's Law" prevails..." We at SWCO delayed opening back up till June 10th well after the state of Colorado started opening back up, and loosening restrictions as of April 27th. We monitored all covid data from April 27 to June 9th while also putting in covid protocols in our donor/client guided fishing contracts & liability waivers even with all these precautions & covid data research Covid cases/issues continued to escalate as we suspected would happen especially with other counties &/or states varying drastically on how they handled or continue to handle this pandemic. We were extremely excited downright surprised by the positive response from Donors, Clients, & Charity groups when we did reopen with many donations coming in daily and guided trips being booked up within a week of a somewhat late reopening & uncertain future. Even with the possible Covid, economic, wildfire, &/or drought concerns/issues by donors, clients, & charities we booked up every day from June 19th to July 15th with myself booked up solid everyday and a couple other guides booked up a few days each week too. But, many of you who follow my blog, receive our email newsletters, and/or follow our FB & IG Social media pages may have noticed a lot of news about Covid, Drought, Wildfires with a major lack of fishing & guiding reports or photos & videos well because we haven’t been guiding or even personally fishing too much. **(Please feel free to reference our SWCO FB Page or my/ Joe's Personal FB Page for all this Covid, wildfire, & drought news & the reasoning of our latest temporary closure/shutdown.)** Even with all our due diligence with our Covid concerns as we continued to monitor covid data as well as our current drought & wildfire situations we felt it was best to reschedule & cancel all these guided trips and charity events till we seen improvements in covid, as well as weather & water conditions from April 27th to present but everything just continues to get worse so after some emergency board & guide discussions over all this the past week we had decided to officially close back down for the foreseeable future. Thank you Donor members that paid that have been offered refunds with much thanks to you all, most did not even want refunded or only partial refund at most from the Sacred Waters CO, Inc. Fly-fishing Conservation Club dues for guide services which will definitely help towards recouping our expenses from required permitting, bonds, insurances, etc. that were due and paid throughout Jan.-April 2020, and also help with our future success be it in the short-term if everything does turn around and improve during this 2020 Season or in the long-term that we can keep paying the bills and be here for you all next year. Thank you, thank you for your continued support and understanding we do have some wonderful, generous, selfless, people in the Sacred Waters Community. Not all is lost though please feel free to contact us anytime via telephone, email, social media messages via FB or IG, or on our website booking platform because we can Not predict the future we may at some period be able to justify possible early morning half days, high country/backcountry trips, at extremely strict Covid protocols and at a very limited capacity, with the right to refuse services at any time due to prospective clients not meeting or agreeing to our covid protocols or due to drought/water & weather conditions. As many of you who know us in the Sacred Waters Family we take pride in and hold much higher standards than most all outfitters and businesses in the area which is usually more with proper fisheries conservation, management, and protections but the same holds true and goes for protecting ourselves, our families, our friends, our donors/clients, our charities, and our Community. At best case scenario at present that we can see or predict at the moment any guide services at SWCO in 2020 will be on the Bronze Level #2 Donorship for High-country/Backcountry Public Land Trips as we already shut down all lower elevation, larger rivers/lakes locations about a week ago anyway due to low, lethally warm water conditions pretty well following in suite with the 2018 drought almost to the day. Those who may have been interested in Higher Level Donor Memberships in 2020 Plat., Gold, Silver, Bronze #1 Levels please be aware that we already shut down our Private Conservation Waters/Ranches about a week ago and cannot guarantee any private land trips will be possible in 2020, but as stated above we may do a few higher elevation colder water guide trips on the National Forest/Wilderness Areas if we are comfortable with the Covid protocol agreements and fishing conditions at the times you may be interested in a guide trip. You will still receive the same donor gifts, same amount of allocated guided trip usage days, and tax-deductible receipts. "As stated in my last two blog posts & email newsletters our Donors have been AWESOME through all this mess with unsolicited donations coming in, 2020 Donor Member Renewals, and support all around. THANK YOU ALL! It means so very much to all of us here at SWCO, and too all we serve Thank You…. " As for your personal fishing we strongly suggest for you to get outdoors, go fish, and have fun with all that’s going on in the world may be the best thing you can do for your mental & emotional well-being as well as your own health get out there enjoy some beneficial sunshine, fresh air, exercise while being smart and safe about it be it Covid protocols of social distancing, regular hand washing, and/or wearing face coverings/masks. If you do decide to get out trout fishing soon, please be smart and safe with the fisheries/fishes too. We are in what looks to be another looming record drought comparable to the record drought of 2018 if you want to trout fish please use a thermometer regularly at least every hour to monitor water temps and please stop trout fishing if water reaches 68F. Focus your efforts on higher elevation high-country/backcountry streams & lakes, bottom release tailwaters, early morning short trips, or as we at SWCO do regularly maybe #thinkoutsidethetrout by trying out for the 1st time or focusing your fishing more towards #warmwaterflyfishing trips for Bass, Carp, Catfish, Musky/Pike, Walleye/Perch, and/or Sunfishes/Panfishes instead of fishing for cold-water fishes like Trout or Salmon. You may open a Pandora’s Box of newfound excitement and adventures for years to come. Feel free to contact us for any advice on warmwater fly-fishing techniques, locations, etc… we will get you on the right track to successful multi-species angling. More details on water temperature monitoring, finding the proper ethical guide services, and other drought issues/concerns please refer to these former Blog posts from the 2018 drought linked here. Donor Member Info/Updates: *In addition to everything stated above.* Newly added Covid-19 Protocols. Please read the New 2020 Donor Contract and if 1st time Donating or renewing your annual Donor Membership please follow instructions in Contract, print out as double-sided/both sides as this is how contract is formatted to be printed and will reduce the use/waste of paper thank you. Donor Gifts: Most all Donor Gift Packs had been mailed out and most of you should have received your gift pack months ago. If you had not please contact me and I can track the shipment. I did not send 2 Plat. donor gift packs due to the Covid shut down some products are still backordered will get them to you ASAP when I receive the last products. Did have 1 return to sender from an undeliverable address but too will get it to you when I see you all. FYI : Please don't forgot starting yesterday July 1st, 2020 All Residents & Non-Residents alike must have a Valid Colorado Hunting or Fishing License to Access CPW State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands. No Matter the activity not related to hunting,trapping, &/or fishing all persons over 18 yrs old needs a license to legally access Colorado Parks & Wildlife SWA & STL managed properties. Weather Forecasts/Outlook: Click Links Present week's forecast 8-14 Day Extended Weather Outlook Water Conditions: https://dwr.state.co.us/surfacewater/data/division.aspx?div=7 Colorado Drought Monitoring/Plan: https://www.facebook.com/joseph.eichelberger1/posts/3312455158785755 Charity Events 2020: Southern Ute/Ignacio Jr. High SoCoCaa Events Schedule for 2020. January 2020 1/18/20 – Ice fishing Field Trip 1/22/20- Fly-Tying Class February 2020 2/8/20- Ice Fishing Day Trip 2/19/20- Fly-Tying Class. March 2020 – 3/21/20-3/22/20- Overnight- XC ski trips, Chaco Canyon tour, &/or Fly Fishing Trips- CANCELLED! April 2020 4/15/20- Knots/Rigging & Fly tying - CANCELLED! 4/18/20- Fly Fishing Day Trip- Location TBD on Water & weather Conditions - CANCELLED! May 2020 5/2/20- Whitewater Rafting- Location- San Juan River Pagosa Springs, CO. - CANCELLED! June 2020- No Events due to Covid restrictions, concerns, and protocols. July 2020 07/14/20- Fly Fishing Day Trip- Location TBD on Water & weather Conditions. On Schedule/Calendar The rest of 2020 SoCoCaa Events To be Determined…. CANCELLED! August 2020- Mid- late August- ( date to be determined) Possible Multi-day camping and fishing trip TBD on Covid concerns, and water/weather conditions. Pagosa Springs Girl Scouts Troop: Scheduling delayed due to current COVID-19 concerns. In discussions as of July 2020 of future scheduling. Veterans Groups/Events: PHWFF of DFW- To Be Determined due to COVID-19, and possible economic uncertainties. PHWFF of Ft. Hood- To Be Determined due to COVID-19, and possible economic uncertainties. Patriot Anglers of N. TX & S. OK - To Be Determined due to COVID-19, and possible economic uncertainties. Dark Horse Marines- To Be Determined due to COVID-19, and possible economic uncertainties. Please review the FB & IG Social Media Pages and our Websites. I hope it can help show you all more easily and clearly the Efforts and Accomplishments SWCO has put forth with you and other donors’ generous donations. These Social Media Pages are updated with the most up to date need to information almost daily. Donate Today and help us protect our local fisheries and provide the healing benefits of outdoor therapy to as many people as possible. We can't really predict or control/change the weather, but we can provide the best fishing at the best times and protect our waters and fishes at the worst times. We can only accomplish this with your generous donations. We want to hear from you. Email us at admin@sacredwaters.co or give us a call (970)444-2187 or (970)731-1443 and we’ll be in touch! Thank you for your interests & support of SWCO. (* Sacred Waters CO, Inc. and Sacred Waters CO Foundation are Equal Opportunity Employers and Service Providers working through Special Use Permits from USDA San Juan National Forest Pagosa District and the State of Colorado. Licensed/Permitted, Bonded & Insured Outfitter in Colorado #OUT.0003217 *) Thank You, Tight Lines; Joseph Eichelberger Founder, President of Sacred Waters Co Professional Angler, Custom Fly Tyer/Designer Freelance Outdoors Writer, Photographer, & Fisheries Consultant
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Hello All, As many of you may know we here at Sacred Waters CO. hold to a much higher standard than most Outfitters’ here locally and will continue to do so well into the future. While sticking to our SWCO C.A.R.E Mission not only in Conservation: Protecting & preserving the environment, Advocating: for our fisheries, Rehabilitating: of damaged ecosystems as well as peoples, and Educating: as many as possible, this too relates directly to our thoughts & actions with the protection & safety our community and all peoples. First off, sorry for the lack of communication the recently I believe you all can understand considering the state of the world right now. Not going to lie it been scary & stressful here seems like every time we turn around the next thing surprisingly jumps and kicks ya in the gut. I had lost a very dear friend pretty much family member here yesterday and will be out of touch for a few days, but I will write up a more detailed newsletter and blog post with fishing, water & weather conditions, hatch reports etc.. as well as have updated contracts & Covid protocols by next week at the latest, please hold tight and thank you for your patience and understanding. Sacred Waters CO is still here and will be operating soon enough, we are all paid up, legal, and ready to slowly get back to business. Everything is the same here with SWCO other than addition of Covid Protocols added to the way we will have to operate. When will we do our first guide trip or charity event, I do not know 100% at this time……? Soon Enough! But yes, we are here for 2020 and if all goes well for many years to come too. We generally need to generate around $44-$50,000.00 to operate as we have the last 3 years and more to grow and do more charity work & events. I was concerned on that not being easily possible this year due to well you know our current pandemic, recession, economic uncertainties, now protests, riots, drought, and whatever else the universe decides to throw at us. But so far even through all this you, our generous donors have continually donated all throughout the last 4 month of chaos and now with our fishing season maybe starting any day Donor Member Renewals & interests coming in more daily as well as Bronze level day trip inquiries. As of April 27th, 2020, Outfitters were permitted to start operating we at SWCO decided to wait a couple few weeks to see if Covid cases flatlined or preferably declined over that timeframe before making decisions on future operating plans/procedures. Since 4/27/20 Covid cases have declined but continue to show spikes in cases as other governmental re-opening standards had relaxed and then the Memorial Day weekend rush came through, which I must say unfortunately was the craziest, busiest May I have ever seen in 12 yrs. of living here. This too as Colorado started reopening and relaxing some restrictions New Mexico was totally shut-down and all the Reservations closed to non-tribal members - (no fishing, no boating, no camping, parks, forests, trails, campgrounds all closed!) somewhat forcing our neighbors in NM to flock here in droves, hard to blame them too much but still very concerning. As well with the high number of cases escalating in San Juan County, NM. (Farmington, Dulce, Navajo Nation) as a Covid Hotspot lately continues to keep us concerned. After each change in Covid protocols has happened we had set in place a 14-day observation period before deciding our new moves but each week since these Covid rules have changed extending our observation period out farther and farther. We receive emails weekly from the Feds & the state also with new covid protocols for Outfitters and had to add said Covid protocols to our permits & operating plans. The latest Covid rules email I received from the Feds & the state has public opinion surveys & comment sections especially for outfitters, camps. Group events, etc. these responses are due tomorrow 6/3/20 so hopefully have some more information and answers more Covid rules here shortly. I will update the SWCO Donor Member Contract for 2020 with said Covid Protocols/Requirements within the next few days. Thank You All, Hope all is well enough, take care, be safe, stay healthy. Please review the FB & IG Social Media Pages and our Websites. I hope it can help show you all more easily and clearly the Efforts and Accomplishments SWCO has put forth with you and other donors’ generous donations. These Social Media Pages are updated with the most up to date need to information almost daily. Donate Today and help us protect our local fisheries and provide the healing benefits of outdoor therapy to as many people as possible. We can't really predict or control/change the weather, but we can provide the best fishing at the best times and protect our waters and fishes at the worst times. We can only accomplish this with your generous donations. Thank You, Tight Lines; Joseph Eichelberger Founder, President of Sacred Waters Co Professional Angler, Custom Fly Tyer/Designer Freelance Outdoors Writer, Photographer, & Fisheries Consultant We want to hear from you. Email us at admin@sacredwaters.co or give us a call (970)444-2187 or (970)731-1443 and we’ll be in touch! Thank you for your interests & support of SWCO. (* Sacred Waters CO, Inc. and Sacred Waters CO Foundation are Equal Opportunity Employers and Service Providers working through Special Use Permits from USDA San Juan National Forest Pagosa District and the State of Colorado. Licensed/Permitted, Bonded & Insured Outfitter in Colorado #OUT.0003217 * ) We’ll pick up where I left off in part 3 where I gave some background on myself and why I wanted to start Sacred Waters as nonprofits. Part 4 continues the story and the direction we’d like to head in. I gathered a board to manage and direct Sacred Waters who all have a background in ethical fishing and sportsmanship and most importantly a desire to change things for the better. We started imagining how differently this whole thing could look. So imagine this, non profit organizations run by the highest quality Professional Anglers that can afford to give an educational guided experience, not just to clients, but by giving back to the disabled, disadvantaged, youth and veterans as well. We want to share fishing fun & therapy with youth from local schools, other non-profits like 4H, and help heal at risk & disadvantaged youth from Human Services &/or local Tribes/Reservations with the best education and experiences on fly tying, fly fishing, ecology, entomology, and fishery science. Imagine having the time and money to sponsor Disabled Veterans through groups like Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Patriot Anglers, Vets 4 Vets, Veteran Recreational Outdoor Therapy Project, etc... to help schools, children, veterans start their own fishing organizations, fly tying clubs or classes. The ability to plan and execute top quality events for groups, while providing professional anglers to guide and assist them in enjoying the highest quality waters with the best fishing results. Veterans who have given so much deserve healing time outside that can help take away the horrible thoughts, memories, and scars of war they experience even only if for that moment. Imagine having the time and money to dedicate to land stewardship that has a lasting and positive impact on the waters. This can be done by:
Imagine being able to guide clients who are like minded in their passion to protect the environment and others, have a drive to learn, and a possess a better understanding of our natural world. Because these clients are our donors who make ALL this possible these are the people I want to spend my time with, to teach and to learn from. Imagine helping a recovering addicts find escape from their addictions and the deep seeded scars that caused them. As the dude bros say, the #thetugisthedrug #thetugismydrug dude bra... #flyfishingsaveslives. Trust me, it saved my life more than once and has and continues to offer me the pleasure and opportunity to touch the lives of so many others. I meet countless numbers of interesting people and heard their stories while guiding. Fly Fishing has given this addict the privilege to Live, Work, Play, Protect & Preserve these Sacred Waters. Imagine All these people will become lifelong stewards of our environment and hopefully spread our CARE Mission to future generations. These things are all possible through the benefits of these Non-Profit Organizations we founded. So that’s why I chose to start Sacred Waters and that’s my perfect outcome. You guys in??? Yes!!! PS: We’ll let them all introduce themselves and talk a bit more at length on the blog, but here’s the team of board members that is helping make this vision a reality: https://www.sacred-waters.org/about-us.html I never go to rivers to kill trout. I go to unkill parts of myself that otherwise might die. Welcome to Sacred Waters. I’m the Founder and President SWCO Joe Eichelberger and I’d like to give you a little background on why we exist and what we intend to do. But first, a little background... Those that know me have heard me say time and time again “I care more about these waters and their fish than I do about money.” I say it because that is how I truly feel, and starting this non profit is me doing something about it instead of just talking. I constantly preach about not booking trips during low, warm, lethal water conditions. I’d rather not work than to book a guided trip on overfished water or fish during spawning activity. This is an even better chance to do what I know is right. Recreationally and professionally, I have been in this fishing game for a long time. No seriously, I've done it all from fly shop staff, sporting goods staff, buyer, manager, fly tying instructor, casting instruction, guiding, commercial fishing, field testing equipment, product development, writing articles, interviews for articles, photo shoots, filming for movies & TV, and ranch/fisheries management. None of those careers provided me with much sense accomplishment. I don't want to be famous I want to help change the world. What I can say is that I'm happy teaching (guiding), managing fisheries, writing educational newsletters, publishing fishing reports, and enjoy testing & developing quality gear as a pro-staffer/field tester to help make fishing more fun and less work for everyone. I was raised to believe that making money off of hunting and fishing were somehow bad, but I justified my guiding knowing that I'm a teacher, and a damn good one at that. I teach people how to cast, tie knots, properly handle fish. I teach them about fish & insect life-cycles, ecosystems, and water & fish conservation. My family had also stated many concerns about the long term direction of the outdoor industry. They saw declining fishing and hunting opportunities and a downward spiral of ethical, moral, & sportsmanship standards. High pay-to-play costs, unauthentic high fence ranches and “canned hunts”, fake "pellethead" private fishing clubs/waters, big money corporatized tournaments, headwater degradation, over usage and abuse of our public & private lands and waters. The more outdoor industry jobs I worked in, I began watching more and more of my families predictions start to unfold in front of my eyes. Helping the environment and people have always been more important and rewarding to me than making a six figure salary but let’s keep it real, money is a necessity of life in our society. We considered a private fishing club, with a traditional corporate business model and likely higher profits, but something just didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel true to the core beliefs that my family instilled in me. My family and many close friends fought these private clubs and guide services and they’ve advocated against heavily-stocked, inferior GMO pellethead fisheries. No, the ethics of a for-profit private club or guide service didn’t appeal to me, and was the total opposite of what direction I wanted to move Sacred Waters in. I could not morally go down that road nor be a hypocrite. Like I’ve always said “I care more about these waters and fishes than I do about having a profit driven organization.” As the mission and vision of Sacred Waters was coming together, it quickly became clear that the openness and accountability of a non-profit were the only direction for us. I wanted to rule out the greed and compromises that too often come with profit-driven fishing clubs and companies. In the second part of this introductory series I’ll tell more about how Sacred Waters is going to change up the model. Since I began to fish in the days before memory and have no consciousness of ever not fishing, the evidence is clear that I was born a fisherman. Over all the years in this industry and all the conversations with other Professional Anglers, Landowners, and Clients about how the average For-Profit Retail Fly Shop Outfitting does not work well for anyone or anything. In March 2017 these discussions came back up with two Ranch Owners I've held long-term leases with for most of my time here in Pagosa Springs about 9 years. They stated they were not wanting to renew contracts due to it wasn't worth the money, the hassle, and the abuse of their land and fish. I’m not going to lie, they were totally right, but I felt like my whole world pulled out from under me with no warning. I was always told and always believed that I held higher standards for my Outfitting, towards myself, my guides, and even my clients everywhere I’ve worked. We did not overbook trips, on our busiest year(season) for example in the retail outfitting of these two properties we guided a total of 264 people through these waters and turned down just as many other trips. Our actual capacity on just these two properties could be 2760 people total in just our short season if ran like most seasonal tourist guide services. What if I didn't spread out pressure equally between each beat, for example on if I guided each ranch everyday one ranch it would be 6-7 days before I’d see the same beat again and 3-4 days on the other Ranch. What if I didn’t cut down two years ago to only guiding my own clients. To just offering guided trips to my own long term existing clients, a few client referrals, a few children and disabled Veterans got on these waters. We never fished or booked trips during bad environmental conditions low, warm waters that may be hazardous to the health of the fishes will not be fished. We did not do any fishing or guiding that may have affected spawning fishes at those locations . I managed all my waters as Wild Trout Fisheries, unless there's extreme adverse environmental conditions (flooding, landslides, winter kill, droughts or recent necessary stream rehabilitation work) occur that may harm the fishery then some hatchery fingerlings (3"-5" fishes) may be planted to help sustain the population. Even with my best efforts to apply my fishing ethical standards, the Retail Guiding business model was/is Broken. I'm not saying this across the board. In some states, some localities, it does work well enough, but does not work here due to many factors. We will continue to touch on through future Blog posts as well as with some Sacred Waters Advocacy Actions. I discussed this Idea I’ve had for the last few years of what is now Sacred Waters and the Ranch Owners were very receptive and decided to continue our contracts. This all has been a kick in the pants to not be afraid of taking the risk to do what I’ve always thought was right and the best, well personally speaking only option for our local environment and to help others. Now the Sacred Water Journey begins…… The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. 0 Comments  Many of you that know me well enough have probably understood all you've read so far on the Sacred Waters website those of you have not let me elaborate. My latest inspiration for finally spearheading this project came on a day that just kept replaying in my mind, feelings that at least for me am incapable of putting into words. June 2015: I was guiding with a young man 9 yrs of age (solo as preferred to teach children or any loved one you’d like to learn and enjoy what you love). This young man was very eager to learn and asked tons of questions on our short drive. He expressed a strong interest in catching a sucker fish (which he and his grandpa seen in the river the previous day) so that was a conversation starter on the role sucker fish fit in the ecosystem. The facts that they are one of just a few of truly Native Fishes here as well as an endangered species. For me, his interest touched a nerve of the innocence and non prejudice nature of children. Long story short, we went through all the ins and outs of fly fishing. He did awesome catching a few suckers, smaller trout and the Big 20" Bow pictured here 100% all on his own. Afterwards, I dropped him off with his Grandpa discussing the day’s events with such enthusiasm and smiles. It was just a wonderful feeling that is hard for me to explain in words. Afterwards I proceeded to my next event for the day which was a Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Event we were hosting here in Pagosa Springs. I arrived at the event in time to help a few of the disabled veterans at a neighborhood pond while waiting for dinner to get finished. Again, those who have open-minds wanting to learn are inspiring to me. We commenced through all details of fly fishing. Seeing the excitement as people made good casts, caught fish, hearing the stories of their day fishing with our volunteer guides; their stories of how the sport of fly fishing has helped heal them being physically, emotionally, &/or spiritually. How it has Helped Save Their Lives, it all just hit home deep in my soul. As the evening progressed I gave a little speech and presented gifts to the Veteran group donated by Ross Reels USA. Once again to see the excitement, appreciation, gratitude from all these people and being able to give them all free rods, reels, fly lines, leaders, flies, and the ability to keep on Healing through Fly Fishing. I remember speaking of my morning’s event and how grateful I was to be able to do all of these things for everyone. How I wish I didn't have to work for a living so I could do all this for free everyday. Fishing makes us less the hostages to the horrors of making a living. It is a time warp we may step into for a little peace. |
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