The Western Division of the American Fisheries Society honored Louis Bacon and his Trinchera Ranch with the 2025 Conservation Achievement Award for visionary native trout restoration efforts. This national recognition highlights more than a decade of dedicated work to restore Rio Grande cutthroat trout across 72 miles of protected stream habitat in the southern Colorado and New Mexico region.
Kevin Terry, a longtime San Luis Valley resident and southwest program director for Trout Unlimited, reflects on Trinchera’s contributions and what this award means for conservation in Colorado. His connection to this work is deeply personal, and his words celebrate both the landscape and the people making this success possible. The award was presented at the American Fisheries Society’s annual meeting on May 14 in Westminster.
- More on the cutthroat trout recovery from Alamosa Citizen: Rio Grande cutthroat trout won’t be on endangered species list
2025 Western Division AFS Conservation Achievement Award
By Kevin Terry, Southwest Program Director, Rockies Region, Trout Unlimited
I discovered my life’s purpose high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in a tiny meadow creek not unlike the landscapes now stewarded by Trinchera Ranch. I was 12 years old, on my hands and knees, crawling through tall riparian shrubs and grasses, squishing wild mint and releasing an aroma that would forever remind me of Rio Grande cutthroat trout.
More than three decades later, I still associate streamside mint with healthy cutthroat trout habitat, and my passion for these native fish is as vibrant as ever. Today, I am fortunate to serve as the southwest region director for Trout Unlimited, guided by a beautiful mission to ensure these fish continue to thrive so future generations can smell the “cutthroat grass” too.
I’m confident we’ll succeed – thanks in large part to partners like Louis Bacon and Trinchera Ranch, whose commitment to native trout restoration sets the gold standard in Colorado. For the last 18 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with a dedicated community driven to protect and restore the Rio Grande cutthroat trout within its historic range. The range-wide conservation team is co-led by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and includes federal agencies, tribal nations, NGOs, and conservation-minded private landowners.
On December 9, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the Rio Grande cutthroat trout did not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act – a testament to the conservation team’s collective progress. This designation means people can continue to responsibly access these native fish in the wild places they inhabit.
While every conservation partner plays a vital role, Trinchera has stood out over the last decade, building a Rio Grande cutthroat conservation program that has become a crucial part of the effort.
As a proud resident of the San Luis Valley and an active member of its vibrant conservation community, I can attest firsthand to the enormous strides Trinchera has made for Rio Grande cutthroat trout. The team has embraced a bold vision: to restore the native cutthroat to the entire Trinchera watershed – just as they did in the Placer Creek watershed – providing the species with 72 miles of protected stream habitat. This is no small feat; it’s a decades-long endeavor in a rugged, remote, and biologically rich corner of Colorado.
From the beginning, Trinchera showed that meaningful conservation is possible when vision is matched with action. Every day, a skilled and passionate team – led by two dynamic individuals – brings that vision to life. Judy Lopez, a thoughtful leader and conservation catalyst, has taken Trinchera’s legacy to new heights as conservation and sustainability manager. Reece Samuelson has been exceptional as Trinchera’s fisheries biologist.
I first met Reece on a cutthroat reintroduction project at 12,000 feet in the Sangres. It was 2020, and he was nearly finished earning a master’s degree in fisheries management. He wasn’t just smart as a whip; he was also tough as nails. As a “runner,” he literally ran supplies to work teams throughout the drainage, climbing mountains the way most people walk down a street. Since Reece joined Trinchera, I’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in the pace and scale of cutthroat trout reintroduction – greatly enhancing the capacity of Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Trinchera and elevating native trout restoration across the San Luis Valley.
This year, the Western Division of the American Fisheries Society will recognize this incredible work by presenting Trinchera with the 2025 Conservation Achievement Award. This honor is awarded to organizations whose on-the-ground efforts deliver measurable, long-term impacts on aquatic ecosystems and native species. Trinchera has truly set the standard for native trout recovery. The award will be presented on May 14 at the Society’s annual meeting in Westminster, Colorado.
With my twins now nearly the same age I was when the Rio Grande cutthroat trout first captured my imagination – and inspired an enduring spirit of adventure – I am confident that Trinchera’s work will ensure future generations have the opportunity to experience these fish in a truly magnificent landscape.