Five Rivers Trout Unlimited is governed by volunteer directors from the Durango area. It is financially independent of Trout Unlimited National.

Contributions to Five Rivers Trout Unlimited are tax-deductible and support conservation, protection and restoration efforts in the rivers under our stewardship.

Board of Directors

  • Kara Armano - 5RTU President

  • Pauline Ellis - 5RTU Past President

  • Frank “Buck” Skillen - 5RTU Past President; CTU Regional VP; 5RTU Education Chair

  • Dasha Greidanus - Communication Chair

  • Greg Furda - Youth Education and Events

  • Chuck Fredrick - 5RTU Treasurer

  • Matt Hoaglin - 5RTU Membership Chair

  • Tom Jones - TU Board of Trustees

  • Cole Glenn - Local Fly Shop Owner

  • Tim Miller - Banquet Chair

  • Marty Saunders - Conservation

  • Miles Comeau - Conservation

  • Keaton Hardy - Conservation

    Please email us with questions at fiveriverstu@gmail.com

Five Rivers TU Committees

Conservation Committee
The Conservation Committee takes the overall goals of the chapter related to improving local streams and develops the projects, partnerships and plans to get the work done.
Committee Chair: Marty Saunders

Membership Committee
The Membership Committee tracks memberships as well as developing activities designed to meet membership growth goals as well as increasing the diversity of the chapter.
Committee Chair: Matt Hoaglin

Youth Education Committee
The Youth Education Committee helps promote TU’s “Stream of Engagement” locally by providing, opportunities for youth of all ages to engage in environmental education and fishing opportunities.
Committee Chair: Buck Skillen

Events Committee
The Events Committee is responsible for planning Chapter activities, from monthly meetings, to fishing trips to community engagement programs.
Committee Chair: Kara Armano

Communications Committee
The Communications Committee is responsible for effectively communicating all we do at the local level to build awareness, attract and engage members and supports, and increase our impact. 
Committee Chair: Travis Terrell Ramos

You do not have to be on the Board to participate on a committee. Members and volunteers are welcome and encouraged to add their voice to what we do locally.

If you are interested in learning more on how you can participate, click here to provide your information and we will get back to you.

Trout Unlimited Employees Located in Durango

Ty Churchwell

  • Ty works for the Sportsmen’s Conservation Project (SCP) which is the primary advocacy wing of the organization, leading legislative efforts from the local to the national level. Ty is actively involved in leading the Animas River watershed through the Superfund cleanup of the mines near Silverton, developing and advancing Good Samaritan legislation at the federal level as well as assisting statewide partners on passing state-level mining reform legislation in Denver.

Garrett Hanks

  • Garrett also works for the Sportsmen’s Conservation Project on public land issues in Southwest Colorado. His work involves being TU’s voice for public land management and planning decisions, working on national level public land policies that impact our coldwater watersheds and advancing protections for the special places we hunt and fish.

Kara Armano

  • Kara is the Southwest Region Communications Director, covering Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. She is a co-founder of Artemis, a past river steward member and chair of the Roaring Fork Conservancy. Kara was also a featured angler as part of the Orvis 50/50 initiative.