When we think of libraries, we often imagine books cascading over shelves, yet they are part of a much broader stream of resources — including fostering civic engagement and community connections.

Librarians strive to support the civic life of our communities by helping patrons build a confluence of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make a difference.

In this pursuit, the Fraser Valley Library is “setting the hook” with the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited to present the impacts of drought on local rivers and share the work they are doing to keep these rivers healthy.

The presentation, “Drought and Our Grand County Rivers,” will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, at the Fraser Valley Library. All are welcome to attend and encouraged to learn how they, too, can make a difference.

Snowpack is nature’s reservoir, but as witnessed this spring, our natural reservoir was nearly empty. To complete the perfect storm our rivers are facing, Grand County is in a Stage 3 Extreme Drought, which means that while our rivers are at their lowest, the region is experiencing conditions scientists describe as among the hottest and driest in 1,200 years— compounded by water diversions along the rivers’ natural journey.

The mission of the Headwaters Chapter is to preserve, protect and reconnect the cold-water fisheries in Grand County. The chapter has pursued this mission since 2002, but this summer it is working double-time to help keep trout alive.

Loss of food supply and a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water threaten trout. As water warms, the insects that trout rely on for food cannot handle the warmer stream temperatures and diminish in population, leaving trout short of their food supply.

Trout are considered a cold-water fishery because they need more oxygen than many other fish. As rivers warm, dissolved oxygen in the water escapes into the atmosphere, leaving trout struggling to get enough oxygen.

To help promote stream temperature awareness, the Grand County Library District has added stream temperature thermometers to its collection for checkout. All catch-and-release anglers should fish with a thermometer and know which stream temperatures threaten trout. Thermometers can also be purchased at fly shops.

Grand County libraries are also teeming with resources related to river health and recreation. In addition to stream thermometers, patrons can check out trout maps of local rivers and an abundance of books, including Peter McBride’s “Witness to Water,” which explores why it is so hard for humankind to let rivers run and so easy to “fail to consider what the rivers themselves might need to thrive.”

Since its inception, the Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited has been working on solutions to low flows and high stream temperatures. This work will never end, but the chapter has accomplished a lot.

Learn more about Trout Unlimited and the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter at COHeadwaters.org. Access to films, documentaries, podcasts and more can be found in the News & Media section of the website.

Kirk Klancke is the President of the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited. His email is kirkklancke@gmail.com.