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<br />003079 <br /> <br />1999 CWCS RuediReport <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />exception of fishing on the Fryingpan River. Timing of the releases, the nature of many of the <br />recreation activities, and the seasonality of the recreation activities all tend to minimize the <br />potential impacts of endangered fish releases on recreation. <br /> <br />Formal data collected from recreationists and other site monitoring efforts such as the Forest <br />Service's Meaningful Measures program is limited and generally does not relate well to the <br />content of this portion of the report. Consequently, the material presented in this section <br />represents feedback from on-site resource managers, commercial outfitter/guides, and recreation <br />users that have recently expressed interest in Ruedi Reservoir operations. <br /> <br />Ruedi Reservoir. Recreation at Ruedi Reservoir primarily occurs between Memorial Day and <br />Labor Day. Visitor use of the area decreases markedly after Labor Day, when the campgrounds <br />begin to close and other services cease for the season. The 1999 endangered fish releases, as <br />well as past years releases, has had little influence on this use pattern due in large part to the <br />timing of the releases. Lake levels remained sufficient through Labor Day to allow for the full <br />range of activities occurring at the lake such as boating, fishing, and swimming. Releases <br />continued from September into October and the reservoir level began to drop significantly during <br />this timeframe. Visitor use by this time had already tapered off as a result of seasonal use <br />patterns based on social and environmental factors, not the fish releases and related reservoir <br />water level. <br /> <br />Reservoir water levels were adequate through mid-October to allow for use of all boat ramps on <br />the reservoir. After mid-October, the Dearhamer Campground and Aspen Yacht Club boat <br />ramps were no longer usable, however this was well past the primary season of use. Water <br />elevations were sufficient throughout the release period for the Ruedi Marina boat ramp to <br />remain useable. <br /> <br />Commercial River Rafting. River rafting along the affected portion of the Roaring Fork has <br />evolved into use patterns that are not currently impacted by the releases. Roaring Fork rafting is <br />almost universally conducted to coincide with spring runoffs, generally from May to early July. <br />The cumulative spring flows from the upper Roaring Fork basin generally dictate when the river <br />is most marketable for these trips. Ruedi operations seem to have little or no effect on these <br />activities because the releases primarily occur later in the season (August - October). However, <br />there is limited opportunity to extend the season of operation on occasion if flows are sufficient <br />enough in August for rafting. <br /> <br />Rafting on the Colorado River is essentially unaffected by the releases, The flows along the <br />Colorado are typically more than sufficient throughout the operating season, May to October, to <br />provide quality river rafting experiences. This past year's endangered fish releases had no <br />apparent effect on either rafting experience or operations on the Colorado River. In addition, no <br />cumulative effects on this activity are anticipated from future water releases. <br /> <br />Fishing. Ruedi Reservoir operations have tended to moderate flows along the portion of the <br />Fryingpan River between the dam and the confluence with the Roaring Fork River. Moderation <br />of the stream flow has encouraged the stream channel to become relatively narrow and well <br />defined, increased vegetative growth along the banks, and improved the sport fishery. These <br />effects have led to increased interest in fishing the Fryingpan, especially by wading. However, <br />