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<br />UPCO REPORT ON RAFTING FLows <br />8/20/01 I <br />I <br />TEXT ADDED 3/3/03 <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Commercial rafting in the UPCO study area occurs primarily on the Blue River north of <br />Silverthorne. Commercial rafters anticipate a limited rafting season on the Blue River <br />recognizing limitations of snowmelt runoff and upstream operations of Dillon reservoir. <br />Commercial rafting season is limited to approximately dne month starting in early June. <br />Commercial outfitters hope to have flows available for $e Fourth of July holiday. If flows are <br />adequate in the Blue River a commercial outfitter can make several runs through the eight mile <br />segment with each boat in a single day. River flows listed below are based on the USGS stream <br />gage located below Dillon Reservoir, so actual stream flows are higher. Information on <br />commercial flow requirements listed below is provided by two of the older commercial rafting <br />companies in Summit County. <br /> <br />Low Flows limit the use of this segment because of numerous obstacles limiting the <br />maneuverability of rafts. If flows are too low for c01lll1)ercial outfitters they will usually take <br />their clients to the lower Colorado River, below Gore qanyon, or the Arkansas River in Chaffee <br />County if stream flows are adequate there. These stream segments are already fairly crowded <br />and because of the distance to the put-in the commercial rafters typically can only make one run <br />with each boat. Losing the short season on the Blue River means additional costs associated <br />with transporting clients and vehicles to more distant rafting opportunities, limiting a day to a <br />single run in each boat, and possibly losing clients loo~ing for a half day local whitewater ~ <br />experience. . . ) <br /> <br />Blue River <br /> <br />Season: <br /> <br />June through July 4th (in wet years) <br /> <br />Put In: <br />Take Out: <br />Segment: <br /> <br />2 miles north of Silverthorne at water plant <br />Columbine Landing <br />8 miles <br /> <br />Low Water: Approx. 550 c.f.s <br />High Water: Approx. 2000 c.f.s. <br /> <br />Optimum: 700-1400 c.f.s. <br /> <br />Comments: Under 500 c.f.s is too low for rafting. <br /> <br />Information provided by Bob Bale, Go6d Times Rafting and Kodi Rafting <br /> <br />____~_____~__________~____R______~_~-----------------------~-----r-------------.------------w------------------- <br /> <br />Colorado River <br />