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channel downstream to theUnionAvenue vided more than $4.8 million for the City of Pueblo Planning Department.
<br /> Historic District. Between the concrete undertaldng. Great Outdoors Colorado "'The structures have been able to with -
<br /> walls, kayak's and rafters play among the authorized $1.5 million, with city and stand the higher flows we've had this
<br /> boulders; chutes and backwater eddies of county governments and private sources spring, and from all the reports I've been
<br /> the city's newly dedicated white -water contributing the remainder. The DOW getting, in April and May, when the flows
<br /> park paid $26,000 directly and provided indirec C were around 100 to 300 S (cubic feet
<br /> Above the bridge, along a busy railroad fit ding through GOCO's allocation for per second) the fishing for trout was
<br /> yard, past the local high school sports sta- wildlife benefits. The DOW also helped in excellent."
<br /> dium and the Pueblo Greenway and the technical planning for the project and Hobson noted the project includes 215
<br /> Nature Centex and through a segment of fisheries biologist Jim Melby offered manmade structure;, and was designed to
<br /> mi l.a s tate P rty up e l r + cst daily on ..... ��+ t o n to Slut arrnmmndate flows up to 4.000 CFS.
<br /> w,ava...a.. �r anon.. p.1.0— . � r .... -. �
<br /> Pueblo Dam, a growing numr of fisher Construction Co., a Colorado Springs - While early summer flows reached about
<br /> men are discov g seven miles of a river based from the private sector 2,800 CFS, according to Hobson, the pro -
<br /> with a whole new
<br /> w c haract r — and an hon- The river below the dam has been sub- ject's low -water capabilities also were put
<br /> est to- goodness trout stream in the semi- ject to dramatic variations in flow largely to a test
<br /> desert of eastern Colorado. to accommodate irrigation interests below River flows in early May unexpected-
<br /> "So fats it's looldng grew" said David Through the winter storage season, the Iy dropped to a mere 10 -15 CFS when
<br /> Jones, manager of the ArkAnglers fly- river traditionally has been low and gently downstream interests opted to keep their
<br /> fishing shop in Pueblo. " They've create d a flowing. In the spring and early summe>; water in Pueblo Reservoir to facilitate
<br /> whole lot of holding water for trout and as the natural runoff hits and irrigation some maintenance work on their diver -
<br /> slowed down what was an annual blow - calls come in, it becomes a raging torrent. sion structures.
<br /> out when the dam gates opened up. We Fish that had been stocked at low flows "In the past, that could have caused a
<br /> should be seeing some carryover of trout have been swept away by the dramatic real problem," Trujillo said. "It would
<br /> now." increases in volume. On the other hand, at have sent us into a panic about losing
<br /> That was predsely the plan. low flows, trout have found relatively lit - fish. But now, the fish had some pools to
<br /> The new -look river is part of the Pueblo tle truly good holding water — areas with hide in. The fish loss was very minimal."
<br /> Arkansas River Corridor Legacy Project, a sufficient depth and currents to sustain River operators have assured Trujillo
<br /> venture involving numerous governmen- significant numbers of fish similar shutdowns of flow are until
<br /> tal agencies to improve wildlife habitat; Fish and fishermen, therefore, had been in the future. At the least, they would be
<br /> environmental education and compatible concentrated in a handful of locations. incremental, with adequate prior notifi-
<br /> recreation along the approximately nine Much of the river remained unattractive cation given to the DOW Also, domes -
<br /> miles of river from Pueblo Reservoir and generally fishless. tic -water providers operating in the
<br /> downstream to the confluence with The habitat project was to address such upper Arkansas Basin have signed a
<br /> Fountain Creek The project has multiple concerns. series of intergovernmental agreements
<br /> phases and eventually is to include the "We were looking at recontouring the related to development of Colorado
<br /> Chain of Lakes, a series of reclaimed grav- channel," said Doug Krieger; senior fish- Springs' proposed Southern Delivery
<br /> el- mining ponds along the river that will cries biologist for the DOW'S Southeast System that require them to maintain
<br /> become public fishing waters. region. "Through the fluctuations in river adequate minimum flows through
<br /> A $7.5 million fish habitat improve- flow, it had been widened out In some Pueblo in all but the most extreme
<br /> meet effort, mosdy completed last spring, places it might have been 4 inches deep drought years.
<br /> is the centerpiece of the project's initial and 100 yards wide. "We now have the ability to have
<br /> phase. "We were looking for ways to narrow trout fishing like we've never had
<br /> "We had a broad, flat river below the the channel in order to provide velocity before," Thurston said. "We have the
<br /> damn," said Al Trujillo, Pueblo Area shelters for fish at high flows and deeper habitat for trout to survive, and we'll
<br /> Wildlife Manager for the Colorado areas for the fish in winter:" have adequate water in the river in the
<br /> Division of Wildlife (DOW). "I kept look- Accordingly, through the upper seven future. It's very gratifying to know it'll
<br /> ing at it and thinking this could be a lot miles, channel modifications included the be there for our children and our grand -
<br /> better than it is." construction of numerous boulder clus- children.
<br /> Eight years ago, Trujillo toured some tern to deflect currents and stabilize banks. "It's a phenomenal resource for our
<br /> stream improvement projects in Summit A series of 5- V- and W- shaped rock weirs community, and as word about the qual-
<br /> County. He was impressed by what he further backed up currents, added deeper ity of the trout fishing and the boating
<br /> saw and began exploring the possibilities runs and created off - channel areas for course gets out it's sure to attract visi-
<br /> of similar work in the Arkansas River holding fish at higher flows. tors from other areas."
<br /> below the darn. The dry, Pueblo County Through the kayaking area, strategical- Already, the fishin g below Pueblo
<br /> and some key civic leaders were receptive Iy placed boulders created a series of drop Reservoir is a draw for anglers from
<br /> to the concept. Other governmental agen- pools and eddies, connected by currents along the entire Front Range. with win -
<br /> cies joined the effort All the elements meant to also serve as fish passages ter and spring the most popular seasons.
<br /> eventually fell into place; and the habitat between the pools. "The biomass in the river is incredi-
<br /> work began last fall. "So far; everyone's been really pleased, "• ble, and we're holding some pretty good
<br /> The U.& Army Corps of Engineers pro- said Scott Hobson, senior planner for the fish now," Jones of Arkanglers said.
<br /> - 8 Colorado Outdoors
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