Flow Program Saves River From Disaster

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Flow program saves river from disaster Page 1 of 1 The Pueblo Chieftain Online Select file then print to print this article. Publish Date: April , 2002 Flow program saves river from disaster By MARGIE WOOD The Pueblo chief aku Amid all the arguing about the city of Pueblo's request for guaranteed minimum flows on the Arkansas River through the Downtown area, kind words about the flow management program on the upper Arkansas almost got lost at last week's meeting of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. For 10 years, the district, Bureau of Reclamation and downstream water users, including the Pueblo Board of Water Works, have cooperated to enhance flow on the river between Buena Vista and Canon City to improve fishing and rafting. Greg Felt of Canon City, speaking for the Arkansas River Outfitters Association, quipped that his group this year is changing the pronunciation of "white water" to "what water." Without the support of the flow program, he added, a "tough, dry year could become a disastrous year" for river recreation interests. Partners in the program include the state Department of Natural Resources and Division of Wildlife. While providing water for domestic use and irrigation, the various entities coordinate releases of water from upstream reservoirs to provide a target flow established by the State Parks and Division of Wildlife: • 250 cubic feet a second to protect fish in the river. • Between 250 and 400 cfs between April 1 and May 15 that so fish fry aren't washed away. • 700 cfs between July 1 and Aug. 15 for the benefit of river rafting. • River levels drop between Labor Day and Oct. 15. "These target flows help provide for an excellent fishing and rafting experience for thousands of residents and visitors who take advantage of the cool, wet water of the upper Arkansas River," said Steve Arveschoug, general manager of the conservancy district. Both Arveschoug and Alan Hamel, president of the district, used the flow program as an example of the benefits they hope for in pending legislation to reauthorize the Fryingpan- Arkansas Project. "In addition to studying the enlargement of Pueblo Reservoir, our preferred storage option plan legislation hopes to establish a similar cooperative program to enhance flows below Pueblo Reservoir." Hamel said the upper Arkansas flow program is the best example of collaboration between federal, state and local governments and private industry to help people. "We have coordinates releases for particular events and have even entered into some leases to help with this program, releasing our water and then capturing it for beneficial use in Pueblo," he said. "This is probably going to be the most challenging year for the flow program yet. I keep thinking if the PSOP had been in effect this year, we might have been able to help more by having more ability to store water." The PSOP would permit district entities to store more water in Pueblo Reservoir when space is available. 0 1996 -2002 The pueblo Chieftain Online http: / /www.chieftain.com/ print /archive/2002 /apr /22 /nil.htm 04/22/2002