On another river note, the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District has approved a plan to release 2,500-acre-feet of Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water to the Upper Arkansas River. Water will be released from Twin Lakes and end at Pueblo Reservoir.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife the goal is to protect river health, fisheries and recreation from the effects of high temperatures and the river low flows during a challenging drought year. The additional water will help moderate water temperatures and reduce stress on fish.
“Drought moves faster than water policy usually does. The District proposed a project in late July, and water will be in the river in early August,” said Blake Mamich, Programs Director at the Colorado Water Trust. “That is about as fast as a multi-party water agreement comes together in Colorado, and it happened because four organizations decided the river could not wait for the usual timeline.”
The Arkansas River supports agriculture, communities, recreation, and tourism across southeastern Colorado. For more information go here: https://cpw.state.co.us/news/08072026/partners-dedicate-2500-acre-feet-fryark-water-upper-ark-recreation-fisheries-historic
