Like most American rivers the Arkansas has been abused, diverted, impounded and treated like a giant plumbing system. The trouble starts right off the bat. Just as the first drops of snow flow into the Arkansas River (imagery: Coors Ad) historic mining contributes cadmium, zinc and other historic detritus to the flow of the Arkansas River. This problem was identified in the early 1980′s and a federal Superfund designation led to water treatment facilities at two of the worst sites. These water treatment facilities have greatly improved water quality and have lead to resurgence in fishing along the Upper Ark. An ugly reminder of this lingering problem has reared its head lately as Lake County has had to declare a state of emergency due to a blocked mine drainage tunnel, holding back years of toxic water.
The Arkansas River is one of the largest drainages flowing off the east side of the continental divide. A quick glance at Google Earth will remind you that most of the people, agriculture, and industry in Colorado are on the east side of the Mountains. Unfortunately most of the water flows west. Apparently not eager to do California any favors, the Bureau of Reclamation designed the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, which moves water from the west side of the Divide (Colorado River) to the east side of the Divide (Arkansas River). The Fry-Ark was authorized in the early 1960′s and 100% completed in the 1980′s.
The Fry-Ark project adds substantial flow the Upper Arkansas River during the summer as west slope water is diverted east. This “Project” water makes possible the Voluntary Flow Program whereby water is moved on a schedule during the summer which guarantees sufficient flow for recreational boating.
Historically most of this water was owned and consumed by agricultural interests east of Pueblo, however more recently agricultural water has been sold to Front Range municipalities. The Otero Pump Station moves water up from the Arkansas River Valley, 575 vertical feet, so that it can flow into the South Platte system and supply water to Colorado Springs and Aurora. The amount of water that flows through the Pump Sation has grown in recent years as the Springs and Aurora buy additional agricultural water rights and “transfer” the point of diversion upstream. This water contributes to a reduction in the amount of water that flows through Chaffee County in the Summer or that is available for the Voluntary Flow Program
In response to this potential de-watering of the Arkansas River Chaffee County filed a Recreational In-Channel Diversion (RICD) water right in 2005. The RICD is the only tool available in Colorado water law that recognizes the value of keeping water in a river. Despite stiff opposition from the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District, The Cities of Aurora and Colorado Springs and the State of Colorado, Chaffee County was awarded this water right in 2006.
Whitewater boating has a long a storied history on the Upper Arkansas River. The FIBArk (First In Boating on the Arkansas) Festival started in 1949 as a challenge between two traveling European kayakers. Townsfolk in Salida decided to throw a parade and bake a few pies and nearly 60 years later FIBArk is the nation’s longest running whitewater boating festival. FIBArk is one part county fair one part X Games and is not to be missed; more here:
Whitewater boating is the largest sector of our tourist-based economy, contributing some $60 million to our local economy annually. In the late 1980′s regulation came to the Upper Ark in the form of a joint partnership between the BLM and Colorado State Parks, the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA). The AHRA manages the river corridor from the Headwaters to Lake Pueblo and is based in Salida.
In 1999 a group of local boaters got together and formed the Arkansas River Trust, a non-profit organization with the goal of transforming the river corridor in downtown Salida, from a forgotten corridor of trash and concrete lined banks into a vibrant contributor to downtown Salida. In 2003 the Salida Whitewater Park was completed through a partnership between the City of Salida, Arkansas River Trust and the State of Colorado.
This trend has expanded up the valley as the Buena Vista Whitewater Park was completed in 2007. Bringing whitewater boating and more passive recreation into the towns has contributed to the economic development of the downtown business districts as well as the culture of our communities. The Arkansas River in both Salida and Buena Vista acts as a Rocky Mountain beach scene, with kids playing on the sand bars while Mom and Dad socialize with a latte from one of the local coffee shops.
The future of the Arkansas River rests in the hands of local communities continued efforts to stave off thirsty Front Range communities. While point source and non-point source pollution remains a concern, as the recent tunnel blockage in Leadville has demonstrated, the continued demands put on water resources as a result of population growth is the most immediate concern.
As more and more former river rats settle in the Upper Arkansas River there is a new generation of river “groms” in the Upper Arkansas Valley, young children whose parents are passionate river runners. This new generation of kids will grow up paddling right in their hometown and form an unprecedented connection with the Arkansas River. The challenge facing our communities toady is that we leave a stream for them to raise their children on that remains as dynamic in the future.
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