PUEBLO, Colo. – The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District has approved an effort to dedicate up to 2,500 acre-feet, or 814.6 million gallons, of Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water to the Upper Arkansas River. This water will help protect the river’s health as well as fisheries in the area.
Project Details
The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project helps give water from other sources to areas that need it across the state. On the western slope, it takes water from Ruedi Reservoir, and on the eastern slope, it takes water from the Fryingpan River. The new water will be released from Twin Lakes and terminate at Pueblo Reservoir.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the additional water will help reduce stress on brown and rainbow trout that naturally reproduce in the Arkansas River, a popular spot for anglers in the state. The releases will start around Aug. 7 and then be managed to help with conditions during the end of summer into fall when low flows and hotter temperatures put more stress on the river.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
