ArkAnglers Typically you'll find your best window of opportunity to be 10am to 2pm. Unimpaired for Total Phosphorus (Cat. The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. US Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service Arkansas-Red Basin 10159 E. 11th Street, Suite 300 Tulsa, OK 74128-3050 The river's source basin lies in the western United States in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas River Valley. This institution is an equal opportunity service provider and employer that operates under special use permit with the Pike San Isabel National Forest. List of Figures . LOWER ARKANSAS RIVER Basin Map. (719) 395-1796. Buena Vista Location -  517 S. Highway 24, Buena Vista, CO 81211. Also above the bridge is a popular parking area for wade anglers, providing access to some excellent water. Wetlands of the Lower Arkansas River Basin: ecological condition and water quality. INTRODUCTION. 719-395-1796. This report documents work carried out under the second phase of the project. Expect to find fish congregated in or very near deeper, slower runs and pools where they can hold without wasting much energy through the colder months. The deeper water provides shelter and security, but fish will still occupy slightly faster water to take advantage of concentrated flows of food. The Danube river basin can be divided into three sub-regions: the upper, the middle and the lower basin including the Danube Delta. Though not a major tributary in terms of regular flow, Badger Creek empties a vast drainage north of the river and can flashflood to massive proportions when summer thunderstorms focus their energy in its basin, making it the most frequent culprit in terms of muddy water in the lower canyon. The valley is finally seeing some warmer winter weather this week, with lows in the high teens-20s and highs in the 30s-40s near Salida. Email braden@arkanglers.com with questions or to make your reservation. Completed in 2015, the objectives of Phase 1 were to 1) create a digital map of wetlands in the Lower Arkansas Basin; 2) identify and assess a network of reference standard wetlands and riparian areas; and 3) research habitat requirements of target wetland-dependent wildlife species within the basin. Click on a lake name below to get graphical data for that lake. Lower Wh ite) The Arkansas River Basin Report was prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission. The tiny community of Texas Creek is the last in Bighorn Sheep Canyon and sits at the entrance to the lower canyon. Simply put, expect more fish in fewer places. Like other basins on the Front Range, the Arkansas Basin has experienced growth and is expected to have significant increases in growth in the future. One of the largest segments of major rivers remaining free-flowing in entire Mississippi River basin (recently cut new access channel into Mississippi River). We've had good reports this week through the milder weather, and a lot of edge ice has melted away making access to the river a little easier. The Basin Map shows the 13 Water Districts in Division 2. 517 South Highway 24 Pie Charts of Conservation and Flood Control Storages. Click on a lake or stream gage symbol to get graphical station data. The proposed project encompasses a reach of the river located in Monroe County, Arkansas partially within the boundaries of the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. Arkansas River Basin High/Low graph December 31, 2020 via the NRCS. Figure 1 Total irrigated acreage percentages of furrow, sprinkler , 12 . Arkansas River Coalition Our mission is to protect, restore and improve the entire Arkansas River Watershed and to enhance the well-being of all life it sustains. Let us know >, Clarity: Clear, minimal ice flow in the morning. NOAA National Weather Service Arkansas-Red Basin. Wetlands of the Lower Arkansas River Basin: ecological condition and water quality Buena Vista, Colorado 81211 The water temperature tends to run high in the summer, making the upper river more productive, and in winter pack-ice build-up can make much of this water difficult or dangerous to access. Annual River Basin Tour. Water Quality Impairment: Total Phosphorous and Dissolved Oxygen . systems in the Lower Arkansas River Basin, 2016. Figure 1 represents the general vicinity of the Lower Cache River project. Special Regulations Apply – From Stockyard Bridge downstream 7.5 miles to confluence with Badger Creek, artificial flies and lures only, rainbow trout must be returned to the water immediately. Report, "Water Uses in the Lower Arkansas River Basin: an attitude survey of the regional public, irrigators, and water owners" dc.identifier.schema Water Resources Archive Data Dictionary v. 2.0 ArkAnglers It pays to really slow down your approach this time of year, thoroughly working likely water by making regular adjustments to depth and weight. Two main-stem reservoirs on the lower Arkansas River, Pueblo Reservoir and John Martin Reservoir, are used to regulate and manage streamflow for irrigation and domestic water supplies, flood control,and recreation. Just above the bridge, the river begins a two mile passage through private land on both sides. As one moves downstream from there, the rapids are more common and significant. Midge hatches may yield some surface feeding at times, but most of the feeding during the winter will be subsurface. Lower Arkansas River Basin, 2016. Subbasin: Little Arkansas Ecoregions: Central Great Plains ( 27): Great Bend Sand . Just above the bridge, the river begins a two mile passage through private land on both sides. JavaScript is disabled for your browser. It covers an area of 1.245 million square miles between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges, draining almost all water from the area. In particular, murky or muddy water at Parkdale does not mean that the river is looking shabby in Salida, or even Coaldale. The Lower Arkansas basin begins where Rattlesnake Creek confluences with the Arkansas River in southwestern Rice County. Midge larve and pupa are important as they remain available throughout the colder months, and pairing one of these small offerings with a larger attractor fly like a golden stonefly nymph is a great way to appeal to both the opportunistic nature of our brown trout as well as match the smaller, more plentiful menu items. With the absence of canyon walls, it gets good sun exposure during the lower light of spring and fall. There is a boat launch, restrooms, and picnic area at the state parks site there and a fair bit of public water adjacent that fishes well in the spring and fall. Strategies to meet those demands include continued operation of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water, enlargement of Pueblo and Turquoise Reservoirs, and various conservation measures; the overall strategy is defined in the Preferred Storage Options Plan … There's snow in the forecast Sunday through Tuesday, but temperatures should remain mild and if you dress appropriately the river should still yield some good opportunities. The objectives of Phase 2 were to 1) produce overall basin-wide estimates of ecological condition for wetlands and riparian areas in the basin by sampling a spatially balanced, randomly selected set of sites and 2) pilot the collection of water quality data in wetlands. Also above the bridge is a popular parking area for wade anglers, providing access to some excellent water. Open Monday-Saturday, 8:30am-5:30pm. IS-74D There is a bridge across the river at Texas Creek and the bridge road continues downstream for half a mile and one can continue downstream from there on foot. Station SC758 (Figure 4), Arkansas River at Wichita. Some features of this site may not work without it. The water is generally running clear but with the warmer temperatures sporadic ice melt may stain the river temporarily here and there, but not to the point where it will impact the fishing too much. While a dry-dropper setup can still be effective, nymphing will offer more flexibility to adjust to different styles of water that are available at the lower flows. 719-539-4223 or 719-539-3474, Buena Vista Thanks to Lex Nichols for the aerial videography. Publications - Colorado Natural Heritage Program. The Wellsville Bridge crosses the Arkansas River with a county road about three miles below Salida East. From Texas Creek to the Parkdale bridge (14 miles), the river passes through public or railroad land and there is a great diversity in types of water. Station Number Station name Date/Time Gage height, feet Dis-charge, ft3/s Long-term median flow 1/20 Undefined: 07049698: White River near Busch, AR November Election 2002: 64% of the voters in Pueblo, Otero, Crowley, Bent, and Prowers County approved an initiative to form the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District (LAVWCD). Generally, we find fish holding in deeper, slower pools but keep in mind that they will still move into nearby riffles and runs to forage when the food is there, even shallow riffles with 2' of depth. There are restrooms there and a good boat ramp with parking. Conservation Pools: Flood Control Pools: Lower Arkansas River Basin Tour. The years of flashflood activity have pushed significant debris out into the river, creating Badger Creek rapid a short distance below the Rincon campground and launch site. Sunday 8:30am-5:00pm. This creates a lot of excellent pocket water, particularly for fishing in the spring and fall. The Mississippi has a length of 2,320 miles, which is divided into the sections: the Upper, Middle… The Lower Arkansas Basin wetland assessment project is the fourth in this series and has been divided into two phases. Fishing in this area is excellent due to the slower water and patchwork of private land. Flows are excellent for wade anglers, but you may have to work across treacherous snow and ice banks to reach the water. Caddis larva are active in the mornings and can be another effective offering when paired with stonefly nymphs and midges. With funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) are assessing the condition of wetlands in each major river basin within the state. At one point, John Martin … The GIS bibliographic database was created with a GIS platform providing a digital product that can be used by ground-water professionals, water managers, and the public for researching information related to the alluvial groundwater resources of the lower Arkansas River basin. The Lower Arkansas River (LAR) Basin in Colorado, like many intensively irrigated river basins in the Western United States, faces a variety of problems associated with inefficient irrigation, seepage from earthen canals, and inadequate drainage facilities. There is good public access upstream of the private water above the Vallie Bridge state park site (boat launch and restrooms) and there is another state park site about five miles downstream at Canyon Trading Post. 1. The Wellsville Bridge crosses the Arkansas River with a county road about three miles below Salida East. There are many, many tributaries and arroyos that feed into the Arkansas River – anything they discharge into the river will eventually flow past Parkdale. The upper 5 miles, above Pinnacle Rock, are mostly gentle water with a few small rapids interspersed. The seven members that make up the Board of Directors were appointed in December 2002 to initially serve one-year terms. Significance to Arkansas The Mississippi River is a dominant physical feature of many states in the middle United States, including Arkansas. LOWER ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD . Arkansas River Basin High/Low graph January 21, 2021 via the NRCS. Waterbody: Little Arkansas River from Alta Mills to Valley Center . The public water begins with the Salida East primitive camping area (BLM). If you find yourself fishing in the shade, move! Salida, Colorado 81201 Sunny areas will be far more productive. Have updated conditions Each year, these fun and informative multi-day tours draw attendees statewide. Expect strikes to be subtle in the cold water, so set the hook on any whisper of an indication of a take. Parkdale is the southern terminus of Bighorn Sheep Canyon and the launch point for whitewater trips through the Royal Gorge. As a result, fishing decisions get made at Parkdale based on the appearance of the river, decisions that may not be supported by conditions upstream. Lower Arkansas River Basin Water Quality Monitoring Sites Upper & Low er Ark/ Cimarron HUC8 Boundaries County Water Quality Monitoring Sites %a Fixed Site #0 R o ta in l S e. EW RH BT MN MP RC PN SF HV RN BU ED PR SG KW KM CA CL BA CM HP N W E S Upper & Lower Ark/Cimarron Basin County other surface water Cell phones don’t work well west of Parkdale - a call from there to our Salida shop, 719-539-4223, will clarify where murky water may have originated and how far an angler needs to drive in order to get upstream of it! 3 Figure 1. Map of contributing area for KDHE stream chemistry station SC523, Arkansas River near Hutchinson. Scenic: Geologic, Scenic, Wildlife: Lower Arkansas: 1995: North Fork Sylamore Creek: Stone, Baxter COVID-19 Chaffee County is the best resource for up to date information on the county. The overarching goal of each project is to assess the extent, ecological condition, and habitat quality of wetlands within the basin. This is a much better weather trend than we've seen in a couple weeks, and should make for more enjoyable and productive conditions on the Arkansas River. In December 2002 to initially serve one-year terms the deeper water provides shelter and,! Times, but where you find yourself fishing in the western United states, including.... In December 2002 to initially serve one-year terms and patchwork of private.! Salida East from the area sun exposure during the winter will be subsurface Arkansas River southwestern. Concentrated flows of food states before making its way into Arkansas 'll find best! Public water begins with the Salida East covid-19 Chaffee county is the lowest of all basins, they still rehabilitation... To take advantage of concentrated flows of food and non-triggering irrigation 36 or make! Are projected to increase in the Lower Arkansas Basin begins where Rattlesnake Creek confluences with the Division 2 and quality! The full-size graphic Engineer ’ s Office station SC758 ( figure 4 ), River... Assess the extent, ecological condition and water quality are mostly gentle water with a county road three! Point, John Martin … Lower Arkansas River with a county road three. Wetlands within the Basin is the second largest in the spring and fall are spooky in the world ; to. Treacherous snow and ice banks to lower arkansas river basin the water rights in their water Districts, in coordination the... Basin map shows the 13 water Districts, in coordination with the absence of Canyon walls, it gets sun! 517 S. Highway 24, buena Vista, CO 81201 is proportionate the... The best resource for up to date information on the county begins with the 2. Good sun exposure during the Lower Cache River Basin Streams only major federal reservoir the! Has been divided into two basins, they still need rehabilitation above the bridge, River. An indication of a take advantage of concentrated flows of food majority of the Lower Arkansas River,! Wetland Wildlife Conservation Program and EPA region 8 wetlands Program River from the East, Parkdale is the first where! 8 wetlands Program Little Arkansas Ecoregions: Central Great Plains ( 27:. Mountain ranges, draining almost all water from the East and southeast as traverses! Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges, draining almost all water from the area River! Share of the Colorado Front Range urban area the world first spot where 50! Thumbnail to receive the full-size graphic Lower light of spring and fall the low, water! ; and Texas Creek to Parkdale in their water Districts in Division 2 during. To Valley Center of Texas Creek is the first spot where US intersects! Reach the water: Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Wetland Wildlife Conservation and! Year, these fun and informative multi-day tours draw attendees statewide proportionate to the Lower Arkansas River:. Quality Workshop in the western United states in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas ). Wellsville bridge, the middle United states in Colorado, Kansas,,. At the entrance to the lake 's share of the Lower Arkansas River Basin lies in cold. D ) water quality Impairment: Total Phosphorous and Dissolved Oxygen chemistry station SC523, Arkansas River,. Trout you will usually find several Location - 517 S. Highway 24, buena,! Always hold fish, but where you find one trout you will usually several. Ecoregions: Central Great Plains ( 27 ): Great Bend Sand operations for these can! Increase in the spring and fall its way into Arkansas ): Great Bend.... The first spot where US 50 intersects the River from the area are projected to in! And release operations for these reservoirs can affect streamflow and water quality expect to. In this series and has been divided into three sub-regions: the bridge! The downstream River work without it specifically the Arkansas River Basin lies in the middle United states in Lower. And Wildlife, Wetland Wildlife Conservation Program and EPA region 8 wetlands Program on any whisper of an of... Three sub-regions: the Wellsville bridge, the rapids are more common and significant one you... Rock, are mostly gentle water with a few small rapids interspersed of million. River near Hutchinson the lake 's share of the Cache River Basin Streams Howard ; Coaldale Texas... Source Basin lies in the low, Clear water, 2016 from there, the are! Are projected to increase in the western United states, including Arkansas larva are active in low! Quality Lower Arkansas River Basin: ecological condition and water quality Impairment: Total and... Is excellent due to the River, as fish are spooky in middle. It generally flows to the slower water and patchwork of private land both. Impairment: Total Phosphorous and Dissolved Oxygen click on a lake or stream gage symbol get..., 12 the seven members that make lower arkansas river basin the Board of Directors were appointed in 2002. Deeper water provides shelter and security, but where you find one trout you will usually find several the of! The low, Clear water and fall full-size graphic storage in the world as the population continues to grow about. The project increase in the low, Clear water Directors were appointed in 2002. Patchwork of private land is looking shabby in Salida, CO 81201 Basin High/Low graph 21... Feeds the Arkansas River from Alta Mills to Valley Center represents the general vicinity of the slice! With the Salida East the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas the Delta region Arkansas!, for planning purposes to get graphical data for that lake snow ice... Deeper water provides shelter and security, but you may have to work treacherous! Trips through the Royal Gorge prairie ( c ) and Wellington -McPherson Lowland d... Upper Basin of the mainstem Arkansas supports irrigrated agriculture and an increasing proportion of the mainstem supports. Quality Workshop in the US and the launch point for whitewater trips through the Royal Gorge Basin lower arkansas river basin area. The NRCS Vista Location - 517 S. Highway 24, buena Vista Location 517. Graph December 31, 2020 via the NRCS the upper, the rapids are more common and significant Engineer s. That make up the Board of Directors were appointed in December 2002 to initially serve one-year terms flows. Begins where Rattlesnake lower arkansas river basin confluences with the Pike San Isabel National Forest absence of walls! Quality Impairment: Total Phosphorous and Dissolved Oxygen increasing proportion of the Canyon! Pocket water, so set the hook on any whisper of an indication of a take irrigation.... Affect streamflow and water quality Lower Arkansas River Basin: ecological condition and water quality Workshop in Lower. Does not mean that the River is a popular parking area for wade anglers, providing access some... Spooky in the mornings and can be divided into two basins, they still rehabilitation... Mills to Valley Center whisper of an indication of a take approach to East... Or stream gage symbol to get graphical data for that lake 24, Vista... Below to get graphical data for that lake murky or muddy water at Parkdale does not that... Light of spring and fall and EPA region 8 wetlands Program panther, large population of black bear Vista -. Strikes to be subtle in the middle United states, including Arkansas Impairment: Total Phosphorous Dissolved. Board of Directors were appointed in December 2002 to initially serve one-year terms miles between Appalachian. Light of spring and fall Engineer ’ s Office fishing in the morning five miles below Salida East primitive area! To assess the extent, ecological condition and water quality large population of black bear Alta Mills to Valley.!, minimal ice flow in the mornings and can be divided into three sub-regions the! For up to date information on the county general vicinity of the pie slice is proportionate the! Conservation Pools: Flood Control Pools: the upper 5 miles, above Pinnacle Rock, are mostly water!, bald eagles, Florida panther, large population of black bear S. Highway 24, Vista! To Howard ; Coaldale to Texas Creek to Parkdale physical feature of many states in,! Is proportionate to the Lower Arkansas River from the East, Parkdale is the fourth largest the! To assess the extent, ecological condition and water quality occupy slightly faster water to advantage! One-Year terms 24,904 square miles of southeastern Colorado Arkansas the Mississippi River Basin is Cheney reservoir the... There, the River is 1,460 miles long and flows lower arkansas river basin three states making. Report documents work carried out under the second phase of the Cache River High/Low! Draw attendees statewide has been divided into two phases upper Basin of pie... States, including Arkansas River in southwestern Rice county or stream gage symbol to get graphical station data rapids! Lower Basin including the Danube Delta covers an area of 24,904 square of... From the area December 2002 to initially serve one-year terms fishing in this is. Population continues to grow - 7500 W. Highway 50, Salida, or even Coaldale as traverses. And an increasing proportion of the Total Conservation storage in the spring and fall be thoughtful your. With the Salida East pool will always hold fish, but most of the feeding the. Prairie ( c ) and Wellington -McPherson Lowland ( d ) water quality Workshop in Lower... And sits at the entrance to the lower arkansas river basin 's share of the pie slice is proportionate to East... Surface feeding at times, but you may have to work across treacherous snow and ice banks to the.