DENVER (AP) – Nestled in the lush forests and canyons of the Colorado Rockies, the Arkansas River is churning up whitewater, and that’s welcome news for outfitter Jim Sampson.
A year after wildfires and a persistent drought crippled the outdoor recreation industry, rafters, fishermen and boaters are beginning to return to the water.
“It’s like night and day,” said Sampson, who owns 4-Corners Rafting in Nathrop, about 90 miles southwest of Denver. “We’re getting early reservations; it’s going to be a great summer.”
Kevin Wildgen, a manager of Fly Fishing Outfitters in Avon, is hoping for a 25 percent increase in business, noting that the Eagle River is well-stocked with rainbow and brown trout.
“The water is cool and mesmerizing, and fishing quietly, deep in the canyons, really is like another world,” he said.
Last year, the worst drought recorded left streams, rivers and reservoirs at dangerously low levels. The crackling dry wilderness prompted campfire bans in most areas and the closure of some spots.
It was the most destructive known fire season, with at least 619,000 acres burned and at least 235 homes destroyed, the Rocky Mountain Coordination Center reported. Nine firefighters were killed.
Overall commercial rafting dropped 39 percent, from 523,587 in 2001 to 319,562 in 2002, the lowest in about a decade, according to the Colorado River Outfitters Association.
“I don’t think there’s anybody in our industry that would tell you they had a great year last year,” association Chairman John Cantamessa said.
The low stream levels prompted some voluntary closures of rivers, including the Eagle.
“Water levels were low, water temperatures were higher than normal, and we worried about the fish being stressed,” Wildgen said. “I think people who live here were worried, too.”
A good result is that more trout spawned than in a typical year, he said.
Although the number of visitors to the state increased 2 million to 26.2 million last year, most came before and after the summer, said Stefanie Dalgar, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Tourism Office.
Conditions began to improve after the worst blizzard in nearly a century dumped up to 11 feet of snow in March in parts of the state, followed by a wet spring.
Wildflowers are beginning to bloom and tree seedlings are sprouting in many of the areas burned by fire.
No campfire restrictions have been imposed for Memorial Day weekend.
Some reservoirs are nearly full and boaters are already out during the weekends, but others may only be filled to 50 percent, Colorado State Parks Director Lyle Laverty said. Water levels are still lower than average, he said.
“We still have a ways to go before we’re at really strong water levels,” he said. “But every day is looking better, and spring runoff is filling our reservoirs.”
Officials are using a portion of a one-time $9 million allocation from legislators for television promotions of summer tourism, particularly in-state travel.
About 33 rafting companies with the Arkansas River Outfitters Association are pooling resources to advertise within Colorado, and have set up an Internet Web site where rafters can ask questions about the state of the river, Sampson said.
“We’re hoping they’re itching to get on the rivers,” he said.
State officials are trying to find a balance between optimism about the season and urging residents to be cautious because drought lingers.
“We’re already seeing abandoned campfires, so somebody out there isn’t listening or they just don’t get it,” National Forest Service spokeswoman Barb Timock said. “Don’t get a false sense of security.”
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On The Net:
http://www.aroa.org
http://www.croa.org
http://www.colorado.com
ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/update/co.txt
AP-ES-05-26-03 0223EDT
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