A recent study conducted by researchers at Colorado Parks and Wildlife has revealed that man-made whitewater parks, designed to provide “play waves” for kayakers and other recreational users, may be negatively impacting fish passage in rivers.
Colorado’s rivers are beloved by both whitewater enthusiasts and anglers, but the construction of whitewater parks has raised concerns about the potential impact on fish and fishing activities.
“There is a conflict between the needs of fish and the requirements of whitewater parks,” explained Eric Richer, an aquatic research scientist at the state wildlife agency and one of the study’s lead authors. “Fish thrive in slow, deep waters, whereas whitewater parks create fast-flowing waves by channeling water into steep chutes or drops with smooth surfaces to enhance velocity.”
The investigation into the effects of whitewater parks on fish passage began several years ago when a researcher, who is also an avid angler, noticed differences in fish populations downstream and upstream of a whitewater park on the Arkansas River near Buena Vista.
More than 40 whitewater parks have been identified across Colorado, either already established or in the planning stages. These parks are located on various rivers, including the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs, the Roaring Fork near Basalt, the Ten Mile Creek in Frisco, and the Pumphouse in Gore Canyon near Kremmling.
For more information, read the full article on vaildail.com.
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