Tag: arkansas river
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John Martin Reservoir under water contact advisory as sewage-contaminated water moves downstream
Visitors to John Martin Reservoir State Park are advised to avoid any contact with the reservoir and the Arkansas River beginning Monday as water contaminated by a 4.2 million-gallon untreated sewage spill in Pueblo moves downstream, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said Sunday. The spill began Wednesday and was stopped on Thursday, with high levels…
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Public health alert: Sewage spill contaminates Arkansas River downstream of Pueblo
Health officials are warning the public to avoid the Arkansas River downstream of Pueblo – until further notice – after a “significant accidental release” of untreated sewage from the city of Pueblo’s wastewater treatment plant last week was found to have contaminated the water with high levels of E.coli. “The contaminated water will move downstream,…
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Untreated sewage discharged into Arkansas River, impacting downstream communities
The city of Pueblo had an “unplanned” discharge of untreated sewage into the Arkansas River near Confluence Park on Thursday, according to a news release by the city. Crews were able to stop it by 11:45 a.m., possibly contaminating the area for the next 48 to 72 hours, Director of Wastewater Andra Ahrens stated in…
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Something’s off about Cañon City’s water. Officials say it’s not a health risk.
Geosmin. It’s that earthy smell just after a rainstorm, the dirt flavor in beet peels and, recently, the odor and taste in Cañon City’s municipal water. “The water’s changed recently,” resident Heather Wilkerson told the City Council this week. Residents packed council chambers seeking answers about what several described as a swampy turn in the…
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife issues voluntary fishing closure for part of Arkansas River in Pueblo
Low water flows and increasing temperatures for part of the Arkansas River prompted Colorado Parks and Wildlife to issue a voluntary fishing closure. The closure is in effect until further notice from noon to midnight beginning at Pueblo Boulevard East downstream until it meets Fountain Creek. Officials hope the measure will reduce stress on trout…
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Troubled waters: An uncertain rafting season gets underway in Colorado
On the last day of May, along the Arkansas River that he has been paddling for 30-plus years, Mike Harvey found himself in a kayak he would not typically use this time of year: his racing boat, which is longer, narrower and lighter. It was better suited for this very atypical start to summer. The…
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Amid record low snowpack, Colorado cities impose restrictions, farmers brace for ‘disaster’
By Mary Shinn and Savannah Eller In the West, water is for fighting, but this year, for many, there might not be much to battle over. The critical snowpack that sustains cities, farmers and ranchers is the lowest in memory. Some areas in the high country were barren at the start of the month. Cities,…
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Arkansas River rafting season begins early in Colorado as rapid snowmelt boosts spring flows
With snowmelt accelerating the start of the 2026 rafting season, Arkansas River outfitters are rolling out early trips and a new marketing campaign to draw visitors to what has become one of Colorado’s top whitewater destinations. Most rafters won’t start trips until early May, but some have already started hosting limited trips due to water…
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Colorado’s whitewater rafters gear for early snowmelt — and a potentially shorter season
Ahead of Colorado’s whitewater season, the Clear Creek Rafting Co. bought about a dozen new Gumotex rafts designed to swim through shallower water. It’s narrower, has smaller tubes and is built to withstand rockier terrain, said Dale Drake, owner of Clear Creek Rafting Co. in Idaho Springs. Clear Creek — the body of water that…
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Body found in Arkansas River near downtown Pueblo
Pueblo police are investigating after a body was found Monday afternoon in the Arkansas River near the city’s downtown area, according to a news release. Officers responded around 1:47 p.m. to the 1100 block of West 4th Street after a report of a body in the water. The person’s identity will be released by the…