Latest News – July 12

Water Still Flowing Strong in the High Country

Sugar Loaf Dam monitors water into Lake Creek, Photo: Leadville Today

Here’s the lastest water news from Kara Lamb, Public Information Officer with the Bureau of Reclamation

At 10 a.m. Friday, July 11, we decreased the native release from Twin Lakes by about 60 cfs. We are now releasing 660 cfs to Lake Creek and the Arkansas River– 420 cfs of that release is native water. Both Twin Lakes and Turquoise Reservoir are around 90% full, with water level elevations still rising.

According to local officials, both Twin Lakes and Turquoise Reservoir are around 90% full, with water level elevations still rising. Photo Leadville Today

The Time is Now to Fish the Upper Arkansas River! 

Here’s the fishing report for the Upper Arkansas River (Between Leadville and Buena Vista) from Tim Hill with Colorado Fly Fishing Guides. 

Flows in Hayden Meadows are once again quite manageable for the some of the best walk and wade fishing in the valley. Releases from Twin Lakes are keeping the river high below the Lake Creek confluence, but even those are starting to wane making Granite a great place for fishing the edges and pocket water. Trout are keeping a healthy diet of adult stones and the sallies & drakes are starting to come off in the Meadows. Below Lake Creek big attractors followed by a smaller dry or a dropper will take fish with regularity. Caddis is abundant throughout the upper river corridor. 

The fishing is great, the temperature are cool, and runoff is almost over! The time is now to fish the Upper Arkansas River! 

Hayden Meadows comprises about eight miles of river flowing through high meadow country, located south of Leadville. Photo: Leadville Today.