The U.S. Forest Service has opened a new access point for boaters on the upper Dolores River.<\/p>\n
The new put-in\/take out is located off Colorado 145 at mile marker 25. Look for a green gate on the east side of the highway, about a mile past the West Fork confluence.<\/p>\n
Improving access on the popular section of river has been a goal of the Forest Service for some time, said recreation planner Tom Rice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been looking and decided on this spot because the land there was already disturbed for an electrical right of way,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was added as a spur road for public access to the river.\u201d<\/p>\n
The access point is a little rough, but will be improved over time. Also the main flow of the river is on the opposite bank, making the take-out a little challenging.<\/p>\n
The new boat access is for day use only, with no camping. Forest officials remind the public to keep the gate closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suspect it will be used more for a take-out for the stretch from Bear Creek or Rico,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
It can be used for fishing access and day use as well, Rice said, however there is nearby private land both upstream and downstream.<\/p>\n
Also this year, the Forest Service improved the boater put-in at the West Fork access point of the upper Dolores River.<\/p>\n
Rip rap was removed to create a smoother ramp to the river, and road base was added.<\/p>\n
\u201cEventually, we plan to create an eddy there to slow down the river and make it safer to put on the water,\u201d Rice said.<\/p>\n
Boater Sam Carter said the new West Fork put-in is working well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tremendous improvement and not such an ankle breaker anymore,\u201d he said. \u201cThe new ramp is more convenient for unloading rafts from trailers.\u201d<\/p>\n
So far this season, boating on the upper Dolores has been in shallow conditions. As of Tuesday, it was running between 750 and 1,000 cubic feet per second in the day.<\/p>\n
Carter, who is president of the Dolores River Boating Advocates, recently launched from Bear Creek. He said there were no fence hazards.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was bony, and we got knocked around quite a bit in our kayaks, but it was fun,\u201d he said. \u201cThe water is freezing so you definitely need a wet suit.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the weather warms in the coming weeks, runoff from snowpack will increase flows significantly.<\/p>\n