After dam release, river runs through the Lower Dolores

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After dam release, river runs through the Lower Dolores

What did we learn?
A raft enters Snaggletooth Rapid on the Lower Dolores River during this year’s release from McPhee Reservoir. The river flowed anywhere from 800 to 1,500 cfs during the release, the first since 2011. Wildlife officials said, because of chronically low flows in recent years, the presence of fish, native and non-native is low.
Kayakers negotiate rapids in Ponderosa Gorge of the Lower Dolores River. Boaters said vegetation has started to bottleneck the river’s original channel and has become dangerous in places.
Many enthusiastic boaters jumped at the chance to run the Lower Dolores River. The Dolores River Boating Advocates is working to establish annual releases into the channel for the benefit of river-runners and the environment.

After dam release, river runs through the Lower Dolores

A raft enters Snaggletooth Rapid on the Lower Dolores River during this year’s release from McPhee Reservoir. The river flowed anywhere from 800 to 1,500 cfs during the release, the first since 2011. Wildlife officials said, because of chronically low flows in recent years, the presence of fish, native and non-native is low.
Kayakers negotiate rapids in Ponderosa Gorge of the Lower Dolores River. Boaters said vegetation has started to bottleneck the river’s original channel and has become dangerous in places.
Many enthusiastic boaters jumped at the chance to run the Lower Dolores River. The Dolores River Boating Advocates is working to establish annual releases into the channel for the benefit of river-runners and the environment.