Monsoons hit last night in Denver though causing runoff a bit more downriver; and with Chatty at “1” cfs, RRP just missed the heavy flows. Sixx is not really surfable. Chiclets is surfable with bigger boards. Update Edit: Chatty just announced going to 300cfs Tuesday 8/1/23 making for Sixx and Benni’s surfable maybe noonish or later (Chatfield gauge appears to be stuck at 5:30am). Hope they hold the flow for a few days or more.
Beavers has flow to surf but needs to be checked for a possible branch strainer in the wave that was reported in it a couple weeks back. So be very cautious if going to Beavers…. When in doubt, don’t go out.
16th will be surfable if the flow drops, but water might stay high today with more monsoons possible.
Dave’s Wave is blown out with 800+cfs or so right now but if flow drops a bit, might be worth a look…. Imagine if that reach of the S Platte had a waveshaper? It would be surfable most of the year there. Yes discussions have been had with govt officials but waves take 5-10 years to be built. Adams County could use some surfers who live there to be advocates for surfable waves say at 88th and Dahlia for example….
Chatfield Reservoir is a mystery right now on water releases. If any updates are made will send em’ out to you. (Like the 8/1/23 update just sent out about an hour after this one going to 300cfs).
“Pray for Surf” this week… Keep an eye on the rain/flood alerts and the gauges along with the Sixx pole cam.
SCOUT WAVE (Salida) UPDATEs: Speaking of mysteries, the following announcement was made and we are getting hazy interpretation of that either flow will go up to like 1,200+cfs or will completely drop to 350cfs. Hopefully the higher flow prevails. Here is the announcement yesterday from the water managers for the Upper Ark (see: https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/ArkansasHeadwatersRecreationArea/Pages/Waterflow.aspx)
“Please be advised the Bureau of Reclamation will be running approximately 350 CFS from August 1st until September 4th on the Arkansas River. Starting on September 5th flows will be cut by 10% until they reach native flows. This is not the Voluntary Flow Management Program water, flows will be native for that time frame plus 350 CFS. As always conditions may change and they may need to revise this number or timeframe. If that happens we will let you know.”
Got it??? Kind of sounds like a short change scam to us, hahaha.. (see vid)
PLACES TO SURF: Beavers. 16th Street. Dave’s Wave. Scout Wave. Montrose. Maybe Bingo Wave.
RIVER SURFING TIP: When in Salida surfing the Scout Wave, go visit the Badfish Surf Shop 148 E. First St. Salida, CO that is a couple minutes walk from the wave. It truly has a real surf shop vibe to it (although primarily sells Badfish product). Worth it just to check out the surf memorabilia of surfboards, books on surfing, surf pics, vintage skateboards, etc. Too bad they don’t have the Scout live streaming cam up on the wall with a computer screen (talk about a way to sell surf gear). Would wish they would sell other surfboards as well, but why undercut their own board sales…. Such a cool shop feel at the Badfish Surf Shop!!!. Glad to see it is NOT another typical corporate BS surf shop that most surf shops are like nowadays in the US…. Go visit the Badfish Surf Shop!!!!
SURF TRIVIA: Name the famous punk rocker who briefly worked at the Bethesda Surf Shop (aka “B-town” ) just outside of Washington DC. back in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s.
PRIOR SURF TRIVIA ANSWER: Ben Gravy is the YouTuber surfer who’s followers he calls “Nub Nation”. Ben Gravy is famous for attempting to surf all 50 states and surfing different kinds of novelty waves. Currently he is in Germany checking out the river waves there for a future episode. Check his channel out and subscribe.. https://youtube.com/@BenGravyy
LINKS TO WATCH:
Chatfield gauge (takes 2-3 hours to impact RRP; click on raw/all values then table view for 15 min updates to flow levels): https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/StationsLite/PLACHACO?params=DISCHRG
RRP gauge (click on raw/all values then table view for 15 min updates to flow levels) flow below 130cfs or so means it is too low for Sixx: https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/StationsLite/PLAUNICO?params=DISCHRG
Sixx Pole Cam: https://www.senserasystems.com/public/embed/3M7824646H83
Dave’s Wave gauge (is about 3 hours off since the closest gauge is way down river. So look at prior day’s gauge amount and adjust your mind…. i.e 3pm Friday should likely be noon Sat current conditions… Need at least 200cfs to surf Dave’s on a longboard or inflatable): https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/StationsLite/PLAHENCO?params=DISCHRG1
Scout Wave gauge (1,200cfs or lower is surfable): https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/StationsLite/ARKSALCO?params=DISCHRG
Scout Live Web Cam: (click on the start for the mountain trail and will sometimes be focused on the wave to give you a streaming look at the Scout Wave): https://www.coloradowebcam.net/camera/salida-co-spiral-dr-summit-tenderfoot-mt-ptz-webcam?q=node/595&img_folder=salidatower3&nid=279&width=1280&height=960
LBK
Surf it!
The Denver Surf Report 