The main reservoir release gate will reduce to 75 cfs, and the fish hatchery will remain at 5 cfs today, Friday, March 29, 2024.
River Run Park (RRP): Surf will be non-existent at RRP with the downward Chatfield release to 75cfs. This will likely hold or go lower over the weekend. Monday might see some precipitation but doesn’t look significant for the water managers to up the flow much of any out of Chatfield; but we can only hope.
Looking more like we will be in a hold pattern waiting for the snowmelt season to kick in sometime in May or if we are real lucky, possibly in April.
Just for you to bookmark on your system browsers…
Sixx pole cam that takes pics every 15 minutes up to 7pm… https://www.senserasystems.com/public/embed/3M7824646H83
RRP gauge but it hangs up for hours at time so refer back to the cam to try to confirm the flow… https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Stations/PLAUNICO?params=DISCHRG
Note, all the waves at RRP were built for no need of leashes with friendly eddy service and even the signage say no leashes. So learn to surf without a leash at RRP.
Beaver Wave: The wave is surfable but real shallow…. Beavers is a bit tricky to surf, so go with someone who has surfed it before.
Here is the gauge for Beaver Wave… https://dwr.state.co.us/Tools/Stations/PLAENGCO?params=DISCHRG
Note, Beavers Wave also does not need a leash.
Dave’s Wave: For the most part is always surfable on a longboard or bodyboard. Water comes up in the afternoon like clockwork. Oh and Dave’s don’t need no leash…
Here is the intel on where Dave’s Wave is… http://endlesswaves.net/waves/daves-wave/
Other Surf Spots: Here are some surf spots to know about right now.
Scout Wave… Last year Scout 2.0 version was phenomenal but the boaters were out with pitchforks trying to get it removed. Luckily Mike Harvey and team at REP received $263,650 funding from the City of Salida to make adjustments to the wave for version Scout 3.0. Repairs seem to be close to completion but fine tuning of the wave might be needed if the wave is not back to its former glory. Hopefully it will be surfable shortly. And yes, Scout is a wave that can and should be surfed without a leash… You can watch the repair Scout on this cam… https://www.coloradowebcam.net/camera/salida-co-lower-wave-arkansas-river-zoom-tenderfoot-mt
Montrose Waves…. The main wave at Montrose appears to be in, though the info on the Montrose Wave Park is always kept under wraps by the locals to its own detriment. Also the wave is not too friendly without a leash. And with a leash, it is not all that safe to surf. Educate yourself about the pro’s and deadly con’s of quick release leashes before you venture in to any wave requiring a leash…. You might just want to skip river waves this season that require leashes until someone invents/test/sells a quick release leash that also has a failsafe self-releasing component.
River Surf Gear: Wetsuits, wetsuits, wetsuits… Get yourself a quality wetsuit thick wetsuit for this river surfing season!!! Sales are happening this weekend (caution, only buy from quality retailers and if the deal seems way too good, double check it with web searches because there are spoofed wetsuit webpages out there that look legit but will rip you off)….
What thickness wetsuit do you you need??? Mike Harvey from his Badfish Surfshop said it best that really (to paraphrase him), “a 4/3 wetsuit is typically the thickness you need for river surfing Colorado”.
A 3/2 is possible during the warm months later in the day when the rivers warm up typically by 20 degrees from the mornings. And to surf early spring and winter snow bumps, you will need a hooded 5/4 or thicker such as a 6/5.. Oh and get yourself a pair of thicker surf booties for the summer of 5mil and some 3mil gloves as backup for the start of the season…. More info can be found on wetsuits here on an article I penned last season….. https://denversurfreport.blog/2023/05/03/wetsuits-tips-for-river-surfing-the-right-choice/
Keep our fingers crossed for surf!
LBK
The Denver Surf Report 