The main reservoir release gate will be decreased from 375 to 325 cfs, and the fish hatchery will remain at 5 cfs today, Thursday, June 6, 2024.
RRP: Things will drop soon from yesterday but remain in the very good to excellent range. Actually Wave Sixx will be easier to learn later this afternoon and into at least noon tomorrow. (I’m not getting a good feeling with the step down of water out of Chatfield so if you can, surf it today or early tomorrow. Who knows how long we will have these high flows out of Chatfield into RRP.)
Wave Sixx, the sixth drop counting up river from the pedestrian bridge at Broken Tee Golf Course Parking lot, will still be in the very good to excellent range with the dam releasing 325cfs. Chiclets Wave, the closest wave to the pedestrian bridge over the river, will be real fun for newbies and larger volume boards and might be epic for that wave. Benni’s, the second wave up from the pedestrian bridge and right below the W. Oxford Ave bridge, will be surfable but not an easy wave for people trying it for the first time though 325cfs in the past when shaped up is an excellent wave to surf… Best to walk the 10 minutes up river on the bike path to Wave Sixx for some fun and easier surf.
Scout Wave: Is at an expert level wave right now that is big with fast moving water but the wave is flatter. Not too many people surfing it. If you think you got the board, the hops, and the power turns to surf Scout, watch out for the secondary wave that is burly and no joke so cover your face when falling off Scout Wave. Also keep heads up for logs/branches and commercial boats coming down into the wave while surfing the wave. Note, boaters have the right of way from up river so exit the wave to let them pass by… Oh, WHEN IN DOUBT DON’T GO OUT.
Here is the link to the live cam for Scout to study if you think you are headed that way at these flows: https://www.coloradowebcam.net/camera/salida-co-lower-wave-arkansas-river-zoom-tenderfoot-mt
BV to Salida Waves (Including Scout Wave): WHEN IN DOUBT, DON’T GO OUT… Currently the flow is incredible in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA). Tuesday a kayaker died despite being pulled out of the water by his kayak crew just north of BV paddling some big rapids. Condolences to the family, friends, and paddling community. We are also coming up on the five year anniversary of the river surfing death of SUP surfer Michael James at “Staircase Wave” who perished from flush drowning despite having a proper pfd on, QR leash, and helmet. See the AW report on his passing and again, condolences to his girlfriend at the time, family, co-workers, and his communities of paddling and frisbee golf: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/50135
Pueblo Waves: The levee whitewater park waves 3 and 4 are seeing good flows. Yesterday Wave 3 needed a bit bigger board to surf like a mid-sized to longboard. Mr Mike was also dropping into Wave 4 yesterday for a top entry paddle in and pop-up. Wave 4 is somewhat an expert surfer wave with local knowledge of how to get onto Wave 4…. Note, Mr Mike is an experienced surfer said he was able to surf Waves 3 and 4 w/out any leash. P-town New Wave is likely similar to Scout (read the Scout report and WHEN IN DOUBT, DON’T GO OUT).
On the cooler side of things, check out Mr. Mike’s river surfing blog on his Pueblo surf yesterday at the Levee Whitewater Park: https://youtu.be/yPDNLcm2lX8?si=ROB_U4bdw3CVB93K
Also, if you can make it, Bob at the Edge Paddle shop has asked for surfers to surf the Levee walk event this Saturday June 8th in the morning for the crowds. Lots of eyes will be on you to show off your skills and then you can go check out P-Towns New Wave up at City Park near the Pueblo Zoo. Here is the info: https://pueblodowntown.com/events/pueblo-levee-walk-2/
Golden (Bingo Wave): Clear Creek flow is high and is closed for swimming and tubing. This means Bingo Wave and the other kayak hole waves are likely up but are for only kayaks, SUP, and river surfing. Though when river surfing, you might get pulled by the park rangers and will need to explain to them that river surfing falls under the same rules as SUP and kayak. But again, high flows at Bingo Wave need to be surfed with caution and knowledge. Go with someone else who has surfed Bingo at these flows. Here is the Clear Creek status web page: https://www.visitgolden.com/plan-your-visit/creek-info/
Dave’s Wave: The stretch of river from Dave’s Wave northward are seeing high flows from the confluence of the Clear Creek into the S. Platte (below Dave’s), plus what is in the S. Platte River, and effluent releases. Gauge showed incorrectly 22,000cfs but really it is more like almost 900cfs. This means Dave’s Wave is blown out. There are some potential wave moving up river past Thornton but I know of only one surfed and it looks real sketch. Maybe one day Adams County will finally build the river waves they have planned out their way.
Sorry for the long report today but had a lot of info to pass on to you.
LBK
The Denver Surf Report 