User Education & Redistribution Effort for Browns Canyon (Section 2B) and Big Bend to Salida East (Section 2D)
We are committed to maintaining the health of our lands and rivers, while also ensuring that you have the best possible on-the-water experience. However, Browns Canyon and the Big Bend stretch have experienced an influx of private boater use on certain dates in recent years. For this reason, we kindly request that you consider boating on alternate days or sections whenever possible.
Please be aware of these high-use weekends in Browns Canyon as they coincide with the Paddlefest and FibArk festivals.
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Saturday, May 25
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Saturday, June 15
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Saturday, May 26
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Saturday, June 16
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Saturday, July 13
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Saturday, July 20
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Saturday, July 27
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Need suggestions on where to boat? Call the AHRA at 719-539-7289
Use in
these segments approached 75% of prescribed private boat capacities more than two days over the last few years. The AHRA has initiated a user education effort to redistribute use from higher-use sections and times in hopes of postponing direct use limitations. AHRA will continue monitoring resource conditions and recreation experiences to verify the impacts associated with the increased use.
For more information on private use capacities and use limits, please refer to Section 2.3.3.1.1 of the Arkansas River Recreation Management Plan (g 2-43 of the document/page 85 of the linked pdf).
The Arkansas River is very popular for private and commercial boaters alike. The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Management Plan (AHRA-MP) establishes capacities for the number of boats per day allowed on weekdays, weekends, and holidays for commercial as well as private boaters. Capacities are also based on "high use" (May 15-Aug 15) and "low use" (Aug 16-May 14) seasons. This measure is to protect and preserve the resource and the recreation experience of all users.
At this time, AHRA, the AHRA Citizen Task Force, and commercial and private boaters and their organizations are reviewing private boat use for Section 2B, Browns Canyon and Section 2D, Big Bend. Our goal is to work out the best solution that would follow AHRA-MP guidelines to provide a quality experience for all river users while at the same time protecting the resource.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us preserve and protect our natural resources.
View the
AHRA River Safety Brochure and Maps.
Private Boater Counts
To request private boater counts dating back further than five years, please contact the AHRA at 719-539-7289.
