Dillon Reservoir outflow drops

After dropping rapidly for several weeks to make room for runoff, water levels in Dillon Reservoir will begin to rise again this week.

Denver Water announced Thursday that it's dropping outflow to the Lower Blue from 800 to 500 cubic feet per second.

The main reason for the change is that the runoff from the South Platte drainage has been considerably less than projected. A late snow-melt season is the main factor, said Denver Water resource engineer Bob Steger.

“This means we may have to bring more water through the Roberts Tunnel in June than we previously thought in order to fill our South Platte reservoirs,” Steger said.

The change will improve fly-fishing conditions in the Blue River below the dam and bring water levels up at the Frisco marina, Steger said.

Local outfitters said the decreased outflow won't affect commercial rafting trips on the Lower Blue.

Five hundred cubic feet per second is still an adequate flow for boaters, and tributaries like Rock Creek, Straight Creek and Willow Creek are boosting Lower Blue flows downstream of the reservoir.

“Five hundred is still a great level for that run,” said Kevin Foley, of Performance Tours.

<i> Bob Berwyn can be reached at (970) 331-5996 or bberwyn@summitdaily.com.</i>