| 4/3/2009 9:44:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Joint effort may reopen angler access
by Paul Goetz
Mail News Editor
A joint effort that may reopen a portion of road used by anglers was endorsed by Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area task force members during their regular meeting Thursday.
The road in question is a quarter mile section on the north side of the Arkansas River near Stockyard Bridge.
It was closed following a three year travel management plan process that ended with implementation March 5.
Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Arkansas Valley Audubon Society may adopt the road to allow for environmental education and access.
In exchange the Bureau of Land Management would reopen the road.
Whether the BLM reopens the road will ultimately be the decision of Roy Masinton, Royal Gorge Field Office Manager.
Paul Trentzsch, bureau renewable staff leader, said it was a good deal that both Trout Unlimited and Audubon Society have agreed to talk about adopting the quarter mile section of road.
He said the cooperation "will help Roy (Masinton) make a positive decision."
John Nahomenuk, bureau river manager, said they did not receive any public comment on the road during the travel management process.
Rod Patch, anglers representative, told the task force he was getting a significant number of complaints about the closure at both of his fly fishing shops.
Patch said several hundred anglers who use the access will be denied recreational use.
The site is good for anglers who may not be able to access the river in areas where the slope is steeper. The site is also a favorite with local anglers.
Patch recommended reopening the road for 45 days while the bureau investigated the situation.
"I'm disappointed I didn't comment (in the first place). Had I known this road was being considered I would have commented," Patch said.
Susan Tweit, environmental interests member of the task force, said she was concerned with the effect of opening the road to vehicles during the current drought situation.
"Forty-five days could be seriously damaging to the river banks and highlands because of drought conditions this year," Tweit said.
Patch argued "closure of the road will not prohibit motorbikes and ATV traffic in the highlands."
Collegiate Peaks board of directors will decide on further action during their meeting April 8.
Tweit will propose the idea with the Arkansas Valley Audubon Society.
The road will continue to be closed until further notice.
In another angling access issue, anglers representative Fred Rasmussen reported access to the Dill Lease will be changing as the land is being subdivided.
The subdivision is near CR 163 and has a parking lot and a trail that leads down to the river using several switchbacks.
The lease allows for a 15 foot wide access on the southern boundary of the property. Current trail exceeds that access, Jim Aragon Colorado Division of Wildlife manager said. The division has plans to work on the 15 foot access.
Access is managed by Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
In other business task force members:
•Elected Bob Hamel as chairperson.
•Discussed Cañon City application for a Great Outdoors Colorado grant and subsequent task force involvement with the Cañon City Whitewater Park.
•Discussed the state parks management plan process.
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