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Denver's South Platte River rehabilitation plan designed to restore fisheries
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Bruce Finlay - The Denver Post on 27/12/2011 10:18:00
 
Source: The Denver Post
They're planning to rechannel the river, revegetate and bring in boulders to
rehabilitate the wide, shallow waterway into a deeper, meandering river that
could sustain significantly more fish. Not just wily big-mouth bottom-feeders
— but trout.
Enhancing the South Platte, proponents contend, will lead to a healthier metro
economy.
"We are the custodians of the river. It is incumbent upon us to keep that river
a viable, healthy source for the ecology of the area, the wildlife, migratory
birds and for the community," Littleton Mayor Debbie Brinkman said. "We're not
doing this for economic reasons. There may be an economic benefit."
Anglers report healthy rainbow and brown troughs all along the river. And
fly-fishing for carp continues to draw people who are following the advice of
Chris Santella's new book "50 More Places to Fly Fish Before You Die" to the
South Platte.
Fishing guides in Denver say they earn as much as $300 leading outsiders to the
good spots.
The South Platte "already has gained a reputation as a carp fishery," said Will
Rice, who submitted the recommendation to Santella. "But if the small-mouth
species (such as trout) could be introduced, this definitely could be an
economic draw for Denver."
Read more: Denver's South Platte River rehabilitation plan designed to restore
fisheries - The Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19619646#ixzz1hjG3ieCj