How Colorado rafting outfitters plan to operate during extreme drought

DENVER - As Colorado's river rafting outfitters ponder the threat of ongoing drought and record low snowpack on their businesses this summer, memories from the difficult summer of 2002 have been on their minds.

That, too, was a severe drought year. Those who worked Colorado's rivers in those days remember low river flows and steep declines in business. Now stories about their experiences are echoing through the industry, which has an annual economic impact on the state of more than $200 million, according to the Colorado River Outfitters Association.

"I was not here in 2002, but I've definitely heard the horror stories," said Kyle Johnson, business manager and co-owner of Rocky Mountain Adventures, which operates on the Poudre River west of Fort Collins.

User days in 2002 tumbled 40% from the previous year, according to figures compiled by the outfitters association, from more than 502,000 in 2001 to 298,000 in 2002. The following year, they rebounded with 448,000.

Duke Bradford was a river manager that summer on the Arkansas River, the heart of Colorado's rafting industry. User days there numbered 139,000, down from 252,000 in 2001. Bradford recalls how the river "channelized" with a narrower stream than normal years, like a two-lane road restricted to one lane.

"The river was very runnable, but it was also very channelized," said Bradford, the owner of AVA Rafting, which runs trips on the Arkansas, the Upper Colorado and Clear Creek. "There was only one channel to go down. That made it challenging if you had several boats. If one gets stuck, it could be a little bit of bumper boats."

Outfitters insist there will be a rafting season this year, but the same lack of snowfall that negatively affected ski resorts over the winter - forcing many to open late and close early - will also hurt rafting since there has been less snow to melt. That, along with ongoing drought, means the low-water conditions typically found in late summer may come much earlier than usual. To make it work, river guides plan to adjust in ways they hope will help them make the best of what they have.

"The water's not going to get to be high, boat-flipping water," said David Costlow, executive director of the Colorado River Outfitters Association. "Usually, we try to get to the middle of July before we start entering low water. It will probably be early this year. It could be the end of June, first of July, but it depends on the next few weeks.

"We're hoping that low-water season doesn't start until after July 4," Costlow added. "It depends on temperatures and how much moisture we get between now and then."

March ‘failed to deliver'

The winter snowpack is currently well below average across the state; in fact, it is about a quarter of what Colorado usually has at this time of year, according to the USDA National Water and Climate Center. That's the lowest since record-keeping began in 1941. Meanwhile, warm spring temperatures triggered a much earlier runoff than normal.

Outfitters are hoping spring rains will improve the situation, but three-month weather projections from the Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service are calling for above-normal temperatures and below-normal moisture through June.

March is normally Colorado's snowiest month, so outfitters were hoping for a boost last month. It didn't come.

"Up until about spring break, we were seeing really similar patterns to this time last year," Johnson said of the picture in the Poudre. "Coming into (spring) last year, things didn't look fantastic, but then March and April really saved the day. We get our most snow at altitude in the month of March historically. March (this year) grandly failed to deliver."

Outfitters are used to adapting when confronted with low-water years. Many of the strategies they will employ early this season track with what they normally do in the late season. They're also trying to think of creative ways to bridge the gap.

"We just ordered 20 inflatable kayaks, which are great for lower water conditions - more agile and fun - and it expands the options for our guests," said Travis Hochard, chief operating officer of River Runners rafting and president of the Arkansas River Outfitters Association. "Inflatable kayaks are perfect for low water. They're nimble, interactive, and give guests a more hands-on experience."

Bradford said his company will run smaller boats to deal with channelized flows. That will mean 14-foot boats on the Upper Colorado instead of 16-footers, and 12-footers on the Arkansas instead of 14-footers.

"Normally, you could put six people in a boat, but when it's channelized, that's not realistic," Bradford said. "We'll cut those numbers down quite a bit to navigate that single lane. We'll run small loads and we'll make it happen. We're going to make it a good year, no matter what happens."

Rafting on Clear Creek is almost entirely dependent on rainfall during the season, even in good snow years, because it's situated in a relatively small drainage. Outfitters there are hoping Colorado's monsoon season, typically mid-July through August, delivers this year.

"If it rains, that river goes up substantially," Bradford said. "If we get the monsoons, it can double (its flow) overnight."

The Upper Colorado draws on runoff from a much larger basin that includes the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Never Summer Range. Reservoirs in that drainage include Grand Lake, and flows are controlled by water managers. Rafting on the Upper Colorado is concentrated west of Kremmling.

"The Colorado River, when that water needs to flow to Utah and Nevada, it's going to flow, and we're going to be there to ride it," Costlow said. "It will not be a high-water season, it'll be a mid-water season for a while, and then we'll probably enter low-water season earlier than normal."

On the Poudre, Johnson said his company is focused on providing quality experiences for as long as there is enough water to do so.

"Looking at the snowpack per drainage, we still sit better than most, but unfortunately, we're all looking at pretty low snow totals," Johnson said. "The Poudre is a very long canyon with a lot of navigable whitewater. There will be a season."

‘Fish are pretty resilient'

Below-normal stream flows and above-average temperatures are also likely to impact fish populations. The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife on federal land, includes a 152-mile stretch of the Arkansas. Not only is it Colorado's busiest area for rafting, but it includes more than 100 miles of Gold Medal trout fishing.

Josh Nehring, a CPW deputy assistant director who focuses on aquatics and fish management, believes the impact of low water will be felt more by rafting businesses than fishing interests.

"Fish are pretty resilient, especially in the Arkansas," Nehring said. "In the majority of the Upper Arkansas Basin, fish can freely move upstream and downstream to find better habitat."

With lower stream flows and higher temperatures, though, the level of dissolved oxygen in the river could be reduced, affecting fish activity.

"There have been some studies done with increased water temperature and related stress where fish will end up feeding less, because they're more in survival mode as opposed to actively feeding," Nehring said. "One thing anglers might see is lower catch rates. As temperatures get up toward 70 degrees, one option would be to go to higher elevations where the stream is cooler. Trout need cooler water, so head to higher elevations where there's maybe more flow, cooler water temperatures, better conditions."

Nehring also suggests anglers consider visiting reservoirs in eastern Colorado that contain fish that are more tolerant of warm water.

Those in the rafting industry insist there still will be enjoyable rafting in the state this year despite the drought.

"The message we're putting out is, recognize that it's going to be a lower-water year, but you can still have fun with your family and friends on the river," said Bob Hamel, executive director of the Arkansas River Outfitters Association. "It's hot, and you're going to want to be near water. Outfitters are buying smaller boats; they're doing inflatable kayaks, SUPs (stand-up paddleboards). It's a good year to learn to kayak. People are looking to operate under those guidelines and adapt."

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 5:38 AM.