fishteck

Graves Bridge upgrades. New park bench, garbage bin and toilet Also a new gate added. Will it be locked? Go to link for details https://bowrivertrout.org/2016/07/14/graves-bridge-boat-ramp-gets-an-update/

MacKkinnon's was cleaned up last week . New signs added and within one week we see industrial wast dumped again. https://bowrivertrout.org/2016/07/13/mackinnons-flats-cleaned-up-but-not-for-long/

Does anyone look at the bow river reservoir storage reports. See the following link, it is published every day. Although a lot of the chat revolves around the Ghost Reservoir Floor Mitigation Project that AEP and TransAlta agreed to run for 3 years. Water was released from the dam in May and June with a hold back of flows to fill the dam to normal operating capacity by the end of the first week of July. What caused the extremely low flows this year was a combination of low snow pack, and early run-off and drought conditions the last month. The Ghost Reservoir fill is taking place now. On June 30, Ghost Reservoir was at 46% capacity and from what information I have been given, will not reach historical fill levels this year. Starting next week we should see a slight increase in flows once the dam operating procedures return to normal for this time of year, that is, "water in - water out". If, or when it rains we will see a corresponding variation in flows as the rivers rise upstream of Ghost Reservoir. Some of that water could be held back to add to the Ghost storage capacity. https://bowrivertrout.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/res_storage-jun30.pdf Have a look at the reservoir capacity for dams upstream of Ghost on the Bow River and Barrier upstream on Kananaskis River, just about all are extremely low. Cascade that has one of the highest storage capacity on the upstream dam system is only at 56%. If anyone wants to blame someone for the low flows it needs to be pointed to the fishing community for not having organized opposition to flood mitigation projects. But, opposition to the management of potential floods would not get much of a hearing. Just pray for rain and not too much at one time!

High temperature and low flows in the Eastern-Slopes streams and rivers of the Rockies prompted the Alberta Government to issue a fishing advisory for the region today. If temperatures remain high and Bow River flows continue to be low through the summer, will we see a fishery closure on the river later in the summer? I believe YES. Go to www.bowrivertrout.org for some addition information

This is why MacKinnons is under threat! https://bowrivertrout.org/2016/06/16/mackinnons-flats-river-access-a-public-disgrace/

I am amazed that the medium parking is still allowed.Any bets on closure with additional barrier this year?

Motion passed today. Thank you everyone

GOOD NEWS! The motion " Calgary River Access Strategy" was passed by City Council today. Calgary River Users Alliance supports the motion and will work with City Administration to address the short and long-term objectives of the motion. To keep in touch with what is happening, go to: https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryRiverUsersAlliance/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

The following website list the motion to council and City Councillor Contacts: https://bowrivertrout.org/

The Calgary River Users Alliance (CRUA) has been working on the river access issue for some time. If you go the the Bow River Trout Facebook page or the following link to BRT Website you will see the action you can take as an individual to support the Motion to Council https://bowrivertrout.org/2016/06/08/calgary-river-access-strategy-motion-to-city-council-june-13-14-2016/ Under the "Reports" menu you can also see a review of Calgary's boat launches carried out by CRUA earlier this year. If you wish to be kept informed on CRUA's work in progress go to " Contact" page and enter you info, ticking off "Newsletter" We hope to make regular posts on the FFF as river access information becomes available Fishtech

There seems to be some miss information being expressed on this post. If you go back before the 2013 flood the only access to the river at Graves Bridge, Policeman's and MacKinnons and Legacy Island were by way of a parking lot and / restricted lane to the river. MacKinnons has always been abused by those individuals who believed it was their right to cut down cables to access parts unknown! The 2013 changed the river bank at all the above launch sites. But it did not change the DFO disposition of the boat launches. It is probably fair to say that access out of the parking lot to the nearest accessible rivers edge would be deemed to be acceptable. Nothing else! Just about everyone who launches a boat at MacKinnons would seem to be in violation of provincial and federal regulations. Obviously, the guys in the photo are in violation of the laws, but also are a large number of the boat launchers.

Calgary River Users Alliance is working on the Bow River boat ramp access issue. Go to the Alberta Whitewater Association website for an update: http://www.albertawhitewater.ca/calgary-river-users-alliance It has been very difficult to get a straight answer as to who initiated the closure of Grave Bridge boat ramp. Was it AEP, City Parks, lobby groups or concerned individuals. No one government entity has claimed responsibility. AEP has been reluctant to take any action to close or restrict access at Policeman's and MacKinnon's Flats because of the importance to the local fishing industry. Therefore it is puzzling to see why AEP would do so at Graves Bridge. There are many river access points in Alberta, the western US states and around the world that use the river bottom under low flow condition or gravel bars to launch boats. Why is it such an issue in the City of Calgary?.

This program was questioned by many people. In theory the killing of Brook Trout should have benefited the "native trout population" but where does a program such as this stop? Was the next step to kill off the Rainbow and Brown Trout in the Bow and Oldman River Basin to protect the Whitefish population? I think not. The protection of "Native Species" should have been done many years ago, Don't try and reverse history now. Accept that Brook Trout have established themselves in our west-slope watershed and enjoy the fishing

UberFly: Guides setting up tables and chairs and serving hot meals!!! That went out of fashion 20 years ago. Most guides just buy Subway or a supermarket sandwiches, a packet of chips and little else. Oh how things have changed. Before I get shot, yes there are those guides who have their lunched prepared by the outfitter or fly shop.

Calgary River Users Alliance has been formed as an umbrella organization of the major recreation river user groups in the city. CURA has a new Facebook page. Details of CRUA Position Statement can be found on the page. You can expect to find valuable information for river access and the roll the organization will play to secure river infrastructure improvements for all river users. Check it out https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryRiverUsersAlliance/

Go to the following Facebook page to read the Press Release https://www.facebook.com/Bow-River-Trout-1760046364207842

TransAlta has entered into a 5-year agreement to control flow out of Ghost Dam ! See Attached News Release http://www.transalta.com/newsroom/news-releases/2016-04-27/transalta-lower-ghost-reservoir-transalta-and-alberta-government-s

Zipper: Be careful criticizing the dame system upstream of Calgary. No dams - insufficient water in the winter to maintain a trout population

I promised myself that I would not wade into this subject. But it is important to realize that the problem of access is not just related to Graves Bridge Ramp. The following is a list of trailered boat access points within Calgary that were accessible to the public a few years back. Baker Park, Bowness Park, Shouldice Park, Eau Clare, Calgary Zoo, Cushing Bridge, Ogden Road, Graves Bridge, Quarry Park (new in 2014), Douglassdale / Enmax and Fish Creek that is a provincial park. Only Fish Creek is accessible within Calgary and that is for access downstream of the city. Policeman's Flats and MacKinnon's Flats are subject to the same closure logic as Graves Bridge. Both of which are controlled by the Lands Branch of AEP. Only Legacy Island, that the province leased to the Bow River Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada and Carsland, a provincial park are currently secure access points. What does this say for the state of the fishery? I would suggest that we need to take our rose coloured glasses off as it relates to idealistic stands on the issues of environmental impact, fish habitat and look at the bigger picture of retaining access to a world recognized fishery. To ridicule those individuals who choose not to conform to our own beliefs is hypocritical since when we drive across any gravel bar to launch a boat we are doing just as much harm to the environment as the less informed.

Go to a German built Torqeedo electric motor. I've dad one for 4 years. Not cheap, Estimated at 4 Hp thrust Depending on the torque you set can run upwards of 1 hour. See photo battery in top of unit.

Mayor Nenshi - "REMOVE THE BARRICADE" The barricade on the Graves Bridge Boat Ramp is but one of a number of access points on the Bow River that are at risk of closure, MacKinnon's Flats Policeman's Flats are in the firing line for closure for the same reasons as the Graves Bridge closure. That is, too much river bottom damage in inappropriate locations. If a Graves Bridge barricade had been placed from the upstream edge of the boat ramp to the waters edge would everyone be satisfied? But it may well be the best option. If you wish to follow what action is being taken by river users interest groups, go the Bow River Trout Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Bow-River-Trout-1760046364207842

River Watch finally found out that the Parks Department installed the barrier responding to concerns expressed by a number of local residents for the protection of exposed gravel bar. The Parks Department was first approached by member of the local fishing community last summer to take action to prevent access upstream of Grave Bridge. Nothing was done at that time, but signage was installed in the spring of this year at the bottom of the ramp restricting vehicle access upstream of Grave Bridge. Very few people took any notice of the sign! Therefore I was not surprised to see further restriction put in place. The barriers are expected to be removed today, but this will probably not be the end of the debate. A string of concrete barrier slabs lined up from the bottom of the upstream edge of the ramp projecting out to the river's edge would be the best solution. Access upstream of Graves Bridge would be restricted and fishing boats access would be assured.

The weekend bow river flow forecast: This will be the last data I will post on the forum. If you would like to receive this data 3 x /week send be your email. Regards:

Today's Ghost and Bearspaw flow forecast If you would like to receive this data 3 time a week send me a message with your email. Cheers

Here is today's daily average releases from Ghost and Bearspaw, and the trend for the following 2-3 days. Please note that system conditions may change quickly due to abnormal and unpredictable rapid local inflow variations.