fishteck

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.

BurningChrome: Look at the first post. TransAlta was increasing and decreasing flows through the Bearspaw Dam from a low of 40 CMS to 100 CMS during the course of a day while they were repairing the flow control gates. The reports I received on Friday would indicate that the work would be completed by the weekend. Therefore the flows out of Bearspaw should return to "normal" for a while. The pilot project last year to drop Ghost Reservoir in May in anticipation of high run-off will be a part of the Bow River flood mitigation mandate this year and I expect going forward. The discussion we had with TransAlta last summer indicated that Ghost and Bearspaw reservoirs would fill to capacity in 2 to 3 days under a high flow advisory. The only significant hold back of water is by way of the dam system upstream.

15 April 2016 TransAlta released the following Bearspaw Dam outflow forecast this afternoon: TransAlta will be conducting maintenance on the Bearspaw Dam from April 18-22. This will result in fluctuating water levels on the Bow River. The work is to repair damage from the 2013 flood - fixing gates and removing debris – means reducing the flow from the dam to keep workers safe, and water levels may be lower as a result. River users may notice fluctuations in the river levels (between 10 cm to 35 cm) that last between 15 minutes and five hours during daylight hours. Flows could vary between 100 and 40 CMS in the same day As future bulletins are received thay will be added.

Jpinkster: Thanks for your comments on CP. There are a number of "interesting" stories around the guiding community regarding accessing the Bow at Ogden. I have not put a drift boat in at Ogden for 30 years and have no intention on doing so in the near future. I see that the City of Calgary's Bend-in-the-Bow engagement website has received considerable support for boat access. Good to see.

Troutfriend: All what you have said is historically correct. But the redeveloped Harvie Passage site does have a boat ramp built into the last pool of low flow passage. This ramp will also serve as a service access across the island to the high flow channel. Road access will be needed for service vehicles. The city needs to come up with a boat access plan - not just shoot everything down. 15 to 20 years ago there were 6 plus boat city launches used by the public. Now there is only one owned by the city - Graves Bridge and that could be lost to flood mitigation work next year.. Fish Creek is a provincial property and does not count in the equation. Over the past 20 years the number of fishing boats using the river has increased at an incredible rate. The city needs to address this issue if Calgary is to be called a world class fishery. It is my understanding that Ogden Road access point you refer to is Canadian Pacific property, best of luck getting any movement there. We just need to keep pressure up on any city developments to service river users needs.

Jayhad: Nothing has been done on the public access issue for 10 years. Don't expect change overnight. There was an initial push to get the boat access points open to the public last year. There is certainly more interest in achieving this goal now, but unfortunately the fishing community is very poorly organized to present a united front to city administration and counsellors. As I have mentioned in other topics there is a new group, Calgary River Users Alliance (CRUA) that consists of more than 12 local river users organizations, that has a mandate to improve not only access but the infrastructure at river edge, e.g., wash-rooms, tables and benches. Is there a place for an organization to represent solely fishing interests in Southern Alberta. If so let me know.