The Arkansas River below Pueblo Dam runs cold and fast

Just below Pueblo Dam, the Arkansas River comes out of the bottom of the reservoir and runs through the city. Anglers and tubers love this stretch, called the tailwater, because the water stays cool and the fishing can be good. That same feature is also the thing to respect.

Because the water is released from deep in the reservoir and fed by snowmelt upstream, it can be shockingly cold even on a warm day. When releases are high, the river runs fast and pushy. Cold, fast water is a serious combination: it saps strength quickly and can turn a casual float into an emergency. In some years Colorado Parks and Wildlife has restricted tubing and other uses on this stretch when flows and temperatures got dangerous.

What this means for a good day on the river: check current conditions before you go, dress for cold water rather than warm air, wear a life jacket if you are floating, and keep an eye on children and dogs near the bank. Flows can change as the dam adjusts releases, so the river you saw last week may not be the river today.

For current flow and any recreation restrictions on the Arkansas below Pueblo Dam, check Colorado Parks and Wildlife before heading out.