[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - HITE UPDATE]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - HITE UPDATE
Date: 	Mon, 4 Apr 2005 21:07:09 -0600
From: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Reply-To: 	<riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>



RRFW Riverwire – HITE UPDATE

April 4, 2005

Recent improvements have been made to the relocated river takeout across 
the Colorado River from the now-abandoned Hite Marina. Within the last 
three weeks, the boat ramp has been widened into a fan shape allowing 
for more activity in anticipation of the summer Cataract Canyon season. 
The bottom portion is steep and the soil soft, making it difficult to 
load heavy boats onto trailers at current levels, but with use the soil 
should compact and higher river levels at runoff will allow for takeout 
at the ramp’s higher, gentler slope. Also, Glen Canyon National 
Recreation Area has placed two marina latrines at the site.

The river is running free as far west as is visible from the Hite 
Overlook, which is accessed from Highway 95 west of the ramp turnoff. 
The current appears strong and there are midstream sediment and rock 
islands from the ramp down to the much reduced Lake Powell. Vast amounts 
of gray sediment have been deposited by the reservoir in the valley 
surrounding Hite Marina, as evidenced by sand banks as high as 20-30 
feet above river level. The river is obviously carrying a large sediment 
load, appearing almost as a slurry.

Also apparent from the Hite Overlook are many remnant ponds, some quite 
large, of former lake water now dammed by sediment. Birds, frogs and 
other wildlife (including mosquitoes) in the area are quite evident in 
stark contrast to the days of high lake water. Although grass, too, is 
in evidence, the dominant flora are tumbleweed and tamarisk.

The new rapid above the boat ramp has diminished somewhat since being 
reported in our Riverwire two weeks ago. A wide, smooth tongue has 
developed in the river’s left side and it should not interfere with 
river takeouts. The water depth at the ramp is shallow at the current 
river level.

A sediment survey trip was preparing to launch a downstream run to the 
reservoir last Saturday utilizing an 18’ cataraft powered by a 25 hp 
motor, taking out at Bullfrog Marina on Monday.

Photos can be seen at RRFW’s site at 
http://www.rrfw.org/article.php?file=20050404.RRFW_Riverwire.Hite_Update

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