Expect Fryingpan River to be cranking over weekend

The Fryingpan River will be ripping and roaring by the end of the weekend, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages Ruedi Reservoir.

The reclamation bureau started increasing the water releases from Ruedi Reservoir by 50 cubic feet per second starting at 8 p.m. Friday. Over the weekend it will boost flows by 50 cfs at 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. both days.

“By Monday evening the dam should be releasing 600 cfs,” the bureau said in a statement.

The flow on the Fryingpan River just below Ruedi dam was at 267 cfs prior to the increases, the Roaring Fork Conservancy reported Thursday.

The flow will be increased to 700 cfs early next week. “If the inflow supports this change, it will remain at this level through the week,” the bureau said in its statement.

Higher flows eliminate most fishing on the gold medal trout stream.

The water was called from Ruedi Reservoir as part of the Coordinated Reservoir Operations. Water from reservoirs is released to increase flows for the Colorado River Fish Recovery Program.

The reclamation bureau typically increases releases at this time of year to make room in Ruedi Reservoir for snowmelt. The reservoir was 75.5 percent full as of Friday.