I want to thank you for the enjoyable time both my husband and I had rafting with your company. We have been rafting several times, but your company was the most FUN and enjoyable of any company we have used. We WILL be back.

Susan Swanson

Mesa, AZ

Being a college student, training and working at WAO was a perfect experience. There is no better way to spend your Summer than getting lots of sun, meeting great people (both your co-workers and customers), and spending your time on the river. WAO, in particular, is a great company to work for because of the experience and expertise of the senior guides.

Douglas "Dougie" Bolton

WAO Guide since 2001

Arkansas River Water resources


State Parks water flow site
- Year round Wellsville station, which is the official station for the Upper Arkansas River.

USGS water flow site
- Seasonal data - April 1st to September 30th - for Granite (the Numbers) Nathrop (Browns Canyon) and Parkdale (Bighorn Canyon & Royal Gorge)

Snowpack site
- Snowpack readings are based on a 30-year average on a specific date.

There’s an old saying in Colorado; "Whiskey is for drinkin’ and water is for fightin’"

On the Arkansas River in Colorado, water is typically over-allocated. This means there is less water available than the annual demand from all those who "own" and manage water resources. The Arkansas River and Colorado in general allocates most water for agriculture or producing food. Close to 90% of all water in the Arkansas River is earmarked for "ag" uses. This leaves around 10% for all other uses including municipal. If you live in Colorado Springs or Pueblo (or many places in Colorado!) you are likely aware that water in Colorado is, or can be, more complicated than simply turning on your faucet or hose. All of this water comes to Colorado in the form of precipitation, most notably snow. Snowpack levels are monitored daily at a vast number of snow and water content measuring stations in every major river basin in the State. Many people think the largest body of water and reservoir in Colorado is Blue Mesa reservoir. However, the Colorado Rocky Mountains by April 1st each year are a massive, frozen reservoir that serves the water needs of millions of people in many western states and large cities in Colorado and also Phoenix, Los Angeles to Las Vegas among many others.

According to Colorado water law, when there is less water available than has been allocated to users, there is a system of priority. Without getting too technical, the basic philosophy is – “First in time, first in right”. This means the oldest water right by decree are the first to get water.

There are several reservoirs near Leadville, Colorado, high in the Rocky Mountains. These “storage vessels” hold water that all belongs to someone or some entity. Natural or “native” flows are released into the river, along with water from many tributaries downstream of these reservoirs, keeping the river flowing year-round. Just west of Pueblo, Colorado is a large lake the serves as another storage facility and is also designed for flood control. Water is also imported to the Arkansas River from the western slope of the Rocky Mountains on the other side of the Continental Divide. This west slope or imported water comes via a system of pump stations and tunnels built for what is known as the “Frying Pan-Arkansas Project”, named for the two rivers involved, the Frying Pan River, which is part of or a tributary to the Colorado River, and of course, the Arkansas River.

Much of the native flow from the Arkansas River and the Colorado River must pass through Colorado to other western states where water is, or can be at times, even scarcer than it is in Colorado.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, a federal agency, manages the reservoirs on the Arkansas River and determines when to release water into the river and how much. This is often accomplished with much input from those that are the owners and municipal managers of water and water rights. There is a component of the Fry-Ark project that provides for recreational uses of water. On the Arkansas River the fishery and biology that makes up aquatic life in the river is a priority in this regard. Another important component is river recreation. Having enough water each year to operate our rafting trips, as well as the many other rafting company operators in the valley, is key to not only the ability of all of us to survive as businesses, but also to serve the public demand for recreation – river rafting trips – on the Arkansas River. The many communities along the Arkansas River depend on tourism to remain economically viable. Many people don’t realize how important and impactful tourism is on them and the communities in which they live in the Arkansas valley. The Arkansas River and the visitors it attracts are literally the lifeblood of the people that live in the Arkansas River valley and the many small communities in the area.