As Colorado Faces Drought, Rafters Enjoy Rivers while They Can
2021-07-12
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1Across Colorado, rivers are at some of their lowest levels on record.
2But on one river in the northeastern part of the state, the water is not too low to enjoy.
3Happy children and guides still float down the river in blue rafts - rubber or plastic boats filled with air.
4The Cache La Poudre River is full of rafters and boaters enjoying the water while they still can.
5Businesses are fighting for survival in a season threatened by drought.
6Kyle Johnson's rafting company, Rocky Mountain Adventures, has been running full river trips seven days a week.
7Johnson recently told The Associated Press, "Any time that you make your living off of Mother Nature, you definitely partner with a pretty turbulent environment."
8Turbulent means not stable or steady.
9Johnson said the increased demand on the river is a "redemption" from the last rafting season,
10which was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic and wildfires.
11But the healthy water levels on the river might not last much longer.
12Johnson said the drought could end this season early as well.
13Colorado resident Savannah House recently floated down the Poudre.
14Noting the extreme weather in many parts of the state, House described her experience as "a little bittersweet."
15Bittersweet is a term that describes something that mixes a feeling of sadness and a feeling of happiness.
16For years, those who depend on rivers and streams to make a living have struggled with hotter, drier weather brought on by climate change.
17Now the heat wave is deepening worries and affecting even simple outdoor activities.
18The Yampa River in northwest Colorado is experiencing some of the lowest water flows on record because of below average snowfall, increasingly dry soil, and the spring's hot, dry weather.
19In Steamboat Springs, which is located on the river, rafting and kayaking ended a few weeks ago.
20Fishing and tubing could also end soon if the water goes much lower.
21Tubing is an activity that involves riding a tube, a round object that holds air, down a river.
22Kent Vertrees of Friends of the Yampa recently told the AP, "We have known since 2002, when this mega-drought started, that our climate has shifted to a hotter and drier future.
23And the future is now."
24The group has received financing from the Walton Family Foundation, which also supports The Associated Press' reporting on water and environmental policy.
25To help with the dryness, environmental groups and water agencies created a pathway to release water from a reservoir - a large lake used as a source for water.
26The move helped "keep the fish wet, cool the river down and increase the oxygen levels in the river," Vertrees said.
27Cottonwood trees have also been planted to block the sun and cool the river down when the water runs low.
28So far, though, it is unclear what effect such measures will have on water levels.
29I'm John Russell.
1Across Colorado, rivers are at some of their lowest levels on record. But on one river in the northeastern part of the state, the water is not too low to enjoy. Happy children and guides still float down the river in blue rafts - rubber or plastic boats filled with air. 2The Cache La Poudre River is full of rafters and boaters enjoying the water while they still can. Businesses are fighting for survival in a season threatened by drought. 3Kyle Johnson's rafting company, Rocky Mountain Adventures, has been running full river trips seven days a week. Johnson recently told The Associated Press, "Any time that you make your living off of Mother Nature, you definitely partner with a pretty turbulent environment." 4Turbulent means not stable or steady. 5Johnson said the increased demand on the river is a "redemption" from the last rafting season, which was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic and wildfires. But the healthy water levels on the river might not last much longer. Johnson said the drought could end this season early as well. 6Colorado resident Savannah House recently floated down the Poudre. Noting the extreme weather in many parts of the state, House described her experience as "a little bittersweet." 7Bittersweet is a term that describes something that mixes a feeling of sadness and a feeling of happiness. 8For years, those who depend on rivers and streams to make a living have struggled with hotter, drier weather brought on by climate change. 9Now the heat wave is deepening worries and affecting even simple outdoor activities. 10The Yampa River in northwest Colorado is experiencing some of the lowest water flows on record because of below average snowfall, increasingly dry soil, and the spring's hot, dry weather. 11In Steamboat Springs, which is located on the river, rafting and kayaking ended a few weeks ago. Fishing and tubing could also end soon if the water goes much lower. Tubing is an activity that involves riding a tube, a round object that holds air, down a river. 12Kent Vertrees of Friends of the Yampa recently told the AP, "We have known since 2002, when this mega-drought started, that our climate has shifted to a hotter and drier future. And the future is now." 13The group has received financing from the Walton Family Foundation, which also supports The Associated Press' reporting on water and environmental policy. 14To help with the dryness, environmental groups and water agencies created a pathway to release water from a reservoir - a large lake used as a source for water. The move helped "keep the fish wet, cool the river down and increase the oxygen levels in the river," Vertrees said. 15Cottonwood trees have also been planted to block the sun and cool the river down when the water runs low. So far, though, it is unclear what effect such measures will have on water levels. 16I'm John Russell. 17Brittany Peterson and Thomas Peipert reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 18_______________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20drought - n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain 21redemption - n. the act of making something better or more acceptable 22kayaking - n. the act of riding a long narrow boat that is pointed at both ends and that is moved by a paddle with two blades 23shift - v. to change something