Arkansas River 2026

2026 will mark my 40th consecutive year on the Arkansas River here in Colorado. As a river outfitter, I live around, on, and quite literally in the river, and I am so proud to be able to say that. This river has been my life for over 2/3rds of my lifetime, and I cannot think of a better way to spend a career, and what a great way to raise a family. My wife and I are from Colorado; we met in Gunnison at Western State College in the 80s. Our three kids all graduated from the Colorado State University system, and I can literally say I paid tuition for my kids with half-, full-, and multi-day river trips in Colorado.

2026 has presented our industry with challenges we have overcome before, but this drought has introduced an entirely new level of complexity. Native flow has subsided to the point of making many sections of the river impassable to guided raft traffic. Guides who are charming, upbeat, and positive people are feeling the pressure physically and emotionally. Their passion for the river is being tested daily. There is the economic side of the commercial river industry and the fact that we are a primary driver of visitation for the river communities that dot the path of the Arkansas. As this may live on in posterity someplace, it should be noted that things are awful and operations are literally crippled. Combined with the fires that accompany droughts, we have even more headwinds with dwindling visitation to the state in general. The commercial river industry will be forced to change and evolve, but there will be losers along the way. Our industry is based on passion, but we have to meet certain criteria in order to pursue that passion, and things like insurance, payroll, compliance, advertising, utilities, and bank loans are not subject to drought and will continue to flow our way. As an industry, we provide access to a unique Colorado experience that I can only hope will remain a hallmark of why we choose to live and play here.

It must be mentioned that we are just one facet of a complex water ecosystem. Looking at my peers in agriculture, I feel I know what they go through on a daily basis. The challenge of wondering what tomorrow will hold, let alone a year from now, which feels very far away. Municipal and industrial uses are also pinched, and we are all in this together. Then there is the health of the riparian corridor and the habitat, wildlife, and fishery that depend on it. We can only hope for a return to a more normal precipitation pattern, but those of us keeping score know the resource continues to feel the stress of ongoing development, rising temperatures, and a host of other nuanced scenarios that just keep unfolding.

Hoping for rain is not a strategy. Increased storage, continued cooperation, embracing new technologies (LIDAR), and thinking outside of the box while trying new ideas should be embraced.