The Rivers are Black

Well folks, its actually happening. The ash from the fires has found its way down into the Rio Grande and the South Fork of the Rio Grande and both rivers are running black with ash from the fires. I first noticed this over a week ago and it was like coffee grounds suspended in the water but now, its black water flowing and the bottom is not even visible.

I did wade some of this two days ago and the bottom too is covered with a tarry slime. My concern and that of the biologist is that this will eventually kill all the bugs and other organisms in the river and with no food, the fish will die for sure. The other concern is this soot is probably filling the fish gills and will suffocate the fish sooner or later.  

Trout are not the hardiest of specimens and require cleaner water than most fish to survive. The river temperature has also risen to the point where they will have a hard time making it due to the color and how that absorbs heat on sunny days. I honestly believe we will lose the entire trout population in both rivers and some of the area streams. There are still plenty of streams and lakes to fish so don't panic.  

This is part of the natural flow of things in a forest and wilderness environment and man has to learn that some things are just out of our control. The rivers may die off but eventually, they will come back and the fish will return as it did in Yellowstone after the fires there. We are so used to fast answers in our instant society and so waiting on a natural disaster to straighten itself out seems so so hard.  

I will be posting a news article that I am writing for the area newspaper along with photos so you all can visualize better just what I am talking about. Heavy rains today up the valley toward Creede will make more runoff a possibility and heavy ash flow also a danger.

West Fork Fires, South Fork, Co. June 25, 2013

Morning dawned bright and sunny with little wind. We attended the briefing meeting at the Red Cross Shelter in Del Norte, Colorado this morning and learned about the progress of the firefighters with the inferno. The fire continues to burn of course but at a much slower rate at least near South Fork. A wind change direction is anticipated today and that may cause increased risks.

I am sitting out under the awning today under blue skies on the western side of town. I realize that many people want to come to their homes but so far the sheriff has only allowed the people north of hyw 149 access into and out of south fork. This is due to the dangers to the other areas posed by huge old pine and spruce trees in those areas that are not found here along the river. This is all open short grass areas with no trees to burn.  

We still need prayers about the wind and also need the summer monsoons to cone in and soak up this country. Normal conditions for July are daily showers and you dare not go anywhere without a rain suit during those times. An early start to that would be a godsend.

Last summer, my girlfriend Paula and I decided to walk in to a small lake seen on the map. it took us three times to find it but its the second time I want to share about. We normall carry a small pack with survival equipment and raincoats in it. I had taken mine out to use the day before and forgot to put it back in.  

After walking a short distance, it began to rain and when I reached into my pack, no rain suit. It was cold and dreary and the rain coming down steady. I got out my space blanket and improvised a poncho and sat there in the rain. Looking over to my girlfriend she was just standing there in the pouring rain lips pursed, upset that I forgot my coat. Not because I didn't have it but she has been on Mt. Everest and knows the dangers of hypothermia. I have seen the elephant however and all I could do was giggle at her. OF course that didn't help matters. We were a short hike back to the truck and I arrived there wet and cold and grinning. I had been wet before and needed a bath anyway. lol.  

The funniest part of this is that when we got to looking, she had an EXTRA rain suit in her back pack. Now that's funny.  

We finally found the lake and that's another blog for another time. Its pristine, hard to find and the fish bit every cast. .......kevin