Fall foliage lines the Chama River. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
Did you know that the Chama River is one of the West’s most undiscovered and diverse rivers? Yet the river has been facing some serious issues recently due to drought conditions, water management and unregulated fishing.
In a free talk at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 at PEEC, Noah Parker will discuss the current situation on the river from a holistic point of view, as well as touch upon a catch and release initiative that is being proposed for the fishery.
Starting in the mountains on the Colorado border, the charming Chama River flows as a freestone stream for many miles through high mountain forests and meadows. Below El Vado reservoir, it runs for more than 30 miles through rugged, multi-colored sandstone canyons and rough terrain with limited access. For six miles of this section, it passes through the 50,000 acre Chama River Canyon Wilderness area. Another less remote stretch flows from below Abiquiu dam down to the Rio Grande. This diverse river provides amazing opportunities for rafting, hiking, and especially fishing.
For the last 10 years, Parker and the other guides who work with him have spent many days a year on the Chama, giving them the opportunity to experience first-hand the challenges that the river faces. Parker will share these observations in his talk at PEEC.
Parker is the owner of Land of Enchantment Guides – a company that offers guided fly fishing trips throughout Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. The Chama River is Land of Enchantment Guides “home water”. Parker has been a professional fishing guide and fisherman for most of his life. For more information about Parker and the Land of Enchantment Guides, visit www.loeflyfishing.com.
The talk is free to attend, and no advance registration is required. To learn more about this and other PEEC programs, visit www.PajaritoEEC.org, email Programs@PajaritoEEC.org or call 505.662.0460.
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) was founded in 2000 to serve the community of Los Alamos. It offers people of all ages a way to enrich their lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC maintains a nature center, holds regular programs and events, and hosts a number of interest groups from birding to hiking to butterfly watching. PEEC activities are open to everyone; however members receive exclusive benefits such as discounts on programs and merchandise. Annual memberships start at $20. To learn more, visit http://www.PajaritoEEC.org.
