Park Construction

[Steve Smith]

I dropped down to Roaring River for lunch today and it looks like the construction on the upper hatchery end will be ready for opening day. It looks like they have completed the walkway around the dam and gates, dug out the pond, and dammed it to make the first falls on the river. There will be little flow on the river until the pond and handicap areas finish filling. I just hope the water clears up, and the flow improves. I believe it is going to be a really good improvement to the park. If you know any wheelchair bound trout fishers, they need to take advantage of this addition to the park

[CaptainT16]

I actually stopped into roaring river a couple of months ago for the first time. What was the need for the construction? Just wondered if something was getting old, or they just wanted to improve things for the fishermen and guests?

[timsfly]

Yep, the construction is all done but the clean up, they were moving heavy

equipment out yesterday, the spring pond is filled back up, and the flow is just a little over 2 million a day, that is what a hatchery employee told me on the 20th of feb.

The hatchery is still getting an upgrade, over the next few months the conservation dept. is having a liquid oxygen system installed, this should be done by early summer. So there will still be a lot of digging going on around the hatchery, but it shoudn't effect the river.

The hatchery is getting fish today from the shepherd of the hills hatchery. I was told yesterday the flow would only be enough to keep 6 raceways up and running. The river is clearing and should be in great shape for the opening on the 1st of march. There is already about 4000 fish in the river and the hatchery is expecting to stock another 4000 + over 100 lunkers, so it should be a good opening.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

Was there any other modification to the river that took place ? Or just more hatchery construction ?

Thanks guys.. can't wait to see / fish this once the 'opening day' factor is gone for the season.

best fishes - Brian

[jomoflyfisher]

They added sidewalks along in front of the falls, added stairs on the south end of the short wall also some steps on North end by hatchery to access the top of the dam, also they dropped a pipe into cave to pull water to hatchery, also new gates on dams, getting away from old 2x4 method, also coated inside of runways, to try to stop leaks.It looks great and hope to see alot of people getting to enjoy fishing down there. P.S. Hope to see everyone down there Next Wed. on opening.

[OnTheFly]

What was the need for the construction?

State employees had some of “other people’s money” and they decided to spend it.

[CaptainT16]

I see, one of those things huh? Hopefully for the best, looks really nice, can't wait to fish it for the first time this year.

[jomoflyfisher]

the reason for the construction was because there had been nothing done to the dam since the CCC construction in the 30s or 40s, and the dams were in bad shape, had washed out under the stones and the lake walls were leaking and in bad shape. they need to improve the hachery so they can hopefully increase the production and that will be better for all of us. it was not about them haveing money these construction had been bugeted for several years, and were are luck they recieved the money, roaring river is a wonderful place and just hope they keep improving so that more can enjoy for many years. If we dont help today there will be nothing for our grand children tommorow.