Roaring River Bed Changes To The Upper End

[Steve Smith]

If you haven’t been to Roaring River lately, some pretty cool changes have been made from the Hatchery to F Hwy Bridge. Or at least it looks good and makes sense to me. Along with the new pool [dam] at the beginning of the trophy area, much of the concrete slabs have been replaced with rock, and ledges have been formed like a horseshoe. Jim Hopkins, our Park Ranger said the horseshoe shaped falls are supposed to help keep the holes from filling in. They have also made the runs deeper and added big boulders to provide trout with shelter from the current. It is hard to tell yet how much depth they had added to the pools as the water still somewhat off-colored. All in all, the changes look more natural and have added some challenges to stream fishing. The bad news is no changes were made in the area from the F Hwy. Bridge to the old dam. At least I couldn’t note any, and doubt that it will be done this year. All of the heavy equipment seems to be gone now.

Tim H.; if you are reading this; you know many of the Park Management and MDC people. The portable potty situation in Roaring River is inexcusable in the park this year. It’s not a problem for us old-man farts that can find a tree, but the female visitors should not have to tolerate the filth. Not only is there not enough units… they are full to overflowing with waste, and disgusting. With all the money we spend on tags, licenses, and taxes, it seems like the units could be occasionally flushed out. I should have snapped a picture, sent it to MDC, and asked them if they would want their wife, daughter, or granddaughter to use those toilets. Unacceptable for anyone for that matter in my opinion.

[timsfly]

Yes the new baffles look good, but I think they messed up here and there, the hole in front of the lodge is down almost 18" lower now than it is even when the water is low, I also think the way the holes are now, it is going to reduce the available fishing area, and we needed more not less, the baffles look good, but why would some of the holes be lower now than when they are low in the summer, I've never seen that hole in front of the lodge as low as it is right now, and the water is dropping it will only get lower as the water drops, check that out next time you are at the river. I forwarded the porta potty problems to the conservation dept and the DNR. I'm not sure who is responsible for them.

It was nice at Bennett today, their bathrooms were open and nice and clean, and heated don't know why they can't do that here at Roaring River.