Union Chutes

[woodboat75]

Does anyone know if the Platte is clean at Union Chutes? Is it upriver from the waste treatment plant? I have spring fever and am thinking of going there tomorrow, but I don't really want to swim in poop. Any current knowledge would be much appreciated!

[BastrdSonOfElvis]

mmmm...babyruth

[Caspian]

Union is plenty clean for boating...but the gauge is at 27cfs.

[Geezer]

You think it's clean... Highlands Ranch gets to dump it's poop in the river well above Union. Just keep an eye out for floaters once the water does come up. As they come over the first drop, you can just get out of the way and let that shit by.

[cecil]

Everything is relative. Union is a lot cleaner than say Confluence, but compared to most creeks/rivers in the mountains, Union is pretty filthy. I personally don't mind boating there. I've heard all the horror sories of people getting sick for weeks afterwards, but I say those people just have weak immune systems. I have boated there plenty of times and never once felt sick afterwards. When its running the play features are actually really good. So I say go for it. But make sure you check the gage b/c its not worth getting wet unless it is at least 200CFS, but I probably wouldn't even recommend it until minimun 300.

Enjoy!

BJK

[DanOrion]

Highlands Ranch has a very-fine wastewater treatment plant. The effluent from Highlands Ranch is probably of better quality than 1/4 of the worlds drinking water.

On Union: Avoid the day after a storm: sidewalk runoff. Avoid the first big day or two of the season: All upstream crap get's scoured out of the river bed.

The water at Union isn't clean, but it "could be worse" and is above most of the metro outfall. On good days, above 600 cfs, most of the water is coming from Chatfield anyway.

http://www.dwr.state.co.us/Hydrology...&MTYPE=DISCHRG

And yes, there are always tampons in the water, I'm pretty sure that some women just throw them out the car window like cigarrette butts.

[cayo]

Damn,I always knew that water was potable and all this time I've been carrying a water bottle ,gatorade or beer.
Seriously Union is kind of nasty but too convenient not to go when its running good .The stench that you smell sometimes is from the trash plant across the street and that cement plant next to Quincy aka u-hole aka wedding ring playspot,not the water. Gear is usually good and funky when you get home though.
It is mostly an urban myth about finless browns and Coney Island white fish floating by.People throwin' cigareetes out the window really piss me off ,don't know how i'd react to tampon flingers.

[rasdoggy]

This kills me.

Thinking the water at Confluence/Union is bad.

Who wouldn't go paddle any river in Mexico, Chile or even the Nile if you could drive to it.
What do you think the water tretment is is Mexico?
How about Hippo's?
Or
All the Cows,Horses,Deer,Geese,Ducks,Mercury,Bleach..... upstream from anywhere.

"What do you want to do? Live forever!"

[DanOrion]

In addition, I hear there's lots of pharmaceuticals in the water these days too!

[Caspian]

Why I said plenty clean for boating.