As part of CCTU’s participation in Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s River Watch water quality program, a sample of the fauna (all the aquatic creatures) is taken from the water quality testing site each year. Which creatures, especially insects, that are living at a specific site are an indicator the quality of the water at that location. The more diverse and abundant the insect community the better. Which insects and how many is also useful information for a fly fisher. It is nice to know exactly which Stoneflies, Mayflies and Caddis flies are present in the water you are fishing. The CCTU site is located on the South Platte River, just downstream of the Waterton Road bridge, near the big Waterton canyon parking lot. Below is a list of insects and other aquatic creatures sampled from the river on Oct. 15, 2020. The sample was given to the CPW River watch program and then analyzed by their contractor.
RIVER WATCH REPORT - BUGS OF LOWER WATERTON CANYON
