For those wanting to cool off this weekend at Grand Junction's River Park, you're going to notice something different.

Water levels in the Colorado River have been steadily dropping the past few weeks in large part to the drought happening across Colorado. Consequently, the City of Grand Junction this week closed off the River Park at Las Colonias from the main channel of the river. The intent is to protect the ecological habitat in the main channel. The city placed sandbags at the entrance of the River Park to keep water from flowing in.

What does all of that mean to folks who want to enjoy the park?

The city says the River Park channel is still open for use, but the user experience will be a lot different from what it has been up to this point. There's water in the channel, but it's not flowing. Additionally, the city wants everyone to know that dogs are still not allowed in the water of the River Park. The good news is that a section of the dog park at Las Colonias will be open soon.

River flows will continue to be monitored and the city says that as soon as flows permit, the channel will be undammed to allow increased water flow into the River Park channel.

The new park has been a huge hit in Grand Junction this summer and has been a popular destination for Grand Valley families. It sounds like this might not be the best time to visit the River Park. However, there are still other water options available in Grand Junction including the Lincoln Park Pool for those that would like to cool off this weekend.

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Riverfront at Las Colonias Park

 

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