Morgan Mill river park opens this weekend

Kayaking, rafting and canoeing enthusiasts are in for a treat this weekend with the official opening of the city's new Morgan Mill Road River Access Area.

"All the site amenities are in, and it looks like we're going to have nice weather - it's a facility that's ready to go," said Carson City's Park Planner Vern Krahn.

Final touches on the park benches, picnic tables, trash cans and porta-potties were just completed Friday morning, he said.

In addition, the concrete boat ramp is now open for rafting on the Carson River. The ramp offers a take-out point for Class I and II trips down the Aquatic Trail from Carson River Park, a 3.3-mile float for canoes, kayaks and small rafts.

The ramp also is a put-in point for Class II and Class III whitewater rapids through the Carson River Canyon to the Santa Maria Ranch in Lyon County.

This 9.3-mile trip includes several dam hazards, numerous Class II/III rapids appropriate for intermediate to advanced skills, for kayaks and rafts.

Krahn said it looks like a great day for anglers, too.

"The fish are jumping right near the boat ramp," he said. "In less than five minutes when I was standing there with the contractor, I counted at least a dozen fish jumping out of the water."

The Nevada Department of Wildlife stocks trout weekly throughout the state from April to July.

The most recent stocking of the Carson River through Carson City, according to NDOW's website, was in November, when 1,000 rainbow trout were planted, with an average size of

9.7 inches.

The weather is also expected to cooperate for picnickers who want to enjoy a view of the river and the mountains.

"It looks like it's going to be a really nice day with temperatures in the low to mid-70s," said Jim Wallmann, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Reno.