Animas River
Encyclopedia
Animas River is a 126 miles (202.8 km) river in the western United States
, a tributary of the San Juan River, part of the Colorado River System
. The Spanish
named the river "Rio de las Animas Perdidas", "River of the Lost Souls". It is also the last free-flowing river (un-diverted) in Colorado. The river's free-flowing status will soon end as the Animas-LaPlata Project nears completion. The project will pump water over a low pass to fill a reservoir, Lake Nighthorse, in Ridges Basin to satisfy Southern Ute tribal water rights claims associated with the Colorado Ute Settlement Act amendments of 2000.
The Animas River rises high in San Juan Mountains
of Colorado
at the confluence of the West and North forks at the ghost town of Animas Forks
and flows south past the ghost towns of Eureka
and Howardsville
. At Silverton
, the river flows into the Animas Canyon. The Durango and Silverton
Narrow gauge railroad follows the river through the canyon to Durango
. From Durango the river flows south into New Mexico
through the town of Aztec
to its confluence with the San Juan River at Farmington
.
The only major tributary of the Animas River is the Florida River
which confluences just north of the Colorado–New Mexico border.
The Animas is a freestone fishery well populated with rainbows
and browns
and a few cutthroat
and brook trout
. Fly fishing
the Animas is available year-round due to moderate winter weather. Steady insect hatches of midges and beatis occur In the winter and spring months. In late spring, summer and through fall the Animas is alive with caddis, PMDs, tricos and hoppers. Animas trout are strong and average between 12 to 16 inches. Larger trout in the 17 to 22 inch class are also available for the anglers willing to put in the time. Brown trout as large as 36" have been caught from the Animas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a tributary of the San Juan River, part of the Colorado River System
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
. The Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
named the river "Rio de las Animas Perdidas", "River of the Lost Souls". It is also the last free-flowing river (un-diverted) in Colorado. The river's free-flowing status will soon end as the Animas-LaPlata Project nears completion. The project will pump water over a low pass to fill a reservoir, Lake Nighthorse, in Ridges Basin to satisfy Southern Ute tribal water rights claims associated with the Colorado Ute Settlement Act amendments of 2000.
The Animas River rises high in San Juan Mountains
San Juan Mountains
The San Juan Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Colorado. The area is highly mineralized and figured in the gold and silver mining industry of early Colorado. Major towns, all old mining camps, include Creede, Lake City, Silverton, Ouray, and...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
at the confluence of the West and North forks at the ghost town of Animas Forks
Animas Forks, Colorado
Animas Forks is a ghost town located twelve miles northeast of Silverton in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. The area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.-Location:...
and flows south past the ghost towns of Eureka
Eureka, Colorado
Eureka is a mining ghost town in San Juan County, Colorado, United States, along the Animas River, between Silverton and Animas Forks.-History:...
and Howardsville
Howardsville, Colorado
Howardsville is an unincorporated community in San Juan County, Colorado, United States, along the Animas River at the mouth of Cunningham Creek...
. At Silverton
Silverton, Colorado
The town of Silverton is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, San Juan County, Colorado, United States. Silverton is a former silver mining camp, most or all of which is now included in a federally designated National Historic Landmark District,...
, the river flows into the Animas Canyon. The Durango and Silverton
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a narrow gauge heritage railroad that operates of track between Durango and Silverton, in the US state of Colorado...
Narrow gauge railroad follows the river through the canyon to Durango
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
. From Durango the river flows south into New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
through the town of Aztec
Aztec, New Mexico
Aztec is a city in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Farmington, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,378 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of San Juan County...
to its confluence with the San Juan River at Farmington
Farmington, New Mexico
Farmington is a city in San Juan County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 U.S. Census the city had a total population of 45,877 people. Farmington makes up one of the four Metropolitan Statistical Areas in New Mexico. The U.S...
.
The only major tributary of the Animas River is the Florida River
Florida River
Florida River is a tributary of the Animas River in La Plata County, Colorado. The river's source is Lillie Lake in the Weminuche Wilderness. It joins the Animas River south of Durango on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation near the New Mexico state line....
which confluences just north of the Colorado–New Mexico border.
The Animas is a freestone fishery well populated with rainbows
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
and browns
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
and a few cutthroat
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
and brook trout
Brook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
. Fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
the Animas is available year-round due to moderate winter weather. Steady insect hatches of midges and beatis occur In the winter and spring months. In late spring, summer and through fall the Animas is alive with caddis, PMDs, tricos and hoppers. Animas trout are strong and average between 12 to 16 inches. Larger trout in the 17 to 22 inch class are also available for the anglers willing to put in the time. Brown trout as large as 36" have been caught from the Animas.
See also
- List of rivers of Colorado
- List of rivers of New Mexico
- List of tributaries of the Colorado River
- Animas-La Plata Water ProjectAnimas-La Plata Water ProjectThe Animas-La Plata water project is a water project under construction designed to fulfill the water rights settlement of the Ute Mountain and the Southern Ute tribes of the Ute Nation in Colorado, USA....
Further reading
- Desborough, G.A. and D.B. Yager. (2000). Acid-neutralizing potential of igneous bedrocks in the Animas River headwaters, San Juan County, Colorado [U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-165]. Reston, VA: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
- Nash, T. (1999). Geochemical investigations and interim recommendations for priority abandoned mine sites, BLM lands, upper Animas River watershed, San Juan County, Colorado [U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-323]. Reston, VA: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
- Yager, D.B. et al. (2003). Ferricrete, manganocrete, and bog iron occurrences with selected sedge bogs and active iron bogs and springs in the upper Animas River watershed, San Juan County, Colorado [Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2406]. Denver: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.