Keith Lusher 08.12.25
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has issued an emergency public fish salvage at Summit Reservoir in Montezuma County, urging anglers to reap as many fish as potential earlier than a dam malfunction drains the lake fully.
The disaster started July 5 when personnel on the Summit Reservoir and Irrigation Firm have been unable to shut an outlet valve on the 98-year-old dam. Officers suspect particles is obstructing the outlet, however low water ranges and poor visibility make underwater inspection too harmful for divers.
“Due to the fast drawdown, accessing no matter useless pool stays to salvage fish alive to inventory elsewhere goes to be extraordinarily tough,” stated Jim White, senior aquatic biologist for CPW’s Southwest Area. “The general public salvage is being introduced with a view to optimize use of the fishery useful resource in accordance with Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fee rules.”
Considerable Fish Species Accessible
The reservoir helps many species of fish together with channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, perch, and rainbow trout. All species can be found for harvest throughout the emergency salvage interval.
Summit Reservoir captures water from Turkey Creek, Joe Moore Reservoir, and the Misplaced Canyon irrigation ditch as half of a bigger system that sometimes distributes 5,000 to 7,000 acre-feet of water yearly to space farms and ranches. The reservoir was not at full capability when the leak started.
Particular Harvest Laws
All bag and possession limits have been suspended at some point of the salvage, permitting anglers to maintain each fish they catch. Members may additionally use two rods concurrently quite than the usual single-rod restriction.
Anglers should possess a legitimate 2025 Colorado fishing license and make use of solely lawful fishing strategies at the moment permitted on the reservoir. Industrial fishing stays prohibited, and state legislation continues to forbid capturing and transporting dwell fish between water our bodies.
Strategic Fishing Places
Wildlife officers suggest concentrating fishing efforts close to the dam the place the deepest remaining water will present the most effective alternatives as ranges proceed dropping.
“The useless pool space the place fish will probably be salvageable will probably be close to the dam,” White defined. “We suggest anglers make the most of that space to keep away from slogging by way of the mud.”
The uncovered lake backside presents severe hazards as extraordinarily treacherous mud situations develop across the receding shoreline.
Timeline and Future Plans
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has not specified an finish date for the emergency salvage however will put up notices and signage on the Summit Reservoir State Wildlife Area when the operation concludes. The power is positioned roughly 9 miles northwest of Mancos.
In line with the irrigation firm board assembly minutes from July 9, fast repairs are deliberate quite than full dam substitute, which might exceed $1 million. The restore value is estimated at $96,500.
Water distribution to agricultural prospects ceased Friday following a three-day discover interval. Prospects have been suggested earlier this week to fill personal ponds to capability, with no fall livestock water deliveries deliberate.
As soon as repairs are accomplished and the reservoir refills, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will restock the fishery. This emergency salvage represents a novel alternative for southwestern Colorado anglers to help wildlife administration efforts whereas making the most of distinctive fishing alternatives earlier than this useful resource is briefly misplaced.
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