08-21-2007, 03:10 AM
Clear Creek Reservoir near Granite is closed to fishing while maintenance work is done on the dam. Water levels were drawn down slowly over the last few weeks. Low water levels will be maintained until repairs are completed by the Pueblo Board of Water Works, which owns storage rights in the reservoir.
The normal pool at Clear Creek reservoir is 9,200 acre feet. Water levels will be maintained at approximately 40 acre-feet until work is expected to be completed the end of the year. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) will assess conditions after the project to determine if the reservoir will open for ice fishing.
Muddy shorelines and safety concerns around the heavy equipment used for repairs are the primary reasons the reservoir is closed to anglers.
Greg Policky, an aquatic wildlife biologist with the DOW, doesn't expect the draw down to have any significant effects on fish.
Some fish probably moved into the Arkansas River. "The last time the reservoir was drained in 1997, we had very little loss. Most fish stayed in the reservoir," Policky said.
Policky sampled fish populations about a month ago and will re-sample next year to verify how many fish survived in the smaller reservoir.
Policky does not expect winter kill will be a problem. "We won't know until after ice off if there are issues. The fish community should look very similar afterward as it did before, but we will take a look and make adjustments, management-wise, to do any additional stocking as needed."
The DOW leases the recreation rights around the reservoir from Pueblo Water and maintains a campground near the lake. The campground will remain open during construction.
The normal pool at Clear Creek reservoir is 9,200 acre feet. Water levels will be maintained at approximately 40 acre-feet until work is expected to be completed the end of the year. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) will assess conditions after the project to determine if the reservoir will open for ice fishing.
Muddy shorelines and safety concerns around the heavy equipment used for repairs are the primary reasons the reservoir is closed to anglers.
Greg Policky, an aquatic wildlife biologist with the DOW, doesn't expect the draw down to have any significant effects on fish.
Some fish probably moved into the Arkansas River. "The last time the reservoir was drained in 1997, we had very little loss. Most fish stayed in the reservoir," Policky said.
Policky sampled fish populations about a month ago and will re-sample next year to verify how many fish survived in the smaller reservoir.
Policky does not expect winter kill will be a problem. "We won't know until after ice off if there are issues. The fish community should look very similar afterward as it did before, but we will take a look and make adjustments, management-wise, to do any additional stocking as needed."
The DOW leases the recreation rights around the reservoir from Pueblo Water and maintains a campground near the lake. The campground will remain open during construction.