Antero Reservoir to be drained, closed

Antero Reservoir will be drained in a drought management action taken by Denver water.  This is the second local reservoir and popular fishing spot to be impacted by drought conditions.  In February, the city of Aurora announced that Spinney Reservoir would be closed to motorized boating.

 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will work closely with Denver Water to minimize the loss of fish in this water management move.  Some of the timeline:

 

Beginning Wednesday, March 20, the bag and possession limit on trout at Antero will be increased from two to eight fish with no minimum size restriction. All other fishing regulations apply.

• Immediately after the ice has melted off the reservoir, CPW staff will trap and relocate spawning trout.
• Once the fish have moved off the shoreline and inlet areas, the draining of the reservoir will increase significantly. CPW staff will install a series of screens below the reservoir to capture fish as they leave the reservoir.
• In March, the standard recreation regulations apply.
  • South: Open 24 hours a day and camping is permitted.
  • North: Open from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset.
• Beginning in April, Antero Reservoir will be open for recreational use from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. No camping will be permitted. After the ice has melted, only hand-launched vessels will be allowed. No trailered boats will be permitted.

Read more on the story at the Summit County Voice.