Antero Reservoir to be drained, but possibly for only a year

 

Associated Press
HARTSEL — Denver’s water utility will drain Antero Reservoir next summer for construction to rehabilitate the century-old dam.

Denver Water said Wednesday the date for beginning the draw-down hasn’t been set.

The reservoir is about 60 miles west of Colorado Springs and 100 miles southwest of Denver. It can hold 20,000 acre-feet of water, enough for about 50,000 households for a year.

Denver Water says if the work goes as planned, refilling could begin in 2016.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the possession limit on fishing at Antero will be raised to eight on Saturday. Normally it’s two.

The dam project began in 2013 and is expected to end in 2018 with work on the spillway. Cost of the project is $17 million to $20 million.

Denver Water says its other reservoirs can make up for the lost storage.