Compare the numbers from full acre feet capacity to what they want to drop to it to and it's unbelievable. Can't even imagine how long it will take to fill all these reservoirs again.
All we can do is hope like crazy that we have a good snow year this winter.... This is going to turn out to be one of our dryest years in my memory for sure.
Wow, that's too bad. I just saw a weather report fox31 that said Colorado will likely remain in a drought through October and we won't be getting any major precipitation this summer and fall. It's crazy how all the areas around the Missouri river were so overwhelmed by flooding last year and now are desperate for rain. This weather does not bode well for a lot of eastern reservoirs.
What you've described is exactly what climate change models predict. It's not "global warming", but increased extreme weather. Drought in one area, floods in another.
Reply by: Les in WP Posted: 7/19/2012 6:50:56 PM Points: 0
Between the drought, the fires... and oops, the increased threat of flash flooding, mudsludes, ash? it's looking pretty gloomy for fishing. I hate to be a downer, but...its a downer.
Rampart, less than 2 miles from my house: closed by Waldo. Haven't tried my usual beaver ponds this year, afraid I'll get there and find them empty, or close to it. Fished Spinney for the first time last week without having been there before, you can see the water is way low. Never fished Cheesman either, but by report, thats low...and still 90% closed because of Hayman. (Erm, 10 years ago?) I was out to the S. Platt at Deckers last week too... full of annoying algae crud. :(
Even at my altitude, (8500 ft.) its been so hot...you could fry an egg on my deck before noon, on any given day. No joke, my dog doesn't even want to go outside until after dark. I'm worried.
Is Barr lake is fish salvage #3 for CO this year? Regardless, if this keeps up much longer, several other fisheries might be in trouble by fall, and if water levels don't come back up before it freezes? Ouch. Let's hope it doesn't come to that...
On the bright side, (is there a bright side?) ...the weatherman's been wrong before. THINK MONSOONS.
I assume WP is Winter Park...I'm sure you're concerned by this dry weather and all the beetle kill you've had up there. All the best. I have family in Evergreen in a similar situation.
I think it's actually salvage number four...there's a pond south of Ouray that's being drained, but that's because of a dam issue.
Everyone needs to get involved with how water resources are used in the state. Although we will have future years better than this one, averaged over time, we will have less and less water. How it's used is up to us...We the People.
Find out how your local officials use water, and work up from there. In Winter Park, for example, the water is owned by Denver. We should all know more about how our water is used and allocated.
Corn or Fish...... I take corn as the ramifications behind this drought have way more long term effects besides a lake. I love fishing don't get me wrong but what is happening to farmers that support their family's with this water is far more devastating. My uncle is a farmer out of Iowa and the lack of water is devastating. A place like Iowa short on water who would have thought.
All I can say is not good.......
for the lakes sad and for the food we all depend on sad......
It is not a hard call when it was set up as a water resource and you need to power this American machine...
Reply by: Les in WP Posted: 7/19/2012 9:20:04 PM Points: 0
Oops....no. I'm in Woodland Park. Rampart Range road, just 2 blocks away. Its very good advice though.
Since spring, it's rained maybe 4 times at my house. Last year, it nearly rained the entire month of July. The Waldo Fire containment line is about 2 miles away besides, which has not helped any. Been a scary summer... its made me ponder on what's really important.
In my case, fishing ranked highly on my list of priorities. Indirectly, that's how I found this forum... these conditions have prompted me into searching out new places to fish. :/
Strangley, it's killing me that I didn't fish Rampart more often, because its closed now... and who knows when anyone will be able to fish there again. These fish salvages keep coming up too...it's depressing.
(huge sigh)
I broke my favorite walleye rod while preparing to evacuate from Waldo. It's bothering me...alot. Its like...I've sinned, and need to go fishing every day from now on, or I'll be very unhappy. Nevermind. True story, but way off topic.
The point is....what are people supposed to do, with all these places closing? ARGH. I mean, sometimes... people just NEED to go fishing, so there MUST be places to fish, and there must be fish. People can't be driving halfway across the state every time they need to get a line in the water, so it'll rain. Eventually. Just ignore me, I need to go re-line my catfish rig anyway...lol.
How is it you can dig a huge hole just north of 470 and east of Platte Canyon and seemingly fill it up overnight. Granted the water came from Chatfield but if we need more water storage then whats the hold up. Same thing going on at Rueter Hess. Water seems to appear out of nowhere.
I'm not too familiar with Barr, but was thinking about going out. Does anybody know if they opened up the wildlife sanctuary to fishing there? It seems like maybe they should.
The thing i don't understand is why is the front range not on watering restrictions???? I see soo much water being wasted, flowing down the ditches in neighborhoods. I hate it when i see sprinklers going at between 1-4 pm. So much water being wasted this year!!
woodsman4ever - My HOA reqires that we keep our lawns watered and also that we grow only kentucky bluegrass - no other grass acceptable. If we don't , we are subject to hefty fines. Stupid people think everyone has to have a lawn identical to the neighbors or the neighborhood looks bad.
EVERYONE GET ALL THE FISHING IN YOU CAN NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THEY MYANS MUST BE RIGHT. THE END IS NEAR.. JUST KIDDDING. Trying to use this on my wife to let me keep fishing.
Reply by: Cuzn E Posted: 7/21/2012 10:14:22 PM Points: 32
CUclimber the santuary side is a federral reserve, they cannot open it up. Plus as Barr drains down it will force water to the dam, leaving nothin on the reserve side. This is ging to have a major effect on the warefowl season around the Brighton area.
Reply by: slowboat Posted: 7/22/2012 8:50:20 AM Points: 76
Wonder if they have plans to shock / net and transport some of the fish out of Barr or if it will be another "funds are not available " to do that type of thing.
Isn't it crazy the way hoa's work Jimk. We live in a desert prarie. I can understand the farmers out eas,t but why are we not under water restrictions here in the front range?? I know i said it earlier, but it blow my mind to see how much water is being wasted this year. I have a lawn, but i water about 2-3 times a week, an only 15 mins at a time. I hate to do it. Maybe i should just let it burn up and it would give me an excuse to put in a different grass next year. i should research that more. What a campaign that would be. KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS BELONGS IN KENTUCKY!!!! I don't know, but things have to change here in Colorado with all the dam watering.
Barr is a hole but every time a new considerable size dam get’s proposed, the environmental wackos kill it! Love living in a state with a bunch of liberals. Look, CO is high desert, peeps keep moving here and we need water, period. CO is the 8th biggest state in the union and only AZ has less surface acres of water. Pretty sad if you ask me. Our bigger lake is like 1000 surface acres, a pond in most states and in droubt years, they’re gone, poof, like a fart in the wind. Make Chatty bigger, build a pipeline form Flaming Gorge to Denver and 2 forks should have passed years ago but some Californian killed it. Blah blah blah, I know. That’s my .02 n e way
Reply by: lewdog Posted: 7/24/2012 9:33:06 AM Points: 689
K Guys the water is not that low yet. I was getting 18 fow out in the middle of the lake. The fishing is still the same as always only there's no limits. I suggest people wanna catch fish they give it another two weeks or three. It will be good fishing then.
Reply by: lewdog Posted: 7/26/2012 9:31:26 AM Points: 689
Its not more than about 2 or 3 hundred yards from parking. I suggest you park on the north east corner and fish over by the dam from shore. But you still need to drive to the main entrance to get a parks pass.
i will be out ther on saturday or sunday what i was wandering is does my son and daughter need fishing lic because of the fish salvage plz let me now asap thank you
Ed, Just a suggestion. Pick up a CPW (DOW) rules and regs booklet at any sporting goods store that sells fishing licenses. Not only are they free, but very useful. Every fisherman should have a copy handy whenever fishing.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is announcing a public fish salvage at Barr Lake State Park beginning Monday, July 23. Due to high irrigation demand created by severe drought, the water level in Barr Lake will be drained to a conservation level of 442 acre feet to meet the needs of its intended agricultural use. The public salvage is being announced in order to optimize use of the fishery resource as outlined: --A valid Colorado fishing license is required in accordance with state statutes. --A state parks pass is required ($7 Daily Pass or $70 Annual Pass). --All legal fishing methods are allowed. --Bag, possession and size limits are suspended for Barr Lake only until this emergency public salvage is lifted. The end date of the public salvage effort will be announced by Park Manager Michelle Seubert or Area Wildlife Manager Liza Hunholz. This is off the Colo State Parks Web Site..
Reply by: ed0971 Posted: 7/28/2012 1:18:35 AM Points: 87
thanks for the info my kids are 13 and 8 i know under normal fishing conditions they dont need a lic i wasnt sure if they needed one because of the fish salvation so to my understanding they can particpat in the salvage thanks guys
