The draining of Pastorius Reservoir has begun.

Taking advantage of a low water year, the Florida Water Conservancy District will empty the reservoir southeast of Durango to make dam repairs.

The timing works well for Colorado Parks & Wildlife, which hopes to eradicate invasive northern pike illegally stocked in the reservoir.

Joe Lewandowski, spokesman for CPW, said Tuesday that the reservoir will be refilled in the spring and restocked with fish.