{"id":21452,"date":"2025-07-14T23:24:30","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T23:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/update-colorado-wildlife-officials-order-emergency-fishing-operation-as-summit-reservoir-drains\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T04:06:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:06:05","slug":"update-colorado-wildlife-officials-order-emergency-fishing-operation-as-summit-reservoir-drains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/update-colorado-wildlife-officials-order-emergency-fishing-operation-as-summit-reservoir-drains\/","title":{"rendered":"Update: Colorado wildlife officials order emergency fishing operation as Summit Reservoir drains"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A
A person fishes Monday, July 14, inSummit Reservoir, which was allowed to drain July 10 so that workers could repair a headgate. (Benjamin Rubin\/The Journal)<\/span>Benjamin Rubin\/The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Water rapidly escaped Summit Reservoir Thursday after a piece on a headgate valve broke, prompting the Colorado Parks and Wildlife to issue an emergency fishing operation in an attempt to salvage fish populations.<\/p>\n

All bag and possession were removed for the salvage operation, and anglers are allowed to keep all the fish they catch by lawful methods, including using up to two fishing rods. A 2025 Colorado fishing license is required.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will result in poor water quality conditions and loss of refuge habitat for fish, and CPW has determined the reservoir cannot maintain a viable fishery until the reservoir is refilled.\u201d CPW said in a news release.<\/p>\n

The reservoir is at CPW\u2019s Summit Reservoir State Wildlife Area, about 9 miles northwest of Mancos. The lake hosts populations of channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, perch and rainbow trout.<\/p>\n

During the drainage, water traveled into Puett Reservoir.<\/p>\n

Problems with the valve were first noticed on July 5, according to a news release from the company that operates the lake, Summit Reservoir & Irrigation Co.<\/p>\n

\u201cDue to low water levels and poor visibility, it is unsafe for divers to investigate,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n

By Thursday, the day the fish salvage was announced, the problem had been diagnosed.<\/p>\n

Officials from the Summit Reservoir & Irrigation Co. found the issue behind the valve problem once the water reached a certain level \u2013 a rusted spoke in need of rapid replacement, according to the company\u2019s ditch rider, Steve Boyd.<\/p>\n

The valve likely broke because of temperature fluctuations over time, freezing in the winter and thawing as the seasons warm, Boyd said. Boyd estimated that the valve was last replaced about 15 years ago.<\/p>\n

Drainage stopped once the valve was repaired Thursday, Boyd said.<\/p>\n

Still, the fish salvage goes on.<\/p>\n

By Friday at 10:30 a.m. about a dozen people could be seen fishing at the reservoir.<\/p>\n

LaVeryle Apple was seated on a rock along the receding body of water, getting ready to finish up the day\u2019s catch and head home. He learned about the day\u2019s drainage based on a Facebook announcement.<\/p>\n

\"LaVeryle
LaVeryle Apple\u2019s tackle box, including his day\u2019s catch. (Benjamin Rubin\/The Journal)<\/span>Benjamin Rubin\/The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"LaVeryle
LaVeryle Apple sits on a rock by the receding Summit Reservoir. (Benjamin Rubin\/The Journal)<\/span>Benjamin Rubin\/The Journal<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cPeople gotta get here early in the morning to get a spot before it gets muddy,\u201d Apple said.<\/p>\n

Apple caught one crappie and one bass.<\/p>\n

Another fisher, Brian Thomas, was at the reservoir Friday morning. Thomas had snagged about 20 fish, placing them in a bucket behind him.<\/p>\n

Because of the drainage, the day\u2019s catch had been far easier, said Thomas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all in one spot,\u201d Thomas said of the lake\u2019s fish.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of the rapid drawdown, accessing whatever dead pool remains to salvage fish alive to stock elsewhere is going to be extremely difficult,\u201d said CPW Southwest Region Senior Aquatic Biologist Jim White in the news release. \u201cThe public salvage is being announced in order to optimize use of the fishery resource in accordance with Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n