For one parched southeast Colorado reservoir, the water comes as absolute salvation. For another, more like a drop in the bucket.
The announcement that the Colorado Division of Wildlife has purchased 10,000-acre-feet of water for Nee Noshe Reservoir is cause for celebration among a legion of anglers who once considered this the state’s prime warm- water destination.
The impoundment near Eads had shrunk to less than 10 percent of capacity, only 300 surface acres, a level that threatened survival of game fish. Both wiper and saugeye were in poor condition, and only catfish seemed likely to survive. The new water delivery, from an agreement with the City of Aurora, allows DOW biologist Jim Ramsay to reevaluate conditions with an eye toward restocking Nee Noshe with a variety of sport fish.
This development is particularly important since DOW is constructing a cement low-water boat ramp to permit the launch of fishing boats. In a second water deal, completed earlier, DOW and Colorado State Parks split the cost of a purchase of 3,800-acre-feet from Colorado Springs Utilities to be stored in John Martin Reservoir.
Potentially the largest body of water in the state in surface acres, this giant almost went dry in late 2006. DOW now has been able to secure water for the second year in a row. While it aids considerably in fish survival, 3,800-acre-feet doesn’t go far in filling a reservoir with a 600,000-acre-foot capacity.
John Martin typically is stocked with saugeye, wiper, crappie, walleye, perch, bluegill and bass.
