BRIGHTON — Bag, possession and size limits are off at Barr Lake State Park.
Water is draining from the 1,900-surface-acre reservoir at a record pace, forcing state wildlife officials to announce a public fish salvage. This means anglers with a valid state fishing license can keep as many fish as they can catch, no matter what their size.
Farmers began calling for water from the reservoir in May, but the draw has been quicker in the last two weeks, as drought conditions in northeast Colorado worsen.
“When I was talking with them, there were a lot of farmers taking their last-call rights because they were counting on the rain and there just hasn’t been enough,” said Michelle Seubert, Barr Lake’s park manager
.
The reservoir will ultimately be drained to 442 surface acres — a little more than a quarter of its capacity, Seubert said.
The last time the reservoir was drained to the same level was in 2002 due to similarly severe drought conditions.
As of July 17, the reported the entire state to be in severe drought conditions, compared with 27 percent this time last year.
The fish salvage, which began Monday, will continue until further notice, Seubert said.
“They need a valid Colorado fishing license and a state parks pass, but there are no catch limits,” she said.
Seubert said the boating ramp will remain open for another two weeks before the reservoir probably becomes available to “hand-launch” activities only, such as canoes and kayaking.
Eugene DeLao, 71, of Denver, was fishing in the reservoir Tuesday with his family. He said they were at Barr Lake last week and had seen the water drop significantly since.
“It’s dropped at least 20 to 30 feet since then,” DeLao said.
DeLao’s son-in-law, Charles Jernigan, 51, said he’s never seen the water so low.
“I’ve been fishing here for years, and it’s significantly lower this year,” Jernigan said. “It’s usually not this low.”
Jernigan said he and his family will continue to come out to the reservoir this summer, but he’s concerned the water level might make fishing more difficult.
“Every condition affects fish,” Jernigan said. “I’ve seen it where the water gets lower and it gets hotter. It makes the fish slow down. It’s the same thing with us as people — they get lethargic as the temperature rises.”
DeLao said he remembered when the reservoir was drained in 2002 and thinks the salvage is a necessary part of ensuring farmers get the water they need.
“I totally understand,” he said. “Our weather is changing all over the U.S. There’s not too much you can do about it — the farmers need the water, and we have to share it.”
Sarah Simmons: 303-954-1210, ssimmons@denverpost.com
