Antero Reservoir will be closed to the public June 1 in order to clear the way for significant repairs to the 100-year-old dam. Denver Water will begin emptying the reservoir at that time.
Before the park closes, hand-launch boats, such as rowboats, canoes, kayaks and float tubes, will be allowed on the reservoir through May 31. Both boat launches will be closed during this time frame, however, and neither motorized boats nor trailered boats will be allowed. Camping will be allowed until May 31. All RVs, campers and camping equipment must be removed from the site by sunset May 31.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has increased the bag and possession limit to eight fish, with no size restrictions.
The park will reopen for recreation once the reservoir has been refilled. The $17 million-$20 million repair project, which began in 2013, will help ensure the dam will operate safely for another 100 years.
Denver Water will recapture and store the water drained from Antero Reservoir in several reservoirs along the South Platte River system.
When the drainage begins, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will salvage the fish in the reservoir. The fish will be relocated to other reservoirs in Park County.
Barring any construction delays, refilling could begin as soon as spring of 2016. Generally, it takes one to four years to refill the reservoir, depending on the amount of snowfall and timing of snowmelt.
Denver Water estimates the reservoir will return to its normal operation by late 2018, when construction ends.
