Barr Lake boat ramp closed for remainder of summer season; paddleboarding temporarily halted

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that the paddleboarding closure is unrelated to the boat ramp closure.

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife has made the decision to close Barr Lake the boat ramp for the remainder of the summer season. Decreasing water levels have made it unsafe and impractical to take boats to the water.

Hand-launched vessels such as canoes and kayaks are still permitted, but close relative paddleboarding has, for the time being, been prohibited due to an ongoing algae bloom.

Several other closures, including trail and recreation changes, are set to begin at Barr Lake State Park in accordance with upcoming construction projects.

Farmers Reservoir and Irrigation Company has put into place a five-year construction project plan that will see the dike undergo reinforcements to make sure the embankment complies with dam safety standards.

The work is expected to begin in August and will last into fall. The focus of the project will be a shoreline that is around a 4-mile area of the lake.

Construction will take place during weekdays. Portions of the Lake Loop trail will be closed to all recreational activities from the boat ramp south to Mile Marker 4 on Mondays through Fridays, but will reopen over the weekend. The Lake Loop trail will also be receiving some work done and will be expanded from its current 15-foot radius to a 22-foot radius.

The construction project was put into motion to help create a safer environment for people, but CPW has also considered preserving the conditions for wildlife in the area during the project’s duration.

The area is home to a dense population of birds and heavy construction has been scheduled to not interfere with nesting raptors nearby. No work will be done near the existing bald eagle nests.

“Bird population health and mitigating potential habitat loss have been at the forefront of all discussion surrounding the project,” said Lisa Gill, Barr Lake State Park Manager. “We have worked closely with FRICO and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies to ensure the centerpieces we love about the park, including the renowned birding opportunities, are protected.”

Maintaining the area is a high priority but cottonwood trees in a 10-foot radius of the edge of the dike’s slope will be removed. Rainfall in 2023 caused the lake to fill its storage capacity. Roots from the cottonwood trees then served as a conduit for water to penetrate the side of the dike. The roots must be removed to increase safety.

CPW and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies have pinpointed areas that are critical for the birds and will minimize impacts there. Any trees removed during the process will be repurposed into the habitat around the lake. In an effort to further preserve the area, FRICO will be seeding the embankment to prevent the introduction of invasive species.

Lake levels will be decreased in October and Lake Barr will remain open to water recreation until the water levels drop below a 20-foot gauge height. The lake is scheduled to begin refilling in mid-November if things run accordingly.

Dove hunting at the lake will likely not be impacted, but waterfowl hunting is being limited to Saturdays.

The Nature Center will be open every day during the project from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Updates on the project and how it is affecting the area can be found on the Barr Lake website.

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