Emergency fish salvage in effect at Gypsum Ponds State Wildlife Area

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Calling all anglers: Upcoming construction at the Gypsum Ponds State Wildlife Area has led officials to announce an emergency public fish salvage to mitigate fish loss.

This means the reservoir’s usual bag and possession limits are nixed during the salvage, while anglers are encouraged to keep all the fish they lawfully catch on the lake, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife .

The area is a popular fishing spot in Eagle County, according to CPW, and to help decrease the inconvenience to anglers, the project was announced in April.

The salvage will help lower the fish population in the ponds while CPW also lowers the water level for the Gypsum Ponds improvement project, scheduled to begin in September and expected to last about two months. The project will improve the water control structures of the upper and lower ponds, allowing CPW to have better control over water levels.

While the pond levels are lowered, CPW also plans to address the “invasion of undesirable aquatic nuisance species that have impacted fishing opportunities in the ponds.” However, it’s unclear what exactly those species are.

Here’s what anglers should know:

• Anglers who are 15 or older must have a valid 2024 Colorado fishing license
• It is illegal to transport live fish from one body of water to another
• Collecting, using or possessing live fish is prohibited in all waters west of the Continental Divide
• All other existing regulations for surrounding water bodies, including the Eagle River, are still in effect
• CPW Director Jeff Davis approved the salvage on June 10, and it will continue until further notice

Anglers should also be aware that as the water levels are drawn down, they will experience changing conditions and a muddy approach to the water. The water levels began to change in May, as staff stopped diverting water from the Eagle River to the state wildlife area.

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