The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". As the summer begins, anyone driving along Blue Mesa will see an increase in paddle boarders and boaters, fishermen and those out for a picnic. Loken worries that the closures will hurt the local economy, which depends on recreation and tourism. That's in a nutshell there's a lot more to that, obviously, Langley said. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Learn How to Help Your Fish Now. [3] One of the initial projects of the CRSP, the Curecanti Unit, focused on the upper reaches of the Gunnison River, the fifth-largest tributary of the Colorado River. Work on the road starts soon after Christmas. Once frozen over with adequate ice, the human-made lake becomes a popular destination for ice fishing in Colorado. The 2019 Drought Contingency Plans included the possibility of emergency reservoir releases, but laid out a process in which state leaders in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico would be able to give input on how releases would occur from the reservoirs in their respective states. West of Blue Mesa and immediately downriver from Crystal Dam is Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, a National Park Service unit that offers camping, hiking, and views of the river and the surrounding 1900-ft. deep canyon. Blue Mesa Reservoir, photographed from Colorado Hwy 149, on Sept. 6, 2021, and June 6, 2023. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It does not store any personal data. Blue Mesa has reached some of its lowest levels on record last year with those emergency releases last year for the drought-response operation, said Knight. It blocks the flow of the Gunnison River and forms Blue Mesa Reservoir. Blue Mesa boasts thousands of prime fishing spots, several . Start by making a hole with your auger. Keep drilling until you break through and see water. Wishing everyone a safe and fruitful ice fishing season. But Gibney said its becoming more difficult with low water levels. And so we've done a little bit so far, but no one can really answer the question as to whether or not its going to be enough.. Contests & Promotions, 2023, Pikes Peak Television, Inc. Colorado Springs, CO, USA, 2023 Colorado Springs Mayoral Runoff Election Results, KRDO hosts Colorado Springs Mayoral debate ahead of runoff election, Colorado Springs police lift shelter in place for nearby residents, 12,000 backpacks donated to children all across El Paso County, Riders 4 Children event raises awareness for Southern Colorado children in need, Teen driver transported to hospital for injuries after losing control of car on Woodmen Road. When the ice is 1 meter (42 inches) thick, it can support a truck fully loaded with over 40 metric tons (44 tons) of fuel. Federal, state and tribal water managers are marking completion of a long-negotiated plan for 40 million people and vast irrigated farms to share crucial, Colorado River water managers have plenty to argue about. Next month, the Bureau of Reclamation will begin a drawdown of Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison. While most of the recreational areas at Blue Mesa can be accessed from U.S. 50, the reservoir also contains a small number of facilities on the lake's deep arms, such as Cebolla Creek and Soap Creek, which can only be reached by boat or unpaved road. Releases (kaf) measured in thousands of acre . What we do know is that the Upper Basin Drought Contingency Plan calls for increased coordination and planning in situations like this. This behavior may indicate an underlying health issue or environmental problem that needs to be addressed , Spread the loveRecreational fishing boats are a common sight on many waterways. "One more bad year and 'Katie- bar the door.' Obligations in the compact to release water downstream is one reason for Blue Mesas low levels. She is currently a science writer and content producer at CIRES at the University of Colorado, Boulder. It was made possible byThe Water Desk, an initiative of the Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder. Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. Especially before the salmon have run," said Robby Richardson, owner and fishing guide with Sportfish Colorado that runs guides on the Blue Mesa. [5], According to the Kppen Climate Classification system, Blue Mesa Reservoir has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. But even the Elk Creek ramp wont be able to operate longer than a few more weeks. At the opposite end of Blue Mesa, Nicky Gibney, the aquatic ecologist for Curecanti National Recreation Area and Black Canyon National Park, explained how Blue Mesas landscape has changed over the years. "People are still having a hard time in the water community grasping just how bad this might be.". This truly remarkable turnaround is captured in pictures taken from the bridge in 2021 and on June 6, 2023. But theres one thing on which nearly everyone who relies on the southwestern river can agree., Northern Colorado Center for Investigative Reporting, Katie Ledecky passes Michael Phelps for most individual golds at world championships, Rep. Van Orden gets bipartisan scolding after he cursed at teen Senate pages, Despite all the talk, no states have active laws banning drag in front of kids, A WWII Japanese soldier's 'good luck flag' is returned to his family from U.S. museum, Hydropower Worries Grow As Colorado River Reservoirs Keep Dropping, Upper Colorado River Drought Plan Triggered For First Time, Hoover Dam Ceremony Marks Colorado River Drought Plan. Blue Mesa and Ruedi dont lock up in the good laker areas till Mid January though. On Saturday the National Park Service halted houseboat launches at the reservoirs busiest marina, Wahweap, on its southern end. Last year, the U.S. Department of the Interior ordered the release of 8 feet of water from Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison to be sent downstream to Lake Powell. Barometer We can help you keep up. The park manages activities in and around the reservoir, and keeping the waters accessible to visitors is one of the park's top priorities. Here is the Blue Mesa Reservoir, where the waters of the Gunnison River gather before carving through the steep walls of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. What To Eat With Fish Sticks? During winter months Iola Basin is also a popular spot for ice fishing. This reservoir was formed in 1965, upon completion of the USBR's Blue Mesa Dam. CPW regularly monitors Blue Mesa Reservoir's lake trout population, and . That would become a very big problem for everyone around here, he said. Cebolloa, and Sapinero basins are all frozen in late January. A Centennial cooks new take on noodle kugel, a Great American Recipe baked in tradition and family, As universal pre-k gets ready to launch, uncertainty remains for school districts and preschool providers, Senate votes to expand radiation-exposure compensation, from Guam to Trinity test site and Colorado, Colorado Springs City Council approves seven-story apartment building near South Nevada Avenue despite resident opposition. How much ice do I need for a 3/4 ton truck? Erick Lokens family has run the marinas for decades. While storing water is the main function, the reservoirs in the Aspinall Unit also contribute to the grid that supplies power for about 40 million people. At the time, the shrinking water levels came as a shock to anyone who lived in the Blue Mesa region. Increasingly bleak forecasts for the Colorado River have for the first time put into action elements of the 2019 upper basin drought contingency plan. Trinidad Lake State Park. [9] Severe Weather Blue Mesa is Colorados largest reservoir, and it hit its second-lowest level on record for the end of August. (William Woody, Special to The Colorado Sun) Throughout the summer of 2021, I scouted locations around the reservoir that illustrated the most dramatic impacts of the draw-down. (William Woody, Special to The Colorado Sun). Where is the best ice fishing in Colorado? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Increasingly bleak forecasts for river flows over the last six months led to the unprecedented move, Cutler said. Anglers have had success using jigs tipped with worms. [4] The first of these dams was Blue Mesa Dam, which was begun in 1962 approximately 30 miles (48km) west of Gunnison, and 1.5 miles (2.4km) west of Sapinero. So it is always thicker towards the middle. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! On the frozen surface of Blue Mesa Reservoir, vehicles may not exceed 1200 lbs. First, it flows through the dam into the facility through large pressurized pipes called penstocks. Listen now. Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the U.S., hit its lowest level ever recorded earlier this summer. But if youre in there fishing youre okay. For example, in 2021 the water level could barely be seen from the Colorado 149 bridge, here locals call it the Lake City Bridge. After taking a measurement I was able to determine the water level at that time was in fact over a mile away from the bridge. This story from KBUT in Crested Butte is part of the station's Headwaters series. On Friday the Bureau of Reclamation published new forecasts for reservoir operations in the Colorado River basin. Parks service officials issued the order because Elk Creek's floating dock and marina are likely to hit the lake's bottom. Taylor Reservoir is almost always one month behind with the higher elevation lakes not thawing until June most years. (William Woody, Special to The Colorado Sun), Blue Mesa Reservoir, photographed from a location off U.S. Hwy 50, on Sept. 6, 2021, and June 6, 2023. More details about conditions as well as planning efforts are forthcoming, said Rebecca Mitchell, Upper Colorado River Commissioner for the state of Colorado. The Gunnison River inlet has 6-10 of fishable ice and the trout bite has been very good! And, its estimated that it wont fill more than halfway by summer's end. The releases are meant to maintain some level of hydroelectric power at Lake Powells dam, which is under increasing threat due its low level. This story is part of ongoing coverage of the Colorado River, produced by KUNC and supported by the Walton Family Foundation. We operate from May to September. As I type this (March 5, 2016), Lake Granby has ice thats 18 inches thick with no slush. West Lake is 25 acres and fishing is typically good with small jigs for both browns and rainbows. When you have condo complexes in Arizona that require green lush grass, and so water is taken to places where they don't have water, to provide things like that, I'm not sure anyone understands the ramifications of the rest of us that are upstream from that.. Finished four years later, the dam created Blue Mesa Reservoir, which became the primary water storage reservoir for the Curecanti Unit (later renamed the Wayne N. Aspinall Unit). Loken said many of those boat owners live out of town and dont want to drive back and forth with their boats each time they want to visit. Now hes out looking for other work, Loken said. "When the water's lower we have higher water temperatures, which pushes the fish deeper earlier in the year and the deeper water has less oxygenation," said Richardson. Knight said the Bureau could take more water from Blue Mesa to protect hydroelectricity production at Lake Powell if snowpack and runoff remain low in 2022. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. A 20-year, climate change-fueled megadrought has dealt a double blow to Blue Mesa this summer. This is it, were in it! Straub said. Aspen Public Radio | Your shelter has to be removed from the ice at night if youre not fishing. All Rights Reserved. Call it "climate change" or call it a "mega drought", but the same persistent pattern of weather over the last 20 years that has contributed to catastrophic wildfires has also left both bodies of water at record lows. So if you take any part of our season away, it has a negative impact on us, says Riser. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning! Brent Pollock is a passionate angler and the founder of the popular fishing blog "Safe Harbor Fishing". The reservoir extends east 20 miles and is composed of three main basins, the Iola, the Cebolla and the Sapinero, from east to west. Before Colorado ice anglers can start fishing they need to obtain their fishing license for that year and become familiar with the regulations. Although believing it's just part of the deal, "Everybody's got to give where they can. Part of the same project that created Blue Mesa, both Morrow Point and Crystal are smaller, narrower lakes, located within the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Many of the jobs are in Gunnison and Montrose, where restaurants and sporting good stores rely on summertime tourism. Complete information on Blue Mesa Reservoir (BMR) fisheries management Ice fishing tips for BMR BMR fisheries management: stocking reports, species population trends, creel survey information and more CPW study summary of predation on stocked fish BMR harvest incentive fact sheet And hopefully we get some big snowpacks in the near future.". Loken said its hard to run a business on a lake that can be drained at a moments notice. Eleven Mile Reservoir. The question is, are they just going to release whatever we get? Typically, the reservoir's Elk Creek and Lake Fork marinas are open by May 1. Blue Mesa Reservoir, located just a few miles west of Gunnison on Highway 50, is a scenic Colorado lake with an abundance of recreational opportunities. Gunnison River inlet to Blue Mesa Reservoir is located 5 miles west of Gunnison. ", First published on July 27, 2021 / 10:44 AM. The emergency action was needed to prop up water levels in the nations second-largest reservoir, which has hit its lowest level on record amid a 20-year, climate change-fueled megadrought in the Colorado River basin. By, Voices From the Edge of the Colorado Plateau, the park announced the marina would not open for the first time ever, Former Texas prisoners come to Colorado to raise awareness of dangers of extreme heat, Instead of recycling shoes, try repairing them, A roundabout where society turns around, Abraham Connection in Delta offers relief from the heat. For map of Blue Mesa Reservoir and Curecanti: CNRA Map Recreational Management: National Park Service Fishery Management: Coldwater angling for kokanee and rainbow, brown, and lake trout. Watercraft can also be launched from the Ponderosa and Stevens Creek campgrounds, and at Iola, on the reservoir's southern shore. It's in the Curecanti National Recreation Area, which has 96 miles of shoreline for sunbathing and other outdoor activities. Lake Powell is projected to hit its lowest point on record in the next week, when it will drop below 3,555 feet above sea level. Plan ahead, for luck favors the prepared! A federal shortage declaration in the rivers lower basin is expected next month due to record low levels at Lake Powells downstream sister reservoir, Lake Mead. . "These enormous reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead are now going to be below 30% full by mid next year," said Brad Udall, senior water and climate research scientist and scholar at CSU. Learn more about Bart here. [13] Towns near Blue Mesa include Gunnison to the east and Montrose and Delta to the west, all of which can be accessed via U.S. 50. Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Jonathan Houck believes the situation at Blue Mesa is indicative of a larger problem downstream. Basically these units are ran remotely, out of Page, Arizona, said Langley. Every person, even at the personal level, has the ability to have positive impacts on the water situation, not just in Colorado, but in the west. Emergency water releases from reservoirs upstream of Lake Powell are underway to preserve the nations second-largest reservoirs ability to generate hydroelectric power. This article contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter(s). As of 1/3/2020, reports here are that the ice is around 4 inches so use extreme caution if fishing at West Lake. 22 Likes, TikTok video from Parker (@phorne93): "Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado #traveltiktok #favoritememories #colorado". 2021 is among the worst years since the drought began, and now the generators inside the dam at Lake Powell are in serious danger. Blue Mesa Reservoir in central Colorado is expected to fall eight feet. Boaters may also camp on the southern shore of the Cebolla and Iola Basins, as long as campsites are not within a half-mile of any developed area, bridge, maintained public road or other boat-in/backcountry campsite. The park manages activities in and around the reservoir, and keeping the waters accessible to visitors is one of the park's top priorities. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. (Tip: The east end of Lake Estes doesnt freeze over in the winter!). "In the 20th Century, we would get a lot more really wet years to help refill those reservoirs Now we're getting about half of those wet years that we previously got.". Cabins and land were sold, with the lure of numerous outdoor activities and romanticized with Native American culture. According to the National Park Service, 922,000 people visited Blue Mesa Reservoir in 2020, spending more than 40 million dollars which directly supports 501 jobs in the region. 3 ton truck 9 inches. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. "So sometimes they get pinched in this part of the lake where there isn't much oxygen.". These are the times when most fish are heading to their feeding grounds, and when most species are active. Pictures document Big Blue in 2021 and again in 2023, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), bolster water levels at lakes Powell and Mead, described as the worst drought in 1,200 years in the American West, water levels at the reservoir to their lowest point, everyone for the great snowfall this past winter, few feet of the reservoirs maximum capacity, Watch: The Colorado Sun discusses water conservation, tips, Irrefutable truths: Colorados guiding principles going into Colorado River negotiations, according to its top negotiator, What can Coloradans do to save water at home? Lake Powell Just Hit Its Level On Record. In the basement of the facility, Langley explained how the facility turns water to power. Three similar reservoirs in Wyoming, Utah and Arizona create the entire Colorado River Storage Project. Many around the state, as well as locals, said that since the drought had been dragging on for so many years, the chances of the reservoir refilling were low. ", We probably won't see Blue Mesa full for a very long time, if ever again, says Snell-Dobert, but I think that's reality, because we are in a climate-driven drought, and we're not seeing any trends that make it look like it's going to get any better any time soon.. He believes although there are no easy solutions, conservation is key. As a general rule of thumb, ice is safe to walk on when there is 4 inches or more of clear ice. If you take a seasonal business and you shut it down for a year, can you even survive long enough to last until the next year? Loken said. Find Out Now! Driving past the reservoir, its easy to see whats happening there. Loken said the withdrawals hurt more given Blue Mesas low water levels. "There comes a point where we can't engineer our way out of this," Cutler said. Blue Mesa is currently 62 below "full pool," the National Park Service stated in its press release Friday. After earning a degree in biology, he spent several years working as a fishing guide, leading trips and teaching others how to catch everything from trout to salmon. No swimming is permitted in any of the RFSI lakes. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. A member of Boeberts communication staff said Boebert takes water issues very seriously. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. First, it flows through the dam into the facility through large pressurized pipes called penstocks. It has to be rebuilt each year. Colorado rules and regulations. By, the park announced that the marina would not open for the first time ever. The water then flows through Morrow Point and Crystal before joining the Colorado River near Grand Junction. While the ramp at Elk Creek will remain open, closing the docks means hundreds of people wont be able to keep larger boats in the water for summer. Emergency releases could last until at least December, and could extend into 2022. Instead, the federal government has decided that the water in Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison County is needed downstream more than it's needed here. Blue Mesa is Colorado's largest reservoir, holding more than 940,000 acre-feet of water when it is full. September 8, 2022 by Brent Pollock. Keeping hope alive, I kept the pictures in a readily available space in my archive with the chance that they could be used to compare and contrast the reservoirs revival. He recently wrote a letter to seasonal boaters to share the unimaginable news that the docks, floating stores and Pappys restaurant will stay shuttered for 2022. Blue Mesa Reservoir, near Gunnison Colorado, has had good ice from about the Iola boat ramp to just before the middle bridge for several weeks now. Inflows to the massive reservoir were the third lowest on record in 2021. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Some, like Walter Swetkoff, are frustrated. "We are facing unprecedented dry conditions in the Colorado River Basin. The challenges that we're facing in the long term are here to stay, he says. Keeping in mind that the pictures would be used for future coverage of the reservoir, I documented the time of day, camera settings and focal length to use as a base for future pictures. When the water is at full pool, that is actually an island over there, and it seems very far away from being an island right now.. Last fall's emergency releases from Blue Mesa dramatically reduced its levels but helped keep Lake Powells hydroelectric power plant generating. You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. Water is a scarce, critical, and dwindling resource in the West. It takes a good days drive to cover Colorado, but well help you do it in a few minutes. This ice is thawing and slushy. Is Blue Mesa Reservoir frozen? Blue Mesa Reservoir, Coloradohold back the river - favsoundds. You take eight feet of water, and suddenly we gotta shut the doors and move everything out to deeper water. Lake Powell does need more water to protect its ability to keep producing hydropower. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Remember that a minimum of 4 inches of clear, solid ice is a requirement to support an average persons weight. Climate change is leading to less snowpack, and warmer temperatures mean less water is making it into the Colorado River. I Don't Want to Be - Gavin DeGraw. But conditions have changed through the years notes Udall. Best time of year: May-September; ice diving: January-February Visibility: At Dillon Pinnacles (in Blue Mesa Reservoir), visibility ranges from 10 to 25 feet; best visibility is in winter. That followed a meager runoff in 2020. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning! We're just basically here doing the maintenance on and making sure that they're gonna run day to day.. Throughout the country the agency brings water to more than 31 million people and provides one out of five Western farmers (140,000) with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland that produce 60% of the nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. So this equitable division that they came up with 100 years ago didn't consider the impacts of climate change.. Windsurfing is popular at several areas such as the Bay of Chickens or in the Iola Basin near the Lake City Bridge. Blue Mesa Reservoir Lake Trout Fishing Guide report. Spread the loveIf you are a regular crossword solver, you must be familiar with the clue What The Fish Said. And if you have been struggling to crack this clue lately, you have landed on , Spread the loveLooking for the perfect pairings to go with your crispy, golden fish sticks? Two years ago the picture was much different. With Powell fast approaching its minimum hydropower elevation, Cutler said releases need to start now. Use a tape measure to find ices true thickness. Additional water releases from Blue Mesa Reservoir in Colorado and Navajo Lake in New Mexico are planned to commence later this year. For snowmobiling, a minimum of 5 inches is recommended.
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