GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife announces an emergency fish salvage at Green Mountain Falls Lake, located 15 miles west of Colorado Springs, due to impending work by the town to remove lake sediment, beginning today.

“The potential for loss of all fish is the primary reason for authorizing a public fish salvage,” said CPW’s Southeast Senior Aquatic Biologist, Josh Nehring. “We would prefer these fish be put to good use, and for people to enjoy these wonderful trout at their dinner table.”

The following emergency salvage regulations apply only to Green Mountain Falls Lake:

– The emergency fish salvage is permitted only at Green Mountain Falls Lake.
– A valid Colorado fishing license is required in accordance with state statutes.
– Bag and possession limits are suspended for Green Mountain Falls Lake only until this emergency public salvage is lifted.
– All legal fishing methods are allowed.
– Salvage is only permitted during daylight hours.
– Notification of the salvage opening and closure will be made through press releases.

The announcement is in accordance with Parks and Wildlife Commission Regulation chapter W-01,104.G., which authorizes emergency public salvage when substantial numbers of fish are found to be in imminent danger of being lost due to the volume and depth of water, water temperature and/or the oxygen content is such that fish cannot survive.

CPW will attempt to remove fish from the lake beginning Sept. 21 and will donate those fish to local anglers and those in need. The town will begin draining the lake on Sept. 26.  A notification to announce the salvage closure is estimated to be on or around Oct. 5.

Once the Town of Green Mountain Falls has completed the sediment removal project, the reservoir is slated to be refilled, but fish will not be stocked any earlier than next spring.  CPW is committed to rebuilding the fishery.

For questions regarding the Green Mountain Falls Lake project contact Green Mountain Falls Public Works Department at 719-684-7850 or Green Mountain Falls Mayor Lorrie Worthey, at 719-651-9367. For fishery-related questions, please contact CPW at 719-227-5224.

The Green Mountain Falls area is known for hiking, waterfalls, lakes and a fabulous view of Pike’s Peak.

CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 42 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, big-game management, hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and nonmotorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW’s work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.

For more information about Colorado Parks and Wildlife go to: http://cpw.state.co.us.