outdoors

Conditions Report - Statewide

Rivers and Creeks

Due to extremely low flows in the Arkansas River and rising temperatures stressing fish, Colorado Parks and Wildlife today announced a voluntary fishing closure below the dam and extending east to Interstate 25.

The closure takes effect immediately and will last until Tuesday at midnight when more water is scheduled to be released. The closure is being implemented in two sections. 

An investigation by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers into the poisoning of bald eagles in the San Luis Valley ended with the conviction of a Rio Grande County man.

John L. Divine, 77, pleaded guilty to 10 misdemeanors of illegal take of wildlife and using poisons to kill wildlife. He paid $8,283.50 in fines in April.

Divine told wildlife officers that he put out the poison because he claimed coyotes were killing his sheep.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports steady progress is being made on expensive repairs and upgrades to the Two Buttes Reservoir. The changes are designed to increase the capacity of the century-old earthen dam.

CPW engineers have nearly completed design of the $3.4 million project, which includes replacing two gates on the dam at a cost of $678,00 and installing a bulkhead for the gate repairs, improving the channel below the spillway for $1.37 million, installing a spillway tower for $875,000 and constructing a new gate control building for $467,000.

Conditions Report - Statewide

Rivers and Creeks

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has awarded $400,000 to eight Fishing is Fun projects, all geared to improve angling opportunities in the state of Colorado. The approved projects include improved angler access, habitat improvement, new piers and new ponds.

Conditions Report - Statewide

Rivers and Creeks

Fires have burned in several mountain areas in Colorado this summer. So if you're planning to hunt on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, check with those agencies for the latest backcountry travel, fire and closure information.

To check on national forest lands in Colorado, start by going to the web site of the U.S. Forest Service.

Conditions Report - Statewide

Rivers and Creeks

If you ever wanted to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow, your chance is coming as Colorado Parks and Wildlife hosts a free archery clinic for all ages August 17.

CPW officers will provide the equipment and expertise, at the session scheduled 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 17.  This event will be held at the agency Work Station in Buena Vista, at the corner of U.S. Highway 24 and DePaul Street on the south side of Buena Vista.