Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has completed a multi-year restoration of Monarch Park Ponds, a popular fishing spot in the San Isabel National Forest. The ponds, located around 15 miles west of Salida, have been repopulated with 300 catchable rainbow trout and now feature improved access to the shoreline, a new parking lot, and an ADA-accessible fishing pier.
Restoration Efforts
CPW’s Mount Shavano State Fish Hatchery and local wildlife officers stocked the ponds with the new trout, with 50 in the upper pond, 100 in the center, and 150 in the lower pond. The restoration project, funded by CPW’s ‘Fishing is Fun’ grant program, also involved removing years of sediment buildup and improving the habitat for fish.
The project coincided with U.S. Forest Service work to improve the Monarch Pass area, including plans for a nearby camping area. CPW reminds visitors that those fishing aged 16 or older must have a valid Colorado fishing license.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
