Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) announced a public meeting for Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. in the Lake Pueblo State Park Visitor Center. The agency will present a proposal to adjust water‑temperature standards for the Arkansas River segment that runs from the Lake Pueblo dam to its confluence with Wildhorse/Dry Creek Arroyo, about five miles east of the dam.
Why the standards are under review
According to CPW water‑quality program coordinator Mindi May, the current standards were set before the reservoir’s influence on river temperatures was fully understood. “Pueblo Reservoir naturally influences water temperatures in this stretch of the river,” May said in a press release. “The proposed standards would better reflect the temperatures that currently occur downstream of the reservoir while continuing to protect the existing cold‑water fishery.”
Proposed changes
The agency plans to keep the existing temperature limits in place for the months of January through June. For the warmer months of July through December, CPW is proposing higher temperature thresholds that align with the river’s observed conditions during that period.
Public participation
The one‑hour meeting will include a brief history of the current standards, an overview of the proposed adjustments, and a question‑and‑answer segment for community members. The session will also be streamed on Zoom for anyone unable to attend in person.
Impact on local fisheries
CPW highlighted that the Arkansas River segment under review includes the Pueblo State Fish Hatchery, one of 19 hatcheries the agency operates. Adjusting the standards is intended to maintain a healthy environment for the hatchery’s cold‑water fish species while acknowledging the warmer water temperatures that naturally occur downstream of the reservoir.
Next steps
After the public meeting, CPW will review comments and data before finalizing any changes to the temperature standards. The agency emphasized that the meeting is a follow‑up to a similar session held in 2023 and is not related to the current drought or low‑flow conditions on the Arkansas River.
Residents, anglers, and other interested parties are encouraged to attend the meeting or join via Zoom to share their perspectives.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
