Drought impacts are rapidly spreading across Colorado as Denver Water announced Monday it will drain and close South Park’s Antero Reservoir fishing and camping spot to avoid critical evaporation losses in a tinder-dry season.
The agency serving 1.5 million Front Range customers will send Antero’s reserve down the South Platte River to Cheesman Reservoir and close the recreation area to the public for the first time since the severe 2002 drought.
The move will keep 5,000 acre-feet of water from evaporating in summer heat about one-quarter of the reservoir’s capacity. In a normal runoff year, that 5,000 acre-feet would easily be made up by snowmelt, but Denver has declared this year’s snowpack the lowest in recorded history in its resource areas.
Denver Water had previously planned to drain Antero early in the 2013 season, also because of drought, until heavy spring rains saved multiple reservoirs for Front Range users.
Denver Water said it is working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to allow some public access and save some of the fishery before Antero is completely drained. “Following the fish relocation process, there will be no recreation, including camping, allowed at Antero Reservoir in 2026,” the agency said.
Moving some of the South Platte River Basin water will allow Denver Water to avoid bringing as much water from west of the Continental Divide, where it diverts water that would otherwise go into the Colorado River and its tributaries.
“A lot of forethought and planning went into our collection system and reservoirs,” said Nathan Elder, manager of water supply for Denver Water. “Antero is a drought reservoir, designed to provide water to our customers during a severe drought. Consolidating this water into Cheesman will help us make the most of the water we have.”