(PIKES PEAK REGION, Colo.) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Southeast Region reported on Tuesday, July 1, that the department teamed up with Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities) to rescue over 1,700 Cutthroat Trout from Mason Reservoir, allowing Springs Utilities to move forward with draining the lake for repairs.
Mason Reservoir, in the South Slope Recreation Area of Pikes Peak, is scheduled to be partially drained for repairs to a leaking pipe. While Springs Utilities replaces sections of the pipe, they will also install valves to assist with future pipe maintenance.
The reservoir was built in 1904 and can hold 1,965 acre-feet of water, and is an important part of the local water system, but it also supports a large population of fish and is a popular destination for fishing. Springs Utilities plans to complete drawing down the water levels and close access to the public for assessment and repairs by mid-summer.
South Slope recreation schedule adjusted for Mason Reservoir repairs
But first, they had to rescue the fish, as the water levels would not be sufficient to support the full population, and leaving them there would create a tremendous loss of fish…