Overview
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife authorized a public fish salvage that lifts bag and possession limits until May 13, after which public access will close.
- Denver Water will move Antero’s storage to Cheesman Reservoir to prevent about 5,000 acre-feet from evaporating, which is roughly one quarter of Antero’s capacity.
- All recreation at Antero, including fishing, boating, and camping, will be suspended for the rest of 2026 following the fish relocation work.
- Officials say snowpack and runoff are among the lowest on record this year, so losses would not be replaced, and the shift enables greater use of South Platte Basin supplies over Western Slope sources.
- Local guides report rebooking and refunding months of trips, pointing to immediate hits for businesses built around the reservoir’s popular fishery.