COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Granby Reservoir will remain open to boating through Dec. 2

GRANBY, Colo. - Aquatic invasive species watercraft inspection and decontamination stations at Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Granby Reservoir will remain open longer than expected due to an influx of funds from Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District.

The high-mountain lakes are popular with anglers, waterfowl hunters and boaters for the outstanding outdoor recreation they provide.

"This is excellent news for everyone," said Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Invasive Species Coordinator Elizabeth Brown. "Fall access to these waters have been uncertain this year due to the significant threat of a zebra or quagga mussels being introduced by watercraft. With the investment from Northern Water, the inspection and decontamination stations will remain open through the rest of this season, people can continue to enjoy the lakes a little longer."

For the remainder of 2018, the following schedules are now in effect:

Grand Lake
Public Boat Ramp
Sept. 10 - Dec. 2 / 6a.m.- 6 p.m.

Shadow Mountain Reservoir
Green Ridge Boat Ramp
Sept. 10 - Dec. 2 / 6a.m.- 6 p.m.

Granby Reservoir
Stillwater Boat Ramp
Sept. 10 - Dec. 2 / 6a.m.- 6 p.m.

Granby Reservoir
Sunset Boat Ramp
Sept. 10 - Oct.14 / 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Oct. 15 - Closed to trailered motorized watercraft - hand powered and hand launched watercraft use only.


Per Colorado state law, watercraft requiring an aquatic nuisance species inspection may not launch outside of these hours, or when inspectors are not on duty. Boat ramp gates are physically closed when the inspection station is not open.

CPW and their partners continue strenuous efforts to keep infested boats from entering the state's waters by providing inspection stations across Colorado. A stakeholders group consisting of CPW, US Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Northern Water, Grand County and the Town of Grand Lake work collaboratively to protect these waters from harmful invaders through the inspection program and education efforts.

At waters without inspection stations, boaters are required to 'clean, drain and dry,' and should never launch without checking their vessels and following recommended procedures.

For more information about how to avoid spreading aquatic nuisance species, visit stopaquatichitchhikers.org and westernais.org.

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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.