Chatfield Reservoir tree removal project resumes next week

Kara Van Hoose
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-829-7143 / [email protected]

November 7, 2025
 

Chatfield Reservoir tree removal project resumes next week

 

LITTLETON, Colo. — Colorado Parks and Wildlife will begin the 2025-2026 phase of the Chatfield Reallocation Project by removing dead or dying cottonwood and willow trees from the reservoir. The dead or dying trees need to be removed to ensure visitor safety while recreating in the water and prevent trees from disrupting dam operations, representing less than one-percent of the overall number of trees living in Chatfield State Park. The operation will also focus on extracting the tree stumps in the reservoir from the 2024 work on the west side of the park. 

Helicopter removal of immersed trees is expected to begin Monday at the Plum Creek picnic area on the east side of the reservoir. Crews working with hand tools will start in the Roxborough Cove area and move where needed. Closures and impacts to the park are expected to be minimal, but the Plum Creek picnic area and a one-mile section of the perimeter trail from the Plum Creek nature area to the Roxborough Cove parking lot will be closed through the end of March. Helicopter operations are expected to last through January, pending weather conditions. 

“We thank the park visitors for their patience while we continue to make recreation safer and dam operations secure through this project,” said Chatfield State Park Manager Kris Wahlers. “Visitors are reminded not to stop their vehicles in the road to watch helicopter work. Please also respect the trail and nature area closure signs by not trespassing into those closed areas.” 

In addition to the planting of more than 100,000 trees and shrubs to offset habitat loss, CPW and the Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company, Inc. (CRMC) have worked with environmental contractors since 2018 to mitigate the impact on bird populations, which could be affected by the trees’ removal. The project is scheduled outside of nesting seasons and will not disturb any active nests. No bald eagle pairs have historically nested in the cottonwoods which will be removed. 

The Chatfield Reallocation Project began in 2014 with the main goal of acting as a renewable storage option by absorbing water from the South Platte River during wet seasons to lessen the severity of dry periods. Prior to the approval of the reallocation project, CRMC created the Adaptive Tree Management Plan (ATMP) to address potential tree removal and monitoring based on expected health impacts associated with uncertainties related to the timing and frequency of water storage. The ATMP acknowledged the majority of the inundated trees would eventually need to be removed once the reservoir reached its full storage level operating status. The project celebrated a successful high storage season when Chatfield Reservoir filled to the current operating level in spring of 2023 after unexpected levels of rainfall and moisture. Due to sustained precipitation and cooler temperatures throughout 2023 and into early 2024, Chatfield Reservoir remained at its “full pool” status for much longer than predicted.  

Boating and fishing are not expected to be impacted. Some day use areas of Chatfield may need to be closed during operations. Only one day use area will be closed at a time to not impact visitor experience. The park’s website and social media pages will announce the closures as needed. 

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