South Park's Antero Reservoir opens to unlimited fishing before historic drought closure

Denver Water announced this week it will drain Antero Reservoir, transferring approximately 5,000 acre-feet of water—roughly one-quarter of the reservoir's capacity—down the South Platte River to Cheesman Reservoir. The agency, which serves 1.5 million Front Range customers, is taking the drastic step to prevent critical evaporation losses during what officials describe as a tinder-dry season marked by the lowest snowpack in recorded history across its resource areas.[5] The closure will mark the first time since the severe 2002 drought that Denver Water has shuttered public recreation at the South Park destination. Instead of allowing the fishery to perish during the drawdown, Colorado Parks and Wildlife stepped in with an aggressive alternative. Effective immediately through sunset on May 13, CPW has lifted all bag and possession limits for all fish species at Antero, inviting the public to harvest as many fish as possible before Denver Water closes public access indefinitely.[1][2] "Colorado Parks and Wildlife appreciates the public's help in harvesting fish from Antero and utilizing those resources as much as possible," said Kyle Battige, CPW Senior Aquatic Biologist.[1] Anglers responding to the emergency salvage must follow specific guidelines: a valid Colorado fishing license remains required, and hand-launched vessels and shoreline angling are permitted, but motorized boating and commercialized fishing are prohibited.[2][3] CPW has also flagged a critical biosecurity concern—Antero Reservoir tests positive for New Zealand mudsnails, an invasive aquatic nuisance species, requiring anglers to clean, drain and dry all gear before using it in other Colorado waters.[2] CPW is simultaneously evaluating the feasibility of its own salvage operations to relocate remaining fish from the reservoir.[6] "We hope to rebuild into a high quality fishery once the reservoir is filled in the future," Battige said, signaling the state's commitment to eventually restoring Antero's status as one of Colorado's premier trophy trout destinations.[1] The compressed timeline—less than three weeks to maximize the public harvest—underscores the urgency of the water crisis gripping the Front Range.