COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

CPW orders emergency fish salvage at South Catamount Reservoir on Pikes Peak

May 11, 2023

CPW orders emergency fish salvage at South Catamount Reservoir on Pikes Peak

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has ordered an emergency fish salvage operation, effective immediately, at South Catamount Reservoir on the North Slope of Pikes Peak in preparation for repairs to be made on the dam next year.

Prior to the start of the repair work, Colorado Springs Utilities has lowered the water level in South Catamount. CPW has determined the reservoir can not maintain a viable fishery through the 2023 fishing season. 

Rather than let the fish die, CPW Director Jeff Davis ordered the emergency fish salvage, offering anglers a unique opportunity to catch as many fish as they like.

The order lifts bag and possession limits for any member of the public holding a valid state fishing license. Signs will be posted at the reservoir announcing the order.

Anglers must use legal fishing methods and fish only during daylight. Multiple rods up to 4 are authorized while the salvage order is in effect. The emergency fish salvage will continue until the order is lifted.

The public salvage is being announced in order to optimize use of the fishery resource in accordance with Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission regulations.

Current size, bag and possession limits are suspended for South Catamount Reservoir only. 

South Catamount is one of three Colorado Springs Utilities reservoirs built to store drinking water and used for recreation in the North Slope Recreation Area on Pikes Peak. The emergency fish salvage is permitted only at South Catamount. It does not include North Catamount Reservoir or Crystal Creek Reservoir.

Under normal water conditions, South Catamount has 120 surface acres of water, 3.9 miles of shoreline and sits at 9,230 feet elevation in the Pike National Forest on the north slope of Pikes Peak.

It is located near the Pikes Peak Highway, west of Colorado Springs off U.S. Highway 24 in Teller County.

CPW will issue a notice when the salvage operation ends.