05-02-2008, 08:16 PM
The Colorado Division of Wildlife will begin restocking Pastorius Reservoir after severe winter conditions caused a significant die-off of fish.
The DOW recently received reports of many dead fish at the reservoir. On April 11, DOW aquatic biologists set gill nets in the small lake but no fish were found. Jim White, aquatic biologist for the DOW in Durango said it appears that all the oxygen became depleted over the winter and fish could not survive.
The likely reasons for the oxygen depletion: no water flows into the lake during the winter; the lake froze early during the winter and was covered with snow which prevented any movement of surface water; decaying weeds consumed available oxygen.
"This is not unprecedented, we've had winter fish kills at this reservoir before," White said. "We don't know if the die off is complete, but it is significant."
Starting the first week of May and continuing over the next three months, the DOW will stock 6,500 catchable-size rainbow trout. Later this summer the lake will be stocked with large mouth bass and bluegill. Those fish will be too small to catch this year, but should reach catchable size in following years.
The reservoir is located about six miles southwest of Durango on La Plata County Road 304. Non-anglers are reminded that they must have a Colorado Wildlife Habitat stamp to recreate at the Pastorius State Wildlife Area. For people who do not buy a hunting or fishing license, the stamp fee is $10.25. The price includes Colorado's search and rescue fee. The stamp can be purchased wherever licenses are sold.
The DOW recently received reports of many dead fish at the reservoir. On April 11, DOW aquatic biologists set gill nets in the small lake but no fish were found. Jim White, aquatic biologist for the DOW in Durango said it appears that all the oxygen became depleted over the winter and fish could not survive.
The likely reasons for the oxygen depletion: no water flows into the lake during the winter; the lake froze early during the winter and was covered with snow which prevented any movement of surface water; decaying weeds consumed available oxygen.
"This is not unprecedented, we've had winter fish kills at this reservoir before," White said. "We don't know if the die off is complete, but it is significant."
Starting the first week of May and continuing over the next three months, the DOW will stock 6,500 catchable-size rainbow trout. Later this summer the lake will be stocked with large mouth bass and bluegill. Those fish will be too small to catch this year, but should reach catchable size in following years.
The reservoir is located about six miles southwest of Durango on La Plata County Road 304. Non-anglers are reminded that they must have a Colorado Wildlife Habitat stamp to recreate at the Pastorius State Wildlife Area. For people who do not buy a hunting or fishing license, the stamp fee is $10.25. The price includes Colorado's search and rescue fee. The stamp can be purchased wherever licenses are sold.