Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is removing a dam set on the Arkansas River near the Mount Shavano State Fish Hatchery.
The dam was built in the ’50s to collect water for the hatchery, and the agency said removing the dam will benefit the river’s fish by opening about 85 miles of river upstream to fish migration.
“This is a very popular stretch of water,” said Tom Waters, park manager for the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. “It’s exciting to be reopening the river so that aquatic species that live in the river can again move freely up and down the river corridor.”
CPW said the dam has not been used as a water supply for the hatchery since 2000.
