Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced on April 1st that the process to refill Highline Lake began on Monday, March 31st. Staff at Highline Lake State Park in collaboration with the Grand Valley Water Users Association opened the headgate, allowing water to come flowing back into the lakebed. Highline was drained last January as part of Colorado’s efforts to eradicate invasive zebra mussels.
It will take a few weeks for the lake to fill back up, and while there is no official opening date yet, Highline is expected to be open for all surface activities this year.
Recreational anglers and boaters can expect similar protocols to the 2023 season. All boats at Highline Lake will be subject to inspection and decontamination protocols before and after launch. Invasive mussels can travel hundreds of miles in boat engines, fishing gear, and mud. CPW encourages recreators to clean, drain, and dry all their equipment to help keep our lakes free of invasive species.
