Shadow Mountain Lake Level to be Lowered For Weed Control
Granby, Colo. (Sept. 28, 2006) Beginning the week of Oct. 15, the USDA Forest Service together with the Bureau of Reclamation, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Three Lakes Watershed Association, Western Area Power Administration and Grand County will be lowering the water level of Shadow Mountain Lake to kill aquatic weeds. Over the past several years aquatic weeds in the lake have increased to a level that has made navigation and other recreational activities difficult. Agencies plan to lower or drawdown the surface elevation of Shadow Mountain Lake approximately 12 feet. The lake will be returned to its full status around December 9, 2006.
October 15 was selected for the drawdown to take advantage of cold temperatures that should freeze and kill exposed aquatic weeds. If conditions are favorable after the water level is lowered the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District will begin aquatic weed removal operations. Additionally, dock owners may apply for permission to remove aquatic weeds and lakebed material as well as conduct dock maintenance. To obtain this approval dock owners must submit a Dock Owner Debris Removal Agreement to the Sulphur Ranger District. This agreement must either be postmarked by Oct. 10 or hand-delivered by Oct. 12 for consideration. Approved dock owners will receive a written authorization from the USDA Forest Service on or before Oct. 19.
Recreational opportunities will still be allowed on and near Shadow Mountain Lake, but no motorized access to the exposed shoreline will be permitted during the drawdown. Grand Lake, Monarch Lake, Willow Creek Reservoir, Meadow Creek Reservoir and Lake Granby will continue to provide the recreation opportunities that normally occur during the fall and winter. These lakes will also have a normal water level. Because Lake Granby will be storing the water from Shadow Mountain Lake, its water level will increase approximately two feet during the drawdown.
Throughout the drawdown information will be posted on the Shadow Mountain Lake Drawdown website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/conditions/drawdown/index.shtml.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
