Trout Rescue Effort Underway as Colorado Reservoir Dries Up

June 15, 2026 / 4:20 PM MDT / CBS Colorado

As Denver Water continues to drain Antero Reservoir due to Colorado's prolonged drought, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has been working tirelessly to salvage as many trout as possible.

Around 1,000 trout have been rescued, and thanks to the efforts of CPW aquatic biologists and Denver Water staff, 981 of these remarkable fish have been relocated to Eleven Mile Reservoir.

This emergency public salvage effort has seen thousands of anglers participate, ensuring that some of Antero's fish do not end up going to waste.

This remarkable relocation effort was made possible by the close coordination and support from Denver Water.

Once the reservoir is refilled, stocking operations at Antero will resume.