CPW reopens popular fishing ponds in San Isabel National Forest

SALIDA, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has completed a multi-year restoration of a popular pond in the San Isabel National Forest.

CPW says with help from partners it was able to repopulate Monarch Park Ponds, which they call one of the state's most accessible high-elevation fisheries.

The pond complex, around 15 miles west of Salida in the San Isabel National Forest, now has newly stocked rainbow trout, better access to the shoreline, a new parking lot and an ADA-accessible fishing pier. That was funded by CPW's "Fishing is Fun" grant program.

CPW's Mount Shavano State Fish Hatchery and local wildlife officers stocked the ponds with 300 catchable rainbow trout, according to officials. 50 were put into the upper pond, 100 in the center and 150 in the lower pond. The fish were restocked earlier this month.

CPW says it led the effort to remove years of build up of sediment and helped improve the habitat for fish. The project coincided with U.S. Forest Service work to improve the Monarch Pass area in general, including plans for a nearby camping area.

"This is probably the best part of my job," CPW's Mount Shavano State Fish Hatchery manager Bryan Johnson said in a press release. "Seeing people use these lakes and watching a child reel in a trout that our team spent the past year raising is what all of this work is about."

CPW reminds visitors that those fishing aged 16 or older must have a valid Colorado fishing license.

More information on the restoration and fishing is available on CPW's website. A video of the restoration can be found here.

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