Water contact advisory expanded to ten state wildlife areas after untreated sewage spill near Pueblo

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Parks and Wildlife says it has expanded its water contact advisory to ten state wildlife areas after an untreated sewage spill into the Arkansas River last week.

According to officials, the extended advisory includes:

• Melon Valley State Wildlife Area
• Rocky Ford State Wildlife Area
• Oxbow State Wildlife Area
• Las Animas Fish Hatchery
• Purgatoire River State Wildlife Area
• Fort Lyon State Wildlife Area
• John Martin Reservoir State Park
• North Gateway Ponds State Wildlife Area
• Granada State Wildlife Area
• Deadman State Wildlife Area
• Midwestern Farms State Wildlife Area
• Holly State Wildlife Area

It also includes the Las Animas Fish Hatchery along the Arkansas River. John Martin Reservoir State Park was included in an original water contact advisory shortly after the spill, where officials said the untreated sewage was expected to reach.

Over four million gallons of untreated sewage were accidentally released last Thursday into the Arkansas River near Pueblo. At the time, state and city public health officials said the release began on August 26 and stopped on August 27 after it was discovered. The spill occurred just east of Interstate 25 from the City of Pueblo's wastewater treatment plant.

On Monday, state health officials recommended that people avoid the Arkansas River until further notice. A message to avoid the river was originally only supposed to run until Monday, but it was extended after the state found significantly elevated E. coli levels in downstream parts of the river.

CPW says the properties included in the advisory are still open, but visitors should avoid swimming, wading, tubing, paddleboarding, fishing or other similar activities that would involve direct water contact with the Arkansas River.

The latest updates on the river is available on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's website.