Denver Water says Antero Reservoir will close to recreation in 2026 as part of its drought response, with water from the Park County reservoir set to move to Cheesman Reservoir in the coming weeks. The utility now lists May 13 as the last day for public recreation access at Antero.
The move comes as Denver Water tries to hang onto water in a year with historically low snowpack and runoff. Denver Water said that Antero has the highest evaporation-to-storage ratio in its system, and shifting that water to Cheesman could save about 5,000 acre-feet, roughly 25% of Antero’s storage capacity, from evaporating.
Why Denver Water Is Draining Antero
Denver Water notes that Antero is a drought reservoir designed for dry years, and this year certainly qualifies. In its April 20 supply update, the utility said snowpack in its collection system remained at the lowest levels seen in the past 40 years, with the Colorado River Basin at 36% of normal and the South Platte River Basin at just 7% of normal as of April 20. Reservoir storage was 80% full, compared with an average of 85% for that date.
Denver Water’s board declared a Stage 1 drought on March 25, with a goal of cutting water use by 20% through April 30, 2027, and later approved temporary drought pricing that starts with May water use. Denver Water serves about 1.5 million people in Denver and the surrounding suburbs.
The utility notes the reservoir was also drained during the 2002 drought, and again in 2015 for a dam rehabilitation project.
What It Means for Anglers and Campers
Antero Reservoir was last drained for dam repairs in 2015-2016, and since then, it has built up a good population of brown and rainbow trout. Breckenridge Anglers notes that trophy-caliber trout are caught in the lake.
For now, there’s still a short window to use the reservoir. Camping at Antero is allowed through May 13, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife has authorized an emergency public fish salvage tied to the planned drawdown. According to CPW’s public notice, all bag and possession limits for all fish species are lifted through sunset on May 13, after which Denver Water will close public access. A valid Colorado fishing license is still required.
CPW said motorized boating and commercialized fishing aren’t allowed during the salvage window, but hand-launched vessels and shoreline angling are permitted. The agency also warned that Antero has tested positive for New Zealand mudsnails, so anglers should clean, drain, and dry gear before using it elsewhere.
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