Black Lakes near Vail Pass stocked with trout for the second time this year
On Jul. 21 the two Black Lakes located adjacent to Interstate 70 near the Vail Pass exit were stocked with more than 2,000 9- to 14-inch long rainbow trout. The Eagle River Water & Sanitation District stocks the lakes twice per year with catchable rainbow trout. This was the second stocking for 2022, with 2,500 pounds of fish going into the lakes on Jun. 14 and another 2,500 pounds going into the lakes on Jul. 21. The trout are raised by a Boulder-based fishery that is licensed and health-inspected by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
Fish stocking in Black Lake No. 2 on Jul. 21, 2022.
The two cold-water reservoirs are operated as part of the district’s water supply system and releases from the reservoirs are used to augment Gore Creek streamflows. Sitting at about 10,500 feet, Black Lake No. 1 covers almost 30 acres and Black Lake No. 2 covers almost 10 acres. The lakes are stocked proportionally, with about 70% of the trout going into the larger Black Lake No. 1 and the remaining fish stocking Black Lake No. 2. CPW partners with the district to operate Black Lake No. 2 in support of fishing, wildlife habitat, and recreation.
Fish stocking in Black Lake No. 1 on Jul. 21, 2022.
Due to current warm water temperatures across Colorado, CPW is encouraging anglers to seek out high-elevation lakes and streams like the Black Lakes where water temperatures are more suitable and fishing doesn’t add additional stress to vulnerable fish. Elevated water temperatures can lead to low oxygen levels in rivers and reservoirs, and when temperatures exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit, fish become more susceptible to disease and may even stop feeding. Make sure to check conditions related to mandatory and voluntary fishing closures on the CPW website. Information on fishing licenses and fees is also available online.
For more information, contact customer service at 970-477-5451.
