Fort Morgan/Sterling Outdoors Guide | Spring/Summer 2021

Outdoors Guide Spring & Summer 2021

A special publication of Prairie Mountain Media

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OUTDOORS GUIDE

NO MORE ATM FEES?

HOT DIGGETY DOG! Sara Waite / Sterling Journal-Advocate

The fishing dock at Sterling’s Kiwanis Pond in the Overland Trail Recreation Area is popular with families.

A product of The Fort Morgan Times and Sterling Journal-Advocate.

Content and photos for this publication were provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, except where noted.

Our Staff

Publisher Brian Porter Editor Sara Waite Advertising Steve Buxton Kim Francis Andrew Ohlson Production Lindsay Lovato

Inside

Colorado lakes, reservoirs are free of invasive mussels ...................... 4 Paddleboarders urged to wear to wear PFDs ....................................... 5 Go fish! Colorado launches resident digital fishing license ................. 6 Lake Pueblo produces record walleye spawn after COVID-19 aborted efforts ........................................................................................................... 8 Camping Gear Checklist ....................................................................... 14 $20M in capital improvements planned at state parks ....................... 15 New pass to access State Wildlife Areas available May 1 .................. 16 Cooking at camp .................................................................................... 18 Outdoor recreation opportunities abound in Fort Morgan ............... 20 Favorite fishing holes ............................................................................ 22 Copyright 2021. Prairie Mountain Media

THE SPRING & SUMMER OUTDOORS GUIDE is a special publication in coordination with Colorado Parks & Wildlife.

Prairie Mountain Media wishes to thank Colorado Parks & Wildlife for photos, stories and information provided for republication in this section.

Please visit

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OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA • APRIL 17, 2021 • 3

Boating

Colorado lakes, reservoirs are free of invasive mussels

Courtesy photo / Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Invasive species damage Colorado's lands and waters, hurt the economy, ruin recreational opportunities and threaten public health.

More boats found with mussel infestations in 2020

DENVER — More boats requiring decontamination because of infestations of destructive mussels entered Colorado in 2020 compared to previous years; but the statewide inspection program coordinated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife again succeeded in keeping invasive mussels out of the state’s lakes and reservoirs.

Thanks to CPW’s comprehensive Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) prevention program, all waters in the state are now officially free of evidence of mussels. In 2017, veligers, the microscopic larval stage of quagga mussels, found at Green Mountain Reservoir showed that mussels might exist there. But three years of subse-

quent water testing were negative for mussel species.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife continues to meet the challenge of protecting the state’s waters and infrastructure from aquatic nuisance species,” said Robert Walters, CPW’s ANS program manager.

“But as boating season

4 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA

approaches we continue to ask for help from boat owners in maintaining our mussel-free status.”

Mussels are destructive to aquatic habitat, can seriously damage reservoir infrastructure and cause problems on boats.

As usual, Colorado’s ANS inspecSee MUSSELS, pg. 12

Water Sports

Paddleboarders urged to wear to wear PFDs Falling into cold water can pose hazards to riders

As stand-up paddleboards become more and more popular, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds paddlers to wear personal floatation devices (PFDs) when using this watercraft.

Over the last several years at Colorado’ state parks, more and more people have been falling off their boards and some have drowned. In all those cases people were not wearing PFDs. “So many people see paddle boards as low risk; but if you fall off your board into cold water you can get into trouble very quickly,” said Kirstin Copeland, manager at Ridgway State Park.

On rivers or reservoirs, if a paddleboarder falls off there is no See PADDLEBOARDERS, pg. 12 Paddleboarders are urged to wear PFDs when they are on the water.

Ken Papaleo / Colorado Parks and Wildlife

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OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA • APRIL 17, 2021 • 5

Fishing

Go fish! Colorado launches resident digital fishing license Colorado residents can now display their fishing license on their smartphone through the myColorado™ app.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s resident fishing licenses are now accessible through myColorado™, the State of Colorado’s official mobile app. Resident anglers will purchase their fishing licenses the same way they always have and receive a printed physical license, but now they will also have the option to display it within the myColorado app.

The myColorado app gives Colorado residents the ability to create an electronic version of their Colorado driver’s license or state identification (ID) card on their smartphone as proof of identity within the state. Now, resident anglers can use it to show they have a valid fishing license as well. The myColorado app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Visit myColorado.gov to learn more.

“We are excited to make it as easy as possible for Coloradans to show they’ve purchased their fishing licenses, allowing them to continue enjoying our state’s great outdoors,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Since my children are under 16, they can fish for free, but when I got my license a couple years ago I was surprised that there wasn’t an option to display my license on my phone. While a paper license still works for many people, it can be easy to forget at home, but many parents like me always have their phone on them.

This new option meets Coloradans where they’re at, providing 21st century service.”

“Resident fishing license products are a great way for CPW to enter the digital arena with our A man fishes at Jackson Lake State Park in Morgan County. licenses,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. “We’ll continue to easier for our customers.” about how to access your resident explore options for making proof Check out the myColorado FAQ fishing license within the app Walof holding a valid license or pass document for more information let. The specific fishing products 6 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA

Verdon Tomajko / Colorado Parks and Wildlife

anglers will see will include: • Resident annual

See FISHING, pg. 7

FISHING from page 6

• Resident youth annual • Resident senior annual • Resident 1-day • Resident additional-day • Resident senior low-income lifetime • Resident disability lifetime • Resident VA lifetime • Resident first responder lifetime • Extra rod stamp Moving forward, CPW will explore adding new products to the myColorado mobile app, such as individual park passes, dog-off leash passes and some annual hunting licenses.

It’s time to go fish!

CPW reminds anglers that it’s time to get ready for another season of fishing. Coloradans and non-resident visitors alike can purchase a 2021 annual fishing license online, at your local CPW office or at any of our hundreds of authorized sales agents statewide.

An annual 2021 license is valid from March 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. CPW provides a range of options for anglers including both the annual fishing license and one-day fishing licenses as well as educational opportunities for those new to angling.

One excellent resource is the CPW Fishing Report which is published bi-weekly. The CPW Fishing Report is available online, through the CPW Fishing app, and by subscribing to an email newsletter. The report provides the latest fishing news and events in Colorado, describes current fishing conditions across the state and issues a stocking report.

CPW stocks 90 million fish annually into Colorado’s waters to ensure quality angling opportunities. CPW does not receive general tax dollars and fishing license fees support all statewide hatchery and fish-stocking operations.

Up-to-date regulations and pricing for annual, daily and multi-day licenses can be found in the 2021 Colorado Fishing Brochure (Spanish version). For individuals ages 18 through 64, a $10.40 Habitat Stamp is required with the first

Two anglers try to bring in their catch at North Sterling State Park.

Mike Alosi / Colorado Parks and Wildlife

LOCALLY OWNED …

LOCALLY OPERATED …

LOCALLY INVOLVED! Screenshot / mycolorado.gov

Resident fishing licenses can be accessed in the myColorado app.

license purchase for the year.

Youth under age 16 can fish for free and CPW provides opportunities throughout the season to learn how to fish.

Check out the myColorado digital fishing license media toolkit for answers to frequently asked questions, social media messages, and stock images and screenshots for this exciting new feature. To learn more about fishing in Colorado, including 37 angling locations within Colorado state parks, visit our website at cpw.state.co.us.

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OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA • APRIL 17, 2021 • 7

Fishing

Lake Pueblo produces record walleye spawn after COVID-19 aborted efforts

Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Courtesy photo

Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Josh Nehring, senior aquatic biologist for the Southeast Region, displays a large walleye during the "March Madness" walleye spawn at Lake Pueblo State Park.

CPW’s “March Madness” shows promise for future fishing seasons

While college basketball fans sit glued to their televisions each March, Colorado Parks and Wildlife plays its own version of “March Madness.”

Without fanfare, betting brackets or “One Shining Moment” tributes, CPW biologists and volunteers head out at dawn, usually in freezing temperatures, to Front Range reservoirs and spend a

month capturing thousands of walleye and spawning them in a quest for Colorado anglers’ precious aquatic prize.

This March, CPW collected approximately 130 million eggs – a slam dunk for anglers statewide.

It’s particularly great news after last year’s disappointing, pandemic-shortened spawn produced only a tiny fraction of the usual haul.

“Honestly, it’s hard to believe what our team of aquatic biologists, other CPW staff, and three volunteers were able to accomplish this year at Lake Pueblo State Park,” said Josh Nehring, senior aquatic biologist for CPW’s Southeast Region.

“We weren’t sure what to expect.

But we never expected to catch so many fish and produce so many

8 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA

eggs, so fast.

“It’s remarkable. And anglers ought to be thrilled because it’s going to mean great fishing in the coming years in Colorado.”

Most every spring, CPW holds its March Madness at three state parks: Lake Pueblo, Cherry Creek and Chatfield.

There, three teams of aquatic

See LAKE PUEBLO, pg. 9

LAKE PUEBLO from page 8

biologists deploy at dawn each day for most of the month, working seven days a week in sun, rain and often snow, to gill-net hundreds of walleye each day.

They strip the popular gamefish, one slippery walleye after another, of their milt and roe (sperm and eggs) as the fish wriggle furiously in the biologists’ cold, wet hands.

The eggs are fertilized in a boathouse at Lake Pueblo, or on a floating barge at Cherry Creek and Chatfield.

Then the fertilized eggs – often millions a day – are sent to CPW hatcheries where they are hatched and nurtured until the fry and fingerlings are ready to be stocked in waters across Colorado.

Typically the grueling routine is repeated daily until they’ve produced about 120 million eggs.

Only when the goal is reached can the madness end.

Why does CPW go to all the effort?

Because anglers love walleye for the valiant fight they put up on the end of a line and for the way they taste at the end of a fork.

The walleye eggs also are valuable as CPW’s hatchery staff trade them to other states in exchange for desirable gamefish otherwise unavailable in Colorado.

The annual effort has gone on since 1988 at Lake Pueblo and, in normal years, involves a small army of CPW aquatic biologists, other staff and volunteers who typ-

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Courtesy photo

Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologists and technicians head out at dawn to begin pulling gill nets set the previous afternoon to collect walleye for the day's spawn.

ically spend hours each day alongside the biologists untangling dozens of nets – each longer than a football field – deployed each afternoon and left overnight in the lakes for the next morning’s catch.

Then, a year ago, came COVID19 forcing a sudden stop to the spawning operation.

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would quickly disappear without the human-assisted spawning operation. Sure, the walleye in the three lakes would still spawn without human interference. But the survival rate of walleye eggs spawned naturally in the lake can be as low as 10 percent while eggs gathered and fertilized by CPW aquatic biologists is typically as high as 80 percent.

“That’s why CPW and its predecessor agencies began spawning fish several decades ago,” Nehring

said. “And the modern operation has helped boost walleye populations and ensures great fishing for anglers.”

So there was great pressure on CPW’s Team Walleye as it began operations this year. That pressure was made worse by the decision to limit participation to just a core group of biologists and only three longtime volunteers: Russ Dewey, Mark Elkins and Dan Frankowski.

See LAKE PUEBLO, pg. 10

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Courtesy photos

CPW's Carrie Tucker, aquatic biologist in Pueblo, handled much of the duty stripping milt and roe from walleye caught each day.

CPW's Josh Nehring, senior aquatic biologist for the Southeast Region, reacts to the large volume of roe, or eggs, he is able to squeeze from a female walleye.

LAKE PUEBLO from page 9

Those three volunteers each have decades of experience – Frankowski first volunteered at the Lake Pueblo boathouse in 1990 – and all were vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. And everyone wore masks for protection. In a further safety precaution, the net reefing operation was moved out of the cramped boathouse and into an open-air parking lot.

It was a stark contrast to past years when a large support staff and larger team of volunteers arrived each morning before dawn to expedite the spawn and to let the biologists concentrate on catching and squeezing the fish.

Perhaps the volunteers’ biggest contribution is the chore of “reefing” the nets.

They drag 32 heavy tubs, each holding a 400-foot-long gill net, and start hours of reefing -- the process of untangling the massive nets.

The work starts by taking one end of the long net and tossing it over a large plastic pipe hanging from the rafters of the boathouse.

Then they stand and pull the 400-feet of net over the tube, inch by inch, removing tree branches, debris and even old fishing lures, as they slowly and carefully place it into a new tub. Along the way they also make repairs to netting ripped by the debris.

This year, however, the 14-member Team Walleye was responsible for most of the prep work, rinse stations, all the sorting and counting.

And with only three volunteers, the CPW Team Walleye biologists spent what would normally be their lunch hours standing in the parking lot reefing nets so they could take them back out on the lake to be set for the next morning.

But as bad as 2020 was for Team Walleye, the 2021 season was great. Nehring said the overall walleye catch at Lake Pueblo was among the best in decades.

It took only a few days for the Pueblo team to blow past its goal of 40 million eggs. The walleye, and the eggs, just kept piling up.

This turned out to be especially important because CPW had decided in advance not to spawn at Chatfield this year and the effort

10 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA

at Cherry Creek was partially held back due to COVID-19 concerns.

Carrie Tucker, aquatic biologist based in Pueblo, said she’d never seen so many walleye.

“It was an absolutely monster year,” Tucker said. “We’ve never gotten so many fish, day after day.

It was great to be back on the water. And it’s great to know our anglers are going to have a lot of success catching fish this summer.”

The number of fish netted each day kept growing until Nehring, Tucker and the team spawned 156 female walleyes on March 26.

They were so surprised they wrote the number on cardboard and placed it in the rafters of the boat-

See LAKE PUEBLO, pg. 11

LAKE PUEBLO

from page 10

house, noting it exceeded the previous record of 130 female walleye spawned in one day in 2019.

In all, Team Walleye beat the 2019 record for daily female spawns three times in 2021.

The box score showed that in a quick 16 days, they had produced 90 million eggs from Lake Pueblo -- by far the majority of CPW’s 2021 statewide total of 131 million eggs.

The team also ran up the score by exceeding 9 million eggs produced on 3 days. Their best was 9.8 million March 29.

They further stuffed the stat sheet by producing 6 million sterile “triploids.” The triploid is a sterile walleye hybrid. CPW aquatic biologists like triploids because they can be stocked in West Slope waters without fear of reproducing and competing with native fish.

Another benefit of the record walleye spawn was the production of 32.4 million saugeye. It’s a hybrid made from sauger milt from Nebraska and Colorado walleye eggs.

The saugeye loves shallow water making it a favorite among shore anglers.

In the college basketball March Madness, colorful confetti fell on the winners as they cut down the nets at the end of the tournament.

Only a light snow fell on Team Walleye as the biologists folded up the last nets on March 31, ending CPW’s version of March Madness.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Courtesy photos

Top: CPW Volunteers Mark Elkins, a retired CPW terrestrial biologist, and Dan Frankowski are joined by Team Walleye members who spend their lunch hours reefing nets to ensure all 32 of the 400-foot-long nets are ready to go back into the lake that afternoon.

Left: It's cold, wet work onboard the CPW boats as aquatic biologists, technicians and wildlife officers pull in 32 gill nets, each longer than football field, remove walleye and other fish from them as well as tree branches and other debris.

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MUSSELS from page 4

tors were plenty busy during 2020.

Staff conducted a total of 647,325 inspections and decontaminated 24,771 boats suspected of carrying mussels, other aquatic invasive species or standing water. That was a huge increase of 34 percent in inspections from 2019 when 481,253 boats were inspected and 22,947 were decontaminated.

Most concerning is the continued increase in the number of boats fouled with mussels. In 2019, 86 boats were found to be fouled with invasive mussels and in 2020 that number jumped to 100. Only 16 boats with mussels were found in 2017.

Contaminated boats come into Colorado from neighboring states, especially Utah and Arizona because of our proximity to Lake Powell which has been mussel-infested for years. Other neighboring states with mussel infestations include Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and South Dakota.

Most Midwestern and East Coast states also have infested waters.

Some of the increase in inspections can be attributed to the large influx of outdoor recreation Colorado has experienced since the start of the pandemic.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife understands that outdoor recreation is important to everyone’s physical and mental health and the state made a commitment to keep state parks open during the pandemic.

Since CPW’s ANS inspection pro-

Mussels can cling to almost any surface of a boat.

gram started in 2008, 5.6 million boats have been inspected and 144,000 boats have been decontaminated. The agency is aided in the program by Colorado counties, municipalities, water districts, federal agencies and private companies that also conduct inspections. CPW also works proactively looking for aquatic nuisance species by sampling waters throughout the state.

In 2020, crews sampled 175 standing waters and four flowing waters.

The National Park Service provided CPW with 14 water samples.

CPW has also been instrumental in establishing the Water Inspec-

tion and Decontamination (WID) protocols which are now used by states throughout the West. Agency staff also are active with the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Committee.

Walters said that CPW will always remain vigilant in the fight against mussels.

“Mussels aren’t going away.

However, by continuing our preventative watercraft inspection program we can keep Colorado’s waters free of invasive mussels.”

Boat owners are reminded to “clean, drain and dry” boats after

Courtesy photo / Colorado Parks and Wildlife

every use.

Boaters should also inspect their trailers and look in hard-to-reach spots on boats and engines for evidence of mussels.

Anyone who has used a boat in waters outside of Colorado should tell boat inspectors. Boat owners can also call any state park or wildlife office if they have questions or concerns.

For more information about aquatic nuisance species and CPW’s program, visit: https:// cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/ ISP-ANS.aspx or read the Boater’s Guide to ANS Inspections.

PADDLEBOARDERS from page 5

guarantee that the board will remain within reach. In rivers, the board can be pulled away by the current. In lakes, a board can be pushed away quickly by the wind.

The danger is amplified on reservoirs and ponds in the afternoons in Colorado when winds pick-up or fast-moving storms stir up waves. Water temperature is also a factor. Even though the weather has been warm, the spring run-off is just starting and water in rivers and reservoirs is only about 50 degrees or lower.

Cold water quickly impairs swimming ability and can cause hypothermia.

According to CPW regulations, on any watercraft the number of life jackets on board must match the number of passengers. Anyone 13 years or younger must wear a life jacket at all times. Every kind of craft is subject to the regulations, including powerboats, paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, sailboats and sailboards.

In the last two years at Ridgway reservoir, four adults who were

Learn More Listen to CPW’s PODCAST on boating: https://art19.com/shows/ colorado-outdoors/episodes/ ec80b994-4eb8-4484-abeab2b86a747c0b.

not wearing PFDs had to be rescued by park rangers after failing off their boards. In addition, two youngsters who were wearing adult-sized life jackets also had to

12 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA

be rescued. The ill-fitting PFDs did not support them in the water properly. Children must be fitted with properly sized PFDs. “Anything can happen at any time on the water. So we urge people to be cautious and consider their own safety and their loved one’s safety while they’re enjoying the water,” Copeland said. “Please, wear your PFD.” For more information about safe boating, go to: http:// cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/ BoatingSafety.aspx.

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Camping

$20M in capital improvements planned at state parks Jackson Lake, North Sterling to see campsite upgrades

Colorado state parks will be seeing some big improvements in the next year, after Gov. Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 21-112 this spring.

The bill appropriates $20 million of the state general fund for capital improvements for increased access at certain state parks. The bill is a component of a bipartisan stimulus effort developed by the Governor and the General Assembly to jumpstart Colorado’s economy through investments in infrastructure projects.

This conservation-focused legislation will help direct funds to outdoor projects in Colorado that protect irreplaceable public lands and expand outdoor recreation opportunities in the state. The bill was signed at Cherry Creek State Park, one of the parks that will receive funding to expand park facilities, which includes the construction of a new educational center facility and modernize restroom amenities at the swim beach.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado state parks saw explosive growth in park attendance as Colorado residents and out-of-state visitors sought outdoor and socially distanced activities. State parks usage grew by 2.2 million visitor

days from the 2014-15 state fiscal year and a further 30 percent during the spring of 2020.

CPW will use the additional funding toward park enhancements and expansions necessary to meet the needs of park visitors and upgrade infrastructures to ensure Colorado state parks offer quality outdoor adventures for current and future generations. Examples of park projects will include building new trails, service buildings, campgrounds and shooting bays.

“Throughout the pandemic, we watched our Colorado community flock to our state parks in record numbers for solace and the mental and health benefits associated with spending time outdoors,” said Governor Jared Polis. “The increase in park visitation proves the importance of outdoor spaces to Coloradans, and our collective need to invest in preserving and improving our state park system so our human use does not overwhelm our state’s natural resources. This increased funding, which is part of Colorado’s bipartisan stimulus package, will provide additional access and recreational opportunities that connect people to the outdoors and protect the

landscapes that make Colorado so spectacular.”

Accelerating the development of Colorado’s newest state park, Fishers Peak State Park, and improving amenities at eleven other state parks will relieve pressure from such high usage and prepare for future demand.

“I applaud the leadership of the Governor and state legislators for the additional critical funding for our treasured state parks,” said Dan Gibbs, Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources.

“The importance of our state parks and visiting our vast Great Outdoors has never been more important than today. This targeted funding will enhance Coloradan’s visitor experience to our state parks for generations to come.”

CPW will use the appropriation for capital construction projects at the following locations: • Boyd Lake State Park • Lake Pueblo State Park • Fishers Peak State Park • Cherry Creek State Park • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area • Ridgway State Park • Steamboat Lake State Park • North Sterling State Park • Chatfield State Park

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• Jackson Lake State Park • Navajo State Park • Cameo Shooting and Education Complex “We all have an obligation to our lands, waters and wildlife to recreate responsibly and monitor how our increased outdoor activities impact the places we play,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow.

“More Coloradans are enjoying our great outdoors - and this additional funding will help our agency expand park facilities based on the evolving needs of our park visitors to ensure we can maintain a quality park system for years to come.”

North Sterling is projected to receive $714,400 from the bill to upgrade the Elks and Chimney View campgrounds. This project will provide 50 upgraded sites and 25 new sites for electric camping spots. The Elks Campground has 50 sites that need to be upgraded to a 50 ampere electric supply, and the Chimney View Campground has 44 sites with no electricity at all. RV users currently experience problems with breakers at many campsites, and increased usage has tripped the breakers at many group sites over the summer. This project will provide better custom-

See STATE PARKS, pg. 17

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Wildlife

New pass to access State Wildlife Areas available May 1

American White Pelicans spend a lazy afternoon in the waters at Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area.

Callie Jones / Sterling Journal-Advocate

SWA pass aims to address growing use of properties

As of May 1 of this year, there will be a new way for those who want to enjoy natural areas to access state wildlife areas (SWAs).

Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages more than 350 SWAs, which are acquired using hunter and angler dollars for the express purpose of conserving wildlife habitat and providing wildlife-related recreation. These funds are matched by federal dollars from the excise taxes collected on the sale of hunting and fishing equip-

ment.

But the growth of the state’s population and a boom in tourism and visitation to Colorado in recent years have resulted in a growing number of people using these properties for activities that run counter to their intended purpose. These issues run the gamut from illegal camping to engaging in recreational activities that disturb and displace wildlife, thus disrupting the hunters and anglers whose contributions were critical

to acquiring these properties.

While hiking, for example, has been allowed on SWAs, it was never an intended use of the properties. And many SWAs are closed periodically during the year when wildlife are reproducing and nurturing their young or on critical winter range.

To address this trend and ensure SWAs continue to exist for the benefit of wildlife, the Colorado Parks and Wild¬life Commission voted in 2020 to require

16 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA

everyone 18 and older who enters an SWA to possess a valid license to hunt or fish in Colorado. That regulation went into effect in July 2020.

Late last year, CPW received approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a new accounting approach that is allowing the state to provide another kind of pass to access these areas feasible.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had historically set stringent guidSee SWA PASS, pg. 21

Mike Alosi / Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Chimney View Campground at North Sterling State Park will be getting 25 new electric camping spots as part of a major capital improvement effort for Colorado state parks by the state.

STATE PARKS from page 15

er service through an upgraded system that provides the electricity the public demands while reducing staff time to respond to complaints and repair electrical systems.

Jackson Lake is slated for $721,000 for improvements on the Foxhills campground, which is the

park’s largest campground and contains 90 non-electric campsites.

This project will increase the number of electric sites (the campground’s most utilized sites) available to the public.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife currently manages Colorado’s 42 state

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CPW remains committed to collaborating with statewide conservation stakeholders and recreation partners to help secure a quality park system and successful wildlife legacy for Colorado. To learn more about CPW’s conservation principles and priorities, visit cpw.state.co.us.

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parks. State parks offer important places for outdoor recreation while also benefiting local economies, public health and residents’ quality of life. Public funding for state parks provides valuable contributions to conserving state lands for future generations.

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OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA • APRIL 17, 2021 • 17

Camping

Cooking at camp

Some ideas to get your campground menu-planning started

Spending time in the great outdoors is a great way to work up an appetite.

But if you’re camping, you want to keep things simple — meals that require just a few ingredients and are easy to prepare without a lot of fancy (or heavy, especially if you’re hiking or backpacking) equipment. That doesn’t mean, however, that you’re stuck eating hotdogs, S’mores and beans from a can for every meal.

Here are some recipes from Colorado Parks and Wildlife to help get your menu planning started.

Trail Mix

Prep time: 10 mins Total time: 10 mins Servings: 2 – add more ingredients for bigger groups as needed Ingredients: • 2 cups chocolate chips • 1 cup almonds • 1 cup raisins Barr Lake State Park / Colorado Parks and Wildlife • 1 cup banana chips Take your camp cooking beyond S’mores with some recipes that are great for the campground.

• 1 cup dry cereal • 1 cup dried apricots or cranberries in a small-unused garbage bag, Add pasta and boil until pasta is tables and meat through the woodInstructions: Use a bowl to mix shake the bag and serve! tender. Serve with French bread en skewers and squeeze lemon all ingredients together. Use small and butter. over kabobs right before grilling. plastic bags to portion out trail mix Macaroni Soup for your hike.

Kabobs Chili Cheese Dogs Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 20 mins Prep time: 30 mins Prep time: 15 mins Garbage Bag Salad Total time: 25 mins Cook time:1 hour Cook time:15 mins Prep time: 5 mins Servings: 4 Total time: 90 mins Total time:30 mins Cook time: 5 mins Ingredients: QUICK TIP: Assemble the QUICK TIP: Chop onions and Total time: 10 mins • 2 pounds of ground beef (or kabobs at home to save on prep shred cheese and put in plastic Servings: 4 – add more ingrediother meat, chicken or turkey) time, soaked skewers will not bags and refrigerate until needed ents for bigger groups as needed • 1 quart of water burn, smaller pieces of meat will at campground.

Ingredients: • 2 cans of stewed tomatoes cook faster!

Servings: As needed • 1 bag of prewashed spinach or • 1 medium onion Servings: 8 Ingredients: mixed greens • 4 handfuls of pasta Ingredients: • Hotdogs • Sprinkle a desired amount of • Salt and pepper to taste • Wooden skewers • Buns seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower • French bread • 2 lbs. boneless skinless chick• Chili (canned or homemade) seeds, • Butter en breasts • Shredded cheddar cashews, sliced almonds, etc.)

Instructions: Put meat in a • 2 lbs. sirloin tips • Chopped onions • Dried cranberries medium sized pot with water. Cut • 2 bell peppers (red or green) • Mustard • Sliced carrots or cucumber onion into small pieces and add • 2 large onions • Relish • Choice of salad dressing (blue with canned tomatoes to the pot.

• 1 lemon Instructions: Grill as many hotcheese, ranch, balsamic vinegar, Bring all ingredients to a boil. Use Instructions: Cut the chicken dogs as desired for the number of etc.) a spoon to break up meat and cook and beef up into pieces, slice up people in your camping party. Heat Instructions: Put all ingredients until meat turns brown.

See COOKING, pg. 19 onion and bell peppers, place vege18 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA

COOKING from page 18

up chili in a pan over medium heat.

When the dogs are done cooking, put one on a bun with a desired amount of mustard, some chili, chopped onions, and a handful of cheese.

Foil Pack Meals

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 30 mins Total time: 40 mins Servings: 4 Ingredients: • 1 pound meat (hamburger, chicken, shrimp) • Mixed vegetables (onion, broccoli, potatoes, carrots) • Salt and pepper, to taste • Butter • Heavy duty foil or foil pouches Instructions: Layout four foil sheets 12 inches in length. Cut meat into bite-sized pieces. Add a serving to center of each foil pack.

Add chopped vegetables of choice to each. Potatoes and carrots are very hard, so slice into smaller than bite-size pieces or used the canned variety. Add butter or cooking spray to make sure the whole thing doesn’t stick to the foil.

Season and close the bag or fold foil with center seam and ends sealed well. Cook over fire. Can be done directly on coals, but you must turn more frequently. Rotate and turn often with tongs for about 20 minutes, open and check on how the food is progressing from time to time.

Remove from heat and allow them to cool on the ground or other safe surface. Open carefully, steam may be hot. Eat from opened foil with a fork!

Hotdogs are roasted over a campfire at Steamboat Lake State Park.

Total time: 20 mins • 1 jar or package of salsa Servings: 4 • Lettuce Ingredients: • Sharp cheddar cheese, grated • 8 eggs or liquid eggs • Flour tortillas • 6 hash brown patties Instructions: Using a large skil• 6 slices of ham let, brown ground beef or other • 1 bell pepper lean meat. Add salsa to skillet and • Salt and pepper to taste cook for 5 mins. Add beans, chili • Half of one onion powder, and garlic. Stir ingredi• 4 mushrooms ents together and cook for 15 mins Instructions: Chop bell pepper, at low heat. mushrooms, and ham into smaller Serve on flour tortillas with letpieces. Warm skillet under medituce and cheese. um heat and scramble eggs. Add Quick Pizza hash brown patties and break up Prep time: 5 mins with fork and mix into eggs. Next Cook time: 3 mins add chopped onions, mushrooms, Total time: 8 mins and ham to scramble. Finally add Servings: 6 salt and pepper to taste.

Ingredients: Add ketchup or hot sauce for • 1 package of pita bread additional flavor.

• 3 cup grated mozzarella Eggs in a Hat cheese Prep time: 5 mins • 1 jar of tomato sauce • 1 package of sliced pepperoni • Any other favorite toppings Instructions: Cut one pita bread in half and pour in tomato sauce Easy Burritos Ground and spread out with spoon inside.

Add cheese and pepperoni, along Beef Dish with other toppings of your choosPrep time: 10 mins ing.

Cook time: 20 mins Wrap pita in heavy duty foil and Total time: 30 min place on hot coals. Cook for a minServings: 6-9 ute and a half on each side, plenty Ingredients: • 1 to 2 pounds lean ground beef of time to melt the cheese and warm the pita up. Open and serve. (or other lean meat) • 2 cans of beans • 1 tablespoon chopped garlic • 1 tablespoon chili powder

Wayne D. Lewis / Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Cook time: 10 mins Total time:15 mins Servings: 4 Ingredients: • 8 slices of your favorite bread • 8 eggs • 8 slices of ham • 8 slices of cheese Instructions: Warm a skillet over a camp stove and use cooking spray or butter to grease the pan.

Using a cookie cutter or a drinking glass, cut out a hole in the center of your bread.

Place the bread in the skillet and toast on both sides. Next, crack an egg or pour liquid egg into the hole in the bread and cook until the egg while is almost solid. Flip the bread over and place a slice of cheese and then a slice on ham on top.

Once the cheese has melted the meal is ready to serve.

Breakfast Scramble Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 10 mins

16740 CO-39, Wiggins, CO 80654

OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA • APRIL 17, 2021 • 19

Recreation

Outdoor recreation opportunities abound in Fort Morgan

Keep an eye out for these outdoor recreation events this summer in Fort Morgan.

By Britney Eschelman Fort Morgan Times intern

As the seasons change and warmer weather heads our way, it’s no surprise that people are growing excited about getting outside. You may already have summer vacations planned, or you’re thinking about what activities you could participate in during those hot, summer days and nights.

Whether you’re near or far, Fort Morgan, Colorado has plenty of outdoor recreation to get you outside to have some fun in the sun!

Recreation Superintendent for the city of Fort Morgan Steve Samson has been running the department for three years. When it comes to outdoor recreation events available during the summer for local community members and visitors in the area, Samson has some recommendations.

With COVID-19 restrictions, Samson said that the recreation department follows restrictions based on the other local recreation departments guidelines. For example, they encourage those registering for the youth soccer program to use good practice and maintain social distancing as best as possible.

“We’ve been very mindful of the restrictions and about keeping things clean and sanitary,” said Samson. Given the advancements with the vaccine over the past several months, the Fort Morgan recreation department is trying to get things back to normal for the upcoming summer season.

Organized Recreation

Organized recreation events must be planned a season ahead.

Swim Lessons Swim lessons at the community center pool at Riverside Park are extremely popular and fill up fast.

There are a variety of lessons

Jenni Grubbs / Fort Morgan Times

The Luke Wayne Band plays country music from the Dahms-Talton Band Shell in City Park during a past summer concert series.

Outdoor Entertainment Events

offered from group classes, to private lessons and are available for children and adults. The summer session for swim lessons will begin June 1, 2021 and wrap up around the first week of August.

Baseball and Softball Baseball and softball leagues are very popular for the summer months for organized sporting events. With an abundance of fields at the recreation center, it’s easy to have multiple games or tournaments going on.

Open Outdoor Recreation

Riverside Park “Riverside Park is the largest park in the city,” said Samson. It contains seven baseball and softball fields, a walking trail, and a disc golf course. The disc golf course is very popular and is available for public use throughout the year and especially during the summer.

Twamore Trail “Just on the other side of Rainbow Bridge, to the north of it, is Twamore Trail,” said Samson.

Fort Morgan Times file photo

At right, Rachel Serna (117) and Ramona Garcia (119) head to the finish line during a 2019 color run at Riverside Park.

With grants from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this new rustic trail system was recently developed and is a great spot for outdoor recreation. Twamore Trail goes around both the north and south ends of the Platte River.

20 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA

Thursday Night Live “Every Thursday throughout the summer we’ll have a band playing in the evening,” said Samson. This is one of their favorite events for the recreations center and is a big hit amongst the community. The concerts run from the beginning of June to the end of July.

Movie Night “We also have our movie nights where we have our big inflatable movie screen out on the field,” said Samson. This is a great way to spend those hot summer nights.

Bring your lawn chairs, outdoor blankets, and your favorite movie snacks and watch a movie outside.

To find out more information, check out the City of Fort Morgan Recreation Facebook page or go to the City of Fort Morgan website to find information on registration for organized recreation events such as swim lessons, baseball, adult softball leagues, picnic shelters, etc.

SWA PASS from page 16

ance on how CPW could account for the income earned from SWAs as a condition of the federal funding the state uses to acquire them.

In November 2020, an SWA Working Group was created with CPW staff and stakeholders from around the state to determine what a new pass might look like.

At its January 2021 meeting, the CPW Commission heard recommendations from the SWA Working Group on creating a new Colorado SWA Pass.

The group recommended pricing the annual pass at a similar level to the annual fishing license, offering discounted passes to youth and seniors priced comparably to youth and senior fishing licenses, offering a 1-day pass option priced comparably to the 1-day parks pass, requiring a Habitat Stamp and a surcharge for the Wildlife Management Public Education Fund in addition to the pass, and offering a discounted low-income annual pass option. The age at which a hunting license, fishing license or SWA pass is required to access SWAs was reduced to all persons 16 years and older to better correspond to the youth pass and license options.

The Commission then voted to add a Colorado SWA Pass as an option to access these areas for those who are unable or unwilling to purchase a hunting or fishing license.

The new pass, which will be available starting May 1, will range in price from $9 for a one-day pass to $36.08 for the annual pass. It is valid from March 1 to March 31 of the following year, aligning with the 13-month season for fishing licenses in Colorado.

To purchase an SWA Pass, you can visit any CPW office or go online at cpwshop.com. The pass will be priced similarly to a resident annual fishing license and revenue from the new SWA pass will be used to manage and maintain SWAs. “This is an important step in ensuring everyone who visits our state wildlife areas is contributing to their management and mainte-

Eagles perch near their nest in the Jean K. Tool State Wildlife Area in Morgan County.

nance,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow.

Wildlife management in Colorado is not a tax-funded endeavor.

CPW relies on the sale of licenses and passes to preserve these important areas. Just as visitors to a Colorado State Park are required to possess a state parks pass, visitors to SWAs are now required to possess a valid license or SWA pass. Requiring a license or SWA pass to access SWAs reinforces the primary intent of these properties, and ensures users are contributing to their maintenance.

Now that the Colorado SWA Pass is available, the SWA Working Group will move into Phase II of its work, completing an audit of all Colorado’s SWAs to determine which properties may require additional restrictions on allowed activities, seasonal closures for wildlife, and reviews to determine if the property is still meeting its intended purpose as a wildlife area.

More information and SWA FAQ about CPW’s state wildlife areas is available on CPW’s website.

Tom Goss / Courtesy photo

Outdoors recreation opportunities are plentiful in Northeast Colorado The Fort Morgan Times and Sterling Journal-Advocate, along with our other media partners, remind you to place safety first when enjoying the outdoors.

Please visit

cpw.state.co.us

and peruse outdoors recreation opportunities, information and activities. And don’t forget to get your kids involved in the outdoors.

OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA • APRIL 17, 2021 • 21

Angling

Favorite fishing holes

Whether you’re looking to spend a day reeling in a catch from your boat or just want to relax and cast a line along the shore, here are some favorite fisheries in northeast Colorado.

For more information, and other places to fish, check out Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Colorado Fishing Atlas at https:// bit.ly/3e28qTt. Akron City Lake — Directions: Exit I-76 for U.S. 6 toward U.S. 34/Brush/Yuma; turn left onto I-76BUS W/US-6 W. Take a sharp left onto US-34 E; after about 21 miles turn right onto County Road BB. In 1.8 miles, turn left onto County Road 39 and continue .4 miles.

Boating: none; Fish: Largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, green sunfish; Elevation: 4,608 feet Barr Lake State Park — Directions: Take I-76 northeast from Denver, exit on Bromley Lane. Go east to Picadilly Road, then south to the park entrance. Boating: Only sailboats, hand-propelled craft and boats with electric trolling motors or gasoline motors of 10 horsepower or less are permitted on Barr Lake. A boat ramp is located adjacent to the north parking lot; Fish: Channel catfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass, rainbow trout, walleye, bluegill, wiper and tiger muskie are among the species that have been stocked at Barr Lake by the Colorado Colorado Parks & Wildlife; Water Acres: 1,918; Elevation: 5,100 feet Boyd Lake State Park — Directions: Exit I-25 west at U.S. 34 near Loveland, turn north onto Madison Avenue, then follow the signs.

Boating: Two paved launch ramps. A six-lane ramp is located north of the swim beach, while a two-lane ramp is located just north of the group picnic area. The entire lake is open to boating and sailing. Only the south end of the lake is open to water-skiing. The ski pattern is counterclockwise; Fish: Bass, catfish, crappie, perch, rainbow trout and walleye; Water Acres: 1,750; Elevation: 4,958 feet DePoorter Lake — Directions: Take I-76 to the Julesburg exit (Hwy 385) and go north about 1 mile to the access road. Follow the access road as it winds east, northeast, and then east again, to the lake. Boating: Non-motorized; Fish: Largemouth bass, bluegill, black bullhead, carp, channel catfish, green sunfish, yellow perch, saugeye; Elevation: 3,455 feet Doty Park Pond — Directions: Take I-76 to CO-71 S/Colorado Ave in Brush. Travel south on CO-71 about 3 miles; continue on Colorado Ave. Turn right onto N. Railway St, then left onto Clayton St. Turn left at the third cross street onto Ellsworth St.; the pond is on your

such as walleye, bass, catfish, perch, crappie and wipers. Trout are stocked in the spring and fall; Water Acres: 2,600; Elevation: 4,440 feet Jeff’s Pond — Directions: Take I-76 to the Sterling exit and go west on Highway 6 about 18 miles to Fleming. Turn left on S. Logan Ave, then right on E. Broadway. Boating: None; Fish: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, red ear sunfish; Elevation: 4,236 feet.

Jumbo Reservoir SWA (aka Julesburg Reservoir) — Directions: Take I-76 to the Red Lion exit (#155). Go 3 miles north to Highway 138, then 1 mile northeast to County Road 95, then 2 miles north to the reservoir; Boating: Boating prohibited Oct. 1 through the last day of waterfowl season, except hand-propelled craft used to set and pick up decoys and downed waterfowl retrieval; Fish: Warm water, walleye, wiper and crappie; Water Acres: Approximately 1,552 acres; Elevation: Minimum 3,703 - maximum 3,752 North Sterling State Park — Directions: From Main Street in Sterling, turn north on N. Seventh Avenue, follow the sign 12 miles to the reservoir; Boating: Three boat ramps, waterskiing, sailboarding and personal watercraft; Fish: Walleye, crappie, perch, bass, bluegill, catfish, tiger muskie and wiper; Water Acres: 2,880 (fluctuates during the irrigation season); Elevation: 4,065 feet Pioneer Lake — Directions: Exit I-76 for U.S. 6 toward U.S. 34/Brush/Yuma; turn left onto I-76BUS W/US-6 W. Take a sharp left onto USSara Waite / Sterling Journal-Advocate 34 E for about 50 miles. Turn left onto S. Brantly Bennet shows his catch, a 9.6-inch sun Idlewild St, then turn right at the first cross fish, from Jeff's Pond in 2019. street onto E. Fifth Ave. Boating: None; Fish: Largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, green sunfish; right. Boating: None; Fish: Largemouth bass, Elevation: 4,121 feet. bluegill, black bullhead, channel catfish, red Prewitt Reservoir — Directions: Approxiear sunfish; Elevation: 4,222 feet mately 20 miles northeast of Brush. Take I-76 Horsetooth Reservoir — Directions: Take to exit 102. Travel north 1 mile to Highway I-25 to the Fort Collins exit (Harmony-Timnath), go west on Harmony, then north on Taft 144, turn right and travel approximately 7 miles to the reservoir entrance. Boating: No Hill Road about 1 mile to County Road 38E, motor restrictions, but the entire lake is waketake County road 38E west to the reservoir; Boating: No restrictions; Fish: Largemouth and less, boat ramp; Fish: Trout, wiper, yellow smallmouth bass, walleye, saugeye, white bass perch, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catand wiper; Water Acres: 2,000; Elevation: 5,400 fish, white bass, saugeye and walleye; Water Acres: 900; Elevation: 7,260 feet feet Stalker Lake — Directions: From Wray, go 2 Jackson Lake State Park — Directions: From U.S. 34/I-76 interchange, take Colorado miles west on Highway 34 to County Road FF, Highway 39 north for 7.25 miles through Goo- then 1 1/2 miles north to the access road, then 1/2 mile west to the property. Boating: Boat drich, then go west on Y5 (follow the paved ramp, hand-propelled or electric motors only; road) for 2.5 miles. Boating: A boat ramp with Fish: Largemouth bass, channel catfish, bluefour lanes is located on the west shore of the gill and tiger muskie; Water Acres: 26; Elevalake. The lake is closed to motorized boating Nov. 1; Fish: Stocked with warm-water fish, tion: 3,566 feet

22 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA

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OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA • APRIL 17, 2021 • 23

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24 • APRIL 17, 2021 • OUTDOORS 2021 SPRING/SUMMER • PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA