Like most other Colorado fisheries, Vallecito Reservoir is gearing up for the summer fishing season, which unofficially kicks off in a week with Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s annual Free Fishing Weekend, June 6-7.
A state fishing license is not required to fish at Vallecito or any of the state’s 2,500-plus lakes and reservoirs for Free Fishing Weekend, but all state fishing rules and regulations still apply. And because Vallecito Reservoir is overseen by multiple agencies, rules and regulations as they pertain to the many amenities there can be a bit complicated.
On Vallecito Reservoir, the State of Colorado has the authority to enforce boating safety laws. The state, through the Division of Parks and Wildlife, also is responsible for managing the fishery at Vallecito Reservoir and other game regulations.
The United States Forest Service has the responsibility of managing several campgrounds at Vallecito but has no involvement in managing water-based recreation use or any uses on project land beyond the defined boundaries of the campgrounds. The Pine River Irrigation District has responsibility for managing water-based recreation and commercial operations on Vallecito Reservoir.
USFS campgrounds charge a fee for campground use, and visitors may enjoy the use of USFS campground facilities and land to the edge of the water and the USFS boundaries in those campground areas. Anyone using Bureau of Reclamation land or the reservoir outside the USFS campgrounds is required to purchase a PRID use permit when parking on BOR project property. PRID cannot and does not patrol or monitor private property or USFS campgrounds. The public may park on BOR property to access USFS hiking trails and property, in which case a use permit is not needed.
The PRID is the primary entity responsible for operation, maintenance and safety of Vallecito Dam and related structures. Recreation-use fees pay for the operation and maintenance of the recreation areas and facilities, including cleaning restrooms and removing lake debris as well as building maintenance, weed control, patrolling, grounds maintenance and trash pick-up.
Late in the 2014 season, PRID received notice that the marina owner/operator was closing the business at the reservoir. PRID worked to find a new marina owner and has signed a contract with the Vallecito Conservation and Sporting Association, a grass-roots volunteer organization, to own and run the marina.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
