HASTY, Colo. – The wet Colorado spring at John Martin Reservoir has allowed something that hasn’t been seen for quite a while: high water levels.
That means it’s a great time to visit the park. There’s plenty of room for boating in the reservoir that now spans roughly nine miles long and two miles wide. There’s also 200-plus campsites and nearly five miles of hiking trails to explore.
Water levels at John Martin Reservoir are nearly seven times higher than levels last year. As of June 23, the reservoir had 276,000 acre feet of water, while last year at a similar time of year the reservoir held only around 30,000 acre feet.
For photos of John Martin Reservoir as of June 17, visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127579068@N05/sets/721576550684801
“The reservoir hasn’t looked like this in a long time,” said Park Manager Dan Kirmer. “If you haven’t been to the reservoir before or haven’t been in awhile, you definitely need to come check it out.”
Boat, picnic and fish at this peaceful oasis known for its wildlife. John Martin Reservoir is also considered a birdwatcher’s paradise with almost 400 species documented in Bent County.
Beat the crowds and long lines at boat ramps at other reservoirs across the state and enjoy the open water at John Martin Reservoir. While the dock at the east boat ramp had to be closed, boats can still launch and both the east and west boat ramps remain open.
The reservoir is letting in water at a rate of around 3,900 cubic feet per second and is releasing at a rate of about 820 cfs, so the high water levels will remain for a while.
For more information about John Martin Reservoir State Park call 719-829-1801, or visit http://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/JohnMartinReservoir/Pages/default.aspx.
