Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced that a public fish salvage is set to take place at Juniata Reservoir near Grand Junction starting on February 23 and to remain active until further notice.

Upcoming plans to modernize and update the dam’s outlet structure by the City of Grand Junction will mean draining the reservoir, thus the salvage is in place to mitigate imminent fish loss. During the salvage, all bag and possession limits will be removed for all species. A restriction that only allows the use of artificial flies and lures will also be lifted, though a ban on live bait will remain in place.

Some other rules will still apply, too, including that those fishing the reservoir will need to have a valid fishing license. Method of take rules will also remain in place.

It’s also worth noting that the salvage will only involve this specific reservoir, not surrounding bodies of water and streams.

While there’s not a set timeline for the end of the salvage, it’s anticipated that the draining will be completed by September 2027. After repairs are complete, the reservoir will be refilled, with CPW currently working on a plan for restocking, too.

The parking lot for the reservoir is still on Purdy Mesa Road. Anglers headed to the area should be aware that once draining starts – likely during November of 2026 – changing and muddy conditions may be present while approaching the reservoir.

It’s expected that refilling the reservoir will start in January 2028. Read more about the Juniata Reservoir project here.

Juniata Reservoir is located approximately 16 miles southeast of Grand Junction.

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