Juniata Reservoir will be fully drained for multi-year dam repairs after a leak was discovered during inspection. A public fish salvage begins Feb. 23, with bag limits lifted and expanded fishing access. Repairs are expected to wrap in late 2027, with refilling starting in 2028.
A routine inspection at Juniata Reservoir has led to the discovery of a leak that will trigger a multi-year modernization and repair project, city officials announced this week.
The City of Grand Junction will fully drain the reservoir to repair a crack in the dam’s outlet structure pipe. The crack is allowing water to leak into the pipe that runs through the dam. While alternative repair options were evaluated, including the potential use of a dive team, the State of Colorado has requested a full drawdown to ensure the structural integrity of the dam can be properly addressed.
The project will unfold over several years, with water inflow to the reservoir scheduled to shut off in November 2026. Juniata Reservoir is expected to be fully drained by September 2027. Repairs to the outlet structure are anticipated to be completed by December 2027, with refilling beginning in January 2028.
As part of the drawdown process, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is implementing a public fish salvage at Juniata Reservoir beginning Monday, Feb. 23.
The salvage is intended to mitigate fish loss during the reservoir’s planned drainage and repair process. CPW is encouraging anglers to catch and keep fish during this period.
To support the effort, bag and possession limits for all fish species at Juniata Reservoir will be removed for the duration of the salvage. Artificial fly and lure-only regulations will also be temporarily lifted. Anglers may use worms as bait, though no other live bait is permitted. All other existing manners-of-take regulations remain in place at the reservoir, and regulations on surrounding streams and lakes are unchanged.
Anglers 16 years and older must possess a valid Colorado fishing license.
Access to the reservoir remains available via the parking lot off Purdy Mesa Road.
In addition to public salvage efforts, CPW will relocate fish that are not caught to Purdy Mesa Reservoir, which is connected to Juniata by an open ditch.
Juniata Reservoir is a popular fishing destination in the Grand Valley. Once repairs are complete and water levels return to normal, CPW plans to restock the reservoir.
City officials describe the full drain and repair as the safest path forward to ensure the dam’s long-term stability and protect downstream communities.
Residents and anglers can expect expanded fishing opportunities in the near term, followed by a temporary closure period during the reservoir’s drawdown and repair phase.
