The water is clear. Thinking this is due to the groundwater source and no irrigation ditch/creek inflow that brings in sediment. I haven't done a secchi disk test but something I may do this weekend. It'll be a homemade job disk!
When I measured the DO back in late June 2024 I went as far as my arm could reach off of a paddleboard. So around that 2 - 2.5-foot depth. Used those DO kits from CHEMetrics (Indigo Carmine), If I recall correctly DO was at the 9 mg/L level.
Generally speaking the shorelines are sloped but drop off pretty quick, not in a vertical cliff scenario but at 10-12 feet out you're not touching anymore and better know how to swim!
Since dewatering, May 2025, the original area of the gravel pit lake has vegetation growth along bottom. Typical reeds (don't know the type) and other typical weeds that grow here in Colorado. The new portion of lake is free of vegetation because as soon as mining stopped they pulled the dewatering pump and started to fill. New lake bottom in this area is cobbles. Photos attached!
