Greetings from Western Colorado! Stumbled on this forum researching placing cut down trees (Elms/Cottonwoods) in a pond and thought I better start obtaining more information before doing anything like this...
Quick and dirty on my situation. Owner of a property that will contain an approximate 15-acre (surface area) gravel pit pond (I like to call it a lake but that might be stretching it at 15 acres but sounds better) with maximum depths around 20-22 feet. Up till March of this year (when the mining company started dewatering and mining again) the pond was full of water. We didn't own the property at this time (purchased the property about 8 months ago) the prior owners allowed me access to the pond for recreation (paddle boarding, swimming, etc). Since I didn't know much about the pond, I pulled measurement depths and sampled the water for e-coli (body of water about 200 yards from the Colorado River so a waterfowl pathway) and dissolved oxygen levels. A few other tests too that all came across acceptable. Can't recall the depth of clarity but seemed pretty good. Water source is ground water since located within gravels and cobble area (no surface influent or effluent discharge into the water). Overall seemed like it checked all the boxes for a future fishery and recreational body of water.
Moving into today, the mining company will continue mining gravels until September 2026 where they must stop mining and begin reclamation per my agreement with them. Sloping some of the shorelines, creating an island around the middle of the pond, creating some steeper drop-offs, establishing a berm around the low end of the pond to prevent certain fish from entering the Colorado River and removing all invasive species (russian olives/tamarisk). Also, only fish that was visible when water in pond and during dewatering where carp. I don't believe grass carp but common carp. Thinking since body of water has no in/out of surface waters only chance a fish may enter the system is by stocking or birds dropping eggs or something like that. The prior owners never stocked the water.
I'm currently building a ramp to a beach area in anticipation of water fill Fall of 2026. So many other ideas/plans that I'm consider implementing into the pond to create the best fishery as possible. Last year I began research on stocking, smallmouth bass and bluegill, and found online documentation on ratio and approach to stocking.
Sorry a bit long winded but want to start a 'To Do List' between now and when water fills in Fall 2026. Once water fills another "To Do List" on stocking and best management practices. BTW - fly fisherman the last 25 years but have gotten into spin casting the last 10 years since I have 2 younger boys and much easier to get them on fish!
Appreciate as little or as much information this group is willing share.
Well, been since last November last time I jumped on the Forum. But now at the point that things are really happening!
Mining operator pulled their dewatering pump and lake is filling. As of today, the new portion of the lake (portion mining operator pulled sands and gravels out of since November 2025) ranges in depth of 5 feet to around 8 feet deep. Channels that were dug or originally present are +12 feet deep. Water is backing up into the original lake area with the submergence of vegetation that has grown since early 2025.
For habitat (spawning areas), built several artificial structures consisting of old pvc fencing and irrigation tubing. All set within formed out pea gravel beds contained by pvc fence railing. Placed them in varying depth of water, ranging from 2 feet to 5 feet. A steep drop-off occurs moving outwards into the lake so thinking this will be a great area for large fish to hang out and prey on smaller?! Also, created a large sand/pea gravel bedding area to see if fish like my artificial beds or just all fashion beds. Time will tell! Had the mining operator throw big logs and rocks into bottom or along the shoreline for added structure. Needed to get rid of them somehow so thought why not!
For existing fish that were in the lake, I removed most of the carp by bowfishing! They concentrated in the dugout channels near the dewatering pump so pickings were easy! Assumed some existing fish remain but decided against rotenone for the fact to retain frogs, crawdads, etc..
Colorado requires a CPW fish stocking permit, just got it today and scheduling stocking later this month or next month (weather dependent). LMB, BG, fatheads and grass carp. Hoping at time of stocking the lake has minimum depth of 10 feet with deeper depths of +15 feet. Once lake is full (whenever that is with the drought) there will be areas +25 feet!
Added a few pics of the artificial habitat, lake during mining operations and lake filling as of last Friday.
