PAONIA, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife will take advantage of the extremely low water levels this fall to restore the fishery at Paonia Reservoir.

When the reservoir starts filling again next spring, the reservoir will be stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout.

The reservoir was drained significantly this summer. In late October the reservoir will be lowered further and the water will be treated with Rotenone, an organic chemical that will kill all the fish remaining in the reservoir. The chemical is fast-acting and works only on aquatic species. Parks and Wildlife agency biologists will then neutralize the chemical through application of an oxidizing agent.

No water will leave the reservoir until it has been determined that it is free of the chemical.

Paonia State Park is located on the south side of the reservoir and attracts anglers, campers, and day-users.

The treatment of the reservoir is planned for the week of Oct. 29.