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| Completion Date: | 2003 | ||
| Location: | Thornton, Colorado | ||
| Description: | The Gravel Lakes/Sprat Platte project is a jointly funded effort of the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the City of Thornton. Fishing opportunities in the Denver Metro area are limited due to lack of public access waters and development pressure. DOW's Long Range Plan indicates an overall need to provide a variety of fishing opportunities and increase participation in fishing as the state's population grows, particularly within the Front Range Corridor. The Gravel Lakes/Sprat Platte project, totaling 245 acres with 142 surface acres of new fishing waters, opened three reclaimed gravel pits to the public as first-class fishing facilities while still functioning as a water storage and treatment facility for the City of Thornton. Two of the lakes are artificially filled and constitute the final storage point in the City's water supply before treatment, while the third lake is naturally charged from the water table along the South Platte River. The project incorporates developing fish habitats in the form of submerged fish structures and providing fishing site improvements including angler trails and fishing pier. In addition, new and improved wildlife habitats and viewing areas, group picnic and special event areas, parking, restroom facilities, improved landscaping, ADA accessible trails, and connections to local and regional trail systems are included. These lakes have an annual fluctuation in water level of over 13 feet, and together, the lakes will provide a wide variety of fishing experiences, from put-and-take to catch-and-release. A unique accessible fishing pier at one of these lakes is a cantilevered structure suspended 50 feet out over the water's surface. The structure's design responds to strict requirements that precluded placing footings or other disturbances into the lake's bottom. With close proximity to the South Platte Regional Trail, Thornton South Platte Trailhead Park, I-76 and I-25, this facility has become an icon for anglers throughout the Denver metro area because of its' accessibility, visibility, and superior fishing opportunities. | ||
