Pueblo Sewage Spill: CPW Expands Arkansas River Water Contact Advisory to Southeast Colorado Wildlife Areas
Description: Colorado Parks and Wildlife has expanded its water contact advisory to 10 state wildlife areas and the Las Animas Fish Hatchery. The advisory follows a 4.2-million gallon raw sewage spill in Pueblo that continues down the Arkansas River. An earlier advisory for John Martin Reservoir remains in effect. The lower Arkansas River on Sept 1, 2026. CPW Photo/Dean Miller
The expansion comes as water affected by a 4.2-million-gallon untreated sewage spill continues moving downstream from Pueblo. The advisory issued Aug. 30 for John Martin Reservoir State Park remains in effect.
The sewage entered the Arkansas River Aug. 26 through 27. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported significantly elevated E. coli levels downstream of the spill site.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Water Resources staff remains in close coordination with CDPHE as additional sampling and monitoring continues. The advisory now includes:
- Melon Valley State Wildlife Area
- Rocky Ford State Wildlife Area
- Oxbow State Wildlife Area
- Las Animas Fish Hatchery
- Purgatoire River State Wildlife Area
- Fort Lyon State Wildlife Area
- John Martin Reservoir State Park
- North Gateway Ponds State Wildlife Area
- Granada State Wildlife Area
- Deadman State Wildlife Area
- Midwestern Farms State Wildlife Area
- Holly State Wildlife Area
“Raw sewage can carry pathogens such as E. coli, viruses and protozoa,” said Ashley Rust, PhD, CPW water quality specialist. “Out of an abundance of caution, we provide these advisories to the public."
CPW properties included in this advisory remain open. Until further notice, visitors should avoid swimming, wading, tubing, paddleboarding, fishing and other activities involving direct water contact in the Arkansas River, John Martin Reservoir and fisheries on the listed properties. Visitors should also keep pets away from affected water. This guidance applies to CPW properties specifically.
Visitors to the lower Arkansas River are advised to check the latest CDPHE water-quality update for conditions related to this advisory and the latest Colorado Parks and Wildlife closures associated with summertime drought management.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
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