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Bonny Lake

Mailing

30010 Road 3

Idalia, CO 80735

Park Office

32300 YC Road 2

Burlington, CO 80807

Bonny Lake State Park

Bonny Lake State Park has closed and is being turned into a State Wildlife Area.

Bonny Lake State Park, which will become part of the South Republican State Wildlife Area on Saturday, Oct. 1, is closing some campgrounds and other visitor services. East Beach campground will remain open with primitive camping. (No water, electric or trash service). North Cove closed November 1 due to the waterfowl closure.

The State Engineer began draining the reservoir on Sept. 22, releasing virtually all the water to Kansas and Nebraska to comply with the Republican River Compact, which divides the water between the three states. Draining the lake will result in the loss of the entire fishery.

The park’s visitor center, the Foster Grove campground and the Wagon Wheel Campground have been closed and winterized. All potable water systems have been shut down. Some picnic tables are being removed and stored for future use.

At present, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is planning to manage the land in the former state park as part of the South Republican State Wildlife Area, a 13,000-acre management unit that offers deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game hunting.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is working with the United States Bureau of Reclamation, Yuma County Commissioners, the Three Rivers Alliance, Yuma County Economic Development Council and other community groups to determine the future of the former State Park. The discussions include facilities and campgrounds that were previously managed by Colorado State Parks.

Bonny Reservoir was created in 1951 when the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built a flood control dam on the South Fork of the Republican River. Over the years, Bonny Lake State Park became a recreational oasis on Colorado’s eastern plains, just a few miles from the Kansas border.

For more information on the new South Republican State Wildlife Area, please visit: http://wildlife.state.co.us/LandWater/StateWildlifeAreas/ or call the Colorado Springs Service Center at 719-227-5200.

Current Park Weather

16.0° F
Fair
Wind: West at 10.4 MPH

Last Modified Date: 2/9/2012 10:54 AM