Hours Extended at Ruedi Reservoir
Based on several requests, Ruedi Water and Power Authority will be extending the hours of operation and inspection at the main boat ramp at Ruedi Reservoir from 6:00 am until 10 pm from August 13 through the Labor Day weekend. Due to the threat of Quagga Mussels and Zebra Mussels, highly invasive small shellfish, all boats entering and leaving the Reservoir must be inspected prior to launch and prior to departure. The Boat Inspection Program at Ruedi is sponsored by the Ruedi Water and Power Authority (RWAPA) and is manned by Rocky Mountain Recreation Co. under contract to RWAPA. The main boat ramp at Ruedi is currently open for inspection between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM. Open hours were extended to 10:00 pm for the month of July and will now be extended to 10:00 PM from August 13 through September 3. Winter operation hours of 7 am – 7 pm will begin on September 4 and continue through the rest of the season. The ramp is closed to all boat traffic when inspectors are not on site. RWAPA reminds all boaters to clean, drain and dry their boats in between uses and to be prepared for boat inspections prior to entering or leaving the Ruedi boat ramp.
Quagga Mussels (Dreissena bugensis) are highly invasive small shellfish. They are native to Eurasia and were inadvertently imported to North America on cargo vessels in late 1980’s. Their ability to reproduce prolifically and attach themselves to any solid surface has made them a significant nuisance in infested areas, damaging infrastructure and degrading recreational facilities. Colorado is free of mussels although mussel larvae were found in Green Mountain Reservoir in 2017 (an adult population has not been confirmed). Two mussel-infested boats were identified and decontaminated through the Ruedi Boat Inspection Program this year. Both boats had come to Ruedi from Lake Powell, which has been infested with mussels for several years.
For More Information Contact: April Long, RWAPA, 970-901-6082
