Officials from Colorado Parks and Wildlife decided this week to restrict fishing on two waterways while simultaneously giving anglers permission to remove all the fish they can from a reservoir. Low water levels are responsible in both cases.

Cold-water species like trout are now stressed in sections of the White and Crystal Rivers in northwestern Colorado, the agency explained. Snowmelt coming from the mountains is decreasing and the volume of water in the rivers is falling below 50% of average. This, combined with mid-summer heat, has water temperatures reaching 71 degrees, a dangerous conditions for cold-water fish.

Trout, in particular, struggle to recover following capture this time of year.

"CPW takes implementing fishing closures very seriously," Northwest Region Senior Aquatic B

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