CPW Warns Waterfowl Hunters After 4.2 Million Gallon Pueblo Sewage Spill

Colorado Parks and Wildlife on October 30 urged waterfowl hunters on the lower Arkansas River to take precautions after an August 26-27 spill in Pueblo released approximately 4.2 million gallons of untreated sewage into the river.

Waterfowl season is underway in southeastern Colorado, CPW said in its release. Testing by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) identified elevated E. coli bacteria at multiple locations downstream. Water quality has improved at some locations, but elevated levels have persisted in other stretches. Bacteria levels have also risen temporarily after rainfall, which washes residue from nearby areas into waterways.

Hunters face added exposure because they enter shallow water, retrieve birds, handle wet equipment and carry clothing and gear that may have touched river water or mud. “Raw sewage can carry pathogens such as E. coli, viruses and parasites,” said Ashley Rust, Ph.D., CPW water quality specialist.

CPW’s September 2 water contact advisory identified 10 state wildlife areas and the Las Animas Fish Hatchery along the Arkansas River as potentially affected. The wildlife areas in that advisory were:

• Melon Valley
• Rocky Ford
• Oxbow
• Purgatoire River
• Fort Lyon
• North Gateway Ponds
• Granada
• Deadman
• Midwestern Farms
• Holly

Conditions have varied along the river. CPW lifted the sewage-related water contact advisory at John Martin Reservoir State Park on September 4 after repeated testing indicated conditions met recreational water quality standards. Improved conditions at one location do not mean the water is safe throughout the river.

CPW recommends these precautions when hunting near potentially contaminated water.

• Avoid direct water contact. Stay out of waters under active contact advisories, and keep bare skin, particularly open cuts or wounds, away from potentially contaminated water or mud.
• Clean clothing and footwear. Remove wet clothing and footwear after hunting, wash clothing separately with detergent, and clean boots and waders before reuse.
• Clean hunting equipment. Thoroughly clean decoys, retrieval equipment and other gear, and keep dirty equipment separate from food and clean clothing.
• Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and clean running water. When soap is unavailable, use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Wear disposable gloves when cleaning birds, and keep harvested game clean, cool and dry.
• Wash hands, knives, cutting boards and surfaces after handling raw game, and cook game meat to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Carry clean water, soap and paper towels to wash hands before eating, handling food or leaving the field.
• Rinse retriever dogs with clean water and try to keep them from drinking potentially contaminated water.

Mike Brown, CPW’s Pueblo area wildlife manager, said the extra steps should complement the basics. He named safe firearm handling, knowing your target and what lies beyond it, wearing a life jacket when hunting from a boat, and carrying your hunting license.

With the season underway, the October 30 release tells hunters to review the latest CDPHE water quality information, which carries the most up-to-date sampling and test results online, and to observe any posted advisories before entering affected areas.