Xcel transfers hundreds of fish
The coal-burning era at Xcel Energy’s Valmont power plant in east Boulder came to an end nearly a year ago. With no public fanfare, the utility has now given the hook to hundreds of sport fish that long called it home.
But the fish are reported to be doing fine.
Across four days in November, a team of three Colorado Parks and Wildlife fish biologists transferred about a half-ton of largemouth bass and smaller forage fish to other Front Range waters with catch-and-release restrictions. The fish averaged 16 inches in length, forcing the crew to make repeated trips because their transfer tanks were so full.
A total of about 1,600 fish were relocated to public waters from Valmont Reservoir. That included about 200 largemouth bass, according to Xcel.
The aquatic moving days were necessitated by the fact that this fall and winter, work has been underway to remove coal ash ponds that are no longer used.
As part of that work, the three reservoirs will need to be lowered, meaning it was time for a change of address for the vigorous population of fish that have lived in the reservoirs, enjoying warm waters in winter, abundant food supply and a laid-back life beyond the reach of anglers.
“Usually we get phone calls from people saying, ‘We’re draining this pond on private property; can you come out?’ And four out of five times it turns out to be non-target game species like carp or suckers,” said Ben Swigle, the CPW aquatic biologist who supervised the job.
“But I always investigate them. It’s sort of needle in a haystack. I get one of these kinds of opportunities maybe once a year. We got nearly a thousand pounds of fish.”
Moving days for the fish were preceded by the CPW biologists first checking them for disease, and also investigating their intended destinations, to ensure an adequate food supply in their new accommodations.
The moving crew employed what is known as electrofishing — stunning the fish with a current flowing between electrodes mounted on the boat and positioned on booms extending from the bow and hull. The current stuns the fish sufficiently for them to be scooped into oxygenated holding tanks. By the time they reach their new destination, they are sufficiently recovered to disperse into their new habitat.
Other species swept up in the move included thousands of yellow perch, green sunfish, black crappie and bluegill.
Coal burning at the Valmont plant came to an end March 3, 2017, but gas-fired generation at the plant continues.
Xcel Energy spokeswoman Michelle Aguayo said in an email, “The site continues to serve Colorado as a necessary power facility and will for the foreseeable future, including housing a natural gas ‘peaking generator.'”
Additionally, she said the plant site continues to serve Xcel Energy’s overall electric grid through a high-voltage switch yard supporting the regional transmission system and a distribution substation serving electric customers in Boulder, Louisville and Boulder County.
“The company currently has no plans to decommission or repurpose the site, Aguayo said.
As for the fish, their removal at Valmont Reservoir may not be finished.
Swigle said there could be another trip made to Valmont by his crew this spring after the water level starts to be lowered.
“The fourth time we went out there this fall, there was a considerable drop-off from the first time,” he said. “The first time I had to leave because the tanks were so full. The last time, the returns weren’t so great. I suspect there’s still a fair number of fish there.”
The former Xcel fish can now be visited in catchand-release waters in Red Tail, Blue Heron and Bald Eagle ponds at St. Vrain State Park and KOA Lake in Boulder, as well as the town fishing pond in Hudson.