CPW advises waterfowl hunters to take precautions due to lingering sewer contamination

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is urging duck and goose hunters in the Lower Arkansas Valley to take extra precautions because contamination persists from a major sewer spill in August. The agency stated that raw sewage can carry pathogens such as E. coli, viruses, and parasites. Ashley Rust, a CPW water quality specialist, said the agency is sending these guidelines to hunters as a matter of caution.

In August, a failed patch on a pipeline in Pueblo released 4.2 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Arkansas River east of Interstate 25. State health officials have tested water for contaminants hundreds of miles downstream for several weeks. Recent heavy rainfall has washed residue back into streams, causing dangerous bacteria levels to remain elevated at various points along the river and in nearby wildlife refuges.

The warnings focus on specific activities that increase exposure, including wading in shallow water, retrieving wet birds, and handling equipment. Hunters are advised to check the state website for the most recent test results before planning recreation in these areas.

Officials provided a list of specific steps for hunters to reduce their risk. They recommend avoiding direct skin contact with river or lake water and treating all clothing as potentially contaminated. Clothes should be washed separately from other garments, and boots and waders need sanitizing before seasonal storage.

Hunters should also clean decoys and other gear, keeping them separate from the rest of their equipment. Washing hands and exposed skin with soap and running water is preferred over using liquid sanitizer. When handling harvested birds, officials advise wearing throwaway gloves.

In the kitchen, safe handling practices apply as they would for other meats. Waterfowl meat must be kept separate from other foods and cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Retriever dogs should be rinsed after a hunt, and owners should try to keep them from drinking water in the field.

In an update from early September, CPW identified ten wildlife areas as potentially impacted by the spill. These locations include Melon Valley, Rocky Ford, Oxbow, Purgatoire River, Fort Lyon, North Gateway Ponds, Granada, Deadman, Midwestern Farms, and Holly.