Bonny Lake State Park
Encyclopedia
Bonny Lake State Park is a state park located in Yuma County
, Colorado
near Idalia
. Created in 1966, Bonny Lake is the easternmost state park
in Colorado
.
Over the summer of 2008 the lake gained enough water through rainfall to raise the lake a total of 4 in 8 in (1.42 m), but the dam engineer decided to let out the water so it would not evaporate. This went against the decision that was made at the water meetings that happened that previous winter to not let out any more water, and either let the lake dry up or fill up as nature let it. The lake has the potential to have huge winter fish kills due to the shallowier lake conditions. If the 4 in 8 in (1.42 m) was still in the lake the fish would easily have enough water to avoid fish kills.
s there are also many species of waterfowl over the winter months that including green-wing teal, widgeon, pintails, mallards, wood ducks, blue-wing teal, Canadian geese, snow geese, and sandhill cranes. Mammal species found in the park include beaver
, cottontail rabbit
, coyote
, deer (both mule deer
and white-tailed deer
), jackrabbit, muskrat
, opossum, raccoon
, thirteen-lined ground squirrel
, and weasel
.
Yuma County, Colorado
Yuma County is the 14th most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 9,841 at U.S. Census 2000...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
near Idalia
Idalia, Colorado
Idalia is a census-designated place and a U.S. Post Office in Yuma County, Colorado, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 88.The Idalia Post Office has the ZIP code 80735.-Geography:...
. Created in 1966, Bonny Lake is the easternmost state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
History
In 2007 the lake was to have 2200 acre.ft of water drained to meet obligations of a water compact made between Colorado and Kansas, however not all of the 2200 acre.ft of water was drained. The drainage was stopped because none of the water was reaching the way station in Binkelman Nebraska, and only 1100 feet (335.3 m) was lost.- On August 24, 2007, the owners and the Colorado Department of Natural ResourcesColorado Department of Natural ResourcesThe Colorado Department of Natural Resources is the department of the government of the U.S. State of Colorado that is responsible for the development, protection, and enhancement Colorado natural resources for the use and enjoyment of the state's present and future residents, as well as for...
considered shutting down the lake due to water loss and lack of funds. The lake was at a low measure sitting at only 15 feet (4.6 m) to 4 feet (1.2 m) at the shallowest. Guests could not launch boats from the boat ramps, but boats could be launched by hand. This meant only small water craft like canoes and jetskies could be launched, while fishing and hunting were still good around the lake. Walleye, wiper, catfish, and white bass bite very well off the dam, and ducks love the lake as a resting point as they continue their migration.
Over the summer of 2008 the lake gained enough water through rainfall to raise the lake a total of 4 in 8 in (1.42 m), but the dam engineer decided to let out the water so it would not evaporate. This went against the decision that was made at the water meetings that happened that previous winter to not let out any more water, and either let the lake dry up or fill up as nature let it. The lake has the potential to have huge winter fish kills due to the shallowier lake conditions. If the 4 in 8 in (1.42 m) was still in the lake the fish would easily have enough water to avoid fish kills.
Wildlife
More than 300 different species of birds have been seen in the park, including rare bald eagleBald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s there are also many species of waterfowl over the winter months that including green-wing teal, widgeon, pintails, mallards, wood ducks, blue-wing teal, Canadian geese, snow geese, and sandhill cranes. Mammal species found in the park include beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
, cottontail rabbit
Cottontail rabbit
The cottontail rabbits are among the 16 lagomorph species in the genus Sylvilagus, found in the Americas.In appearance, most cottontail rabbits closely resemble the wild European Rabbit...
, coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, deer (both mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
and white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
), jackrabbit, muskrat
Muskrat
The muskrat , the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats...
, opossum, raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
, thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
The thirteen-lined ground squirrel , also known as the striped gopher, leopard ground squirrel, squinney, and as the leopard-spermophile in Audubon’s day, is a ground squirrel....
, and weasel
Weasel
Weasels are mammals forming the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. They are small, active predators, long and slender with short legs....
.