The following protocols were instituted by the Westminster Water Quality Department:
All paddle craft must enter the park through the main gate. Once you purchase your daily paddle pass ($10 for each paddle craft) at the gate house, gate staff notifies a ranger to meet you at the spray station to decontaminate your craft (paddle craft must be inflated prior to getting the spray if it is an inflatable). You will be required to present your entry receipt to the ranger at the spray station indicating the number of paddle craft that need to be decontaminated. Rangers will conduct the decontamination spray using hot water (no chemicals). Your paddle craft must be removed from your vehicle or trailer to conduct the decontamination. There is no quarantine period for paddle craft. Once sprayed, you will receive a wrist band, which indicates your paddle craft has met the ANS protocol requirements and is clear to launch on the lake. Any paddle craft utilized must receive a valid wristband (will be affixed to the paddle craft by park staff after receiving a decontamination spray) while recreating at Standley Lake.
Careful inspections of watercraft and gear are an effective method for preventing the transport of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) into Standley Lake’s pristine water. ANS can hide almost anywhere, and the adult zebra and quagga mussels can live up to 30 days out of water! Clean, Drain and Dry your watercraft and gear every time after use, and properly Dispose of any plants or debris you find.
1.
Clean non-motorized watercraft by inspecting your boat thoroughly and removing all dirt, plants and other material from your rudder, hull, cockpit and gear.
2. Drain the water from your hatches, cockpits, boards and gear on land before you leave the immediate area. Open all hatches or plugs, turn the boat upside down and rest on an open hatch to incline the watercraft and drain it.
3. Dry your watercraft and gear, and store them in a dry place where aquatic invaders cannot survive.
Self-inspect and decontaminate your watercraft and gear every time you haul out and move between waterbodies. Making the Clean, Drain and Dry technique a habit every time you haul out or move between waterbodies will take just a few extra minutes and can make all the difference in protecting your recreation experience.
Recreational Paddle Use Procedures:
- Approach the spray station and wait at the stop sign until a ranger directs you to an open lane to receive your spray. If you need to inflate your paddle craft, please pull to the side (there is an area designated for this purpose) and inflate your paddle craft before proceeding to the spray station.
- Once a ranger has you pull forward, show the ranger you permit card and/or receipt and place your paddle craft, paddles, life jacket and any equipment that will be utilized on the lake on the spray rack.
- Staff will decontaminate your paddle craft and equipment but may ask you to turn your paddle craft or equipment over to ensure all surface areas have been sprayed.
- Once the decontamination spray is complete, staff will affix a wrist band to the paddle craft that indicates your craft has been sprayed and you can then remove the paddle craft (and equipment) from the spray rack and put it back on your vehicle.
- No watercraft of any type (tubes, paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, rafts, etc.) will be allowed to launch without being sprayed. Failure to do so will result in a citation and confiscation of vessel.
- All paddle craft must be CLEAN and DRY.
- All paddle craft must be thoroughly inspected and treated with a hot pressure wash (water only, no chemicals) by Standley Lake Regional Park staff prior to launch.
- Violation of these regulations can result in fines and/or revocation of permit privileges.
- Only non-aquatic bait will be permitted for fishing. Aquatic bait (minnows, leeches, frogs, etc.) is NOT permitted at Standley Lake Regional Park.
- Fishing is allowed only from sunrise to sunset. Night fishing prohibited.
- Ice fishing is prohibited.
What is allowed?
- Hand-launched watercraft (boats that are not launched from a trailer) - For example, multi-chambered inflatable rafts, kayaks, canoes, SUPs, etc.
- Propulsion systems:
- Paddle craft (human powered)
- Sailboats (wind powered)
- Electric motors with up to 75 lbs. thrust
What is not allowed?
- Launching any kind of watercraft from a trailer
- Gas, diesel, or jet engines
- Electric motors with more than 75 lbs. of thrust
- Belly boats
- Personal float tubes
- Single-chambered flotation devices - including inflatable rafts, inner tubes, mattresses, pool toys or any floating device not designed for open water use
AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES (ANS) MUNICIPAL CODE
Following regulations are hereby promulgated pursuant to the authority contained in W.M.C. section 13-1-5. These regulations are promulgated for the purpose of protecting and promoting the public interest in preventing the spread of aquatic nuisance species, including but not limited to zebra and quagga mussels.
A person convicted of violating any of the following regulations shall be subject to a fine in an amount up to $1,000:
(A) No watercraft or watercraft equipment shall enter Standley Lake or the Standley Lake shoreline area prior to being inspected, tagged for quarantine (drying) purposes and/or spray washed as may be determined by Standley Lake Regional Park staff. “Watercraft” includes any boat or other vessel intended, used, or capable of transporting persons or property on the water. “Watercraft equipment” includes water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, inner tubes, flotation devices, and any similar device.
(B) Any watercraft and watercraft equipment that is determined to have circumvented the inspection, tagging and/or spray washing will be impounded to ensure proper decontamination and to comply with applicable Colorado State statutes and regulations. It shall be unlawful for anyone to resist or interfere with any Standley Lake Regional Park staff in the impoundment of any watercraft or watercraft equipment.
(C) No watercraft or watercraft equipment may be launched onto Standley Lake until it has met the required quarantine period or spray washing or both, as specified by Standley Lake Regional Park staff.
(D) All watercraft and watercraft equipment must enter Standley Lake Regional Park through the main gate.
(E) The possession or use of any aquatic bait within Standley Lake Regional Park whether live, dead or frozen is prohibited. “Aquatic bait” means and includes any form of bait that typically lives in water. Examples of aquatic bait include salamanders, minnows, leeches, crayfish, frogs, and others.
(F) Standley Lake Regional Park shall be closed to the public from sunset to sunrise except for authorized camping. Fishing is prohibited from sunset to sunrise. Anyone in violation of this provision shall also be subject to being cited for trespassing pursuant to W.M.C. section 6-3-5.
(G) Swimming and wading by persons and animals is prohibited in Standley Lake, except that persons engaged in waterskiing, wake boarding, and tubing may enter, swim in and exit Standley Lake to the limited extent necessarily associated with said activities. All equipment used in such activities shall be considered watercraft equipment and subject to these regulations and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations.