Colorado Parks and Wildlife this fall will start a renovation project on the Gypsum Ponds State Wildlife Area. Work is expected to begin in September and last for about two months.

The area and the road leading to the ponds will be closed during construction. Pedestrian access and river fishing will be allowed, but people on foot need to be aware of heavy equipment traffic in the area.

For those age 16 or older, a valid Colorado fishing license is required to use the area. The Keep Colorado Wild passes that can be purchased with vehicle registrations don’t work for state wildlife areas.

Work will include improving water control structures on the upper and lower ponds. According to a release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, that work will allow better control of water levels. During that work, the ponds’ water levels will be dropped, which will allow crews to clear nuisance species from the waters.

In an email, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Public Information Officer Rachael Gonzales wrote that anglers will have to help in preventing re-introduction of those invasive species by cleaning, draining and drying their gear before moving from lake to lake. The department’s website has more information on how to keep those invasive species where they belong.

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Gonzales added that the primary focus of this fall’s project is on the ponds’ inlet and outlet structures from and into the Eagle River. But, she added, a couple of separate projects are in the works.

One is performing some improvements to the existing paths around the projects.

Perhaps the more noticeable project will be grading the narrow, bumpy access road. That will happen after the main project is finished.

In an email, Gypsum Town Manager Jeremy Rietmann wrote that road isn’t a town street. But, he added, “they would welcome improvements to the road, as it is a bit of a bumpy ride and has some drainage problems as it exists today.”

The department’s website has more information on the project.