South Suburban Reservoir, located in the Stratton Open Space of Colorado Springs, will no longer be accessible to the public or dogs after it is refilled next spring. The reservoir, which has stored untreated drinking water for the community since 1932, has occasionally allowed public access to its western shoreline during warmer months. Over time, informal recreational activities such as off-leash dog recreation became common.
Repairs on the reservoir began in April 2024 and are expected to conclude soon. Once the reservoir refills with runoff and precipitation, it will remain closed to recreational access. Officials cited increasing management challenges related to off-leash dog activity as a key reason for the closure.
“Splashing and swimming stir up sediment in the reservoir, increasing the amount of organic carbon and nutrients available to support the growth of algae, including toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Additionally, pathogens such as E. coli are introduced when dogs swim in water. These situations not only create a dangerous environment for pets, but they have also required us to remove the reservoir from use in our system multiple times over the years. It does not hold enough water to effectively dilute these pollutants, making high-quality treatment more difficult.”
During maintenance clean-outs in 2020 and 2024, nearly 1,000 dog toys were removed from the reservoir’s basin. The accumulation of these items has raised concerns about PFAS and microplastics contamination in the water supply.
Officials noted that while public access had been permitted at their discretion in past years, it was never formally approved by City Council. The decision to close the reservoir is described as necessary to protect water quality for customers.
“We know that South Suburban Reservoir has become a favorite destination for many people over the years. While public access has been allowed at our discretion, recreational use has never been formally approved by City Council. We must now take responsible and appropriate steps to protect this valuable water resource for our customers.”
The city encourages residents to continue enjoying other amenities at Stratton Open Space.
