Highline Lake State Park

Highline Lake State Park
Highline Lake in 2020
Map showing the location of Highline Lake State Park
Map showing the location of Highline Lake State Park
The Park's location in Colorado
LocationMesa County, Colorado, U.S.
Nearest cityGrand Junction, Colorado
Coordinates39°16′13″N 108°50′14″W / 39.27028°N 108.83722°W / 39.27028; -108.83722
Area563 acres (2.28 km2)
Established1967
Visitors230,036 (in 2021)[1]
Governing bodyColorado Parks and Wildlife

Highline Lake State Park is a Colorado state park. It is home to two lakes,[2] Highline Lake, elevation 4,702 feet (1,433 m)[3] and Mack Mesa Lake, elevation 4,728 feet (1,441 m).[4] It is well known for its birdwatching opportunities and has two wildlife migratory waterfowl overlook kiosks where it is possible to watch great blue heron, white pelicans, and whooping crane, among many others.[5][6] There is fishing allowed all year round. It is also open in winter to snowshoers and cross country skiers.[6]

Zebra mussel infestation

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) first detected zebra mussels in Highline Lake in September 2022. Further testing the following month found an established population of the mussels in the lake, leading CPW to classify the lake as infested. This zebra mussel infestation is the first in Colorado.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ "Colorado State Parks Region Annual Visitation Report" (PDF). Colorado Counties, Inc. 2023.
  2. ^ "Highline Lake State Park". Archived from the original on July 23, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  3. ^ "Highline Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. December 31, 1981. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  4. ^ "Mack Mesa Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. December 31, 1981. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Highline Lake State Park - Grand Junction, North West, Colorado - Colorado Vacation Directory". www.coloradodirectory.com.
  6. ^ a b "Highline Lake State Park". Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2009.
  7. ^ "Highline Lake deemed 'infested' with invasive mussels". Montrose Daily Press. October 28, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  8. ^ Zialcita, Paolo (October 26, 2022). "Highline Lake is officially 'infested' with invasive zebra mussels after CPW confirms state's first known population". CPR News. Retrieved November 7, 2022.


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