Many of Colorado’s high alpine lakes are remote, difficult to reach, and hard for Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologists to sample regularly.
The Colorado High Alpine Lake Observation Project, or HALO, gives anglers a way to help fill that information gap.
Running from July 1 through Oct. 31, 2026, HALO is a citizen-science project developed with CPW to gather trip, catch, and lake observation data from remote stocked high alpine lakes. By logging eligible trips through the Fishtechy app, participants can help support science-based fisheries management while spending time in places they already care about.
For Trout Unlimited members, this is a practical way to put time on the water to work for conservation. HALO rewards the full effort of collecting data in remote places, including miles hiked, elevation gained, and eligible catches logged. The score is not about the size of the fish. It recognizes the trip, the effort, and the information participants provide along the way.
Interested members should start by visiting the Running Rivers HALO project page for current instructions, rules, eligible lake information, and Fishtechy setup details. Before heading out, participants should download Fishtechy, join the Colorado HALO Tournament, get a Proof Ball, review the current project lake map, and follow all CPW fishing regulations.
Colorado TU chapters may request up to 10 Proof Balls for initial distribution to interested members, with additional Proof Balls available depending on demand. TU members who want to participate should contact their local chapter leadership about Proof Ball availability.
Because project details and eligible lakes may change throughout the season, participants should check the Running Rivers page before each trip. Many HALO waters are remote, high elevation environments where weather, trail conditions, access, and drought impacts can change quickly, so please plan carefully and minimize impacts around sensitive high alpine waters.
Your high lake trip can help CPW gather better information from places that are difficult to reach, and help support the long-term care of Colorado’s high alpine waters.
