Search and recovery crews retrieved an all-terrain vehicle from Green Mountain Reservoir in Summit County, Colorado, on Thursday morning [3].
The recovery of the vehicle follows nearly a decade of the ATV remaining hidden beneath the water's surface. The operation required a multi-agency effort to locate and extract the machinery from the reservoir bed.
Crews from the U.S. Forest Service's Dillon Ranger District worked alongside the Summit County Sheriff's Office and the Summit County Rescue Group to complete the mission [1]. The teams spent several hours conducting the retrieval process on Aug. 6 [3].
The vehicle had been submerged for eight years [1]. Officials said the retrieval was made possible by current environmental conditions at the site.
According to reports, the reservoir water level was only 20% full [2]. This significant drop in water levels exposed the vehicle, allowing crews to access and remove the ATV from the basin [2].
The operation concluded successfully after the hourslong mission. The U.S. Forest Service and local law enforcement managed the site during the extraction process [1].
“The vehicle had been submerged for eight years.”
The retrieval of the vehicle highlights how fluctuating water levels in reservoirs can uncover long-lost debris or evidence. When water levels drop to 20% capacity, objects that were previously inaccessible become visible, often leading to the recovery of missing property or vehicles that had been lost for years.
