MONTE VISTA – A mandatory fishing closure at Home Lake State Wildlife Area east of Monte Vista has been extended by Colorado Parks and Wildlife through at least June 30, CPW said Sunday in a news release.

The closure has been in place since June 2 after the lake was exposed to agricultural herbicides, which can be toxic to aquatic life.

The original closure was through June 16. Water sampling and monitoring of the fishery continue.

No fish from the lake should be consumed, CPW said.

“We are running into people violating the closure, taking down closure signs and continuing to fish Home Lake,” said District Wildlife Manager Tyler Cerny. “We are not doing this to be mean. We are doing this for the benefit of public health and safety.”

The cause of the chemical exposure to Home Lake is being investigated by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and CPW.