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<br />..on2287 <br /> <br />5, Provide a reference and guide for fishery recreation management and aquatic resource <br />conservation by Division biologists, federal and state resource managers, and interested <br />public and private agencies and individuals. <br /> <br />The Aquatic Wildlife Management Plan encompasses the entire Yampa River Basin, including <br />the Little Snake River, from its headwaters to its confluence with the Green River, and the <br />upper Green River watershed, including Vermillion Creek, downstream to the Utah state line, <br />These reaches provide habitat for the four listed endangered fish species, as well as a variety <br />of other native species, <br /> <br />The Division recommended that the Yampa River downstream from Williams Fork be managed <br />primarily as habitat for endangered and other native aquatic wildlife, and that non-salmonid <br />nonnative fish populations be controlled as necessary to protect native fish populations and <br />enhance recovery of federal and state listed endangered species, The Division further <br />recommended that northern pike, small mouth bass and channel catfish removed from the <br />river be translocated to off-channel ponds in the middle Yampa River reach and possibly <br />Elkhead Reservoir in accordance with nonnative stocking procedures, These procedures were <br />developed by the states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and the USFWS to provide guidelines for <br />stocking nonnative fish without impacting endangered fishes or impeding their recovery in the <br />upper Colorado River Basin. <br /> <br />The Division also recommended continuation of research in the lower Yampa River to <br />determine the relationship between instream flow and habitat for native fish species and to <br />define year-round instream flow needs. The low fiow studies conducted in 1996 and 1997 <br />were a part of this research and provided base flow recommendations for late summer-early <br />fall. Instream flow needs at other times of the year still must be determined, As part of its <br />control program for non-salmonid nonnative fish species in the lower Yampa River, the Division <br />has removed angling limits for channel catfish, smallmouth bass, and northern pike in this <br />portion of the river, The Division hopes to determine if removing angling limits of nonnative <br />species will allow sport anglers to continue to catch these warm water fish while reducing their <br />impact on endangered fishes in the river. <br /> <br />3.3 Conclusions of Researchers and Biology Committee <br /> <br />The research conducted on the Yampa River, especially during the base flow period, led to the <br />following conclusions and recommendations: <br /> <br />1, During the base flow period (August-October), habitat for endangered fishes in the Yampa <br />River declines most rapidly when instream flows fall below 93 cfs, <br /> <br />2, The incidence of average daily flows less than 93 cfs should not increase in frequency, <br />magnitude and duration over that of the historic record, <br /> <br />3, Develop a water management plan for the Yampa River that identifies and compares <br />options for meeting the base flow recommendation. Quantify future low flow conditions in <br />the Yampa River water management plan using the CRDSS flow model for the Yampa <br />River, and a frequency analysis of future low flow events to include: <br /> <br />a) Calculating the historic frequency, magnitude and duration of flows less than 93 cfs on <br />the Maybell gage records (March 4, 1999, memo from Yampa Management Team), <br /> <br />DrOIt! 07/28/99 <br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />Ayres Associates <br />