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Enhancement of Fish and Wildlife " ~4i~?,\ "'. ~:>r,~.--- ~~\~ ;;/ :,;,"' Upper Basin In addition to both cold and warm water fishing opportunities made available in Colorado River Storage Projects (CRSP), Reclamation dams have also created some of the finest fishing available in the tailwater reaches below the reservoirs by providing continuous flows which assure suitable fish habitat Fontenelle. Flaming Gorge. Navajo, and Glen Canyon tailwater fisheries have all been described as blue-ribbon trout streams by the respective state wildlife agencies which manage thelr use. The Gur,nison River belOV\l Crystal Dam also holds great promise for future angling opportunities. The 1 981 tailwater trout fishing below Flaming Gorge has been described as the best year ever, Angler use and catch has exceeded even earlier impoundment yields due primarily to the 1978 penstock modification and warming of downstream flows. Overwintering fingerling trout, for example, have grown to a foot or more in length by the following spring season, Such growth may preclude the need for stocking catchable size trout and thus provide excellent fishing withoulthe increased hatchery costs. The Navajo lailwaler Jishery continues to provide excellent fishing. A continuous flow of at least 530 fPls was maintained throughout the year immediately below Navajo Dam for 26 fish propagation, The fishery extends some 17 miles below the dam and contains brown, cutthroat, and rainbow trout, The upper 2,7 miles are regulated under special provision by the New Mexico Department at Game and Fish to insure a Quality fishing experience. During the year, representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildllte Service, and various New Mexico State agencies met regularly to develop a flow regime which will further enhance the San Juan River fishery, while meeting the other multiple-purpose llses of Navajo Reservoir water. Recently completed investigations below Fontenelle Dam have led the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish to initiate a program of boulder placement in the Green River below the dam to provide cover and pooling habitat and thereby increase trout production, This program was funded under Section 8 of the Colorado River Storage Act, and wiii be compieted in fiscal year 1982, The overall effectiveness 01 the program will be evalualed in 1983, The Glen Canyon tailwater fishery continues to be Arizona's "top fishery" due to the clear water and a continuous flow of at least 1.000 fP/s which create a favorable habitat for species of fish introduced In the river below Glen Canyon. The average rainbow trout caught from Lees Ferry during the 1980-1981 fishery season was 18 inches in length and weighed over 3 pounds. or about 6 times the State average, Brook trout have also been added to the stock below the dam where a Stale record (5Ib, 2 oz,) was caught in April 1981, Due to limited access to the Gunnison River and a iack of fishery data. the Crystal Dam fishery has not received the attention experienced by olher CRSP tailwater fisheries. Preliminary investigations of Inverlebrele production and fish growlh belO'W the dam, however. point toward a bright future, Traveling through the Black Canyon at the Gunnison, the cold downstream releases have extended the troul fishing to Delta, Cola, A continuous tlow of at least 200 ft'!s is maintained in the Gunnison RIver below the Gunnison Tunnel.