WSP12345

• File Number: 8240.200.10.B
• Description: UCRBRIP Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/12/1995
• Author: UCRBRIP
• Title: 1994 Annual Reports Package Part 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

COLORADO RIVER RECOVERY PROGRAM
FY 94 ANNUAL PROJECT REPORT

RECOVERY PROGRAM
PROJECT NUMBER: 40

I. Project Title: Evaluation of restoration potential of the Green River
upstream of the Yampa River.

II. Principal Investigator(s):

Kevin R. Bestgen
Larval Fish Laboratory
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
(303)491-184B, FAX [phone],
E-mail (KRB): [e-mail]

III. Project Summary:

The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam formerly provided habitat for
Colorado sQuawfish, razorback sucker, bony tail, and humpback chub.
Following closure of the dam, those warmwater species disappeared in
the Green River from the dam downstream to the Yampa River, presumably
due to cold water temperatures. The distribution and abundance of
fishes presently inhabiting this reach of the Green River is not well
understood. Release of warm surface waters from Flaming Gorge
Reservoir has been suggested as a strategy to restore native fishes in
the reach. Specific objectives of this study are to: 1) determine
relationship of flow and annual temperature regimes to the current
distribution and abundance of fish species in the subject reach;
2) compare these relationships to others in the Colorado River basin
for which faunal data already exist; and 3) determine if potential
exists to restore water temperatures in this reach so that rare fish
species may benefit.

IV. Study Schedule: 1994-1996

V. Relationship to RIPRAP: Green River Action Plan: Mainstem, I.A.l. and
I.B.I. initially identify year-round flows needed for recovery while
providing experimental flows; II.C.l. identify options to release
warmer water from Flamin9 Gorge Reservoir to restore native fish
habitat in the Green River).

VI. Accomplishment of FY 1994 TaSKS and Deliverables, Discussion of Initial
Findings and Shortcomings:

Fishes were collected in the Green River upstream of the Yampa River in
1994 with a variety of gear types in order to document their
distribution and abundance. A total of 49 seine samples were collected
in the Green River in the reach from the upstream end of Browns Park
downstream to the confluence of the Yampa River. About 90% of these
samples have been identified. Fishes collected in seine samples
included brown trout Salmo trutta (introduced, I), mountain whitefish
Prosooium williamsoni (native, N), red shiner Cvorinella lutrensis (I),
common carp Cyorinus caroio (I), roundtail chub Gila robusta (N), sand
shiner Notroois stramineus (I), fathead minnow Pimeohales oromelas (I),
speckled dace Rhinichthvs osculus (N), reds ide shiner Richardsonius
balteatus (I), white sucker Catostomus commersoni (I), flannelmouth