WSPP286 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

03097~ Based on early fish collection records, archaeological finds, and other observations, the Colorado pikeminnow was once found throughout warmwater reaches of the entire Colorado River Basin doWn to the Gulf of California, and including reaches of the upper Colonido River and its major tributaries, the Green River and'its major tributaries, and the Gila River system in Arizona (Seethaler 1978). Colorado pikeminnowapparently were never found in colder, headwater areas. Seethaler (1978) indicated that the species 'was abundant in suitable habitat throughout the entire Colorado. River Basin prior to the 1850s. No historic records exist that would indicate how far upstream Colorado pikeminnow once occurred in the Colorado River. The" only reliable account of the species occurring upstream of the Price Stubb Dam near Palisade, Colorado, is from a Service biologist who reports having captured Colorado pikeminnow in Plateau Creek approximately 2-3 miles upstream from the Colorado River confluence while angling there around 1960 (Bob Burdick pers. comm.). Critical habitat was designated in 1994 within the 1 DO-year floodplain of the Colorado pikeminnow's historical range in the following area of the upper Colorado River (59 F.R. 13374). Colorado. Mesa and Garfield Counties; and Utah. Grand. San Juan. Wavne.and Garfield Counties. ' The Colorado River and its 1 DO-year floodplain from the Colorado Riyer Bridge at exit 90 north off Interstate 70 in T." 6 S., R. 93W., section 16 (6th Principal Meridian) to North Wash, including the Dirty Devil arm of Lake Powell up to the full pool elevation, in T. 33 S., R. 14 E., section 29 (Salt Lake Meridian). Colorado. Delta and Mesa Counties. The Gunnison Ri,:er and its 1 DO-year floodplain from the confluence with the Uncompahgre River in T. 15 S., R. 96 W., section 11 (6th Principal Meridian) to the confluence with the Colorado River in T. 1 S., R. 1 W., section 22 (Ute Meridian). The subject project occurs within this reach of critical habitat. The Service has identified water, physical habitat, and the biological environment as the primary constituent elements of critical habitat. This includes a quantity of water of sufficient quality that is delivered to a specific location in accordance with a hydrologic regime that is required for the particular life stage for each species. The physical habitat includes areas of the Colorado River system that are inhabited or potentially habitable for use in spawning and feeding, as a nursery, or serve as corridors between these areas. In addition, oxbows~ backwaters, and other areas in the 1 DO-year floodplain, when inundated, provide access to spawning, nursery, feeding, and rearing habitats. Food supply, predation, and competition are important elements of the biological environment. 5