WSPP336 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

00\)580 mergansers), wading birds (e.g., various herons and egrets), and aerial diving birds (e.g. osprey, bald eagle, and belted kingfisher). Fish resources include the native flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latioinnis), bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus), and roundtail chub (Gila robusta). Introduced fish species include channel catfish (Ictalurus ounctatus), black bull head (Ictal urus me 1 as), common carp (CYori nus carpi 0) , fathead minnow (Pimeohales promelas), red shiner (Notroois lutrensis), white sucker (Catostomus commersoni), and green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus). Pond owners along the Colorado River reported that 32% of the ponds contained fish while pond owners along the Gunnison River reported that 10% of the ponds contained fish (Mitchell 1995). Ponds containing nonnative, warmwater fishes were dominated by largemouth bass (Microoterus salmoides). Other nonnative, warmwater fish species in the ponds included bluegill (Leoomi s macroch i rus), black crappi e (Pomoxi s n i qromacul atus), cat fi sh (Ictalurus sp.), common carp, fathead minnow,' suckers, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus qaridneri), brown trout (Salmo trutta), brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), and triploid grass carp (Ctenooharonqodon idella). Surveys of private ponds in the floodplain of the Colorado River by the Colorado Division of Wildlife generally contained common carp, black bullhead, white sucker, and fathead minnow (W. Elmblad, 1995, Personal Communication) while public ponds contained warmwater sportfish species such as largemouth bass, bluegill, and black crappie (P. Martinez, 1997, Personal Communication). D. Endanqered Soecies. Endangered species that occur in Colorado are summarized in Appendix C (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997). Endangered species that are likely to be found in the project area include the Colorado squawfi sh, razorback sucker, Ameri can peregri ne falcon, bald eagl e, and Southwestern willow flycatcher. None of the Federally-listed threatened or endangered mammals or plants are known to occur in the project area. The proposed control of nonnative fish species is related to the recovery of the Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Information on birds occurring in the project area were obtained from lists by Andrews and Righter 1992, Colorado Natural Heritage Program 1995, and an undated but relatively recent Bird Check List for Mesa County, Colorado. The Ameri can peregri ne falcon is a rare mi grant that can i nhabi t the riparian zone. The bald eagle is an unusual but regular winter visitor that occasionally perches in large cottonwood trees in the riparian zone of the Upper Colorado and Gunnison rivers (Grand Valley Audubon Society 1987). The interior least tern is a very rare migrant using open water areas of the Grand Valley. The Southwestern willow flycatcher inhabits the riparian zone and forages over open land habitats. This flycatcher was reported to breed in the Grand Valley. E. Historic and Cultural Resources. The Ute Indians inhabited the Grand Valley prior to 1881 and Mesa County was part of the Ute Reservation established by a 1868 treaty (Mesa County Planning Commission 1996). The Utes were moved to Utah in 1881 -- allowing white settlers to homestead in the Grand Valley. Various artifacts from the Ute Indians still remain in the 'Grand 11