FLOOD10384 ‎(2)‎

• County: Statewide
• Title: Natural Resources of Colorado
• Date: 1/1/1963
• Prepared By: US Department of the Interior
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

number of fishermen is a tremendous job.
Primitive back-country fishing areas in Colorado
are shrinking fast due to access roads, four-wheel
drive and powerful scooter-type vehicles. Along
with the increase in population, there are more
people seeking recreation in the form of fishing.
Quality fishing such as old-timers recall enjoying
in the "good old days", has been on the decline.
The Colorado Game and Fish Department,
however, is actively engaged in slowing down
this decline and providing as many fish as
possible for the fisherman's creel. To do this,
it is engaged in: artificial hatching, rearing
and stocking of fish; applied research; develop-
ment of new fishing waters; creating free access
to public fishing waters; improvement of existing
water; and improvement of regulations and
education.
A program very similar to the Federal Aid
in Wildlife Restoration is in effect for the restora-

674-433 0-63--4

tion of fish. It is also administered by the Fish
and Wildlife Service. The funds for Federal
Aid in Fish Restoration come from a 10 percent
tax on sport fishing tackle. Colorado has been
very active in the construction and development
of public fishing lakes under the Federal Aid
program.
At present the Department operates 22 trout
stations. Two National Fish Hatcheries also
allocate a large share of fish to State waters.
In recent years approximately 550 tons or 15
million trout were planted in public fishing
waters annually. Approximately 5 million
of these trout are of catchable size, 8 to 10 inches.
In addition, more than 12 million smp.ll warm-
water fish are planted.
The State Department of Game and Fish'is
also responsible for management of the fish
and wildlife resources at 13 Bureau of Reclama-
tion Reservoirs.

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