24 ‎(3)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 5/21/2008
• Description: ISF Section - Injury with Mitigation - Case No. 5-07CW210; Application of Vail Associates, Inc. and the U.S. Forest Service
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Coloz~ado Riven cutthroat trout spawning begins following peak runoff flows and ends prioz to
tlae end of runoff in sprang or~ eaz~ly suX~.mez summarized in Young 1995}. Riffles or tuns with
the appropriate combination of depth and water velocity with clean gravels are used for
spawning. Fry emerge from spawning gravels in late sumnaez to early fall ~summaz~~zed In
Yours 1995 ,but timing of fry emergence vanes depending on elevation and water temperature.
g }
1n streams occupied by CRCT, deep pools, mainly cz~eated by large woody debris, have been
found to be important for adults for both feeding and oven-wintering habitats ~summaz~ized in
Young 1995}, A detailed description of life history, habitat, and rangewide population tz~ezads rs
given in the BE for the final environmental impact statement for the 2002 Forest Plan r~evrsion
App endix N, page N- ~ 07 through N-111 } ,
Fish surveys were conducted in Two Elk Creek during ~ctaber~,1993 ~w. J. Miller and
Associates 1993} and October, 2003 Healy and Hirsch 2003}. No Colorado Riven cutthroat
trout were found in Two Elk Creels in 1993, but 2 young-af~year fish were sampled ira 2003. The
genetic purity of these fish is uz~aown, but a review of fish stocking information revealed that
young-of year CRCT were stocked by the Colorado Division of wildlife,just prior to sampling
by USFS staff in 2003. The Eagle River near Two Elk Creek has been sampled for fish between
1990 - 2005, and also 2007 ono data available at time of writing}. A handful of cutthroat trout
have been collected sporadically oven tl~e years in the Eagle River ~woodling et al. 2005}. No
other populations of Colorado Riven cutthroat trout are found within the project area or
downstream of the project area. ~~
It is unlikely that a reproducing, sustainable population of CRCT is present in Two Elk Creek. A
healthy population of brook trout ~Salvelinus, fontinalis} exists there. The water quality in the
Eagle River below the confluence with Two Elk Creek is impacted by chz~onrc metal loading
from the Eagle Mine, and water quality is not conducive to CRCT reproduction.
'White River National forest Land and Resource Management flan Direction
~-Forest Plan Goals and objectives -~ Colorado River Cutth~°oat Trout
o ~bj ective 1 a; Improve and protect watershed conditions to provide the water
quality and quantity and soil productivity necessary to support ecological
functions and intended beneficial uses.
• Strategy 1 a.,1---Over the life of the plan, Inventory and assess watershed
resources, Including soil productivity and aquatic and riparian health, in
conjunction with project NEPA analysts, or as opportunities arise.
Conduct assessments at a minimun sixth-level hydologic unit code ~HUC}
scale. Catalogue assessment data unddr the Natural Resaur~ce Information
System or other comparable database. Use the results of assessments to
guide planning and management activities.
• Strategy 1 a.2 ~- An~~ually identi fy priority watersheds for improvements in
water quality and watershed condition and designate watersheds for
special protection of human health, public use, and aquatic ecosystem
values, where appropz~iate, prioritize watersheds for treatment in
collaboration with federal, state, tribal, and private landowners.
• Strategy 1 a..3 -aver the life of the plan, monitor watershed condition in
all watersheds. Evaluate degraded watersheds for improvement potential.