7799

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7799
• Author: Modde, T. and D. Irving.
• Title: Conceptual Management Plan for Habitat Enhancement In Old Charley Wash.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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INTRODUCTION

Old Charley Wash, also called Woods' Bottom, is a natural wetland adjacent to the Green River on

the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. Historically, this wetland provided nursery habitat for razorback sucker,

Xyrauchen texanus, and adult habitat for other native species now listed as endangered (Colorado squawfish,

Ptychocheilus lucius, and possibly bonytail, Gila elegans). Because of the reduction in the quantity and

duration of spring flows, it is impossible to restore the habitat historically provided at Old Charley Wash.

Nonetheless, we propose a plan to manage Old Charley Wash in a manner that enhances habitat available

to age 0 razorback sucker and adult razorback sucker, Colorado squawfish and possibly bonytail chub. This

plan will use natural flows to inundate the wetland, pump river water to maintain water elevation if necessary,

and incorporate a draining capacity and capture mechanism to collect fish at the end of the growing season.

At flows that peak at less than 14,000 cfs the management strategy proposed will allow the exclusion of

larger predators from the wetland to maximize first year survival of razorback suckers being reared. The

purpose of the recent and planned modifications of Old Charley Wash is to provide an environment as close

as possible to that which native fish evolved, incorporating high natural production as well as some level

of selection. The specific objectives in managing Old Charley Wash include:

1. Develop mechanisms to allow larval razorback sucker access to Old Charley Wash.

2. Rear razorback sucker through their first growing season.

3. Restrict access of large predaceous fish in Old Charley Wash during flows less than 14,000

cfs.

4. Provide adult razorback sucker access to the wetland during the spring high flow period.

The construction of a fish access/water control structure at Old Charley Wash last fall and this spring will

permit evaluation of the proposed objectives in the spring and summer of 1994 and 1995.