8231

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8231
• Author: Maddux, H. R.
• Title: Draft Environmental Assessment For Procedures For Stocking Of Nonnative Fish Species In The Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: Grand Junction, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

V. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION WITH OTHERS
• Colorado Division of Wildlife
• Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
• Wyoming Game and Fish Department
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Michael J. Mitchell, Aquaculture Industry
VI. LIST OF DEFINITIONS
Critical habitat: River reaches formally designated as critical in accordance
with the Endangered Species Act of 1973. as amended. Includes portions of the
Colorado, Green, Duchesne. White, Yampa, and Gunnison Rivers and portions of
the associated 100-year floodplains that contain areas essential to recovery
of the endangered fishes.
Ordinary high water line (OHWL): This is the water level which represents the
water surface elevation during a normal (annual) high water event. The
physical evidence denoting the OHWL is the point where perennial hydrophytic
plant life (grasses, forbes, trees) converges with bare substrate (rock,
gravel, sand, fines) or with substrate interspersed with annual vegetation.
5 feet above ordinary high water line: This term refers to the vertical
distance from the lowest point on the natural (or artificial/man-made) berm
that forms the isolated pond to the ordinary high water line (OHWL) of
adjacent streams. This height above the OHWL approximates the 50- to 100-year
floodplain that is based primarily on professional judgment and field
observations of State and Service hydrologists working with rivers and gaging
tables for the Upper Colorado River Basin. This is a relatively simple method
for approximating the 50- and 100-year floodplains that is reasonably accurate
and relatively easy to define during on-site visits. This line approximately
represents the 100-year floodplain boundary, where the vegetation community
changes from riparian species to upland species.
Occupied habitat: River reaches where one or more of the endangered fishes
has been captured in recent years.
All (any) waters: All natural or manmade rivers, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs
that are connected to occupied endangered fish habitat or become connected
during flood events.
6,500-feet msi: Most areas above the 6,500-foot msl are Coldwater habitats
that will not support warmwater fishes. There are very few floodplain
situations above 6.500-feet msl where isolated ponds occur and these are
typically stocked with salmonids (see Figure 1).
Outside of critical habitat: Areas above or below the critical reaches of
river. Generally above the 6.500-foot mean sea level elevation. The
locations of the 6.500-foot msl for each river are presented in Appendix E.
Areas above the 100-year floodplain boundary in river reaches designated as
critical habitat are considered outside of critical habitat.
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