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<br />of nonnative fish in reclaimed ponds. Similarly, fish screen out flow was examined to <br />document movement of larval fish through the screens. No sampling was conducted in <br />' the Colorado or Gunnison rivers under this investigation. To determine reductions in the <br />abundance of nonnative fishes in nursery habitats as a result of nonnative fish control in <br />floodplain ponds, results from other investigations that sampled these adjacent nursery <br />habitats during the study period were utilized. <br />Information and Education <br />The public was informed of nonnative fish control activities due to the contentious <br />nature of nonnative fish control through application of fish toxicants, and the perceived <br />loss of fishing opportunity. Several techniques were utilized to disseminate this <br />information which included mail, television, radio, local newspapers, and oral <br />presentations. <br />RESULTS <br />' Pond Identification Ownership, and Access <br />Initially, ponds in the study area were identified and ownership was determined. <br />An incentive package was approved by CDOW in 1998 to facilitate landowner <br />' cooperation and participation in efforts to control nonnative fishes. <br />Pond Identification --- Hereinafter, pond sites refers to those areas where ponds <br />' were thought to be present. Similarly, references to ponds indicate pond sites that were <br />field investigated and the existence of a pond was confirmed. Of the 729 potential pond <br />' sites identified within the study area, 329 (45%) were investigated in the field between <br />1996 and 2002 (Table 1) and anecdotal information on an additional 82 (11 %) was <br />' provided by private landowners and/or agency personnel or through examination of high <br />and low flow aerial photographs. An increase in the number of ponds and other habitat <br />suitable for sustaining nonnative fish in the study area occurred during this study with <br />construction of new gravel pits, farm/fishing ponds, and wetlands. A Natural Resources <br />Conservation Service (NRCS) program also facilitated the construction of 16 ponds in <br />the last five years (1998 - 2002) in the study area. <br />1