9571

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9571
• Author: Miller Ecological Consultants Inc.
• Title: Fryingpan-Roaring Fork Literature Review.
• USFW Year: 2002.
• USFW - Doc Type: Fort Collins, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

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Ftyingpan River
Discussion of the Fryingpan River was divided into three parts: the portion upstream of
the reservoir, Ruedi Reservoir, and the 14 mile section below the dam. Above the
reservoir the river was similar to the upper section of the Roaring Fork River with fast
flowing riffles interspersed with a variety of pool and glide habitat. Healthy trout
populations exist throughout the river system. Atrophy catch and release azea was
established in 1979 for the upper two miles of river below the dam. The 12 miles of river
above the confluence with the Roaring Fork River was protected by special regulations
and was designated "Gold Metal Waters".
Evidence of population level affects of whirling disease in rainbow trout was described
from studies that occurred in the years prior to this report. Declines in 1+ aged rainbow
trout have continued from 1995-1998 resulting in proportionally large brown trout
populations. Declines in brook trout populations were blamed (at least in part) on
suspected brown trout predation. New bag limits have increased the biomass of rainbow
and brown trout in the river. Release of Mysis relicta from Ruedi Dam was responsible
for an increased size of trout in the two-mile catch and release area below Ruedi Dam.
' Roaring Fork River
This document briefly describes the habitat and fishery in the Roaring Fork River;
' although the basis for these descriptions was not clearly defined. The upper 30 miles of
the Roaring Fork River was characterized as a small, narrow, high gradient stream;
whereas the section from the Fryingpan River confluence downstream to the Colorado
River was described as having a lower gradient with more meanders. Numbers offish in
the Roaring Fork River had exhibited a general decline in the yeazs prior to this report
due to the mortality of young fish infected with whirling disease. The high numbers of
adult fish that remain support the rivers' continued ranking as "Gold Metal Waters". In
recent years, brown trout have become the dominant species in all population categories.
Almost no rainbow trout spawned in the river survived beyond one or two years of age.
' In 1998, bag limits were reduced from 8 to 2 trout for western slope rivers in response to
concerns about the impacts of whirling disease.
Nehring, R B, 1999. Stream Fisheries Investigations. Colorado Division of
' Wildlife. Federal Aid Project F-237R-6. Fort Collins, Colorado.
Fr}nngpan River
Trout Population Structure
Brook, brown and rainbow trout population structure changed very little in 1998 when
compared with the period from 1995 to 1997. Rainbow trout fiy collected from all
sampling sights had shown little to no signs of whirling disease as opposed to other rivers
1 being studied. Age 1+ trout of all three species were present at all sights. A decline was
' Fryingpan-Roaring Fork Literature Review February 27, 2002
Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. Page 23