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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INTRODUCTION
This literature review was conducted as the first part of the Fryingpan Roaring Fork
Fisheries Study for the Roaring Fork Conservancy. The literature review consisted of
compiling data, reports and information on instream flows, fish populations and other
factors related to the aquatic ecosystem for the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork rivers. The
purpose of the literature review is to assemble a database of existing information from
data sources including the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Bureau of Reclamation,
Colorado River Water Conservation District, Roaring Fork Conservancy, and other
entities. A total of 31 references were assembled. The annotated bibliography contains
28 references that pertain directly to fisheries, instream flow and fish population studies
that date from 1943 to the present.
The literature review is organized first by an overview of the Fryingpan River and
information pertaining to it. The second section addresses the Roaring Fork River and
information that pertains directly to it. The third section is the annotated bibliography
with a description of each of the references reviewed. This information will be used in
the final fisheries report for historical information for the two rivers. This historical
information will be used and put in context of the current studies on instream flow,
spawning habitats and fishery information.
FRYINGPAN RIVER
The Fryingpan River and its associated fishery have been the focus of numerous
historical studies. Eazliest studies focused primarily on the trout population and potential
as a sport fishery (Hunter and Pazson 1943). Healthy reproducing trout populations were
found from headwater streams down to the confluence with the Roaring Fork River.
Species of trout that were found included: rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout and
cutthroat trout (Hunter and Pazson 1943). Dominance of certain species depended on
location and specific habitat features; however early reports suggested that rainbow trout
were dominant in the lower reaches. Areas of suitable trout habitat could be found
throughout the river system.
Ruedi Dam was constructed on the Fryingpan River, in 1964-1968 (U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation 1975), 14 miles above the confluence with the Roaring Fork River. This
flooded 7 miles of river upstream from the dam inundating 1,000 surface acres of
meadow habitat. The capacity of Ruedi Reservoir was 102,360 acre/feet (Finnell 1972).
During the eazly 1970's numerous studies were conducted to determine the effect of
Ruedi Dam on trout populations in the Fryingpan River (Hoppe and Finnell 1970; Finnell
1972; Finnell and Bennet 1973; Finnell and Bennet 1974; Finnell and Bennet 1977). The
results of these studies indicated that the average summer temperature of the Fryingpan
River below the dam had dropped significantly. Healthy macroinvertebrate populations
were found throughout the 14-mile reach especially in the lower section neaz the
confluence with the Roaring Fork River. High populations of trout were found with
Fryingpan-Roaring Fork Literature Review February 27, 2002
Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. Page 1