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

de-silting ponds. Flow regimes were recommended for releases of water from the dam to
' protect trout spawning areas. Requests were made to stop stocking operation of catchable
trout in the upper 2.5 miles of the river in order to attempt to establish an area of "wild
trout waters". In 1971, rubble was removed by bulldozer from two sections in the
' government owned portion of the river to induce trout spawning and recruitment.
Invertebrate fauna was said to be abundant in all sections of the river but especially in the
' lower reaches. It was suggested that the Fryingpan River would remain one of the most
productive trout streams in Colorado. Flows of 100 cfs were recommended to maintain
the health of his river.
Finnell, L. M. and G. L. Bennet. 1973. Fryingpan-Arkansas Fish Research
Investigations. Colorado Division of Wildlife. Project Report No. 2.
The objectives of this project were to evaluate the physical, chemical and biological
' properties of all streams and reservoirs in the Fryingpan and Arkansas river basins prior
to planned water diversion operations and to address problems that may arise during
these operations. During the 1972-1973 study period the investigations that were
' conducted in Ruedi Reservoir and the Fryingpan River were in three general areas of
concern: limnological studies, fish population studies, and special studies of exotic food
organisms.
' Fryingpan River
' The purpose of this portion of the study was to determine the effects of planting of
hatchery trout on wild trout populations, study the survival and migration of hatchery
trout, and to determine whether or not wild trout are capable of maintaining an adequate
' population in the face of increasing fishing pressure. Samples were taken by electro-
fishing in three sections of the river. Section one was the upper 3 miles that had been
designated "wild trout waters". Section two was between the confluence of Frenchman
' Creek and the confluence of Taylor Creek. This section was to receive 5 plants of 1000
catchable rainbow trout each distributed at half-mile intervals between March and
August. Section three was between the confluence of Taylor Creek and the confluence of
' the Roaring Fork River. Average length of rainbow trout captured in Section I was 7.3
inches. These fish were mostly naturally occurring. Sections II and III contained a
' higher percentage of adult and sub-adult rainbow trout. There was a noticeable lack of
young trout. Conditions were assumed to be more beneficial for rainbow trout
reproduction than for brown trout based on the fact that rainbow trout outnumbered
' brown trout 4 to 1.
Headwater tributaries of the Fryingpan River were examined for the presence of
Colorado River cutthroat trout. Brook trout were observed in Mormon Creek and the
Middle Fork of Cunningham Creek. Cutthroat trout taken from North Cunningham
Creek were identified as a pure strain of Salmo clarki pleuriticus, the original native trout
of the upper Colorado River Basin.
' Fryingpan-Roaring Fork Literature Review February 27, 2002
Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. page 7