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1 INTRODUCTION Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. (MEC) was selected to complete the fishery study on the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork rivers. The Roaring Fork Conservancy has identified the goal for the fishery study and three objectives. The goal is to evaluate impacts of the current and potential future operating conditions of Ruedi Reservoir on resident trout populations in the Fryingpan River and the lower Roaring Fork River by means of the following objectives: • Quantify the relation between flow level and available trout habitat using the most appropriate habitat simulation model. • Determine if fluctuations of brown and rainbow trout populations are related to flows that occur during various life stages. • Determine the relationship between flow levels and other fish habitat elements, including macroinvertebrate populations, water quality parameters, and spawning t habitat. Background An extensive analysis of the Fryingpan River and lower Roaring Fork River fishery was conducted as part of the environmental assessment of the Fryingpan - Arkansas Project in the 1980s. These studies included an instream flow study to determine the relationship between flow level and fish habitat. The aquatic environment of the Fryingpan River has changed since that time. In addition, the current and proposed operations of Ruedi Reservoir have changed since the last assessment in 1989. This fishery study is one part of a multidisciplinary investigation. To accomplish the objectives presented above, we used the following approach. Study area The study area includes the Fryingpan River from Ruedi Reservoir downstream to the confluence with the Roaring Fork River and the Roaring Fork River downstream of the Fryingpan River. The stream flow in the Fryingpan River is controlled by releases from Ruedi Reservoir. The streamflow in the Roaring Fork River Draft 2001 Task Summary Report Page 1 Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. December 18, 2001