Laserfiche WebLink
3. Present Distribution - Probably extinct. Not collected <br />since 1891. Because of the above description and a re- <br />ported small-spotted cutthroat trout in the Eagle River <br />(Colorado River drainage), reminant populations may still <br />be found in isolated headwater streams. <br />4. Existing Management Plans - A transplant from Twin Lakes <br />was attempted into Island Lake on Grand Mesa in the early <br />1900's, probably unsuccessfully. The State DOW no longer <br />recognizes the subspecies. <br />5. BLM Interest - Minimal. Some priority given to Eagle <br />River inventory. <br />E. In addition to these four subspecies of S. clarki, there are <br />several other subspecies of cutthroat trout on state threat- <br />ened and endangered lists in western drainages. Two other <br />species of Salmo from the Colorado River drainage are on the <br />federal Endangered Fauna (1974) list: Salmo ilae known now <br />only from the upper Gila drainage, New Mexico, and Salmo a ache, <br />under fairly intensive management in Arizona, originally from <br />high tributaries of the Salt and Little Colorado rivers, <br />Arizona. It is anticipated that all of the cutthroat trout <br />subspecies native to Colorado presently exist somewhere on <br />NRL. Rare fish are constantly being rediscovered by biologists <br />who earlier listed them as extirpated from the drainage. <br />Small headwater streams in the Southwest are especially ef- <br />fective in acting as refugia for fish species retreating from <br />human disturbance and exotic species competition (Minckley <br />and Deacon, 1968). Fish inventories are difficult and time <br />consuming in these small streams, but are necessary in order <br />to identify these last strongholds of native fish species. <br />II. Minnows and Suckers <br />In Colorado, all the warm water threatened and endangered fish <br />species on the federal lists are relatively large fish from the <br />Colorado River and its major tributaries. One other species, <br />Gila ele ans, is sympatric, faces the same problems, and is iden- <br />tified on the state list. These species evolved in the turbulent, <br />silt laden Colorado River and its tributaries, relatively isolated <br />from other fish species not adapted to survive in such a harsh <br />environment. The unusual shape of all four species, small heads <br />and eyes, wedge shaped anteriors, thin caudal peduncles, large <br />pelvic and caudal fins, are all adaptations to help keep the fish <br />on or near bottom in turbulent currents without constant energy <br />11