9457

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9457
• Author: Ptacek, J. A., D. E. Rees and W. J. Miller.
• Title: A Study of the Ecological Processes on the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork Rivers Related to Operation of Ruedi Reservoir.
• USFW Year: 2003.
• USFW - Doc Type: Fort Collins.
• Copyright Material: NO

each sampling occasion. Biomass values were obtained by drying the benthic
macroinvertebrates from each sample in an oven at 100°C for 24-hours or until all water
content had evaporated. Biomass is reported as the mean dry weight of
macroinvertebrates/mz at each site location.
Spawning
Artificial redds were constructed at two sites on the Fryingpan River (Figures 3 and 4) in
order to describe intragravel conditions during the brown trout and rainbow trout
spawning and egg incubation period. The most upstream site was established on the
Pruessing Property just below the CDOW Catch and Release section (Figure 13).
Another site was established upstream of Taylor Creek confluence on Roy Palm's
property (Figure 11). This location corresponded to FPR-LG-an IFIM site. A third site
in the town of Basalt was initially chosen but abandoned due to sub-marginal spawning
habitat and difficulty with equipment maintenance.
On 10 October 2001, two artificial redds were constructed at each site. Areas chosen
were based upon professional judgment regarding typical salmonid spawning locations.
Specific redd locations are shown in Figures 14 and 15. Redds were excavated by
mimicking a salmonids' natural substrate "cleaning" behavior using a shovel. This action
disrupts the hydraulic conditions on the stream bottom and removes fine sediments and
creates a "bowl" in the gravel-cobble matrix. Once the initial redd bowl was created, an
aluminum standpipe was pounded into the redd substrate. Holes had been pre-drilled into
the standpipe to allow water circulation from the substrate into the standpipe. A
Stowaway® Tidbit® temperature logger (accuracy ±0.2°C) encased in a small (10 cm)
section of pvc pipe was placed in the redd as well. Each thermograph was set to record
temperature every hour. After the standpipe and thermograph were installed, substrate
was dislodged upstream of the redd and allowed to cover the thermograph and holes of
the standpipe. Once construction of the artificial redds was completed, the area was not
disturbed until March. Active brown trout spawning was observed within 1 m of the
artificial redds at both sites.
Draft Final Report, Fryingpan and Roaring Fork Rivers February 12, 2003
Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. Page 19