9447

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9447
• Author: Burdick, B. D.
• Title: Evaluation of Stocking Sub-Adult Colorado Pikeminnow Via Translocation in the Upper Colorado River Between Palisade and Rifle, Colorado.
• USFW Year: 2003.
• USFW - Doc Type: 105,
• Copyright Material: NO

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this 2-year investigation was to evaluate if translocated, wdd and
domestic-reared sub-adult and adult Colorado pi7ceminnow implanted with radio tags remain in
the immediate vicinity of stocking, or move upstream or downstream after being stocked in the
Upper Colorado River neaz Parachute and Rulison, Colorado. The study area included riverine
reaches of the Upper Colorado River from RiBe, Colorado, to Grand Junction, Colorado, and
irrigation canals and laterals throughout the Grand Valley near Grand Junction that diverted water
from the Upper Colorado River in lower Debeque Canyon and neaz Palisade, Colorado.
Objectives were to:
1. Determine the extent of up- and downstream movements of translocated Colorado
p>7ceminnow following release upstream from the Government Highline Diversion
Dam Government Highline Diversion Dam is located at river mile 193.7 on the
Upper Colorado River in lower Debeque Canyon
Objective Accomplished.
2. Determine if translocated, wild orhatchery-reared Colorado pikeminnow will remain
and establish residency in stream reaches upstream of Government Highline Diversion
Dam; document the duration that fish remain in upstream reaches.
Objective Accomplished.
3. Correlate or associate spatial and temporal seasonal habitat use ofradio-tagged fish
with water temperature upstream of Government Highline Diversion Dam
Objective Accomplished.
4. Record and document any Colorado pdceminnow congregations at the time of
spawning, particularly in stream reaches upstream from Government Highline
Diversion Dam
Objective Accomplished.
5. Determine ifradio-tagged Colorado pikeminnow move into the Government Highline
Canal.
Objective Accomplished.
In 2000, five domestic-reazed and five wild Colorado pilceminnow were implanted with
radio transmitters and released in the Upper Colorado River near Parachute, Colorado (river mile
223.0). In 2001, 19 wild Colorado pdceminnow were implanted with radio transmitters and
released in the Upper Colorado River (river mile 229.9). Three strategically located semi-
permanent, land-based telemetry stations constantly monitored and automatically recorded the
movements of these radio-tagged Colorado pikeminnow in the Upper Colorado River and
adjacent irrigation canals and laterals. As a result, entrainment-and movement of adult Colorado
pikeminnow in local irrigation canals was documented in both 2000 and 2001. Telemetry data for
wild and domestic-reazed Colorado pikeminnow radio tagged in 2000 should be treated with
caution because the methods employed to hold fish possibly stressed them prior to stocking.
None of the five 1991 year-class sub-adult Colorado pikeminnow that were released were
detected moving upstream One domestic fish contacted by a ]and-based tracking station moved
downstream 31 miles in 37 hours. Four other domestic fish were contacted by boat and remained
in the same location that ranged from 6 to 14 months. All five domestic-reared fish were
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