7741 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

r enhanced for larval fish through habitat development are important products anticipated from this study, and should be available in 1994. Recommendations from this study will be important and timely because USFWS anticipates that adult-size razorback sucker will be available for experimental stocking in 1994. Restoration of wetlands adjacent to the river corridor that flooded historically but are no longer inundated during runoff may be an important factor in the reestablishment of self-sustaining razorback sucker populations in previously occupied river reaches. Wick (1992) considered restoration of riparian wetland (bottomland) habitats as a priority to aid razorback sucker. In spite of high habitat loss, Wick (1992) found several opportunities to 4 develop habitat for endangered fish on the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. Wetland restoration potential was found between Rifle and Debeque on the Colorado River and near Delta, Colorado on the Gunnison River (Wick 1992). Construction of levees to control flooding has deliberately denied fish access to wetland habitats. Man-made levees have ultimately lead to 1) river confinement and channelization, 2) infrequent interaction of the river with floodplain habitat, 3) reduced nutrient cycling and food availability to fishes, and 4) recruitment failure of fish dependent on floodplain habitat. Larval razorback sucker that are drifting downstream after they emerge from the spawning bars during late spring may need access to productive wetland habitats. Determining and establishing spring flows sufficient to inundate wetland habitats adjacent to the river to allow access for larval razorback sucker may be very critical to ultimate recovery of this fish. It would be valuable to implement recommended river flows that would enhance habitat for all life stages of razorback sucker and subsequently evaluate the effect of 20 r