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ponds in wetlands adjacent to the river could be required to reconnect ponds to the river when mining activities are completed as part of their reclamation procedures. t 1 1 Fish and Wildlife Resources Although the two ponds have never been thoroughly inventoried for fish species, limited sampling has revealed the following non-native fishes occur there: green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), black bullhead (Ameiurus melas), carp (Cyprinus carpio), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Other riverine adult fishes such as Colorado squawfish, flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus latipinnis), bluehead sucker (Catostomus discobolus), and roundtail chub (Gila robusta) have used the smaller pond, especially during the high spring flows. Various species of diving and dabbling ducks, Canada geese (Branta canadensis), and shorebirds frequently use the various open water and shoreline habitats of the ponds. The large cottonwoods along this stream reach provide roosting and resting areas for wintering bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Great blue herons (Ardea herodias) also utilize these cottonwood groves. Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and Gambel's quail (Lophortyx gambelii) also occur on the property. Northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) and bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) are present on the property. The extent of other amphibians and reptiles on the property is unknown. Beaver (Castor canadensis) and muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) are located on the property. Although Cooper and Severn (1994e) sampled the pond only once (October 1993) for water column and benthic invertebrates, they found low invertebrate taxa richness. This could be due to lack of aquatic vegetation that has not had an opportunity to establish in a pond because of recent gravel mining activities. Now that gravel mining has been completed and reclamation procedures implemented, aquatic vegetation may soon become established. Seasonal sampling of benthic invertebrates and zooplankton will have to be made to determine seasonal dynamics. CONCEPTUAL ECOLOGICAL MODEL Generally, the input of terrestrial organic matter provides the basis for energy in headwater streams (Vannote et al. 1980). Large rivers, such as those of the upper basin, depend upon fine particulate organic matter from upstream reaches for basic productivity (Vannote et al. 1980; Sedell and Richey 1989). Although detailed ecological studies of the various habitats in the upper basin have not been made, inferences can be drawn from the published literature. Low- water velocity habitats are important to endangered fishes of the upper Colorado River basin in both historical and present occupied stream reaches. A discussion of the importance of these habitats follows. Relation of Nutrients, Sunlight Penetration, and Warm Water Temperatures to Phytoplankton Production. Phytoplankton productivity provides the basis for development of a food web. Phytoplankton production and standing crops increase in concert with increases in annual input of nutrients regardless of latitude. Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are key elements for phytoplankton production. 10 1