7818

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7818
• Author: Stalnaker, C. B. and P. B. Holden
• Title: Changes In Native Fish Distribution In The Green River System, Utah-Colorado
• USFW Year: 1973
• USFW - Doc Type: Utah Academy Proceedings
• Copyright Material: YES

STALNAKER,1I0LDEN: NATIVE FISH DISTRIBUTION

29

bony tail chubs were found to have decreased greatly in the years following
.the closure of Flaming Gorge Dam (Vanicek and Kramer, 1969). In
essence the introduced rainbow and brown trout have replaced the large
native fishes in the cold, clear waters below Flaming Gorge Dam and above
the confluence of the Yampa River (Vanicek, Kram~r and Franklin, 1970).
CoUections by unit personnel since 1969 have substantiated these
earlierconclusiom for the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. Present
interpretation of the distribution and abundance of the indigenous species
is based upon collections made throughout the upper basin shown in Fig.
' 1, pinpointing areas of collection and dates collections were made.

" Present Distribution of Indigenous Species

Flannelmouth Slicker
This species is thc most common of the native spccies and has been
[oundat all collecting sites and is apparently reproducing and maintaining
abund~nce in all areas of the upper basin except for the cold water en-
vironments below Flaming Gorge Dam.
Bluelzead Slicker
~_,_Tbis species has been found at all sampling sites and' is apparently
reproducing throughout the upper basin. It is relatively rare in the lower
,Green River near C~lflyonlands National Park. '
CofOnido squallfish
The squaw fish is still found in limited numbers at all sampling stations
in the Yampa River and in the Green below the confluence of the Yampa
,and down the Green and Colorado Rivers to Lake Powell. However, it is
rare and young-of.the-year have been collected only from the Vampa River
and ,~he G.een River within Dinosaur National Monument 1I1o1den and
Stalnaker, 1973) and also from the Green in the Canyonlands area and
Desolation Canyon. Only large adults have been taken from the middle
Green and the Colorado rivers. ^,bunc;Iance appears to be much lower than
in the pre- I 960s. ...
.-'''~ ...:.~-~ ....-
Round/ail chub ._
(-This species is present and reproducing in the upper Green and Yampa
river~and their tributaries the White and little Snake rivers.
fit1nyta!1 chub ,.
'Thisspecies is restricted to the main.stemrivers and is declining in
number$to :he point Of being rare. It is presently found only in the
"fa,mPii .and Green rivers within Dinosaur National Monument where it is
apparently successfully reproducing and in the lower Green River in Deso-
(ationCanyon and the Canyonlands area where a few adult specimens have
~eel!observed.

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