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<br />mergansers), wading birds (e.g., various herons and egrets), and aerial <br />diving birds (e.g. osprey, bald eagle, and belted kingfisher). <br /> <br />Fish resources include the native flannelmouth sucker (Catostomus <br />latioinnis), bluehead sucker {Catostomus discobolus), and roundtail chub <br />(Gila robusta). Introduced fish species include channel catfish (Ictalurus <br />ounctatus), black bullhead (Ictalurus melas), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), <br />fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), red shiner (Notropis lutrensis), white <br />sucker (Catostomus commersoni), and green sunfish (Leoomis cyanellus). <br /> <br />Pond owners along the Colorado Ri ver reported that 32% of the ponds <br />contained fish while pond owners along the Gunnison River reported that 10% <br />of the ponds contained fish (Mitchell 1995). Ponds containing nonnative, <br />warmwater fishes were dominated by largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). <br />Other nonnative, warmwater fish species in the ponds included bluegill <br />(Lepomis macrochirus), black crappie (Pomoxis niQromaculatus), catfish <br />(Ictalurus sp.), common carp, fathead minnow,' suckers, rainbow trout <br />(Oncorhynchus Qaridneri), brown trout (Salmo trutta), brook trout <br />(Salvelinus fontinalis), and triploid grass carp (CtenopharonQodon idella). <br /> <br />Surveys of private ponds in the floodplain of the Colorado River by the <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife generally contained common carp, black <br />bullhead, white sucker, and fathead minnow (W. Elmblad, 1995, Personal <br />Communication) while public ponds contained warmwater sportfish species such <br />as largemouth bass, bluegill, and black crappie (P. Martinez, 1997, Personal <br />Communication). <br /> <br />D. EndanQered Species. Endangered species that occur in Colorado are <br />summarized in Appendix C (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1997). Endangered <br />species that are likely to be found in the project area include the Colorado <br />squawfi sh, razorback sucker, Ameri can peregri ne falcon, bald eagl e, and <br />Southwestern willow flycatcher. None of the Federally-listed threatened or <br />endangered mammals or plants are known to occur in the project area. The <br />proposed control of nonnative fish species is related to the recovery of the <br />Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker in the Upper Colorado River Basin. <br />Information on birds occurring in the project area were obtained from lists <br />by Andrews and Righter 1992, Colorado Natural Heritage Program 1995, and an <br />undated but relatively recent Bird Check List for Mesa County, Colorado. <br />The Ameri can peregri ne falcon is a rare mi grant that can inhabit the <br />riparian zone. The bald eagle is an unusual but regular winter visitor that <br />occasionally perches in large cottonwood trees in the riparian zone of the <br />Upper Colorado and Gunnison rivers (Grand Valley Audubon Society 1987). The <br />interior least tern is a very rare migrant using open water areas of the <br />Grand Valley. The Southwestern willow flycatcher inhabits the riparian zone <br />and forages over open land habitats. This flycatcher was reported to breed <br />in the Grand Valley. <br /> <br />E. Historic and Cultural Resources. The Ute Indians inhabited the Grand Valley <br />prior to 1881 and Mesa County was part of the Ute Reservation established <br />by a 1868 treaty (Mesa County Planning Commission 1996). The Utes were <br />moved to Utah in 1881 -- allowing white settlers to homestead in the Grand <br />Valley. Various artifacts from the Ute Indians still remain in the~rand <br /> <br />11 <br />