7899 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. 16 . fisheries are comprised primarily of naturally reproducing populations of brown and rainbow trout. Rainbow trout are also stocked in the river. Native fish species occurring in the area are bluehead sucker, tlannelmouth sucker, and roundtail chub. Tiger muskie could also escape Green Mountain Reservoir by swimming upstream in the Blue River. Potentially they could swim upstream about 20 miles to Dillon Reservoir. This entire reach of the Blue River is Gold Medal Water. This riverine fishery is locally important to the Silverthorne area. The Gold Medal fishery is comprised of rainbow trout, brown trout, and kokanee salmon. Brown trout reproduce naturally. Native species occurring in the area include bluehead sucker (Table 5). The potential impact of large numbers of muskies escaping to the river either upstream or downstream could be noticeable particularly if they were to concentrate in localized areas. It may be possible to remove them from localized concentration areas such as at the base of Dillon Reservoir. The potential impact of relatively small numbers escaping to the river probably would not be noticeable - much like the current situation with northern pike in the Colorado River. Relatively cold water temperatures in the Blue River above Green Mountain Reservoir may reduce the movement of muskies upstream. . . . . Hallenbeck Reservoir Hallenbeck Reservoir is part of the City of Grand Junction's water supply system. The reservoir water originates from Kannah Creek where it is diverted to Juniata Reservoir and then released into Hallenbeck (figure 5). The surface water level is managed to keep the reservoir full, yet prevent spillage as this is not allowed in the water right. Employees currently with the Grand Junction Water Treatment Plant believe that Hallenbeck has never spilled. When Hallenbeck was drained in 1990 to repair the outlet works, the water was released into the North Fork of Kannah Creek. While this was going on all but the smallest size classes of fish were removed at a screen placed in a box at the outlet house. Annual drawdowns are minimal and in the range of 5 feet. Operational water releases are made into a pipeline that goes to the City's water treatment plant. The reservoir basin is relatively shallow with low gradient shorelines (Table 3). A well vegetated littoral zone exists around the reservoir because of the shape of the basin and because the reservoir is kept full most of the year. The City feels this vegetation gives drinking water . . . .