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<br />. <br /> <br />19 <br /> <br />tiger muskie. <br />. For tiger muskie to survive they would have to pass through both channels of Kannah <br />Creek to the Gunnison River where survival may be possible. Tiger muskie share many of the <br />habitat requirements of northern pike. Northern pike are found in the Gunnison River but do <br />not appear to be noticeably impacting native or sportfish populations. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Harvey Gap Reservoir <br />Harvey Gap Reservoir is filled with water from East Rifle Creek that is diverted through <br />the Grass Valley Canal (Figure 6). The reservoir does not spill. Diversions are managed to <br />keep the reservoir full without spilling. Water drops 50 feet from the Grass Valley Canal into <br />the reservoir and prevents fish escapement through the inlet. <br />All water releases are made into irrigation ditches. All irrigation ditches end at a <br />headgate. Water is only released during irrigation season. The only water that ever reaches the <br />Colorado River is return water from irrigated fields. The average annual drawdown is about <br />30 feet with a maximum of about 45 feet. Water releases occur from the bottom of the reservoir <br />through one outlet that is at a depth of 53 feet. <br />The reservoir basin has moderately steep sides: Rooted aquatic vegetation does not occur <br />in this reservoir because of the large annual drawdowns (Table 3). <br />Harvey Gap Reservoir is managed for both warmwater and cold water sportfisheries <br />(Table 4). In 1993, Harvey Gap was planted with catchable size rainbow trout and fingerling <br />channel catfish. Other fish species such as black crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, and <br />smallmouth bass maintain populations through natural reproduction. Northern pike were recently <br />found in Harvey Gap and appear to be reproducing successfully. A large white sucker <br />population along with rainbow trout would provide the preferred forage of soft-rayed fish. <br />Northern pike and tiger muskie could be expected to compete for this forage base. <br />Angler surveys last conducted in 1987 projected total angler use at 11,650 hours with a <br />CPAH of 0.4. Tiger muskie would provide a new sportfish species to the area, although the <br />presence of northern pike in the reservoir probably fills. some demand for a trophy esocid <br />fishery. A northern pike weighing 16 Ibs. was taken from Harvey Gap Reservoir. Fishermen <br />are allowed to wade, float tube, and use boats with 20 hp or less outboard motors. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />