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. 25 and the Rio Grande below the mouth of Conejos harbor populations of Rio Grande chub which . are a Species of Special Concern. Potential tiger muskie predation on these native fishes is an issue. . Rio Blanco Reservoir Rio Blanco Reservoir is managed by the CDOW as a recreational lake fishery. As such water level fluctuations are minimal and related to evaporation and percolation through the alluvium. Water is diverted from the White River to fill the lake (Figure 8). The lake is filled once a year and then the diversion is shut off. The lake does not spill nor are there any water releases. A drop structure/weir is located in the diversion channel and prevents fish from escaping the lake through the inlet. The entire lake basin is flat and shallow (Table 3). The lake is densely vege~ted with aquatic plants in all but the deepest areas. Rio Blanco Reservoir is managed as a warmwater sportfishery. In the last two years the lake has been stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish (Table 4). Common carp and sucker populations are small and presumably being controlled by northern pike. Northern pike reproduce naturally in the lake. Tiger muskie and northern pike could be expected to compete for habitat and forage, possibly to the detriment of panfish populations. Angler surveys last conducted from April 1 to August 31, 1987, projected angler use at 6,900 hours with a CPAH of 1.03. Tiger muskie would provide a new sportfish species to the area, although the presence of northern pike in the lake probably fills some demand for a trophy esocid fishery. Northern pike weighing close to 20 lbs. are taken from Rio Blanco Lake each year. . . . . . The nearest occupied endangered fish habitat is in the White River below Kenney Reservoir near Rangely, a distance of about 45 river miles. Rio Blanco Lake is managed to prevent fish escapement into the White River. Escapement could only occur if the diversion was not closed after the lake had filled or if the White River flooded the lake during an extremely high flood event that would have to be substantially higher than the runoffs of 1983 and 1984. . .