7036

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7036
• Author: Holden, P. B. and C. B. Stalnaker
• Title: Distribution of Fishes in the Dolores and Yampa River Systems of the Upper Colorado Basin
• USFW Year: 1975
• USFW - Doc Type: The Southwestern Naturalist
• Copyright Material: YES

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TilE SOUTHWESTERN NA1TRAUS"f 19(4): 403-412 I JAN. 20, 1975

DISTRIBUTION OF FISHES IN THE DOLORES
AND YAMPA RIVER SYSTE~IS OF THE
UPPER COLORADO BASIN'

PAUL B. HOLDEN AND CLAIR B. STAI.NAKEU

Utah Cooperative Fishery Unit, Utah State University, Logan 84322

ABSTRACT. Fi,h sampling was cOlJducted in the Dolores Hiyer, Colorado, ill
1971 and the Yampa Riyer system of Color;Hlo. 1<)68-71 with empha~is placed on rare
and endangercd species. Elcyen species wcre found in thc D0101"cS River, but no rare
and cm];mgcrcd forms were collected. Twenty-two specics were collected in the
Yampa Hiver .~}"stern, includinf{ four rare and endangered forms: Colorado squaw-
fish (Ptychochrilus lucius), llumpback chub (Gila cypha) bony tail chub (Gila ete-
gans) and humpback sucker (Xyrauche.'1 teTanus). The Yampa system appeared
important to reproduction and l)fe,ef\'ation of Colorado squawfish.

Thc nativc fish fnuna of thc Colorado Hiver basin represents 011e of
thc lcast understood groups of fishes native to a major North American
river bnsin. Heasons for this arc the rugged terrtlin surrounding the
Colorado H.iver aud the lo\\" economic and sport value placed 011 these
species. The Colorado Hiver has in the last 50 years been greatly des-
ecratcd, with much of the system either dry or ponded into great
rcservoirs. These factors have greatly limited th~ availahle hahitat for
native fishes. Several species are no\v rare amI endangered. Colorado
squawfish (Ptyclwcheilus lucius) and humpbilck chub (Gila cyplw)
are prescntly considcreu rare and endangered by the U. S. Depart-
ment of the Tntl'rior (1(l(iHL The humpback sucker (Xrrauc!/{'n lc.'-
allus) awl bony tail chuh (Gila cLegalls) arc very rare also (~liller
1972).
Thc native fish of the Colorado Hi\"(~r systl'm can be separated into
two groups: (1) large riv~~I' brms found in maiu c"hallJlcls of the CeJlo.
rado Hi vcr, Greeu Hi\'er illld larger tributaries, and (2) small stream'
. forms found primarily ill t!J(' lo"er basin (Ne\'ada. Arizona) in small
streams and springs. :\liJlCkley .and Deacon (19fiK) re\"ie\yed the statns
of lJati\"c fishes ill tire lo\\'er Colorado hasin (h(>low Grand Call)'OI!).
They concluded thaI ];Irgt' furms arc virtually extinct in the lower
basin. Therefore. till' Upl)!'!' Cohrado has111 rcmaillslh:' only n'[uge
for these unique fishes. This pilper is cOllcenH'd "ith lhe Yampa ilml

1 POI"ion or a docloral ,Ii,,'.'/'lalilln written at Utah Stall' U nin'rsily.

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