7159

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7159
• Author: Hagen, H. K.
• Title: Progress Report on Ecological and Limnological Studies of the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument.
• USFW Year: 1963.
• USFW - Doc Type: Fort Collins, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

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A. Progress Report:

CSURF Contract No.: 14-10-0232-686, sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of
~. the Interior, U.S. National Park Service.

Title: Ecological and Limnological Studies of the Green River in
Dinosaur National Monument.

Period: June 16 - December 1, 1962.

In 1961 the National Park Service sponsored contract research with
Colorado State University and other academic institutions in the Rocky
M::>untain Region to conduct preliminary surveys and attempt to inventory
the aquatic resources within the boundaries of Dinosaur National V~nument.
This was to. be accomplished prior to the upstream "rehabilitation" of the
Green River and the closure of the Flaming Gorge Reservoir Dam.

In the spring of 1962 the contracting agency was able to grant
additional limited funds to study the major limnological features of
the river environment and to investigate phases of the life history of
some of the endemic fishes of the araa.

In view of the limited time and the funds available, it was decided
to place a single graduate student in the area to be supervised by
Dr. llarold K. Hagen and assisted when possible by personnel from the
National Park Service and from Colorado state University.

Some of the progress and achievements in the study to date are:

June 26 - 30, 1962

Graduate student Joseph E. Banks accompanied Dr. Arthur H. Holmgren
from Utah State University and Walter H. Kittams of the National Park
Service on a float trip from the Gates of Lodore to Split Mountain camp-
Bround. Collections of bottom organisms were made in several locations.
The river was too high and turbid for the collection of many fishes.

June 30 - July 25, 1962

Mr. Banks returned to Lodore and began daily collections of
limnological data including temperatures, water chemistry turbidities,
etc. Various types of gear were used in attempting to catch fish in the
area. Length and weights of fis~ were recorded; specimens were pre-
served for later study.

Several interesting and L~ortant observations concerning the river
habitat through Brown I s Park and into the Gates of Lodore were made. For
example - the continued turbidity of the stream was maintained in part
by the undermining actions of the water. As water levels dropped, the
exrosed sand bars were contir.ually caving into the river. l-lind was
another factor as each afternoon it would rise and produce extensive wave
action along the shore. This also contributed to the turbidity.

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