9509

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9509
• Author: Hill, C. G.
• Title: Dynamics of Northern Pike Spawning and Nursery Habitat in the Yampa River, Colorado.
• USFW Year: 2004.
• USFW - Doc Type: Fort Collins, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

'-.

Reduction of northern pike has been identified as a key step in the recovery
efforts for endangered fish in the Yampa River. We evaluated the effectiveness of
barriers to backwater spawning habitat as a way to limit northern pike Esox lucius
spawning success and thereby reduce recruitment. Potential backwater spawning habitat
appeared to be abundant in the Yampa River, but high quality backwaters were limited.
The majority of backwaters showed signs of receiving flushing flows during spring
runoff, which calls into question the quality of backwaters as nursery habitat. Fewage-O
northern pike were found in backwaters. Age-O pike were much more abundant in
samples from one off channel pond, suggesting that these areas may be a more significant
source for young-of-the-year recruitment. In addition, northern pike movements from a
reservoir to the Yampa River were documented. Fall installation of barriers was not
effective because of damage from ice during the winter. Spring installation is feasible,
but would need to be done in the limited amount of time before northern pike begin to
spawn. The reluctance of some land owners to allow barriers to be installed on their
property and the apparent low recruitment found in backwaters suggest that the time and
money spent on installation may not be worthwhile. Future studies and management
should be directed at the ponds and reservoirs, which appear to be important sources of
northern pike recruitment into the Yampa River.

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