9589

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9589
• Author: Colorado Division of Wildlife.
• Title: Aquatic Wildlife Management Plan Yampa River Basin, Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1998.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

7. Fortification Creek
This drainage is located north of Craig and includes
Fortification Creek and its tributaries. The waters within this
drainage include four lakes (93 ac) and 24 streams (191 mi).
Very few waters are managed by CDOW within this drainage.
Freeman Reservoir, a 17 ac impoundment at the headwaters of
Little Cottonwood Creek will be managed in category 320 as
a refugia and limited fishery for Colorado River cutthroat
trout. Five headwater stream reaches (69 mi) are managed as
wild trout fisheries with natural recruitment within the
Optimum Management category 221. Nineteen streams (122
mi) and one 3ac pond (Sawmill Ponds #72253) are managed
for the conservation of other native aquatic wildlife. Many of
these streams and gulches are small or seasonal in nature with
regard to flow. All waters within this drainage have been
classified as protected habitat with respect to whirling disease
(WD) and can be stocked if necessary with WD negative fish
only. (Appendix C-Table 7)
Recommended management strategies/options:
1) Maintain existing waters designated within the
Optimum and Special Management categories as listed.
2) Manage Freeman Reservoir as a ref igia and limited
fishery for Colorado River cutthroat trout, enhance
upstream stream spawning habitat, reduce winterkill
potential with aeration and vegetation control if
feasible.
3) Initiate baseline herptile, mollusk and crustacean
inventories as agency resources permit.
DRAFT - January 13, 1998
Figure 11.
LAKES
Private
trout
Species
Colorado River
cutthroat trout
Aquatic wildlife management by category in the
Fortification Creek drainage.
23
mm W M W MM MM M? m M ON M? MW M
Native/Unique Species