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i M = = M = M = = = = M = M = = = = wildlife within the Special Management Category. This represents over 95% of the stream resource within this hydrounit. The lower 47 mi of the Yampa River flows through Yampa Canyon within Dinosaur National Monument. This reach and associated tributaries, including most streams in the Vermillion Creek and Upper Green hydrographic units, are on federal lands managed by the National Park Service at the Monument. All waters within this drainage except one private pond, Axial Basin Lake, and the Yampa River mainstem 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 12) Lower Yampa River Recommended management strategies/options: 1) Maintain existing waters designated within Intensive, Optimum, and Special Management categories as listed. 2) Manage the Yampa River downstream of the Williams Fork confluence under Special Management category 322 primarily as habitat for native and endangered aquatic wildlife and control abundance of nonsalmonid fish species as necessary to protect native fish populations and enhance recovery of federal- and state- listed endangered fish species. 3) Use northern pike, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish obtained through removal in (2) and translocate to off-channel ponds in middle Yampa River reach and Elkhead Reservoir (interim only) in accordance with Nonnative Fish Stocking Procedures. 4) Develop access/lease agreements with private landowners whose lakes or reservoirs are suited for appropriate escapement control to expand fishing opportunities for either coldwater or warmwater fish species in the lower Yampa River reach. DRAFT - January 13, 1998 30