7325

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7325
• Author: McNatt, R. M. and D. L. Skates.
• Title: Fishery Investigation of the Yampa and Green Rivers, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah, 1981.
• USFW Year: 1981.
• USFW - Doc Type: 91-100.
• Copyright Material: YES

94
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) began a fishery study (Colorado
River Fishery Project) on the upper Colorado River Basin in July 19.79. This
study included the mainstream Colorado River from Lake Powell to Palisade,
Colorado and the Green River.from its confluence with the Colorado upstream to
Split Mountain Canyon in Dinosaur National Monument. In fall 1980 the study
was expanded to include the Yampa River and that portion of the Green River
from Split Mountain to the mouth of the Yampa. Previous workers (Holden 1973;
Holden and Stalnaker 1975a, 1975b; Seethaler et al. 1979; Vanicek and Kramer
1969) have indicated the importance of the monument for endangered fishes. In
addition, the endangered Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius) has been
collected throughout the lower 208 km of the Yampa River (Seethaler 1978).
Colorado squawfish have also been observed moving between the Yampa and Green
rivers, since a fish tagged by FWS in the Green River in 1979 was found 83
km up the Yampa River by Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) biologists in
1980.
The Yampa River is the only major tributary of the Green River whose
historic flows have not been altered by dams. The Yampa may not remain in its
wild state for long, however, since several water development projects are
planned. These include the proposed Juniper-Cross Mountain Project (consisting
of two reservoirs at km 90 and km 142), and the Cheyenne Water Project
(diverting water from the headwaters of the Little Snake River, a major tributary
of the Yampa). Because of potential conflicts between such projects and the
survival of endangered fishes, the FWS and the National Park Service (NPS)
proposed a study of the Yampa River in 1980. This study was to supply the
FWS with needed information for Biological Opinions under Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act. In addition, TIPS needed information within Dinosaur
National Monument (DNM) to plan for the conflicting congressional mandates of
maintaining the area in a natural state and providing for the enjoyment of
present and future generations.
The USFWS and NPS entered into a cooperative agreement in spring 1981
to study the Yampa and Lipper Green rivers within DNM_ The Colorado Division
of "dildlife also cooperated in this study because of their ongoing monitoring
program on fishes in the Yampa River. Funds to study the upper Yampa were
also provided by Congress.
A primary objective of the Yampa River Fishes Study is to evaluate
the importance of the study area for maintenance of endangered Colorado
River fishes and to characterize fishery habitat. Studies include (1) a
standardized sampling program for all fishes, (2) a radiotelemetry program
for Colorado squawfish, and (3) a program to determine distribution and
abundance of larval and young-of-year Colorado squawfish. This paper piresehts
preliminary data from the standardized fish sampling program in Dinosaur
National Monument, Colorado and Utah.