7892

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7892
• Author: Elmblad, W. R., et al.
• Title: State of Colorado, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Lake Management Plans For The Northwest Region.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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CONNECTED LAKES -SMALL (LOWER) LAKE
~ I. Introduction
A. Physical parameters
1. Management category - #230 fwarmwater lakes < 100 ac)
• 2. Drainage -Colorado River
3. Size - 8 surface acres
4. Location - 1 mile west of Grand Junction; Redlands
Parkway and Colorado River; T1 S, R1 W, Sec. 8
5. Elevation - 4,570 feet
6. Maximum depth -approximately 10 feet
• 7. Inlet information -Water is supplied by groundwater and leakage
through two 15 foot alluvial berms that separate it from Large
Connected Lake.
8. Dike description -protected by a manmade berm shielded with
concrete rubble and covered by cobble size material in the area where
erosional forces from the river would be strongest. This berm was
• intended to protect the lake from the river.
B. Physical Description: Small or Lower Connected Lake is an old grave! pit
that lies in the floodplain of the Colorado River. The lake is part of the
Colorado State Parks system.
• C. Existing fish community
1. Largemouth bass, bluegill, green sunfish, black crappie, fathead
minnow were present in 1993. Lake has not been stocked by the
Colorado Division of Wildlife with these species except for fathead
minnows which were planted prior to stocking Colorado squawfish.
'~ 2. 64 Colorado squawfish were planted in 1993.
II. Management strategy
A. Manage as a mixed species recreational fishery for largemouth bass,
• bluegill, and channel catfish.
B. Special regulations should be adopted for providing a quality fishery for
largemouth bass (2 fish > 15 in.) and to extend the annual yield of bluegill
(10 fish bag).
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III. Stocking purpose and need
A. Rationale/Justification for selecting target species
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