Laserfiche WebLink
• <br />29 <br />IV. Escapement factors <br />• A. Escapement potential -Elkhead Reservoir has direct flow access to the <br />Yampa River. Reservoir discharges over spillway and through outlet at <br />bottom of dam. Escapement potential is high. <br />B. Survival potential following escapement -The survival potential for <br />largemouth bass is very poor. Largemouth bass have been able to escape <br />~ from Elkhead Reservoir since 1984, yet based on annual sampling in the <br />Yampa River, this species is not encountered. Largemouth bass are <br />primarily a lacustrine environment fish and the cold river environment of <br />the Yampa River probably is too harsh for these fish to survive. <br />~ C. Control measures to avoid escapement -None are planned. It is not <br />practical to screen the outlet nor the spillway. <br />V. Impact to endangered species <br />A. Impact -The confluence of Elkhead Creek and the Yampa River is above <br />• designated critical habitat for endangered fish. Only adult Colorado <br />squawfish are found in the Yampa River, so no adverse impacts are <br />anticipated from escaped largemouth bass, which are not expected to <br />persist in the system. <br />B. Measures to remedy impact, including feasibility - No measures are <br />• planned; however, if these fish appear in annual river sampling then <br />stocking will be discontinued. <br />C <br />• <br />• <br />L <br />