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r <br /> Nongame nonnative fishes with established riverine populations would <br /> continue to be another problem. <br /> 2. Recreation: Recreational opportunities in Utah and Wyoming would be <br /> unaffected by this alternative, except that new private ponds to be <br /> stocked would have to be outside the 50-year floodplain or bermed to <br /> above the 50-year floodplain. In Colorado, future private ponds below <br /> the 50-year floodplain wishing to have fishing but not wanting to berm <br /> to above the 50-year floodplain would have to purchase trout rather <br /> than warmwater fishes from the aquaculture industry. Ponds would <br />probably not be suitable for trout during summer months. Fishing in <br /> private ponds would be concentrated during spring and fall months. <br /> Private ponds below the 50-year floodplain that currently have <br /> warmwater fishing would retain it, unless they voluntarily allowed <br /> their pond to be reclaimed. If their warmwater fishery collapsed for <br /> some reason, the pond could only be restocked with trout. Localized <br /> losses in warmwater fishing opportunities might occur, especially <br /> during summer months. However, approval of management plans for Jerry <br /> Creek Reservoir and Juniata Reservoir will increase warmwater fishing <br /> opportunities above current levels. Additionally, the screening of <br /> Highline and Elkhead Reservoirs will provide additional future <br /> recreational fishing opportunities. <br /> 3. Recovery of Endangered Fishes: The few ponds that might be bermed <br /> to FEMA standards would reduce and isolate the amount of floodplain <br /> habitat available to the endangered fishes during high flow events. <br /> Nutrients and plankton in these floodplain habitats will be isolated <br /> from the river. However, because so few ponds might be bermed, there <br /> would be little negative impact. Ponds bermed to FEMA standards may <br /> also have positive benefits including: 1) preclude re-invasion of the <br /> river by nonnative sport fish stocked into that pond, 2) would not trap <br /> endangered fishes during high flow events, and 3) preserve warmwater <br /> angling opportunities in some ponds. Flows greater than a 50-year <br /> <br />~, event will still allow nonnative fishes to escape to the river, but few <br />ponds exist at this elevation. <br />4. Economy: Costs of berming ponds to FEMA standards have been <br />estimated to be about X36/linear foot (CDOW estimate for Corn Lake). <br />It is likely that stocking of private ponds with warmwater species <br />would decrease causing impacts to the warmwater fish brokers in the <br />aquaculture industry. This may be partially offset by increased trout <br />purchases by the private sector. The change in overall fishing days in <br />Colorado would be minimal. This alternative may reduce fishing <br />expenditures by some unknown amount. Warmwater anglers generally spend <br />about s40/day, although it is probably much less on privately owned <br />ponds. <br />C. Alternative 1. <br />1. Aquatic Biological Resources: The case by case review process would <br />help to insure that no fish species known to adversely effect the <br />endangered fishes would be stocked in areas or situations where they <br /> <br />32 <br />1 <br />