7770

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7770
• Author: Trammell, M. A.
• Title: Evaluation of Colorado Squawfish Stocking in Kenney Reservoir, Rangely, Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1991.
• USFW - Doc Type: Colorado State University,
• Copyright Material: NO

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INTRODUCTION
The Colorado River squawfish (Ptychocheilus Lucius) is endemic to
the Colorado River Basin. Once abundant in the larger rivers of this
system, its decline has necessitated full protection as an endangered
species by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) since 1974 (Federal
Register, Vol. 39[3]:1175). The historical range of this large cyprinid
extended from Mexico to Green River, Wyoming, including much of the
mainstem Colorado River and most of its larger tributaries (CRFRT 1988).
The Colorado squawfish is now restricted to a fraction of its former range
(Tyus et al. 1987). At present that range includes the mainstem Colorado
River from Lake Powell to Palisade, Colorado; the Green River below
Brown's Park, Colorado; the Yampa River below Craig, Colorado; the White
River below Rio Blanco Reservoir, Colorado; and portions of the San Juan
River in Colorado, Utah and New Mexico (CRFRT 1988).
Mainstem impoundments on rivers in the Colorado River system have
largely contributed to the decline of squawfish populations by blocking
their migration routes and altering flow regimes. The White River,
previously free-flowing, was impounded by Taylor Draw Dam in 1985, 14.5
river kilometers (RK) above Rangely, Colorado, creating Kenney Reservoir.
The dam effectively reduced the suitable habitat available to squawfish in
the White River by 80 km by preventing access to the area above the dam.
This represents about 16% of the previously documented range in Colorado
(Martinez 1986).
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