8057

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8057
• Author: Bennett, J. R., D. A. Krieger, T. P. Nesler, L. E. Harris and R. B. Nehring.
• Title: An Assessment Of Fishery Management And Fish Production Alternatives To Reduce The Impact Of Whirling Disease In Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

the capability for natural reproduction (most notably high lakes) or cannot produce enough fish to
keep up with angler harvest (drive-to small mountain lakes and streams). Therefore, many of
these waters receive supplemental stocking of fry or fingerling fish and may be under harvest
restrictions.
Most of the state's aquatic resources (53%) are in the 99,362 acres that occur in the
Optimum Use category. Only 1% of total statewide production (51,000 fish) of catchable trout
were stocked in these waters in 1992, while 49% of all coldwater fiy, fingerling and subcatchables
(6,000,000) were stocked into Optimum Use category waters. DOW's cost per recreation day in
the Optimum Use category was $1.24 in 1992, and 17 recreation days were generated by each
acre of habitat.
It is estimated that the Optimum Use waters produce 30% of statewide recreation days
(Table 4). The catch in lakes (and associated recreation days) in this category definitely depends
upon fry and fingerling stocking, while the contribution to the catch in streams from stocked fish
varies significantly by region.
Special Use Category
Special Use management is designed to preserve and enhance selected species or to provide
specialized fishing recreation within the biological and physical capability of the environment to
support the designated use at the least cost. The primary management objective is to preserve
and enhance selected species (including those listed as special concern, threatened, or endangered)
or to provide anglers the opportunity to catch but not always harvest either wild fish, large fish, or
unique species. Stocking, if necessary, is at a level similar to what would be produced naturally.
Special harvest regulations are frequently used to meet management objectives.
The waters in this category include native cutthroat habitats and Gold Medal designated
streams and lakes. Most have good potential for natural reproduction and are not stocked, but
harvest restrictions are imposed on many of them.
Only 11,012 acres (6% of public waters) in Colorado are managed for Special Use
objectives. The Special Use waters were stocked in 1992 with 1% of statewide production of
catchable trout and only 3% of fry, fingerling, and subcatchable trout production. This category
of waters accounted for 8% of total fishing recreation days in 1992 (Table 4). Catch rates and
recreation days vary among areas, while trout density and biomass are dependent upon natural
reproduction. The cost per recreation day in this category was $0.19 in 1992 with 37 recreation
days generated by each acre of habitat.
Whirling Disease Impacts to Fishing Recreation
The Categorization System can be used to estimate the potential impact of our current and
future fish stocking decisions on fishing recreation days. However, in doing so, we assume that
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