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To provide these analyses, we have assumed that there is a direct correlation between the <br />number of fish stocked and recreation days. In most cases, the loss in one region would not be <br />mitigated by a possible gain in another (McAfee 1993). In other words, anglers (and <br />corresponding recreation days) would not "follow" any shifts in stocking. Anglers in isolated <br />areas on the west slope where catchable trout were no longer stocked could have fewer options to <br />find similar fishing experiences within an hour's drive and may elect to not fish. As a result, the <br />recreation days that have been historically produced by an equitable allocation of fish would be <br />disrupted and unequally distributed across the state. This could have extensive impacts on <br />communities and counties, and at those waters where infrastructure (resorts, campgrounds, roads, <br />concessions) exists. Again, it must be remembered that these projections are estimates, not <br />givens. License sales and angler attitudes (as determined in scientific surveys) are the best <br />barometers of angler satisfaction. <br />Fry and Fingerling Trout Stocking <br />As noted previously, 62% of statewide fishing recreation days are produced by management <br />in Intensive Use waters (largely with catchable trout) and 30% of Colorado's fishing recreation <br />days come from waters managed under the Optimum Use category (Table 4). Many streams in <br />the Optimum Use category are supported by wild trout and do not require stocking. Although <br />the lake habitats within the Optimum Use category have outstanding physical characteristics, <br />most do not have the necessary biological capabilities to maintain natural reproduction (with the <br />exception of some brook trout fisheries). DOW biologists recognize that most of the lakes in this <br />category (drive-to and high lakes) would not contain fish without stocking fiy or fingerling trout. <br />Fry are less than 2 inches long, and fingerling are 24 inches long. <br />Because most of these Optimum Use category resources are in protected habitat, the west <br />slope is particularly dependent upon the use of WD- fish for stocking needs. Currently 92% of <br />trout fry and 62% of fingerlings scheduled for the west slope are WD-. <br />On the east slope, only about 53% of Optimum Use category recreation days come from <br />coldwater resources. About 58% of scheduled fry are WD-, while only 25% of scheduled <br />fingerlings are WD-. <br />Because of the large proportion of coldwater resources on the west slope and the need for <br />WD- fry and fingerlings to support recreation, the impacts of WD on stocking could be much <br />more pronounced west of the Continental Divide--perhaps as many as 500,000 recreation days are <br />at stake. Although the east slope is much less dependent upon WD- fry and fingerlings, there are <br />still several popular "types" of waters (small drive-to lakes, high lakes) which are protected <br />habitats that cannot be stocked if negative fish are not available. Over the past couple of years the <br />hatchery system has accommodated the need for WD- fry and fingerlings statewide, but that <br />situation is rapidly changing as the number of hatcheries exposed to WD that produce fry and <br />fingerlings increases. The state is perilously close to losing negative WD status on much of the <br />fiy/fingerling trout needed for stocking in protected habitats. This will likely impact our abilities <br />20