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better restroom facilities, picnic tables/shelters, water pumps, and other amenities could be <br />expected to increase recreation days (currently about 11% of statewide total recreation <br />days) by 15-30%. <br />3. Improve habitat --The greatest limiting factor for our larger and most productive <br />warmwater habitats is water quantity. Inconsistent and generally low water conditions <br />characterized by high fluctuation and high turnover have been identified by our warmwater <br />biologists as the most detrimental attributes in the establishment of multispecies warmwater <br />fisheries. The costs and politics of acquiring water rights or use agreements are difficult <br />obstacles, as evidenced by the great plains reservoirs on the lower Arkansas River drainage. <br />Without significant reallocation of financial resources, the DOW will not be competitive in <br />the water acquisition arena. <br />4. Change species management -- A reasonable option for some lakes may be a change in <br />management from catchable trout to warmwater species. This option has worked well in a <br />number of warmwater/coolwater habitats across the state. Most notable are Pueblo <br />Reservoir, Horsetooth Reservoir, Cherry Creek, and Rifle Gap, where dependency on <br />catchable trout has been reduced by the establishment of excellent warmwater fish <br />populations. However, these types of habitats may again become more important for <br />stocking catchable trout and maintaining recreation days if catchable stocking in <br />mountainous areas is reduced or eliminated. <br />5. Increase participation via information and education programs -- It is thought that the DOW <br />could influence angler use of warmwater habitats by providing information on the <br />productivity of these waters, and educating anglers about the "what's, when's and how's" of <br />these fishing experiences <br />Promote Seasonal Use of Catchable Trout in Warmwater Habitats <br />Most of Colorado's "warmwater" fishing recreation waters are manmade reservoirs <br />developed over the last century to supply water for a wide array of beneficial uses across the <br />state. Warmwater fishing recreation, managed as a secondary use in most reservoirs, is produced <br />during the late spring and summer months in these waters as warmwater species of fish become <br />active and vulnerable to angling. During cooler months of the year (September - March), <br />"warmwater" impoundments produce only limited fishing recreation. In the fall of the year, <br />reservoirs are at minimum water levels and water temperatures begin to cool, creating <br />"coldwater" environments capable of supporting coldwater species of fish. <br />DOW fishery managers, stocking catchable trout in the early fall in selected impoundments <br />across the state, have successfully created new fishing opportunities for fall/spring trout and <br />icefishing. These opportunities have been particularly popular and well received in low-elevation <br />plains areas, where anglers can enjoy trout fishing without the expense and time required to travel <br />to mountainous locations. <br />23