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

changed in 1996 to fry (34%), fingerling (13%), subcatchable (2%), catchable (5%). From these
data it is evident that, at this time, changing to total wild trout management in streams would not
provide substantial opportunities to forego or redistribute hatchery-reared fish. The greatest
"savings" would be realized from the 2.3 million trout fry (34% of statewide fry production).
However, because of their small size, production of trout fiy has limited requirements for hatchery
space and costs (food, feeding, and transportation).
It should be noted that this situation could change if the DOW increased its capability to
produce more WD- trout, some of which might be scheduled for additional stream stocking. This
situation might again encourage stocking plans that would more closely reflect 1992 stocking
numbers, where a much greater proportion of the state's fish production was used in streams.
Use of stocked trout to meet fishing pressure in certain high-use stream segments in populated
corridors would make wild trout management a more viable option in surrounding stream habitat
areas. Conversion of all suitable coldwater stream habitat to wild trout management may be a
desirable and appropriate objective in and of itself, and would contribute toward less dependency
on fish stocking and the risk of exposure to WD. If maintaining fishing recreation at or near the
1992 level (6+ million recreation days) is also a management objective (as suggested in the LRP),
then an alternate strategy that exploits the recreation potential of WD+ fish in low-risk waters
until they can be replaced by WD- fish during a transition period would be warranted. If not, then
fish recreation goals in the LRP should be reevaluated with respect to increased participation in
fishing, increased angler satisfaction, and stocking to maintain angler satisfaction.
Management of the native cutthroat species encompasses both conservation and recreation
elements. Given the declining status of these species, the conservation objectives must take
precedence over recreation opportunities or demand. Restoration and long-term management of
the native cutthroats have the best prospects for success if they are managed as the exclusive
salmonid species in the headwaters of their respective drainages. This is consistent with existing
restoration management plans for each species, which emphasizes the need to isolate their habitat
from other salmonids to minimize hybridization and other negative interactions. The
implementation of this management alternative for Colorado River and greenback cutthroat will
require at least a 10-year time frame.
Recreational benefits provided by self-sustaining native cutthroat populations are similar to
other wild trout. Catch-and-release and limited-harvest regulations will be required to protect
them from overfishing, to which they are very susceptible. As unique native gamefish, the
attractiveness and desirability of these limited cutthroat fisheries to the public may enhance their
recreation potential. However, management for native species (within the Special Use category)
provided only 9,800 recreation days in 1992, or about 0.2% of the statewide recreation days.
Even a doubling of waters managed for native species would do little to increase recreation days
due to greater difficulty of reaching the remote waters targeted for restoration actions. Expansion
of native species management that may take place over the next decade is unlikely to decrease the
need for fish production or to increase recreation days, given that those potential waters now
receive little management or fishery pressure.
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