3135

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 3135
• Author: Wiltzius, W. J.
• Title: Some Factors Historically Affecting the Distribution and Abundance of Fishes in the Gunnison River
• USFW Year: 1978.
• USFW - Doc Type: Final Report for Fishery Investigations of the Lower Gunnison River Drainage.
• Copyright Material: NO

1
INTRODUCTION
The Gunnison River, a major tributary to the upper Colorado River,
arises at the junction of the East and Taylor rivers at the town of
Almont in southwest Colorado. Prior to Man's intervention, the Gunnison
River flowed, sometimes voluminously and with considerable velocity in
some sections, for about 150 mi (241 km) before joining the Colorado
River at Grand Junction, Colorado. In 1907 the Redlands Power and Diver-
sion Dam was constructed across the Gunnison River about 1.5 mi (2.4 km)
above Grand Junction. By 1910, a Tunnel was completed, capable of divert-
ing the entire summer flow of the lower Gunnison River in some years
into the arid Uncompahgre Valley. The flows, after being diverted and
used for irrigation by the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users, reentered
the Gunnison River via the Uncompahgre River near Delta, Colorado.
Historically, the fishes found in the Gunnison River below these
two structures were primarily rough fishes, principally members of the
family Catostomidae. However, concern over any adverse influence on
these fishes in the early years was not voiced by sportsmen nor by most
government agencies. Since 1973, with the passage of the Endangered
Species Act, considerable concern is now prevalent. Despite the abun-
dance of rough fish in the lower river, the 60-mi (96-km) section of the
river above the Gunnison Tunnel was a world-famous trout fishery. The
December 15, 1946 issue of Colorado Conservation Comments remarked:
"For almost half a century the Gunnison River was rated as
the best trout stream in the entire United States. This was
not a rating by Coloradoans, but the studied opinion of a
research committee sent out by the National Geographic Society."