7071 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-56- SPAWNING POTE~!?TIAL ~~von-Game F i sh~j The fish present in the Green River froffi LaBarge to the Flaming Gorge damsite are predominately rough fish. Trout populations are present in .lesser numbers, and are confined to the saction of the Green River from LaBarge to the Big Island Bridge. These trouat populations are a direct result of the Wyoming Game and .Fish Department planting policy. Channel catfish populations are present in the-Green River from fhe Glyoming-lUtah State line downstream through the damsite area. These. catfish populatioa~s are thought to be largely the result of the i~tah Fish and Game planting policy for that section of the river. The bonytail9 squawfish9 carp and sucker represent the larger species of .coarse fish ,which will co~apete for space and food in the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Spawning conditions will be excellent for rough fish in the reservoir. Numerous streamms will flow into the reservoir to provide spawn- ing areas for suckers. ~~ie Green River proper9 between the Flaming Gorge proper and the Fontanelle Dam, will also provide adequate spawning area for suckers, squawfish and bonytail. Anticipated reservoir operation will provide optimum conditions for carp spawning. In the management of other reservoirs in the State, Platte River reservoirs in particular, it has been possible to affect some control of carp populations by lowering, or transferring9 water during the carp spawn- ing season. This manipulation of water levels can9 and does, strand .much of the egg production of the carp on dry land, The procedure followed on the Platte River Reservoir system will be i~apossible on the Flaming Gorge Reser- voir. Under anticipated reservoir operation, the Flaming Gorge will begin filling during the latter part of April or early Y~iay. The filling period will extend into the latter part of July9 and the reservoir will remain relatively stable until the following January. This fillia~g period coincides with run-off data, Graph 1, page l5. Carp spaw~~immg inn the reservoir in June and July will be assured an abua~dance of shal~.ow water areas and stable9 or risings water elevations until the spawn .has thatched. RESERVOIR FL'JCT~'ATION The Flaming Gorge Reservoir is designed to operate as a water storage and hydro-electric unit rather than an irrigation project. On this basis, it is reasonable to assu~°~e that water releases will be regulated to take full advantage of power producing installations. It .has been stated, by Bureau of Reclamatio*a officials, that the hydro-electric units were designed to operate most effectively undcer a 400 foot 'hydrostatic head. There is ap- proximately 34 feet of storage above this 400 foot :mark. The average annual maximum fl~~ctuation has been given as 34 feet9 However, the practical minimum has been gie~°en as 90 :Feet, see diagram on page 58. Consequently, during any year or period of years, the .reservoir could fluctu- ate as much as 90 feet to meet power commitments. The maps, pages 62 and 639