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<br />already been discussed. Roundtail chub were rare in this reach and reproduction, while detected, <br />was limited. <br />Additional non-native fishes collected in the Green River upstream of the Yampa River in <br />2002 to 2004 included brook stickleback Culea inconstans, bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, and <br />black bullhead Ameiurus melas. None of these taxa was collected during 1994 to 1996 (black <br />bullhead was captured in 1978-1980). We also noted reproduction by northern pike and <br />smallmouth bass during this time period. <br />Thus, the historical fish community of the Green River upstream of the Yampa River has <br />undergone dramatic shifts in composition, abundance, and reproductive capability at least three <br />times since 1962 in response to dam construction and river regulation. A pre-impoundment fish <br />removal program also likely reduced distribution and abundance of native fishes in the regulated <br />reach; subsequent re-invasion likely did not occur because of cold releases (Holden 1991). Post- <br />penstock re-invasion of the regulated reach and subsequent reproduction by native and non-native <br />fishes demonstrated the powerful role that water temperature played in regulating distribution and <br />community composition. <br />Discharge modifications implemented in 1992, and the thermal enhancement that occurred <br />as a result of it, also appeared to further shift the fish community and habitat in the Lodore <br />Canyon reach of the Green River toward pre-dam conditions, based on 1994 to 1996 sampling <br />(Bestgen and Crist 2000). It should be noted that fish community shifts detected during sampling <br />from 1994 to 1996 may be due to a combination of delayed response of the fish community to <br />thermal modification in 1978 and changes in flow and temperature regimes since 1992 (Bestgen <br />and Crist 2000). Several native taxa including bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker, speckled <br />dace, and mountain whitefish remained abundant. Colorado pikeminnow also increased in <br />distribution and abundance in the 1994 to 1996 period compared to earlier ones, which may have <br />been attributable to improved habitat conditions or to increased dispersal of individuals from <br />expanding populations in other portions of the basin in the mid-1990's (Bestgen et al. 2005). <br />Distribution and abundance of cold water rainbow and cutthroat trout have declined since 1980; <br />brown trout, which are more tolerant of warm water, were relatively more abundant. Salmonids <br />62