Centennial Wetlands Native Aquatice Species Prospective Recovery Satellite Facility

• Description: Centennial Wetlands Native Aquatice Species Prospective Recovery Satellite Facility
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 4/2/1995
• Title: Centennial Wetlands Native Aquatice Species Prospective Recovery Satellite Facility
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Project Overview

The resulting wetland complex offers a variety of water habitats: 10 ponds from 10 to 22 acres,
20 ponds from 1 to 10 acres, numerous smaller potholes depending on diversion flows, 4 miles of
flowages between ponds (1 '/s miles of which flow year round). This variety and separation
between the several flowage/pond chains permits separate species management to avoid mixing.
Winter kill can be avoided in many of the ponds and flowages because of the pond depth (up to
12 feet), the year round seepage flows both surface and underground and the lack of snow cover
due to moderate snowfall and high winds. Natural spawning conditions for minnows already exist
(various minnows are in many of the ponds) and for river minnows which need flowing water
additional flowages can be improved (dig out cattails, spread gravel on bottom, cover with nets to
keep out fish eating birds) to increase certain minnow species reproduction and still retain a
natural, "close to nature" environment. This facility could be quite cost effective because the
water rights, ponds and flowages are already in place
Large scale stocking of these native species back into their native waters which may have been
degraded is not considered to be an effective recovery procedure, but Centennial Wetlands could
produce populations of 2 to 6 rare and/or declining South Platte fish species to provide for
repopulating native habitats which have been restored.
The consensus of the fisheries experts at these two tours is that Centennial Wetlands has the
potential to contribute to our efforts to protect and/or recover rare and/or declining species in a
proactive effort to protect against new listings along the South Platte, and that this property is
well located to serve the central, eastern plains for these warm water recovery efforts.
Perhaps one of the main beneficiaries of such a recovery/prevention facility would be the
agricultural community because this facility could lessen the chance of new listings which would
be disruptive and expensive to the whole basin and because DOW ownerhship would preclude the
USFWS from becoming a landowner in this area. Furthermore it would be paid for with "other
peoples money ", such as 1/3 from sportsmen (DOW Wildlife Cash) and 2/3 private sources
(GOCO, Ducks Unlimited, Land Conservation Organization and private foundations).
Time is of the essence because the private sources will not commit until DOW is committed (even
thought the DOW commitment could be subject to the other 2/3 being raised subsequently). A
late bill in the current legislative session could accomplish this rather than wait a year during
which time either or both properties could be sold, since both landowners are seriously motivated
to sell (one being in foreclosure). The window of opportunity is open now.
The fisheries experts at the 3/27/95 - 3/28/95 field trips are:
1) Tom Nesler DOW Wildlife MGR for Aquatic Endangered Species
(303- 484 -.2836 ext. 357 Ft. Collins Fax [phone])
(303- 291 -7451 Denver Fax [phone])
2) Larry Harris DOW Hatchery Research Leader for Endangered Species
and in charge of the Native Species Facility Project in the
San Luis Valley.
(303- 484 -2836 ext. 315 Ft. Collins Fax [phone])
3) Dr. Steve Flickinger CSU Fisheries Dept. Professor and Advisor to DOW
(303- 491 -5657 Ft. Collins )
4) Randy Van Buren DOW Fisheries Biologist in South Platte Basin
(303 -484 -2836 ext. 364 Ft. Collins Fax [phone])
5) Tom Kroening DOW District Wildlife Manager in Ft. Morgan Area
(303- 867 -9656 Ft. Morgan )
(303- 842 -3124 Ft. Morgan Fax [phone])
This letter has been prepared by Chris Crosby (303) 322 -5353.