Final Environmental Assessment for the Tamarack Managed Groundwater Recharge Project

Home Browse Search

fish populations. Recent aquatic inventory studies conducted by the DOW identified twenty -four different fish species inhabiting the lower sections of the South Platte River in Colorado. Plains killifish were the most abundant species captured followed by sand shiner, fathead minnow, and creek chub. Common species included, bigmouth shiner, brook stickleback, and red shiner. Although the natural aquatic habitats associated with the lower South Platte River cannot support viable populations of game fish, several introduced species occur as. the result of human stocking efforts and impoundments. These include, carp, bluegill, and largemouth bass. See Appendix C for a complete list of fish species inhabiting the study area. Riparian plant communities like those found on the TRSWA and PESWA support some of the most productive and diversified ecosystems in the western United States. In Colorado, over one third of all vertebrate species that inhabit the state have been recorded in river and stream riparian zones. Although the project area does not include the river bottom habitat, most of the species found in the riparian areas would also range into the project sites. Some common species associated with the upland sites of the proposed project include, mule deer, white - tailed deer, wild turkey, cottontail rabbit, coyote, western box turtle, lesser earless lizard, bullsnake, meadow lark, morning dove, bobwhite quail, ring - necked pheasant, black - billed magpie, and American Kestrel. For a complete vertebrate species list see Appendix C. ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES State Species of Special Concern The following native fishes have been identified by the state of Colorado as either threatened or endangered: the suckermouth minnow, northern redbellied dace, common shiner, lake chub, brassy minnow, and plains minnow. Of these species, historical records indicate that the suckermouth minnow, brassy minnow, and plains minnow inhabited the lower South Platte River in the vicinity of TRSWA and PESWA in much greater numbers than at present. Reasons for the decrease are unknown, but degraded water quality, altered water flows, and pollution may be factors in declining distribution and abundance of these species. The proposed project is among the initial recovery strategies currently being reviewed by the CDOW for those three species. From their Biological and Conservation Data System, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program identified four rare migrant bird species whose ranges include the TRSWA and PESWA (Appendix H.) The eastern bluebird and black - billed cuckoo are considered imperiled because of rarity, Bell's vireo is deemed extremely rare, and the upland sandpiper is classified as vulnerable.