South Platte River Basin Assessment Report

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The rough fish typically are carp, white sucker, the creek chub, and the fathead minnow, which represent dominant species of the warm water fisheries (Li, 1968). These rough fish are found extensively in the warmer plains streams due to species competition rather than to pollution. The rough species generally lay 2 to 4 times as many eggs as the desirable warm water species such as bass and crappie (Larimer- Weld Regional - Council of Governments and Toups Corporation, 1978). Reservoirs located in the lower basin have been stocked with various warm water game fish which include walleye, yellow perch, largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, northern pike, channel and other catfish species. A macroinvertebrate community similar to that described by Wesche and Johnson (1980) probably exists in the downstream reaches of the South Platte River. This community includes flies, beetles, mayflies, bugs, dragonflies and damselflies, other insects, aquatic worms, and various molluscs (Woodward -Clyde Consultants, 1980). One native fish subspecies, the plains orangethroat darter, is a state - listed threatened fish that may have occurred historically in streams of the lower South Platte River basin (Colorado Division of Wildlife, 1978). The species now exists throughout the South Fork of the Republican River, which may be of concern regarding the proposed Trans- County Project, discussed in Chapter 5. Mammals Many mammals, including black bear, mountain lion, American elk, mule deer, coyote, pika, Abert's squirrel, and numerous small mammals, such as deer mouse, least shrew and spotted ground squirrel, are found within the South Platte River basin. Larger mammals, such as black bear and mountain lion, are located in the Sub - Alpine zone (Figure 5). other species, such as beaver or muskrat, are located within all five broad ecological zones of the basin, but remain close to aquatic habitats. -14- L r J L f