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<br />. <br /> <br />(It <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />County roads impacted by the reservoir enlargement construction are being raised above the new <br />reservoir pool and improved to current standards. <br /> <br />Mitigation for Non-Native Game Fishes <br /> <br />Elkhead Reservoir currently has a significant population of non-native games fishes including <br />black crappie and northern pike stocked by the CDOW, and small mouth bass which were not <br />stocked by the CDOW. CDOW is developing a lake management plan which includes these <br />three non-native game fish. These three non-native game fish have been identified as <br />problematic to the recovery of the listed Colorado River fishes found in the Yampa River. The <br />Recovery Program currently salvages small mouth bass from the Yampa River and moves them <br />to Elkhead Reservoir. <br /> <br />To preserve the non-native game fish in the reservoir the enlargement is being constructed with a <br />game fish mitigation pool behind the dam rather than being drained. Construction of the <br />enlargement with a game fish mitigation pool in place is considerably more complex and costly <br />than draining the reservoir. To construct the enlargement with the game fish mitigation pool in <br />place requires the new outlet works be tunneled into a pit excavated in the rock adjacent to the <br />game fish mitigation pool. The new outlet works will be connected to the enlarged reservoir by <br />removing the outlet works pit coffer dam after the outlet works is complete. Additionally, all <br />construction related water discharges from the reservoir must be screened to contain the game <br />fish residing in the game fish mitigation pool. The difference in cost between draining the <br />reservoir for construction and maintaining the game fish mitigation pool during construction is <br />included in this grant application. <br /> <br />The State of Colorado has adopted a non-native fish stocking policy which requires contairunent <br />of non-native fishes in waters such as Elkhead Reservoir. The Recovery Program biology <br />committee has evaluated the potential for non-native fishes to escape from Elkhead Reservoir <br />and cause detrimental effects to the listed fishes in the Yampa River. The Recovery Program's <br />adopted strategy for containing non-native fish in the enlarged Elkhead Reservoir has been <br />included in the design and construction of the reservoir enlargement. This strategy has been <br />reviewed and approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service, and the Recovery Program. The permanent fish contairunent facilities are not a part of <br />this mitigation grant application. <br /> <br />The non-native game fish contairunent strategy consists of: <br /> <br />Construct the reservoir enlargement with a game fish mitigation pool in place. <br /> <br />Temporary screening of the existing outlet works, siphons and pumps to lower the reservoir level <br />for construction to y." openings. <br />