Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Colorado River Recovery Program <br />Annual Report-Project9f <br /> <br />COLORADO RIVER RECOVERY PROGRAM <br /> <br />FY 97 ANNUAL PROJECT REPORT <br />FOR PUBUC INVOLEMENT PROJECTS <br /> <br />Project No.-2L <br /> <br />I. Project title: Yampa Native/Nonnative Fish Management Plan <br /> <br />II. Public involvement coordinator: <br />Thomas P. Nesler <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife <br />317 W. Prospect, Ft. Collins, CO 80526 <br />970-484-2836, x357; 970-490-6066 FAX <br />tom.nesler@state.co.us <br /> <br />ill. Project summary: <br /> <br />Issues <br />Concerns related to removal and control of nonnative fishes that have already surfaced and <br />are likely to generate controversy include: <br /> <br />1. reduction of desirable warmwater gamefish species; and <br />2. reduced future opportunities for warm water sport fishing. <br />3. overall cost of recovery program <br /> <br />Background <br />Chronic escapement of northern pike and smallrnouth bass from ponds and reservoirs, and <br />their persistence along with channel catfish in the mainstem Yampa River are believed to <br />pose a significant predatory threat to the native fish community, including some effects on <br />adult endangered fishes in the Yampa River and on younger life stages in the middle Green <br />River. It is believed these predatory gamefish species negatively effect roundtail chub, a <br />candidate species for federal listing, recruitment size of Colorado squawfish, use of <br />important spring backwater habitats by adult Colorado squawfish prior to spawning <br />migrations, and abundance of juvenile Colorado squawfish in the middle Green River. It <br />is believed that off-channel ponds and Elkhead Reservoir can be used to provide quality <br />sportfisheries for northern pike and bass with the installation of screening or other devices <br />to minimize escapement from selected pond and reservoir fisheries.a <br />IV. Study schedule: December, 1996 through December 1997 <br /> <br />1 <br />