Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Gunnison/4 <br />Timing is critical for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon in the <br />reservoir also, according to Division Biologist Dave Langlois. High <br />flows during years with sufficient runoff probably will not harm <br />the reservoir fishery, he said. But requiring extremely high flows <br />during drought years could wipe out two-thirds of Blue Mesa's water <br />and could spell disaster for the lake fishery, he said. <br />"Blue Mesa is the most important fishing lake in the Southwest <br />Region," Langlois said. "Politically this is a sensitive issue." <br />After the five-year study is completed, the Service will write <br />a "biological opinion" on how the dams should be operated in the <br />future. Final decisions about the dams' operations rest with the <br />Bureau of Reclamation. <br />other groups that may compete for Gunnison River water include <br />the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District, Uncompahgre Water <br />Users Association, Bureau of Land Management, Western Area Power <br />Administration, Arapahoe County and National Park Service. <br />The Recovery Program for Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado <br />River is a multi-agency program aimed at recovering endangered <br />Colorado squawfish, humpback chubs, bony tail chubs and razorback <br />suckers while providing for future water development. <br /> <br />-- 30 -- <br />