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"'~"," ""'\, ~ ~ ,., ," :"\ 'i ' ~J~..~J.... The mount a In wh I tef i sh does not ma I nta in v I ab Ie reproduc I ng populations In the White River below Rio Blanco Lake due to unsuitable environments. Occasional Individuals move downstream during high flows, The mountain sucker, Catostomus playtyrhynchus, occurs in Piceance Creek but does not maintain a reproducing population in the White River, Some Colorado squawflsh, a federally I isted endangered species, migrate from the Green River, The recorded upstream limit of squawflsh In the White River Is near the mouth of Piceance Creek.(2) No evidence of Colorado squawflsh reproduction has been found In any part of the White River above the Colorado border. Channel catfish represent the only sport fish attractive to anglers In the project area, Due to limited deep water habitat and a limited food supply, catfish are not abundant and growth Is slow. Channel catfish average only 12,2-lnches (31 cm) In length at age 7, It is estimated that no more than 100 angl er days per year are expended on the Wh i te River between Rio Blanco Lake and the project area.(2) 4,7.2.4 Three species native to the upper Colorado River basin are listed as federally endangered species: 1) Colorado squawflsh (Ptychochellus Lucius); 2) bony tail chub (Gila elegans); 3) humpback chub (G 11 a cypha). In add i t Ion, the razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) Is listed as endangered by the Colorado DivIsion of Wildlife (CDOW). These four species prefer large rivers and only the squawflsh Is knOo^Jn to migrate up the White River as far as the project area. The other three species are known to occur only In the lower White River In Utah and then only as rare, single specimens. Two squawflsh were found in the WHite River near Piceance Creek In 1977. U.S. Fish and Wildlife SErvice studies and CDOW surveys found several adult squawflsh during late sumner 1981 about 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 km) upstream from the tOo^Jn of Rangely, It appears that squawfish utilize the upper White River for feeding and move downstream for spawning, probably to the Green River, It Is not known how many squawfish Inhabit the upper White River at any given time. The Colorado Division of Wildlife and the USFWS are currently conducting studies of endangered fish In the White River to more precisely detenmine their numbers and range. 4.8 WATER RESOURCES 4,8.1. Surface Water 4.8,1.1 The drainage basin of the White Rlv2r above the project area Is approximately 2450 square miles (6345 km). The majority of the flow In the White River Is derived from snaM1lelt In the higher portions of the drainage basin. A smaller percentage of the flow is due to springs that, In turn, are probably recharged by snClMTlelt, Rain stonms contribute a relatively small portion of the flow, but flash floods from heavy downpours carry large quantities of sediment Into the river, Low flows normally occur during late sunner, fall, and winter months with peak flows due to snClMTlelt occurring during late spring and early summer,(28) (45) 39 ,1 .'"