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,..."" ~,.',~ -,; The lower Big Sandy River does have some fair to poor resident brown and rainbow trout habitat especially along the seeps in the Big Bend-Bone Draw reach. A formal fish stocking or management policy for the lower Big Sandy River does not exist. Some limited spawning migrations of rainbow trout in spring and brown trout in fall do occur from the Green River, probably destined for the seep area. '-," The primary limiting factors for trout production in the river are salinity, summer water temperatures as high as 770F, lack of adequate cover, unstable banks, poor pool quality, and excessive stream bottom sedimentation which affects both spawning and food organism production. The heavy accumulations of sediments in the Big Sandy River below Farson come from erosion of the uncontrolled rangeland watersheds that drain into the Big Sandy River, Little Sandy Creek, and Pacific Creek. The existing sport fishery in this section of, the Big Sandy River is rated as only fair to poor. Fisherman use is seasonal and relatively low, estimated at 77 fisherman-days per year. ;jj '" Bone Draw is a left-side tributary (0.5 - 1.5 cfs) that empties into the Big Sandy River approximately 5 miles below the project area. The water sources to Bone Draw are several irrigation-induced cold water saline seeps that occur in the last one-half mile of the draw. In addition, during the irrigation season, some intermittent tail water runoff and wasteway water from the project area reaches the outlet of Bone Draw. These flow variations can reach 5 cfs or more and carry large amounts of suspended sediment. The sediment source area is the uncontrolled rangeland drainage to Bone Draw and sediments being flushed from the irrigation canals. ,....-~ ,.,., ~ ';; ',.', The Big Sandy River and Bone Draw are classified as Class 4 streams by the WGFD. Class 4 streams are low production waters--fisheries frequently 'of local importance, but generally incapable of sustaining substantial fishing pressure. ",. During the initial study from 1977 through 1979, Bone Draw waterflows were monitored. Under normal water years, Bone Draw could be expected to have flows near .5 cfs in the spring of the year to near 1.5 cfs in the fall. Historically, the channel flow widths varied from less than 1 foot in the seep area to about 1.5 feet at the outlet into the Big Sandy River. Log water drops were installed in the channel beginning in 1976. Since that time, channel wtdths are now up to 5 feet as a result of these structures. In 1977, a water-short year, the flow in Bone Draw decreased to approximately .25 cfs the following spring. In the severe water-short years of 1960 and 1961, the saline seeps in Bone Draw dried up with no water getting to the outlet at the Big Sandy River. ~ r,' In a cooperative effort between the Sweetwater County Wildlife Association and BLM, improvements were made during the period 1976-85 on the lower section of Bone Draw. Fish pool areas were developed by placing log water drops in the channel, and fencing was done to exclude livestock from the seep area.' In addition, fish eggs were placed in some of the pool areas. Reports indicate that fish have returned to spawn in Bone Draw since the original placement. Damaging flood flows, irrigation spills, and high sediment loads have created substantial maintenance operations and limited spawning success. ~T ,J",~ ~, l)L': 2-15 V..l 1 :&.4 3