WSP06331 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

0174 Fish and Wildlife The reservoirs in the study area are large bodies of water in an other- wise dry region; therefore, they are valuable not only for recreational use, but for fish and wildlife habitat as well. Several reservoirs in the study area are managed by the State of Colorado for sport fishing and waterfowl hunting. Pueblo and John Martin Reservoirs (fig. 2) support large populations of bass, crappie, and walleye. The State manages these reservoirs by inten- sively monitoring the fish populations and by restocking various species as needed. The warm-water sport fisheries in these reservoirs are highly regarded by sportsmen from Colorado and neighboring States. Lake McKinney, the only sizeable reservoir in the Kansas part of the study area, is privately owned, and managed solely for irrigation-water supply. Many reservoirs in the study area provide breeding and stopover habitat for migratory birds. Flooded trees at the upper ends of Pueblo and John Martin Reservoirs are used for nesting by fish-eating birds, including double-crested cormorants and great blue herons. Ospreys nest oear Pueblo Reservoir. The abundance of gizzard shad in the reservoirs attracts these birds and is probably responsible for maintaining their populations. The inlet area of John Martin Reservoir and the southwest shore of Lake Meredith in Colorado have extensive cattail marsh habitat. This habitat is occupied during the summer by nesting ducks, American coots, black-crowned night herons, other species of waterbirds, and blackbirds. Lake McKinney in Kansas is used by ducks during the autumn migration, and the limited cattail marsh habitat at Lake McKinney supports a few nesting waterbirds, mainly American coots. The Great Plains Reservoirs in Colorado provide little breeding habitat but are an important stopover area for migratory waterbirds. Nests of two federally endangered species have been found in the study area in Colorado: The interior least tern at Adobe Creek Reservoir and the piping plover at Neenoshe Reservoir, one of the Great Plains Reservoirs. A thorough survey of breeding birds and their foraging sites has not been completed for the entire study area, but these species may use other reservoirs at various times of the year. Historical records indicate least terns and piping plovers have used Adobe Creek Reservoir, the Great Plains Reservoirs, Lake Henry, and Lake Meredith. Bald eagles (a federally endangered species) have been observed at reservoirs and along the Arkansas River in the study area during migration. Other species of Federal concern that use aquatic habitats in the study area are the Arkansas darter (may be recommended for threatened status) and the snowy plover (candidate species for threatened or endangered status). HYDROLOGIC SETTING Water Supply The surface-water supply system in the study area is a complex network of natural channels, canals, and on- and off-channel reservoirs. Private irriga- tion systems include 16 major and several minor canals in Colorado and 5 canals in Kansas. These canals divert water directly from the Arkansas River, generally for direct application; however, several of the canals divert water for storage in privately owned, off-channel reservoirs. 13