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<br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />September 24, 2003 <br /> <br />Gnvemnr's W~te.r Availability Task Forr.e <br /> <br />FROM: Wildlife Task Force <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Drought Update <br /> <br />AOUATIC UPDATE <br /> <br />This update was prepared based on reports from Colorado Division of Wildlife (Division) area fishery <br />biologists and fish hatchery managers. <br /> <br />Statewide drought conditions in 2003 have improved significantly from 2002 over the majority of the <br />state. However, the drought impacts in the southwest portion of the state are still severe. In addition, <br />fisheries continue to suffer effects from the devastating 2002 fire season. Highlighted below are specific <br />examples ofthe major 2003 drought impads to Colorado fisheries. <br /> <br />South Platte River: The South Platte River above and below Deckers, a popular fishery for Front Range <br />anglers, continues to suffer the consequences of last swnmer's Hayman Fire. Every time it rains in four <br />badly-burned drainages - Four Mile, Wigwam and Horse Creeks and Schoonover Gulch -- fire residue <br />pours into the South Platte River, fouling the water, depositing enormous amounts of ash and sediment, <br />resulting in trout mortality all the way to the confluence ofthe North Fork. <br /> <br />South Fork of the Rio Grande: Biologists from the Division are monitoring conditions in Mill Creek, <br />Willow Creek and South Fork Rio Grande in the aftermath of storms near last year's Million Fire area. <br />In early August, the Division received a report of dead fish in the Rio Grande near the South Fork Rio <br />Grande confluence east of South Fork. District. The Wildlife Manager's subsequent investigation <br />revealed that approximately 500 trout perished in a one-mile section of the Rio Grande downstream of <br />the South Fork Rio Grande confluence. The majority ofthe dead fish were observed immediately <br />downstream of the South Fork confluence. A fine black ash covered the stream substrate from the South <br />Fork Rio Grande to the Rio Grande near Del Norte. The impact to aquatic invertebrates and loss of <br />spawning habitat is unknown at this time. Last year a similar rain event filled the river with ash but no <br />fish moralities were reported. With the unstable soils in the Million Fire area, one should expect more <br />ash-laden runoff every time there is a significant rain event in South Fork area. <br /> <br />Elsewhere in the Rio Grande Basin, fish plants were cancelled due to poor water conditions, most <br />notably at Continental Res., Home Lake, La Jara Res., Rio Grande Res., and San Luis Lake, resulting in <br />lost recreational fishing opportunity. <br /> <br />Arkansas Basin: Several reservoirs in the lower Basin are still impacted by reduced water levels, <br />specifically Pueblo, John Martin, and Queens reservoirs. ~ue to continued below average flows, these <br />waters have not recovered to pre-drought conditions, resulting in reduced recreational opportunity. <br /> <br />iCL/ <br />