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52.04 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR SIIRFACE OR IINDERGROIIND MINING ACTIVITIES -- MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. • 2,04.11 Fish and Wildlife Resources Information. (Co nt'd.) programs in the vicinity of Paonia. A list of fish known from the North Fork is given in Table 2.04-22 in the Fish and Wild- life Appendix, Volume 9A. Fish life is represented by 12 spe- cies and six families. The numerically dominant groups cap- tured were nonsport fish. Game Species: Originally, it is likely that the A'orth Fork supported primarily cutthroat trout as a sport species. Trout species most likely to be present now are the rainbow trout, which are stocked in several locations throughout the stream.l Only one brown trout was taken in the Thorne Study area, however greater numbers of this species are likely in the lower reaches of the river and cutthroat trout are known to come down from upper reaches. It is possible that the brown trout may move up from the main Gunnison River during fall spacming; however, this has not been confirmed and [here were no indications of spawning trout during the fall sampling (Erickson 1977). • Another sport species known to be in the river is the northern pike. This species was planted in Paonia Reservoir and is be- lieved have entered the river from this source. No specimens have been reported from Paonia, but [hey have been caught in the Hotchkiss area to a size of at least twenty-eight inches and these fish would have had to pass through the Paonia Study area. The green sunfish is also a potential sport species, but prob- ably occurs only occasionally because of lack of suitable hab- itat in the North Fork. Non-game Species: Non-game forms include three species of suckers, three species of minnows, and one species of sculpin. None of these species are uncommon in Colorado. 1There was no indication of trout stocking in the immediate Paonia area of the North Fork during the 1977 season and it is likely that this area has not been frequently stocked in the past because of poor habitat conditions. However, conversa- tion with Mr. Dave Kenv in, former regional game protector, es- tablished that trout have been caught in this area as recent as 1973. • Revised 10/01/87 81