February 12, 2019

Drought and Fish:

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

Overview of CPW’s 2018 Aquatic Experiences David Graf and Lori M. Martin, Parks and Wildlife, Grand Junction State of CO Policy and CPW Mission

• It is the policy of the state of Colorado that the wildlife and their environment are to be protected, preserved, enhanced, and managed for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of the state and its visitors. C.R.S. 33-1-101 (1) • Our mission is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado's natural resources. CPW Regions NW Aquatics Team Areas of Responsibility

Dave Graf - NW Region Water Specialist NW REGIONBill Atkinson AQUATIC BIOLOGISTS

Tory Eyre Jon Ewert Jenn Logan Lori Martin - NW Senior Aquatic Biologist Kendall Bakich Ben Felt U.S. Drought Monitor for Colorado, 2018

Jan. 23, 2018 Feb. 20, 2018 Mar. 20, 2018 Apr. 24, 2018 May 22, 2018 June 21, 2018

July 24, 2018 Aug. 21, 2018 Sep. 18, 2018 Oct. 23, 2018 Nov. 20, 2018 Dec. 18, 2018

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

Drought and Fish (Toward a better understanding of freshwater fish responses to an increasingly drought-stricken world; Lennox et al. 2019 Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries)

• How does drought affect fish habitat?

• What are drought refuges for fishes?

• How does drought influence fisheries?

• What is drought tolerance in fishes?

• What kills fish during drought?

• What is the nature of species succession in drought-stricken waters?

• What are the long-term consequences of drought to fishes?

• How does climate change affect drought-fish interactions? River Continuum Concept (Vannote et al. 1980)

https://stroudcenter.org/ https://www.westernnatives.com/ Courtesy J. Woodling

Courtesy J. Woodling

Courtesy J. Woodling

Courtesy K. Birznieks Courtesy UDWR Network of Changes Associated with Drought

Lennox et al. 2019. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries CDPHE

71.1 F 70.2 F 75.7 F Average Dissolved Oxygen Requirements for Trout Genera (Oncorhynchus and Salmo)

https://henrysfork.org What Do Drought Conditions Look Like for Trout?

Courtesy B. Rosenlund

Courtesy B. Atkinson

Courtesy B. Atkinson What Can We Do to Help Fish in Drought Conditions? As Anglers, We Can: • Monitor water quality • Fish in the early morning hours when water temperatures are cool, and generally fish are more active • Fish in higher elevations • Practice fish friendly handling skills • Take a break from fishing http://www.roaringfork.org/

As an Agency, CPW Can: • Set the example; inform and educate • Create and improve fish habitat • Re-route hatchery trucks to other waters with more favorable conditions • Regulate fishing activity/pressure through fishing closures • Implement fish salvage operations • Coordinate with reservoir owners for water releases • Take advantage of drought conditions as opportunities CPW Current Fishing Closure Criteria

The Director may authorize emergency closure of fishing waters in the state for a period of up to 9 months when it is determined that environmental conditions in these waters are such that fishing could result in unacceptable levels of fish mortality. Such closures MAY be enacted when any one of the following criteria are met: a. Daily maximum water temperatures exceed 74 degrees Fahrenheit or the daily average temperature exceeds 72 degrees Fahrenheit; b. Measured stream flows are 25% or less of the historical average low flow for the time period in question; c. Fish condition is deteriorating such that fungus and other visible signs of deterioration may be present; d. Daily minimum dissolved oxygen levels are below five (5) parts per million (ppm); e. When a natural or man-caused environmental event such as a wildlife, mudslides, oil spills or other similar event has occurred, resulting in the need for recovery time of remedial action for a fish population When such determination has been made; public notice will be given, including posting at the site.

Yampa River Flow dwn. Stagecoach Reservoir,

2018 vs. Last 30 Years https://waterdata.usgs.gov/co/

Yampa River at Steamboat Springs 3/1 - 10/31/2018 3000

2500

2000

1500 Discharge(cfs) 1000

500

0 12/31/2017 2/19/2018 4/10/2018 5/30/2018 7/19/2018 9/7/2018 10/27/2018 12/16/2018 Yampa River: 7/1/18 - 10/31/18 160

140

120

100

80

Discharge(cfs) 60

40

20

0 6/9/2018 6/29/2018 7/19/2018 8/8/2018 8/28/2018 9/17/2018 10/7/2018 10/27/2018 11/16/2018

Yampa River at Steamboat Springs Stagecoach Release - TOTAL Stagecoach Release - CONTRACTS

YR – Chuck Lewis SWA to west end of SS; July 10-Oct. 11

YR – dwn. Stagecoach Res.; June 14-July 10 NF, SF WR – FS bdrs. to dwn. Rio Blanco SWA; 2018 July 27-Aug.30 FR – Fraser to CR confl.; July 27-Aug.30 Fishing Closures CR – State Brdg. to Rifle; July 20-Aug.30 CR – FR confl. to WF confl.; July 27-Aug.30 in ER – Wolcott to CR confl.; July 20-Oct.10 NW RF – Carbondale to CR confl.; July 20-Aug.30 Colorado

CYR – Avalanche Cr. to RFR confl.; July 20-Aug.30 CYR – Avalanche Cr. to RFR confl.; Aug.30-Oct.15 2018 Fishing Closure Duration inNWColorado Duration Closure Fishing 2018 Yampa River-Chuck Lewis SWA -Carbondale -State Bridge Crystal River-Avalanche Cr. White River-N and SForks Yampa River-Stagecoach Colorado River-Fraser -Wolcott -Fraser

4/10/2018

5/10/2018

6/9/2018

7/9/2018

8/8/2018

9/7/2018

10/7/2018

11/6/2018 Opportunities

https://www.slu.se/ Storage Content and Release Rate from Lake Avery, 2018 7,500 30

7,000 25

6,500 20

6,000 15 StorageContent (AF) -7.7 Ft Stage in Lake Avery

5,500 10 Release Ratefrom Avery Lake (cfs)

5,000 5

4,500 0 7/9/2018 7/19/2018 7/29/2018 8/8/2018 8/18/2018 8/28/2018 9/7/2018 9/17/2018 9/27/2018

Storage Content (AF) Release rate from Lake Avery (cfs)

White River Nr Coal Ck (@Wakara Bridge): 4/1/18 - 10/31/18

1800 80

1600 70

1400 60

1200 50

1000 40

800

Discharge(cfs) Temperature(F) 30 600

20 400

200 10

0 0 2/19/2018 4/10/2018 5/30/2018 7/19/2018 9/7/2018 10/27/2018 12/16/2018

Discharge (cfs) Max Temp (F) Min Temp (F) Mean Temp (F) White River Nr Coal Ck (@Wakara Bridge): 2018 (June - Sept) 300 90.0

250 Avery release initiated 7/27 80.0

200 70.0 (F)

150 60.0

Discharge(cfs) Temperature

100 50.0

50 40.0

0 30.0 6/9/2018 6/19/2018 6/29/2018 7/9/2018 7/19/2018 7/29/2018 8/8/2018 8/18/2018 8/28/2018 9/7/2018 9/17/2018

Discharge (cfs) Avery Release (cfs) Max Temp (F) Min Temp (F) Mean Temp (F) Colorado River – Major Calls and Water Infrastructure FISH POOLS USED IN THE CO BASIN • 10825 AF FOR EXISTING EAST/WEST SLOPE DEPLETIONS  GRANBY 5412 AF

 RUEDI 5412 AF • RUEDI RESERVOIR  5KAF + 5KAF IN 4 OUT OF 5 YEARS • WOLFORD MTN RES

 6KAF

• GREEN MTN RES. – HUP SURPLUS, 0 TO 66KAF

• TOTAL = 21,825AF-26,825AF + HUP SURPLUS + CREDIT FOR PALISADE PIPELINE BYPASS 15 MILE REACH - APRIL HOLE - 2018

2000 Colorado River at Palisade 1800

1600

1400

s 1200

f

c , e historic minimum rg 1000

2018 with deliveries cha s "2018 without deliveries" di 800

600

400

200

0 1-Apr 5-Apr 9-Apr 13-Apr 17-Apr 21-Apr 25-Apr 29-Apr LATE SUMMER FLOW AUGMENTATION 2018 Recovery Program Flow Enhancement

2500

2000

s 1500

f

c

,

e

rg

cha s

di 1000

500

0

USFWS Target Flow ColPalCO with Fish deliveries = gaged flow ColPalCo without Fish deliveries Where Are We Now? February 12-14, 2019 February 2018

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/ http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov

CONTEMPLATING THE FUTURE – BEYOND 2018…

Next Steps What Are the Long Term Consequences to Fish and What Can We Do About These?

Consequences: Opportunities: • Changes to physical habitat and water quality conditions • Additional research on fish species’ response to drought/aridification • Fish assemblage, distribution changes (indiv., pop., comm. levels) • Education and outreach • Changes to fish management and regulations • Collaboration with all stakeholders involved • Changes to water use and management • Long-term monitoring and planning Questions? David Graf, Phone: 970-255-6142 and Email: [email protected] Lori Martin, Phone: 970-255-6186 and Email: [email protected]

Courtesy of the Colorado Tourism Office