Yampa River Basin Aquatic Wildlife Management Plan
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YAMPA RIVER BASIN AQUATIC WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLAN October 2010 Colorado Division of Wildlife Aquatic Wildlife Section 6060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216 YAMP A RIVER BASIN AQUATIC WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND LOCATIONS Bill Atkinson, Aquatic Area Biologist, Upper Yampa River Drainage, Steamboat Springs F. Boyd Wright, Aquatic Area Biologist, Lower Yampa River Drainage, Meeker Jennifer Logan, Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Biologist, Glenwood Springs Sherman Hebein, Senior Aquatic Biologist, Grand Junction Plan Approved: »:: ock1<i-t..- .;2~(2£>/ rlich, State Aquatic Manager Date TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Acknowledgments...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Purpose and Objectives .............................................................................................................................................. 16 Guidance from CDOW Policies, Regulations, Plans ................................................................................................. 17 CDOW Personnel by Fish Management Units .......................................................................................................... 19 Upper Yampa Basin Hydrounit Summary ................................................................................................................. 20 Upper Yampa Fish Management Unit (YP-1) ...................................................................................................... 23 Elk River Fish Management Unit (YP-2) ............................................................................................................. 32 Trout Creek Fish Management Unit (YP-3) ......................................................................................................... 38 Williams Fork Fish Management Unit (YP-4)...................................................................................................... 43 Middle Yampa Fish Management Unit (YP-5) ..................................................................................................... 49 Elkhead Creek Fish Management Unit (YP-6). .................................................................................................... 56 Fortification Creek Fish Management Unit (YP-7) .............................................................................................. 63 Little Snake Hydrounit Summary .............................................................................................................................. 66 Upper Little Snake Fish Management Unit (YP-8) .............................................................................................. 69 Slater Creek Fish Management Unit (YP-9) ......................................................................................................... 74 Middle Little Snake Fish Management Unit (YP-10) ........................................................................................... 78 Lower Little Snake Fish Management Unit (YP-11) ............................................................................................ 82 Lower Yampa River Hydrounit Summary ................................................................................................................. 83 Lower Yampa River Fish Management Unit (YP-12) .......................................................................................... 87 Vermillion Creek-Green River Fish Management Unit (YP-13) .......................................................................... 92 References .................................................................................................................................................................. 94 Appendix A: Conventions and Abbreviations Used In Plan ..................................................................................... 95 Appendix B: Supplementary Data for Individual Lakes And Streams ...................................................................... 97 - 3 - LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Summary of Fishery Management Classification Categories ...................................................................... 10 Table 2. Population statistics for the California Park Special Emphasis Area cutthroat trout conservation waters . 58 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of Yampa/Upper Green River Basin .................................................................................................. 8 Figure 2. Map of Yampa/Upper Green River Basin showing hydrounit boundaries ................................................ 9 Figure 3. Aquatic resource classification summary of fishery resources in the Yampa River Basin ........................ 15 Figure 4. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Upper Yampa Basin .................................... 20 Figure 5. Map of Upper Yampa Fish Management Unit (YP-1) .......................................................................... 21 Figure 6. Land cover and ownership for the Upper Yampa Fish Management Unit ............................................ 22 Figure 7. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Upper Yampa FMU ................................ 23 Figure 8. Map of Elk River Fish Management Unit (YP-2) ................................................................................. 30 Figure 9. Land cover and ownership for the Elk River Fish Management Unit ................................................... 31 Figure 10. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Upper Yampa FMU .............................. 32 Figure 11. Map of Trout Creek Fish Management Unit (YP-3) ........................................................................... 36 Figure 12. Land cover and ownership for the Trout Creek Fish Management Unit ............................................. 37 Figure 13. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Trout Creek FMU ................................. 38 Figure 14. Map of Williams Fork Fish Management Unit (YP-4) ....................................................................... 41 Figure 15. Land cover and ownership for the Williams Fork Fish Management Unit ......................................... 42 Figure 16. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Williams Fork FMU ............................. 43 Figure 17. Map of Middle Yampa Fish Management Unit (YP-5)....................................................................... 47 Figure 18. Land cover and ownership for the Middle Yampa Fish Management Unit ........................................ 48 Figure 19. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Middle Yampa FMU ............................ 49 Figure 20. Map of Elkhead Creek Fish Management Unit (YP-6) ....................................................................... 54 Figure 21. Land cover and ownership for the Elkhead Creek Fish Management Unit ......................................... 55 Figure 22. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Elkhead Creek FMU............................. 56 Figure 23. Conservation populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout within California Park .......................... 57 Figure 24. Map of Fortification Creek Fish Management Unit (YP-7) ................................................................ 61 Figure 25. Land cover and ownership for the Fortification Creek Fish Management Unit .................................. 62 Figure 26. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Fortification Creek FMU ...................... 63 Figure 27. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Little Snake Basin ..................................... 66 Figure 28. Map of Upper Little Snake Fish Management Unit (YP-8) ................................................................ 67 - 4 - LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) Figure 29. Land cover and ownership for the Little Snake Fish Management Unit ............................................. 68 Figure 30. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Little Snake FMU ................................. 69 Figure 31. Map of Slater Creek Fish Management Unit (YP-9) ........................................................................... 72 Figure 32. Land cover and ownership for the Slater Creek Fish Management Unit ............................................ 73 Figure 33. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Slater Creek FMU ................................ 74 Figure 34. Map of Middle Little Snake Fish Management Unit (YP-10) ............................................................. 76 Figure 35. Land cover and ownership for the Middle Little Snake Fish Management Unit ................................ 77 Figure 36. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Middle Little Snake FMU .................... 78 Figure 37. Map of Lower Little Snake Fish Management Unit (YP-11) .............................................................. 80 Figure 38. Land cover and ownership for the Lower Little Snake Fish Management Unit ................................. 81 Figure 39. Summary of lake and stream classification statistics for the Lower Little Snake FMU ..................... 82 Figure 40. Summary of lake and stream classification