Mancos River Fishery Mancos River Resilience Project Mancos

Objectives 1. 2. 3. Describe the distribution and abundance of fishes in the Mancos

Coldwater Fish Species � Rainbow, brown, and brook trout � Yellow perch (Jackson Gulch

Warmwater Species All “ 3 -species” (roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker, and bluehead sucker) �

Abundance � Very low for cold and warmwater fishes • E. g. , 6

Long-Term Goals � Habitat improvement • More consistent flows � Stream reconnection • Allow

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Mancos River Fishery Mancos River Resilience Project Mancos Grange, December 1, 2016 Jim White, Colorado Parks and Wildlife j. white@state. co. us

Objectives 1. 2. 3. Describe the distribution and abundance of fishes in the Mancos River drainage General limiting factors Long-term goals

Coldwater Fish Species � Rainbow, brown, and brook trout � Yellow perch (Jackson Gulch Reservoir) � Mottled sculpin (native) � No cutthroat conservation waters

Warmwater Species All “ 3 -species” (roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker, and bluehead sucker) � Speckled dace � Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker (FE, seasonal – SJR confluence) � Non-natives – Green sunfish, fathead minnow, largemouth bass, catfish � No white sucker �

Distribution of Fishes

Abundance � Very low for cold and warmwater fishes • E. g. , 6 lbs/ac trout in W. Mancos (40 lbs/ac average) • Less than 50 native fish/mile not uncommon • Not uncommon to get 1000 native fish per mile estimates on Mc. Elmo Creek

Limiting Factors: Flow

Flow

Fire

Debris Flow

Management: Stocking

Native Suckers

Stocking

Limiting Factors: Connectivity

Management: Reconnection Efforts

Water Diversions

Divert but keep stream function

Genetic Characterization

Protective Barrier

Long-Term Goals � Habitat improvement • More consistent flows � Stream reconnection • Allow movement of fishes to refugia during low flows � Protection • Maintain protective barrier and exclusion of non-natives