6. Instream Areas
Goal: To protect and restore the functions of instream areas.
Objectives:
A. Monitor the condition of the native fish communities and determine limits of acceptable change.
B. Assess instream habitat condition status and trends for all major streams in the watershed.
C. Maintain or increase population size, extent, and purity of all existing cutthroat trout populations.
D. Maintain existing boreal toad populations and, where possible, restore or expand populations.
E. Monitor existing Northern Leopard Frog populations and, where possible, expand populations.
F. Prevent the New Zealand mudsnail and Quagga and Zebra Mussels from establishing in the watershed.
G. Determine the adequacy of recreational access to our rivers and streams, their recreational carrying capacity and the limits of acceptable change.
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Comments from 9/10/09 Public Meeting:
ReplyDelete1. It was suggested that Objective A be modified to read as follows:
Monitor the condition of the wild, naturally reproducing fish communities and determine limits of acceptable change.
2. The greatest threats to instream areas were identified as: (i) Highway 133 (which contributes sediment, MgCl and other nonpoint pollutants in runoff), (ii) channeling of the Crystal River due to the road placement and railroad beds, and (iii) low flows.
3. The Healthy Rivers Initiative revenue that Pitkin County will be receiving was identified as a possible source of funding for projects to protect and restore the functions of instream areas.
4. We need to work on building efficiencies into our watershed’s dams and irrigation ditches.
5. We need to restore/protect our cutthroat trout population.
a. Mid Thompson Creek and North Thompson Creek, and the North Fork of Lost Trail Creek have been invaded by brook trout and have been impacted by sedimentation, chemicals in stormwater runoff from roads, low flows, and channeling of the river beds. These areas are also threatened by oil and gas development.
b. Stopping the put and take of rainbow trout and encouragement of cutthroats was suggested as an Objective.
c. Protecting cutthroat populations where healthy populations exist was suggested as an Objective.
d. We may want to explore the possibility of the CDOW releasing cutthroat trout.
6. Addressing the reclamation of Coal Basin from a “whole watershed” perspective – and not on a piecemeal basis – was suggested as an Objective. We should determine whether or not the reclamation effort can be “speeded up”. Thought needs to be given to the naturally-occurring slides that contribute to the sedimentation issues in Coal Creek.
7. Oil and gas development in the Crystal River watershed is a concern and one of our Objectives should be to control this development.
8. Improving operations at the Redstone Sanitation Plant was suggested as an Objective.
Comments from 9/24/09 public meeting in Woody Creek:
ReplyDelete1. Discussion was had about Wild vs. non native species – DOW management – need some better way to manage- more citizen and agency input.
2. One main priority is to keep the water in the river. There is lack of in-stream flow.
3. Habitat is of great concern – quality and value; importance of indicator species (herons, dippers, macros, eagles).
Comments from 10/1/09 public meeting in Glenwood Springs:
ReplyDelete1. Naturalized fisheries, instream habitat, cutthroat trout populations, boreal toads, aquatic invasives and recreation access was discussed.
2. Are we loving our rivers to death was also discussed.
3. Levers to pull to protect instream areas are below:
a. Land conservation
b. Level of monitoring of cutthroat trout could be increased.
c. Study/monitor/educate about impacts on instream habitat is all necessary
d. Education is a must! If people know what to look for they would protect the resource better.
Comments from a 10/15/09 Public Meeting in Aspen:
ReplyDelete1. There are native suckers (e.g., bluehead, flannelmouth), in addition to the five populations of cutthroat trout that have been identified in the watershed. We should consider whether or not we want to maintain, or increase these fish populations.
2. There are algae and sediment issues just below Northstar. We need to attain high flows in the river to scour this area and move this material out.
3. Boreal toads are an important indicator species that we should monitor to determine the adequacy of our instream habitat conditions. We should also consider actions that will restore their habitat.
4. The problem of illegal movement of fish in the watershed needs to be addressed. (For example, yellow perch have shown up in Ruedi Reservoir.) This is creating disease (e.g., whirling disease) and hybridization issues. People are introducing fish they have caught to their private ponds and the fish escape. People are introducing fish they like to catch (e.g., bass and pike) into our waters and are also using hatcheries that are not certified.