Binder 6. Fishery studies (volume 2 of 2). Data collection and stream characterizations. Taylor River / upper Taylor River / responses to questionnaires / personal communications / landowner interviews / correspondence

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TOPOG MAPS: ALMONT

CRYSTAL CREEK MATCHLESS MOUNTAIN TAYLOR PARK RESERVOIR

TAYLOR RIVER

Southwest Region Code No. 43531

Section No. 1

Date: 30 September 1978

Major Drainage: Gunnison River, Code No. 34 G

Terminus: Lower

Location: Confluence with East River to form the Gunnison River.

T 51 N, R 1 E, Sec. 22

Width: 90 ft.

Elevation: 8003 ft.

USGS Flow: 335 c.f.s.

pH: 7.1

pHTH: 0.0 ppm

MO: 46 ppm

Hardness: 45 ppm

Conductivity: 103 pohm/cm

Stream Profile: No

Water Temperature (§ 15:00 - 51°F

Terminus: Upper

Location: Taylor Reservoir

T 14 S, R 83 W, Sec. 24

Width: 70 ft.

Elevation: 9198 ft.

USGS Flow: 255 c.f.s.

pH: 7.0

pHTH: 0.0 ppm

MO: 32 ppm

_{MO: 32 ppm}

Hardness: 44 ppm

Conductivity: 105 pohm/cm

Stream Profile: No Water Temperature (3 16:00 - 52°F SECTION SUMMARY Meander Factor: 1.1 Width: 80 ft. Length: 21.2 Miles

Flow: Normal Acreage: 226.1

County: Gunnison Miles: 21.2

Beaver Dams: None

Physical Stream Damage:

Channelization: 10%

Accessibility:

Surfaced: 7.5 Miles

Non-surfaced Car: 5.0 Miles 4-Wheel Drive: 1.6 Miles

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Taylor River Code No. 43531 Page 2 Land Status: USFS: 11.9 Miles Private-Closed: 7.0 Miles Private-Open: 2.3 Miles Stocking:

Creel Size: Rainbow - 1952, 10.7 Miles

None: 10.5 Miles Aquatic Vegetation:

Filamentous Algae: Abundant - below reservoir

Rare - in rest of river Watercress: No Stream Size: River 60'-99' Gradient: 1.1% Fishery Value: Excellent FISH SAMPLING Six Station

Elevation: 8100-9150 ft. Sampling Method Total Length: 5000 ft. Sampling: Adeq

Scales Collected: Yes

Estimated % of Fish Biomass: *Game Fish: 100%

Estimated % of Rough Fish Biomass:

Suckers: *

Comments: *Suckers are known to exist in the drainage.

Sampling Method: Electro-fishing

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Taylor River Code No. 43531

Page 3

'3^

yf

ELECTRO-FISHING RECORD

Station //I: Almont - One-half mile above bridge

Distance: 1000 ft. Width: 88 ft.

Station #2: Elsinore - One mile below Spring Creek

(2.0202 acres) Station Station Station Station Distance: 1000 ft.

#3: One mile campground

Distance: 1000 ft. //4 : Below Lottis Creek

Distance: 500 ft.

Width: 70 ft. (1.6070 acres)

Width: 67 ft. (1.5381 acres)

Width: 66 ft. (0.7576 acre)

//5: Lower Sam's — One-half mile below reservoir

Distance: 500 ft. Width: 65 ft. (0.7461 acre)

//6: Upper Sam's — One—half mile below reservoir

Equipment Used: llOv AC

Personnel: Nehring, Hebein, Versluys, Harridge and Warner

SIZE LENGTH IN INCHES Sta. Species 1 L Brown Rainbow

2 Brown

Rainbow 3 Brown Rainbow 4 Brown Rainbow 1 Brook 5 Brown Rainbow

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18+ Tot. Avg. Biomass

1 3 15 108 38 88 73 86 31 27 2 6 13 17 14 9 7 3 17 26 109 49 75 35 57 35 19 35 134 40 75 47 57 21 15 3 4 5 4 1 9 30 21 20 6 12 2 1 1 8 14 62 22 45 28 23 1 1 3 2 2 1 Brown 4 4 6 17 18 13 77 56 87 64 71 26 9 Rainbow 2 1 1 2 23 13 10 1 Comb. Brown 4 11 35 107 407 175 397 239 344 181 155 45 23 Rainbow 1 1 4 2 11 20 28 44 29 21 6 4 Brook i 473 7.8 69 8.9 441 7.5 10 8.7 1 451 7.4 18 9.5 104 6.6 4 5.1 1 2.8 215 8.8 18 10.4 454 9.1 57 10.2 1 2138 8.0 176 9.4

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Taylor River Code No. 43531

Page 4

Comments: Sta. //I:

Sta. //2: Sta. #3: Sta. //4: Sta. #5: Sta. #6: Comb: Brown -Rainbow Brown -Rainbow Brown -Rainbow Brown -Rainbow Brook Brown -Rainbow Brown -Rainbow Brown -Rainbow Brook -53212g ttl. wt. = 58.0 lbs./acre netted - 8314g ttl. wt. = 9.1 lbs./acre netted 44100g ttl. wt. = 60.4 lbs./acre netted - 1125g ttl. wt. = 1.5 lbs./acre netted 43296g ttl. wt. = 62.0 lbs./acre netted - 2637g ttl. wt. = 3.4 lbs./ acre netted 7072g ttl. wt. = 20.6 lbs./acre netted - 90g ttl. wt. = 0.3 lbs./acre netted 3g ttl. wt. = Trace 27111g ttl. wt. = 80.0 lbs./acre netted - 3456g ttl. wt. = 10.2 lbs./acre netted 64109g ttl. wt. = 72.4 lbs./acre netted - 10345g ttl. wt. = 11.7 lbs./acre netted 238900gttl. wt, = 61.0 lbs./acre netted - 25967g ttl. wt. = 6.6 lbs. /acre netted 3g ttl. wt. = Trace 1979 Population Est.

No./acre greater then 4" 477 111.7 ///acre

121.2 ///acre

173.8 ///acre

145.8 ///acre

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COLORADO STREAM SURVEY (1976 REVISION)

Surveyed by: Nehrtng, Hebeln, Versluys

Harridge & Warner Record Data

(X) if stream has no fishery value

□

Record Data

Code No. 43531 Region ISouthwest

Date 30 Sept. 78

Beaver Dams

\l!!!!t!!!!I

Section No, I1 Number (count or estimate)jNone

Stream Name; TAYLOR RIVER Estimated acreage

Primary Drainage: Physical stream damage (7o of lllllllllll section affected) ///////////:■

Maior Dralnaee Gunnison River, 34 G Bank degredation

Lower terminus /////////// Channelization 10%

Location: Confluence with East River Dredging

to form the Gunnison River, « Mine tailing encroachment

1 Road encroachment !

Accessibility (miles) iiiiiiiim

T. 51 N Surfaced 7,5 Miles

R, ■1 E Non-Surfaced car 5,0 Miles

S, 4-Wheel 1.6 Miles

Width 90 ft. Established trail

Elevation 8003 ft. ■ No established trail 7,1 Miles

Flow (c,f,s,) 335 c,t,s. _{Boat only}

PU /, 1 No access

pi- th u.u ppm Land Status and mileage ///////////

MO ;4p ppm USES 11,9 Miles

EDTA 45 ppm BLM

Conductivity 103 lJ6hm/cm Municipal

X if stream orofile obtained Div, of Wild,

Upper terminus ///////////■ Private, no public access 7.0 Miles

Location: Taylor Reservoir Private, open to public —2.3 Miles

State Land Board

County

T, 14 S Mixed small tracts, open

R. 83 W Mixed small tracts, closed

S, 24 Stocking lllllllllll

Width 70 ft. Miles creel size 10.7 Miles

Elevation 9198 ft. . Miles fingerling

Flow USGS 255 c.f.s. ■ Miles Fry

PH 7,0 ' Miles not stocked 10.5 Miles

ph th 0,0 ppm Aquatic Vegetation lllllllllll

lllllllllll

KO 32 ppm Filamentous algae (x one)

EDTA 44 ppm Absent

Conductivity 105 pohm/cm Rare

X if stream nrofiie obtained Common XV

Section Summary ///////////■ Abundant

Meander factor 1,1 Watercress

lllllllllll-.

Length in Miles 21,2 Miles X if present '

Width in feet 180 ft. Size Classification (X one) lllllllllll

Acreage 226.1 Large river "j 100'

Obseryed Flow -1Normal River 60-99' X

X if inundated by reservoir Large stream 36-59' \

Mileage unsectioned Medium 20-35'

Counties v;here section located/////////// Small 10-19' i .

County Gnnni son Minor 4-9'

Miles 2 1 .2 Mil PR Very small stream 4'

County Gradient (computer entry) '//////////

Miles Percent per mile 1.1%

County

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Fiahory Value (X one) None Poor Belov? average Average Above Average Ercellent

Fishery Value - limiting factors Record Data

"

7/77/7////!

>///////////.

tJppar Station

Elevation

Describe or map station

location below

Record Data

7/'i)ihiin

FISH SAl-l?LmG I mill IIL

Six stations i 1111111111T.

Elevation 810D-9150 ft.

Describe or map station \

j

location below 1

*Sur.kers are known to exist in the j

drainage. i i i i 1 1 i ] 1 » \ f i 1 Sampling method 1 Length - feet ; % i Sampling adequate j Sampling inadequate 5 X if scales collected ;

Estimated % fish biomass ///////////

* _{Rough Fish} _,

Game Fish '

1 Est. 7, rough fish biomass .///////////

Bullheads i

Carp i:

! Cottids i

1 _Dace

i-Minnov;s 1

Sampling method Electro-fishing - 50 _Suckers _ti

; Total 5000 ft.

Sampling adequate i X ■

Sampling inadequate

ed ' X

Estimated 7, fish biomass '///////////

Rough Fish i

Gome Fish • *100% i

Er.t. 7o rough fish biomass ■ Bullheads Carp Cottids Dace Minnov73 Sunfish Combined stations

Estimated % fish biomass

'7//////////!

"I UN mill

uunnm

Game Fish

Est. % rough fish biomass \llIIII

III

11

Bullheads Car Cottids Dace Minno^TS { Suckers « Sunfish

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TOPOG MAPS:

ADDITIONAL DATA TO ORIGINAL STREAM SURVEY

TAYLOR RIVER

Almont

Crystal Creek

Matchless Mtn.

Taylor Park Res.

Southwest Region

Section No.: 1

Major Drainage: Gunnison River, Code No. 34-G

Code No.: 43531

Date: 21 October 1981

FISH SAMPLING: 5 stations

Total Length: 4700 ft. Scales Collected: yes

Estimated % of Fish Biomass: Game Fish: 100%

Sampling Method: Electrofishing-50 Sampling: Adequate

ELECTRO-FISHING RECORD #1

Station #1: Almont

Distance: 1000 ft. Width: 88 ft. Station #2: Elsinore Cattle Co.

Station #3: 1 Mile Campground

Equipment Used: 100 uAC - Bank VVP

Personnel: Nehring

SIZE LENGTH IN INCHES

Acreage: Acreage: Acreage: 2.0202 1.6070 1.5381

Sta. Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18+ Tot. Avq.

1 Brown 5 15 53 15 103 73 105 85 106 48 25 13 5 1 1 653 8.3 Rainbow 3 1 1 1 9 11 12 12 13 4 5 1 73 8.3 SRC 1 2 1 4 9.8 Kokanee 1 1 16.5 2 Brown 5 23 22 27 82 30 87 42 62 23 24 10 7 4 448 8.1 Rainbow 1 1 2 1 1 6 10.3 SRC 1 2 3 10.4 Kokanee 1 1 2 17.9 Brook 1 1 7.5 3 Brown 11 47 16 97 119 91 137 76 77 22 18 12 4 4 2 1 1 735 7.6 Rainbow 4 4 10.4 SRC 1 2 3 10.9 Kokanee 1 1 1 1 1 5 14.0 58

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Taylor River

Code No.: 43531

ELECTRO-FISHING RECORD #2 Station #5: Sam's - Lower

Distance: 600 ft.

Station #6: Sam's - Upper

Distance: 1100 ft. Sta. Species 5 Brown Ra i nbow Width: 65 ft. Width: 85 ft. Acreage: 0.8953 Acreage: 2.1465

SIZE LENGTH IN INCHES

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18+ Tot.

3 75 67 53 58 113 39 19 2 1 3

4^

1 2 1 13 16 6 4 43 Kokanee Brown Rainbow 1 40 47 52 50 159 114 70 19 8 3 5 1 2 15 38 21 8 1 Kokanee Com- Brown bined Rainbow 25 88 91 143 419 308 434 311 517 246156 56 25 14 3 1 1 1 9 12 18 16 22 33 59 28 13 1 Kokanee Brook

Comments: Station #5-2 Brown tagged in 1974 - same station, same size Station #6 - 1 Brown tagged in 1974 - same station, same size

POPULATION ESTIMATES - 6" and over

Station #1 - Almont Brown Rai nbow Total Trout Station #2 - Elsinore Brown Rainbow Total Trout

Station #3- 1 Mile Campground

Brown Rainbow

Total Trout

Station #5 - Sam's - Lower

Brown Rainbow Total Trout No./acre Lb/acre 134.6 27.1 163.1 123.3 2.5 127.7 144.8 2.1 148.8 281.8 37.1 321.4

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Taylor River

Code No.: 43531

Station #6 - Sam's Upper

Brown Rainbow Total Trout No./acre 197.1 62.9 262.7 Brown Rainbow Total Trout 176.3 26.3 204.7

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DISK D-87-180 UNCOMPAHGRE

Taylor River at Almont

This reach of the Taylor River is characterized by a moderate stream

gradient and a deeply incised channel with very little meandering or braiding.

The stream channel is dominated by large rubble and boulder substrate which is less than 25 percent embedded. This lack of excessive sedimentation is

indicative of a good stable drainage and the settling effect of Taylor Park

Reservoir upstream.

The pool (run) - riffle ratios appears to be fair to poor in the reach of river surveyed with pools and deep runs representing less than 10 percent of

the total water surface. The few pools that are present are generally behind

large boulders. The deeper runs, with slightly slower water velocity in

comparison to the riffles, produces most of the trout habitat in this reach of river. On the average, the pools and runs that are available are of fair quality (class 3 and 4) being shallow and small in relation to the total wetted perimeter. The boulder/rubble substrate and the rippling water surface does give adequate cover for the resident trout which average from 8 to 10 inches. However, this reach of the Taylor River does appear to have at least one class 1 or 2 pool or run in every half mile to mile of river. These larger pools and runs are generally associated with bedrock outcrops and the constrictions they place on the river channel. The first photo is an example

of one of these class 1 pool-run areas.

Very little spawning gravel was observed in this reach of the Taylor River during the survey, but that which was located was free of fines and appeared excellent for trout reproduction. Brown trout have a good self sustaining population in the Taylor River and are the dominant trout species

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present. Rainbow trout are stocked annually by the Colorado Division of

Wildlife and occasionally by private land owners but apparently do not

reproduce successfully enough to maintain a viable sport fishery without the

stocking.

Bank cover and stability appear to be excellent in this reach of the

Taylor River. Willow and other small deciduous trees form a riparian zone ranging from 20 to 50 feet on both banks. However, only about 10 to 20 percent of the water surface area is shaded. In some of the wider reaches,

boulder and rubble bars can represent as much as 50 percent of the stream banks. This relatively open channel does not cause a temperature problem because the water released upstream from Taylor Park Reservoir is extremely cold producing a late summer temperature at Almont of 55 F which is optimal

for trout production.

The adjacent land forms in the Almont area are generally a steep mountain side of sage and scattered coniferous trees on one side of the channel and a

small, flat grass covered flood plain with scattered trees on the other. However, much of the Taylor River from Taylor Park Reservoir to Almont is

deeply incised with steep mountains on both sides.

The primary limiting factors in this reach of river appear to be the lack of good pool quality and quantity and a short growing season. The Uncompahgre

Valley Water Users Association through an agreement with the Bureau of

Reclamation operate Taylor Park Reservoir in the fall and winter to maximize

brown trout reproduction. In response to this operation, the brown trout

population has nearly quadrupled since the mid - 1970's.

Due to its excellent aesthetic qualities and good trout fishery, the

Taylor River drainage has excellent potential for further recreational

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TOPOG MAPS: ^LATCHLESS MOUNTAIN §

-TAYLOR PARK RESERVOIR

f

FAIRVIEW PEAK t

LOTUS CREEK

Section No. 1 Date: 17 August 1979

Primary Drainage: Taylor River

Terminus: Lower

Location: Confluence with Taylor River

T 15 S, R 83 W, Sec. 2

Width: 21 ft. Elevation: 9030 ft. Flow: 30.28 c.f.s.

pH: 7.5 pHTH: 0.0 ppra MO: 21 ppm

Hardness: 51 ppm Conductivity: 97 pohm/cm

Stream Profile: Yes

\

Water Temperature @ 9:30 - 48°F

Terminus: Upper Location: Headwaters T 15 S, R 82 W, Sec. 33 Width: 1 ft. Elevation: 11,600 ft. SECTION SUMMARY

Meander Factor: 1.05 Length: 10.2 Miles

Width: 10.5 ft. Flow: Normal Acreage: 13.63

County: Gunnison Miles: 10.2 Beaver Dams: Unknown

Physical Stream Damage: None

Accessibility:

Non-surfaced Car: 1.0 Miles Established Trail: 9.2 Miles Land Status:

USFS: 9.7 Miles

Private-Closed: 0.5 Miles Stocking:

Fry: Native-1973, 1 Mile None: 10.2 Miles

Aquatic Vegetation:

Filamentous Algae: Common Watercress: No

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Lottis Creek

Code No. 41323 Page 2

Stream Size:

Small Stream 10'-I9' Gradiant : 4.8%

Fishery Value: Average

Fishery Value - Limiting Factors;

Riffle area excessive - A-9 Low temperature - A-15

FISH SAMPLING

Only Station Elevation: 9080 ft.

Lerugth: 240 ft. Scales Collected: No

Sampling Method: Electro-fishing Sampling: Adequate

Estimated % of Fish Biomass:

Game Fish: 100%

Station //I: Above Lottis Campground

Equipment Used: Battery Back Pack

Personnel: Nehring, Sanford and Versluys

Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Tot. Brown Brook Rainbow 2 2 10 11 7 11 1 1 1 1 1 % Biomass

Comments: Sta. //I: Brown - 2697g ttl. wt. = 51.3 lbs./acre netted Brook - 130g ttl. wt. = 2.5 lbs./acre netted Rainbow - 40g ttl. wt. = .76 lbs./acre netted

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STREAM SURVEY SUMMARY

Scr(;atn S. Lottis Creek Code: Location TI^S R83W Sec 12 NE i Dace 11,-19-86 Gear Types BP eIoct rof1sh i nq 350 v

Col lectors Kehmeler, Shoemaker, -Munoz

0 i scha rge

Average width 'i -Sm (15') Stat ion Length ^9m (162 ' )

Average Depth l^cm (5-5") Area O.Q2ha (1/ha= 50)

Average Slope kg/ Avc.wt. . j— V

/

ha

'( i n) q( lbs) Sn^,^AUO Co.nn,

(7.5" (0.39)

1

126.2 193 180.3 350/350 1 82 (8") (0. 17) k.OS 203 81 0/50 (6") (0.07) 3.^5 151 3'i.5 50/50 12 cond i c i or^ C online n t s

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SPECIES

Si is? I 58 59 60 6l 62 63 \ ik 65 66 j 6? J68

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TAYLOR RESERVOIR INVESTIGATION

WILLIAM C. WEILER

JACK R. GRIEB, DIRECTOR

FEDERAL AID IN FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION

JOB PROGRESS REPORT F-37-D-17

COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

S. W. FISH MANAGEMENT

MONTROSE, COLORADO 81401

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary of Findings and Recommendations

Acknowledgments History

Sampling Methods

General Discussion

Figures

A. General Location Map

B. Map of Taylor Reservoir

C. Area and Capacity Table

D. September 30 and April 30 Water Levels 1967-1981 E. Fish Planting Record 1952-1970

F. Fish Planting Record 1971-1981

G. Creel Census Record 1971-1980

H. Past Gill Net Studies 1956, 72, 73, 76,.77, 79, 81

I. Water Chemistries - 1981

J. Trawling Results - 1981

J-1 Photo of Mysis, Mackinaw, Kokanee from tral

Gill Net Results - 1981

K. Rainbow, Brown, and White Sucker by Sampling Period

K-1 Combined Gill Nets - All species - June

K-2 to K-4 Individual Net Data - June

K-5 Combined Gill Nets - All Species - August

K-6 to K-8 Individual Net Data - August

K-9 Combined Gfll Nets - AlTSpecies - October

K-10 to K-12 Individual Net Data - October

Seining Results - 19 L - Seining Projections

L-1 Seining total s - All species

>

L-2 Seining data - June

L-3 Seining data - August

L-4 Seining data - October

M-1 Brown Trout Average Weights from Gill Nets

M-2 Rainbow Trout Average Weights from Gill Nets

N-1 Brown Trout Annul us Formation Size

N-2 Brown Trout Annul us Formation - Summary

N-3 Rainbow Trout Annul us Formation

N-4 Other Species Annulus Formation

N-5 Other Species Annulus Formation - Summary

Fishermen Count - Creel Census Results - 1981

0-1 Bank & Boat Fishermen Hours and Catch-Per-Man-Hour

0-2 Total Catch Numbers and CPMH by Species

0-3 Total Catch Percentages by Species by Month

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Summary

From this first year of data collection the following can be said: 1. The fishing pressure at Taylor Reservoir is around 21,390 fish

ermen trips from June through October, (Using 3.7 hrs. per trip

-SW Regional Avg.)

2. The fingerling rainbow plants are not returning to the creel in the year of planting.

3. The catchable rainbow plants are returning 42% to the creel.

4. The estimated number of predators, browns, mackinaw, and northern pike, compared to the remaining species, rainbow, kokanee, cut throat and white suckers, on a per acre basis is 80.6 to 118.9 or

1 to 1.5.

5. Mysis are present but are apparently in no great abundance.

Recommendations

1. Continue the study for at least one more year. 2. Do not plant fingerling rainbow in 1982.

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History

Taylor Dam was built in 1938 by the Bureau of Reclamation. It is

an earthfill dam 170 feet high and impounds 106,230 acre feet of

water at capacity. The maximum 2,033 surface acres has a shoreline

length of about 11.2 miles. The water is used by the Uncompahgre

Valley Water Users Association for replacement water for Blue Mesa

Reservoir which, in turn, provides irrigation water to the Uncom

pahgre Valley via the Gunnison tunnel and South Canal at the East

Portal below Crystal Reservoir.

Taylor Reservoir has a maximum depth of 150 feet with an average of

52.3 feet. The spillway elevation is 9,330 feet.

Local businesses in Taylor Park became aware, through their customers,

that fishing in Taylor Reservoir was on the decline. They approached

the Division in 1980 with a request for a study.

Creel census records show that the catch-per-man-hour of effort from

1952 through 1961 averaged 1.07 with a high of 1.65 and a low of 0.84..

The period from 1962 through 1970 produced a cpmh average of 0.74 with

a high of 0.97 and a low of 0.40. From 1971 through 1978 the cpmh

averaged 0.61 with a high of 0.84 and a low of 0.43. The 1979 and

1980 cpmh's averaged 0.31 (Figure G).

Although the overall cpmh has shown a relatively steqdy decline since

1952 (to be expected in a normal reservoir situation) something happen

ed in 1979 and 1980 to reduce the cpmh by 50% from the previous eight

year figure.

The study began in the winter months prior to the 1981 field season.

Attempts were made to correlate various factors with the rainbow

catch-per-man-hour. The following were considered: number of catchable

rainbows stocked per year and per month; number of 2 inch rainbow

stocked 1, 2 and 3 years previous; and various water levels that year

and 1, 2, and three years previous. Simple and multiple regression

formulas were applied on a year-by-year, three year-by-three year,

1956-63, 1956-79, 1956-72, and 1956-82 basis.

To be valid, the correlation coefficient should be between 0.9 and

1.0. There were only two of the over 100 calculations that were made

(24)

History

The first, rainbow cpmh catchable rainbow stocked those years

-March water level two years previous, for the period 1956 to 1963,

gave an r of 0.93. The other instance, two inch rainbow stocked

three years previous catchable rainbow stocked those years

-rainbow cpmh those years, for the period 1956-63, gave an r^ of 0.91.

This demonstrated that none of the factors considered were related to

the rainbow catch-per-man-hour shown on the Kardex cards. Either the

correct factor or combination of factors hasn't been found for the

past data or the numbers shown are not really what actually happened.

The field study began in June, 1981 with an intensive fisherman count

- creel census, coupled with a less intensive gill-netting and seining

(25)

Sampling Methods

Fish Samples - Four experimental gill nets were set on each of two

successive nights in June, August, and October. An experimental

gill net is 125 feet long and 6 feet deep. It consists of five

panels of multifilament nylon mesh in 3/4, 1, 1-1/8, 1%, 1%, and 2

inch sizes. These nets were set overnight and were set in the same

eight locations in June and August. In October, it was necessary

to change the locations of nets 7 and 8 because of the lowered

water level. (See Figure B for locations)

Shoreline seining was done approximately one-half to one and one-half

hours after sunset. The seine is a total of 44 feet long and 4 feet

deep. It has a 4x4x4 bag and is 1/8 inch mesh. Four semi-circle drags

were made in each of two locations in June and August. Only two drags

were made at the two sampling points in October because of the extreme

amount of rooted aquatics. The seine went over the surface of the

aquatics rather than being drug on the bottom and as such was not as

effective as it can be. (See Figure B for locations)

Water chemistries were done with Hach Chemistry kits at approximately

the same location in each of the three sampling periods. (See Figure

B for location)

Fisherman Counts and Creel Census - A temporary employee was hired under

the Federal Aid Program (D-J Funds) to do the counts and census. It

was set up on a random basis, surveying six week days and four weekend

days per month. The random numbers were produced in the Random Number

Generator Program for the HP-67 Programmable Calculation. Only one

of the five week days was surveyed more than once per month. None of

the weekend days were back-to-back, i.e., if a Saturday was picked,

the next day Sunday, was not censused. All of this data was sent to

the Denver Office of the Division of Wildlife where the projected

numbers were generated from a computer program developed by the

Research Section in Fort Collins.

Mysis Sampling - Mysis (Mysis oculata var. relicta) (Figure J-1)

trawling was done with the Fish Research trawl and boat. The one

meter square net was pulled through the water column at various

depths and speeds, during daylight and night time hours. Also, a

specially designed bottom trawl being used at Twin Lakes was also tried

(26)

General Discussion Fish Populations:

Brown Trout

From the gill net data (Figure K) and the fish scale analysis

(Figure N-1) it appears that the brown trout population consists of

fish that migrate into the reservoir from the inlet streams at about

2 inches, generally live about 4 years attaining a total length of

13 inches and average around 11.5 inches. They are fairly abundant

in the shallows in June but move out into the deeper parts of the

reservoir when the upper waters go above 58° F. (Figure I and L-4)

They are the dominant natural game fish with an estimated reservoir

population in 1981 of 115,005 (Figure P).

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow fingerlings and catchable-size fish are stocked by the Division

of Wildlife. Gill net data in Figure K shows the catchable group as

It progresses through the summer. The three and three-quarter months

growth averaged almost 2 inches. They do not seem to grow beyond 15

inches, probably as a result of fishermen harvest. The May fingerling

plant, 2.5 inch average, showed up in October averaging around 7 inches.

This growth averages a little under one inch per month. The rainbow

fingerlings planted in July (100,000 at 2.3 inches) did not show up

in the gill nets or seining. From the seining projections (Figure L),

only 6.43% of the total rainbow fingerling plant (304,000 fish) sur

vived to October. Of the 36 scale samples taken, only 3 appear to be

from fingerling plants (Figure N-3). All of the rainbow fingerlings

planted in 1981 were red pigment marked. (A marking technique that

uses compressed air to blast minute plastic particles onto a fish.

These particles become visible under ultra-violet black light and are

usually retained on the fish throughout its life.) Of the small

rainbows checked for mark retention in August, 6 out of 6 had red

pigment. Three of the 6-8 inch rainbows taken in the October gill

nets were red pigment marked although there was only one spot on

each of two and two spots on the third fish.

Mackinaw (Lake) Trout

Natural reproduction accounts for most of the Mackinaw population.

Only one of the 20 scale sampled fish could have come from a DOW

plant (1973) plus one small mackinaw was trawled at about 15 feet

(27)

3 inches per year, averaging 15 inches in the fifth year. Mackinaw

were netted in the shallows in June and October but not in August.

Eighty percent of the mackinaw that died in the gill nets were females.

Kokanee Salmon

The last kokanee plant in Taylor Park was in 1978. The five that were

seined in June and the four trawled in July were from natural repro

duction. Kokanee will average about 9 inches in their second year and

are projected to make up a little over one percent of the total fish

population in the reservoir. Kokanee are reported to be spawning on

the south shore of the reservoir, down by the dam.

Northern Pike

Northerns were planted in 1972 to try to biologically control the

sucker population. They have successfully spawned in at least 1976,

77 and 81 (Figures N-5, J, and L-1). Two of the ten mackinaw stomachs

that were examined contained 8 inch northerns, indicating they may

also have been successful in 1980. Two of the eight pike stomachs

examined contained rainbow trout.

Being shallow water fish, northerns were netted each period. They

average 6.5 inches their first year, 15 inches their second, 21 their

third and 26 inches their fourth year.

Snake River Cutthroat

,

This species is present in the reservoir but only one individual was

netted at the Taylor River inlet indicating it may have come from

upriver somewhere.

White Suckers

This species comprises most of the total fish biomass in the reser

voir. They average over 16 inches in length and 2 pounds in weight

in the 1972, 73, 76 and 77 gill nets, the number of whites taken that

were over 16 inches in length averaged around 25%. In the 1979 and

1981 gill nets, that number went to 57% (Figure H). This indicates

the smaller suckers are disappearing, probably as a result of

preda-tion. The white suckers are reproducing (Figure L-1) but are not

surviving the 4 inch northerns also present in the aquatic vegetation.

It will be interesting to see what happens, if and when the larger

(28)

Mysis Population

Mysis were planted in 1973 and 74 with the hope that the kokanee would

utilize them and leave the other zooplankton for the small rainbows.

Further research has shown that Mysis and kokanee do not inhabit the

same part of the reservoir at the same time. This greatly reduces

predation by kokanee. It has also been found that Mysis feed on

Daphnia which is the prime zooplankton for kokanee and rainbow. Mysis

are, therefore, detrimental to Colorado reservoir situations where

small rainbow and. kokanee salmon are the principle recreation fish.

It was hoped that the Mysis plants had not taken in Taylor Reservoir

but 12 were trawled in July. Apparently, however, there is enough

predation on the Mysis by mackinaw and brown that it appears that

they are being held in check. In other Colorado reservoirs where

Mysis have been introduced, after 10 years, they become thick enough

to be trawled in the hundredsquite easily.

Fisherman Counts and Creel Census

Based on the Southwest Region average of 3.7 hours per trip, 21,390

*

fishermen used Taylor Reservoir June through October. Of this total

51.4 percent were boat fishermen. (Figure 0-1) The total

catch-per-man-hour was 0.40 which was 22.5% higher than 1979 or 1980.

Overall, based on total cpmh, fishing is best in June and September.

Specifically, each month has its ups and downs for total catch by

species (Figure 0-2). In these five months 26,646 rainbow were har

vested. Assuming that the fingerling trout do not enter the harvest this

is a 42% return of the catchable plants.

Overall, rainbow make up 84% of the total catch with brown, mackinaw, .

kokanee and northerns the remainder in that order.

(29)

TAYLOR RESERVOIR FISH PLANTING RECORD

Year SDecies Under 2" 2-4" a-6" _6"+

952 Native Rainbow 8000 48428 953 Rainbow _{46 02} 1954 Rainbow 24865 955 1956 Kokanee Rainbow Brown 90000 55616 10036 40 40 1957 Rainbow 28 6 50464 39512 958 Kokanee Crayfish Rainbow Brook 100320 2250 100352 1570 30900 1959 Kokanee Rainbow 75000

%

16000 482 0 2T788 1960 Kokanee Rainbow 126000 38907 1961 Kokanee Rainbow 297240 104400 ₃₁₅₇₀ 1962 Rainbow 354000 ₃₀₆₀₀ 963 Kokanee Rainbow Mackinaw 336000 30000 ₂₆₄₀₀ 36859 1964 Kokanee Rainbow Mackinaw 342000 180000 3912 69630 1965 Rainbow 200000 ₆₅₇₅₀ 1966 Kokanee Rainbow Brook 260000 100000 3000 52000 68500 1967 Rainbow 190000 60000 36750 1968 Rainbow 25000 48820 969 Rainbow ₄₀₂₀₈₀ ₂₅₀₉₀₀ ₇₁₁₆₀ 1970 Rainbow 300000 ₄₆₁₆₀ Figure E

(30)

TAYLOR RESERVOIR

§

CREEL CENSUS RECORD

m

FM Non- Catch Per Ttl. Fish

- Year Chkd. Res. Hours Man Hours Caught Species

1971 120' 14 234 0.84 ₁₉₆ Rainbow 194 - Brown 2 1972 60 5 137 0.72 99 Rainbow 89 Brown 8 — Native 1 • Kokanee 1 1973 129 40 378 0.46 174 Rainbow 148 — Brown 23 Brook 1 Kokanee 1 — Mackinaw 1 1974 108 64 410 0.67 275 Rainbow 187 Brown 30 — Brook 36 Native 3 Kokanee 18 Macki naw 1 1975 223 27 686 0.62 427 _Rainbow ₃₄₉ Brown 17 _ Brook 1 • Kokanee 60 1976 73 0 265 0.43 116 Rainbow 116 1977 144 51 504 0.60 302 _Rainbow ₂₃₇ Brown 57 Kokanee 6 — Mackinaw 2 1978 105 28 262 0.65 170 Rainbow 145 Brown 19 — Mackinaw 5 Northern Pike 1 1979 225 63 703.5 0.32 223 Rainbow 190 Brown 31 Kokanee 1 Mackinaw 1 - 1980 169 25 412 0.30 123 Rainbow 102 Brown 19 Kokanee 1 Mackinaw 1 Figure G

(31)

Month June July August September October Total TAYLOR RESERVOIR - 1981 FISHERMAN COUNT - CREEL CENSUS Bank Fishermen Total Hours 8405.3 10725.4 9543.0 7007.9 2754.5 38436.1 Std. Error 12.4% 22.9% 13.0% 27.8% 37.9% 19.6% Boat Fishermen Total Hrs. 9624.7 15710.0 9874.0 5228.7 273.0 40710.4 Std. Error 18.3% 30.8% 19.8% 38.5% 73.5% 22.0%

Month Days Hrs./Day CPMH _Hrs./Day

June (22 Wkdy) 253.3 0.328 277.7 ( 8 Wked) 354.0 0.332 439.5 July (23 Wkdy) 307.7 0.382 418.0 ( 8 Wked) 456.0 0.259 762.0 Aug. (21 Wkdy) 308.0 0.175 234.0 (10 Wked) 307.5 0.128 496.0 Sept. (22 Wkdy) 135.0 0.715 93.9 ( 8 Wked) 504.6 0.369 382.8 Oct. (22 Wkdy) 101.3 0.644 0.0 ( 9 Wked) 58.3 0.523 15.3 5 Mo. Average (153) ^51.2 0.345 266.1 0.596 0.506 0.438 0.488 0.327 0.374 0.556 .0.388 0.0 0.788 0.452 Number of Actual Contacts - 711

Bank & Boat Fishermen Combined

June July August Sept. Oct. Hrs/Day 601.0 852.6 647.2 407.9 97.7 5 Mo. Average 517.3 0.454 0.410 0.257 0.476 0.610 0.400 % Error 8.6% 11.3% 8.9% 14.2% 7.1% Total Fish Caught/Day Figure 0-1

(32)

TAYLOR RESERVOIR - 1981

FISHERMEN COUNT - CREEL CENSUS

BANK AND BOAT FISHERMEN

TOTAL CATCH NUMBERS BY SPECIES

(Numbers Rounded) Rainbow 7093 8960 4237 5263 1093

Mackinaw Brown Kokanee _{Northern Pike}

TOTAL CATCH NUMBERS BY SPECIES PER DAY

Rainbow

236 J 17

183 I

15 137 £ 10

175 I

17

35 - 17 Mackinaw

12 I 1

16 I 1

4|l

9 + 1

2-2 Brown

20 J 1

18 i

1 15 Jl

6^1

1-1 Kokanee

4.| 1

4 t

1

4-1

^ ^

1

21-4 Northern Pike 174 - 21 _11-3

_{14 i}

₃

8^2

TOTAL CATCH PER MAN HOUR BY SPECIES

Rainbow 0.393 0.339 0.218 0.430 0.361 Mackinaw 0.020 0.029 0.007 0.022 0.022 Brown 0.033 0.033 0.024 0.015 0.008 Kokanee 0.006 0.007 0.007 0.007 0.219 Northern Pike 0.0 0.001 0.001 0.001 0 0.021 _0.028 _0.016 0.001 Figure 0-2

(33)

h

Rainbow

TAYLOR RESERVOIR - 1981 FISHERMAN COUNT - CREEL CENSUS

TOTAL CATCH PERCENTAGES

Mackinaw Brown Kokanee Northern Pike

Bank Boat Bank Boat Bank Boat Bank Boat Bank Boat June (WD) 95.2% - 81.5% 2.2%- 7.6% 2.5% _ _8.1% 0.0 2.8% 0.0 0.0 (WE) 97.0% - 82.8% 0.8% - 1.8% 1.1% - 13.4% 0.0 - 0.7% 0.0 - 1.3% July (WD) 98.5% - 80.0% 0.7% - 7.8% 0.0 _ 9.5% 0.2% , 2.7% 0.0 0.0 (WE) 97.0% - 67.6% 0.0 - 14.3% 2.0% 15.2% 0.0 - 2.5% 1.0% - 0.4% Aug (WD) 95.7% - 85.5% 0.8% - 0.4% 2.9% _ 10.3% 0.6% 2.6% 0.0 1.2% (WE) 88.2% - 77.2% 3.2% - 5.7% 8.6% - 12.4% 0.0 - 4.6% 0.0 - 0.0 Sept.(WD) 96.9% - 71.3% 1.0% -16.4% 1.3% _ 9.4% 0.4% _ 2.9% 0.4% 0.0 (WE) 98.7% - 85.8% 0.7% - 4.9% 0.7% - 4.0% 0.0% - 4.3% 0.0 - 0.0 Oct. (WD) 57.8% - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.5% _ 0.0 40.7% 0.0 0.0 0.0 (^^^E) 69.0% - 53.8% 1.1% -46.1% 1.1% - 0.0 28.9% - 0.0 0.0 -0.0 Total 92.0% - 78.4% 1.0% - 8.0% 1.5% - 10.5% 5.2% - 2.8% 0.1% • 0.2%

BANK AND BOAT COMBINED

June 86.6% 4.4% 7.2% 1.4% 0.0 July 82.7% 7.1% 8.0% 1.8% 0.2% Aug. 85.0% 2.7% 9.3% 2.7% 0.4% Sept. 90.3% 4.7% 3.2% 1.5% 1 0.3% Oct. 59.2% 3.6% 1.3% 35.9% 0.0 Total 84.1% 5.1% 6.7% 3.8% 0.2% Figure 0-3

(34)

TAYLOR RESERVOIR - 1981

TOTAL FISH POPULATION NUMBER PROJECTIONS

Species No. Taken by Gill net Population Estimate* Fish over 6" Population Estimate***

Fish under 6" Totals Rainbow Brown Mackinaw Kokanee Cutthroat N. Pike W. Sucker 63162** 22230 11644 19546 92775 73,748 29688 76,199 82708 115005 13361 35334 149947 Total _182,429 _222,894 405,323

*Based on ratio of rainbows planted to those taken in gill nets (very speculative numbers)

**Number of rainbow catchables planted in 1981

***Taken from Figure L which is based on the number of fish seined per acre

(35)

Taylor River Flows

Below Taylor Park Reservoir

(Monthly Mean cfs)

Year Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Get

1965 36 26 26 26 46 604 346 157 720 374 343 99 1966 102 353 195 60 54 53 173 415 253 371 368 353 1967 298 70 48 46 49 45 100_ 142 239 239 237 235 1968 438 203 96 96 94 87 199 233 209 414 465 586 1969 85 58 51 50 51 83 118 118 416 278 293 291 1970 45 20 21 23 213 655 348 387 403 218 300 163 1971 166 100 87 196 185 392 431 268 498 498 144 275 1972 296 54 53 54 56 56 54 581 261 509 636 352 1973 48 50 52 53 49 50 56 98 366 234 245 463 1974 203 67 69 . 66 64 55 178 298 254 248 223 199 1975 249 146 61 61 64 62 64 122 347 243 238 266 1976 279 107 85 85 87 151 220 239 364 308 269 89 1977 82 79 66 60 59 66 119 165 195 183 185 84 1978 108 107 102 99 112 115 157 249 221 187 255 111 1979 58 63 60 59 220 278 266 200 517 231 336 167 1980 137 132 134 96 163 383 389 290 387 316 438 272 1981 95 102 111 99 77 50 64 149 232 238 251 138 1982 72 112 110 109 183 267 227 183 163 210 279 315 1983 110 110 110 110 272 340 214 165 246 424 407 317 1984 150 150 121 137 217 323 136 622 690 1 410

Mean Flow Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

1965-1981 1965-1971 1972-1976 1977-1983

(36)

TAYLOR RIVER FLOWS (c.F.s.) BELOW TAYLOR PARK

AFTER BLUE MESA

YEAR MINIMUM MAXIMUr YEAR MINIMUM MAXIMUM

1939 25 814 July 22 1965 23 1,150 July 13

1940 0 May 1-July 3 825 Get. 3 1966 49 624 June 1

1941 8.6 754 Sept. 11-14 1967 36 380 Oct. 11 1942 0 May 7-22 0 May 5-21 1,220 June 19 1968 87 604 Sept. 26 1943 935 June 11 1969 50 636 July 5 1944 50 950 Sept. 11 1970 19 806 June 25 1945 10 653 June 25 1971 29 592 June 30 1946 30 1,060 June 9 1972 80 1,590 June 9 1947 26 1,270 June 21 1973 82 926 June 14 1948 50 1,440 June 4 1974 14 496 Oct. 12 1949 13 1,190 June 19 1975 14 512 July 17 July 7 July 4 Sept. 9 July 2 July 3 1950 48 905 Sept. 8 Sept. 12 1976 45 391 1951 16 915 1977 57 218 1952 11 1,540 June 16 1978 51 292 1953 16 948 Sept. 8 Aug. 8 Sept. 14 Sept. 8 July 1 Sept. 4 Sept. 9 Aug. 30 (July 26) (June 22) (July 31) (Sept. 11) 1979 42 946 1954 855 1980 27 734 1955 8.2 896 1981 38 488 Oct. 1 1956 9.1 936 1982 46 422 Oct. 21 1957 12. 2,270 1983 50 500 Aug. 7 July 1 1958 36 735 1984 50 1,440 1959 14 851 1960 8.2 990 1961 6.6 712 1962 7.3 1,150 1963 6.0 752 1964 3.8 712

(37)

TAYLOR PARK RESERVOIR CONTENT (acre-feet)

PlAXIMUri YEAR

AFTER BLUE I^ESA

MINim MAXIMUM 37,850 9,980 10,980 63,000 59,130 45,320 44,410 63,470 62,860 53,580 53,590 35,200 35,240 41,540 49,570 37,490 35,880 19,860 8,780 51,760 28,810 26,510 17,450 48,820 44,710 32,830 108,510 85,400 107,500 109,700 109,200 108,600 107,600 109,000 109,100 109,700 109,200 109,000 109,000 110,000 108,100 93,530 108,200 108,600 111,000 108,400 103,400 109,600 94,560 109,700 108,300 107,300 38,110 72,720 41,650 51,000 35,370 48,390 62,000 34,000 40,000 51,000 50,000 58,000 37,000 29,000 42,000 48,000 46,000 24,000 40,000 32,000 109,400 108,500 107,100 94,560 108,700 109,200 108,000 108,000 107,000 99,830 107,000 91,960 67,000 81,000 109,000 107,000 77,000 90,000 108,000 108,000

(38)

Taylor Park Reservoir

End of Month Content (1,000 acre-feet)

Aur Sen Oct

56 38 28 27 11 14 94 69 70 90 63 59 108 91 81 84 45 48 100 78 78 91 64 64 107 102 96 93 54 56 94 66 66 66 35 37 87 46 43 104 78 62 91 50 40 38 38 40 75 36 26 63 20 10 108 104 98 76 52 47 63 29 34 69 27 19 43 49 59 90 58 63 52 45 33 98 75 63 106 97 100 89 73 56 99 95 86 87 67 36 102 92 86 107 105 104 84 84 75 79 48 34 103 94 71 85 75 67 101 92 81 74 64 65 53 45 44 77 64 59 105 89 83 94 73 59 61 53 49 90 85 74 97 81 68 '.02

(39)

TOPOG MAPS: ITALIAN CREEK -NEW YORK PEAK

HAYDEN PEAK

TAYLOR RIVER, NORTH FORK

(Unofficial) Southwest Region Section No. 1 Primary Drainage: Code No. 38671 XX Date: 21 August 1979 Taylor River

Terminus: Lower

Location: Confluence with Taylor River

T 12 S, R 84 W, Sec. 24

Width: 13 ft. Elevation: 10,230 ft. Measured Flow: 3.97 cfs

pH: 7.0 pHTH: 0.0 ppm MO: 14 ppm Hardness: 34 ppm Conductivity: 78 yohm/cm Stream Profile: Yes

Water Temperature @ 12:30 - 52°F

Terminus: Upper

Location: Headwaters at Taylor Lake T 12 S, R 84 W, Sec. 15

Width: 1 ft. Elevation: 11,544 ft.

SECTION SUMMARY

Meander Factor: 1.05 Length:

Width: 7 ft. Flow: Normal County: Gunnison Miles: 3.1 Beaver Dams: Few

Physical Stream Damage: Bank Degradation: 5% Accessibility:

Non-surfaced Car: 0.1 Miles 4-Wheel Drive: 2.6 Miles

No established Trail: 0.4 Miles Land Status: USFS: 3.1 Miles Stocking: None: 3.1 Miles 3.1 Miles Acreage: 2.8 Aquatic Vegetation: Filamentous Algae: Watercress: No Abundant

(40)

Taylor River, North Fork (U) Code No. 38671 XX Page 2 Stream Size: Minor Stream 4'-9' Gradiant: 8.0% Fishery Value: Below Average

Fishery Value - Limiting Factors: Steep gradient - A-5

Land abuse-livestock - C-12 FISH SAMPLING Only Station Elevation: 10,242 ft. Length: 150 ft. Scales Collected: No

Sampling Method: Electro-Fishing

Sampling: Adequate

Comments:

Estimated % of Fish Biomass: Game Fish: 100%

Many small (L 1.5") brook trout in beaver ponds above sampling

section sighted. Food forms include: Coleoptera Larvae, Ephemeroptera,

Diptera (simuliidae). Discolored rocks - possible mine tailings.

Station #1: Below road 742 crossing.

Distance: 150 ft. Width: 12 ft. Equipment Used: Battery Back Pack

Personnel: Hebein and Versluys

(.0413 acre)

Sta. Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Tot. Avc 1 Brook Brown 4 4 2 1 18 5.0 3 4.7 % Biomass

Comments: Sta. #1 - Brook - ttl. wt. 531g = 28.3 lbs./acre netted; Brown

(41)

5-97 - INSTREAM FLOW - CROSS SECTION DATA

nLrcam Name: Taylor River. North Fork I).'to; 21 Augiiar 1979 Location: Forest Road 742. ^ mile above Taylor Pass 4-wheel drive road.

County: Gunnlson T. 12 S R. 84 W Section 13 h. Section sj

Time:

12:

30 Measured Flow:

4.0 cis

Gradient:

8.0

Personnel: Hebein and Versluys _ _ _

Dis tance Dis tance Dis tance Dis-init De inn inn 0.0 0.0 9.0 0.2 8.0 0.2 G 13.0 0.0 7.0 W 12.5 6.0 0.5 12.0 0.4

Recommended Yearly Flow

Recommended Summer Flow Recommended Winter Flow

(42)

Surveyed by: Hebeln and Versluya

Record Data

Code No. 38671 XX

Date ;21 Aug 79

Section No. !l

S.-.ream Name: TAYLOR RIVER, NORTH FORK (U)

Primary Drainase: Taylor River

Major Drainage Gunnison River, 34 G

Lower terminus

j///////////

Location: Confluence with Ta:>^lor River

T. -12 S R. '84 W S. 124 Width ■13 ft. Elevation U0,230 ft. Flow (c.f.9.) Measured M. 3.97 cfs "iTTo phth MO 0.0 ppm 114 ppm EDTA Conductivity 34 ppm '/8 pohm/cm X ///////////i X if stream profile obtained

Upper terminus

Location: Headwaters at Tavlor Lake

T. 12 S R. 84 W S. 15 Width 1 ft. Elevation 11.544 ft. F1oV7 PH ph th KG EDTA Conductivity

X if stream profile obtained; j

Section Suinmarv iiiiiimi

Meander factor il.05

Length in Miles Vi id th in feet :3.1 Miles It-ft. Acreage Observed Flow '2.8 Normal X if inundated by reservoir Mileage unsectioned

Counties where section located///////////

County Gunnison Miles 3.1 Miles County Miles ! County Miles '

(X) if stream has no fishery value

Record Data

Region \ Sniithwpst

Beaver Dams ///////////

Number (count or estimate) Fp.w ■

Estimated acreage 1

Physical stream damage (7« of

section affected) 'lllllllllh lllllllllll' Bank degradation 5% 1 Channelization Dredging ! !

Mine tailing encroachment j

1

Road encroachment 1

Accessibility (miles) TTIIIIIIIII

Surfaced !

Non-Surfaced car 0. 1 Miles

4-Wheel 2.6 Miles '

Established trail

No established trail 0.4 Miles

Boat only

No access

Land Status and mileage HIIIIIIIII

USFS 3.1 Miles

BLM

Municipal

Div. of Wild.

Private, no public access Private, open to public

State Land Board

County

Mixed small tracts, open

Mixed small tracts, closed

Stocking

Miles creel size Miles fingerling

Miles Fry

Miles not stocked

Aquatic Vegetation

Filamentous algae (x one)

Absent Rare /////////// 3.1 Miles /////////// /////////// Common Abundant X i Watercress

///////////!

X if present 1

Size Classification (X one) illllllllll

Large river loo' .

River 60-99'

Large stream 36-59' Medium 20-35'

Small 10-19'

Minor 4-9' X ■

Very sm.all stream : 4* \

Gradient (computer entry) imitiiiti 8 .0%

(43)

Flahary Value (X one) None Poor Below averace Average Above Average Record Data

i///////////! Upper Station

Elevation

location below

Record Dvata

jiniiiiiii

Excellent

Fishery Value - limiting

lllllllllll]

factors ^llllllllllli

Steep gradient A-5 j

Land abuse-livestock c-12 :

FISH SAl-IPLUIG .11111IIIII Loi7er or only station \ 11111111111'

Elevation i 10,242 ft.;

Describe or map station ; ,

location below " lllllllllll :///////////! Length - feet Sampling adequate Sampling inadequate X if scales collected Estimated 7. fish biomass

Rough Fish

Game Fish

; 1Q0%

|

Est. 7o rough fish biomass ///////////I

Bullheads Car Cottids : Dace Minnows ; j Suckers Sunfish Sampling method Length - feet Sampling adequate S ampling inadequate X if scales collected Estimated % fish biomass

Rough Fish Game Fish

Est. 7» rough fish biomass Bullheads Carp Cottids Dace Minnov7S Suckers Sunfish Combined stations

Estimated fish biomass Rough Fish

Game Fish

Est. % rough fish biomass

Bullheads Car Cottids Dace Minnows Suckers Sunfish

No. of game fish b.O" or mile.

jiiiiiiiiir-"///////////i

-///////////

(44)

Stream: Up^

Station //I: Station #1: Date: --^111. \

C \rr)\ Seri"iOV") 1l i.'Q-QA'^ V.VrNCU'' 'mo i j k'!)

Distance: ZOO CD

Width:

\ 1 .

5 (o

Acreage:

.

-7 ?, 12. h

n

(

Station //2:

1 n.J >\v,o..r^cPniB/V-f sec.:1-iVv. ,

7 olc^

Distance: 7

OO

Width: 1 5

.

7 Acreage:

Station //3: < n r I

Distance: Width: _Acreage:

Equipment Used: Personnel:

Sta. I Species i 079 ₁₃_{!14 115}_{!16 117 II8+I Tot.l} _Av

mUSmBBBttMB

3' 1 I 5

Comments: t-O

^l.s laflSKWSi

(45)

ELECTROFISHING RECORD WATER: ( / LOCATION:

DATE:

9

EFFORT:_ COLLECTOR

SPECIES j to 2.9 I 3 4 5 6 7 8 |9 |10 [11 1 12

|

13 [ 14 1 15

|

16 1 17

|

18 119 1 20 1 21

SUMMARY INFORMATION

Species Total Fish Leng

(i nc h

Total % Total % Total

Biomass Biomass Catch

(lb) P.S.D. Value . ](oQ

i

2'. - 1 O y * ■ '.Z . u

(46)

3e75ji^our^^

■- ;// y^''~~'^f/

/?! Y > ^ ^.^ ,- r^^ //,' '-4<^ •I* «• ioie Res Xp 2 "■\ -/ . ■; - ■ Y" \Y r ~ \ 0 c>

1V)-mL

' xXV

»:-' ^

S ''\ ^-'" ^^97>< O ,' 111 <1 U?6« cr ' \ Y'/ tttur ,,1-' \ iv

ss=L<|> 1 .'i

-s Cl /

'"' r't^i \ ■

_{P^.ui \ '}

ttioka

_n_v' r 1 ' / v-V'fWe/vo^/J . N-A \ <5r ^ ^ v^

H O

AkW^. U

-i^y f ■■'''f'X'y \A\'iT>

^•%r/y

m 1

_AvA

;),i! «

Sa|^

rr r? -~AA1 XAtys'

y" \\ \\ \ .^Dinner Statiori

' ■ ' I r;;^ampgiound

' 'f '/, JliiUiT\^^es

; 1 . ■• (. j79j'^Hin

rmmx^

-jaoeis- . _^^35 \

(47)

TOPOG MAPSj TAYLOR PARK RES. -MT. HARVARD 7.5 MIN

WILLOW CREEK

Southwest Region Code No.; 44064

Section No. 1 Date: 29 August 1980

-Primary Drainage: Taylor Park Reservoir, Taylor River J

a

Major Drainage: Gunnison River, Code No. 34-G ^

Terminus: Lower

Location; Confluence with Taylor Park Reservoir T 14 S, R 82 W, Sec. 20

Width: 18ft. Elevation: 9280 ft. Flow: 46.3 cfs

pH: 7.6 pHTH: 0.0 ppm MO: 61 ppm

Hardness: 86 ppm Conductivity: 116 yohm/cm Stream Profile: No

Water Temperature @ 11:10 - 48°F

Terminus: Upper

Location: Confluence of Middle and East Willow

T 15 S, R 81 W, Sec. 7

Width: 7 ft. Elevation: 10160 ft. Stream Profile: No

SECTION SUMMARY

Width: 12.5 ft. Flow: Normal Acreage: 16.7

County: Gunnison Miles: 8.5 Beaver Dams: Abundant

Physical Stream Damage: None

sj

Accessibility: Non-Surfaced: 8.5 Miles Land Status: USFS: 5.0 Miles Private-Closed: 3.5 Miles Stocking:

Creel Size: Rainbow, 1970-80 Aquatic Vegetation:

Filamentous Algae: Rare

(48)

Willow Creek Code No, 44064 Page 2 Stream Size: Small Stream 10'-19' Gradiant: 2.0% Fishery Value: Above Average

Fishery Value - Limiting Factors: Land Abuse Livestock - C-12

FISH SAMPLING

Length: 100 ft.

Sampling Method: Electrofishing

Sampling: Adequate Estimated % of Fish Biomass:

Game Fish: 100%

ELECTRO-FISHING RECORD _{Date; 29 August 1980i}

Station //I: First road crossing above confluence with Cow Creek.

Distance: 100 ft, _{Width: 9 ft.} _{Acreage: 0.021} Equipment Used: Back Pack

Personnel: Allen and Cohen SIZE LENGTH IN INCHES Sta. Species 1 2 3

1 Brown 1

Rainbow T

10 11 12 13 14 Tot.

Comments: Brown = 411g ttl wt. = 43.1 lbs./acre netted Rainbow •» 88 g ttl. wt. = 9.2 lbs./acre netted

(49)

Willow Creek Code No. 44064 Page 3

ELECTRO-FISHING RECORD Date: 17 August 1979

Station //I: Three miles above Taylor Reservoir, below pass confluence.

Distance: 200 ft. Width: 15 ft. 0.06887 Equipment Used: Back Pack Electroshock

Personnel: Nehring, Sanford and Versluys

Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Tot.

Brown 6 2 20 6 9 9 3 3

Comments: Sta. //I: Brook - 121 g ttl. wt. = 3.9 lbs./acre netted; Brown - 2781 g ttl. wt. = 85.1 lbs./acre netted.

(50)

Survayad byj Allan, Cohan, Nohrinft. SanEord & Versluys Record Data

(X) 1£ atraam hai no flahoyy valua

Record Data

Code No. 44064 Region (Southwest

Date 29 Aug 80 Beaver Dams lllllllllli

Section No. !1 Number (count or estimate)

AhnnH;inl-Si;ream Name: WILLOW CREEK Estimated acreage

Primary Drainage:Taylor Park Reservoir, Physical stream damage (7.

of'iiimiiii-Taylor River section affected) None iiiiiiiiiii\

Maior Drainage Gunnison River, 34-G Bank degradation

1

Lower terminus /////////// Channelization Location:Confluence with Tayi-or Park Dredging

Reservoir i Mine tailing encroachment

; Road encroachment

Accessibility (miles) lllllllllli

T. d4 S Surfaced

R. 82 W Non-Surfaced car 8.5 Miles

S. H10 4-Wheel }

Width 18 ft. ; Established trail

Elevation ■9280 ft. , No established trail

Flow (c.f.3.) 46.3 cfs Boat only

PH 7.6 No access

phth 0.0 ppm Land Status and mileage lllllllllli

MO i61 ppm USFS 5.0 Miles

EDTA 86 ppm BLM

Conductivity ,116 polim/cm Municipal

X if stream profile obtained Div. of Wild.

Upper terminus

///////////'

Private, no public access 3.5 Miles '

Location:Confluence of Middl a and East Private, open to public

Willow Cre 2k State Land Board

County

T. 15 S Mixed small tracts, open

R. 81 W Mixed small tracts, closed

S. 7 Stocking lllllllllli

Width 7 ft. Miles creel size Rainbow 1970-80

Elevation 10160 ft. Miles fingerling

Flov; Miles Fry

pH Miles not stocked

phth 1 Aquatic Vegetation 'III 1 mill

MO Filamentous algae (x one) lllllllllli

EDTA Absent

Conductivity 1 1 Rare X

X if stream profile obtained Common

Section Summary 'jiiiiiiiiir Abundant :

Meander factor 1.3 Watercress 'lllllllllli

Length in Miles 8.5 Miles X if present

Width in feet il2.5 ft. Size Classification (X one) lllllllllli

Acreage 16.7 Large river i loo' _i

Observed Flow ^Jormal River 60-99'

X if inundated by reservoir Large stream 36-59'

Mileage unsectioned Medium 20-35' 1 . .1

Counties where section located/////////// Small 10-19' X

County Gunnison Minor 4-9'

Miles 3.5 Miles Very small stream ' 4'

County Gradient (computer entry) '//////////

Miles Percent per mile 2.0%

County Miles

(51)

Fishery Valua (X one) None Poor Below average Average Above Average Excellent Record Data

\niiiiiiiii\ Upper Station

Elevation

location below Record Data miiiniTf ://///////// I//////////A iBiTBwaiineneiroBswiai FISH SAHPLIIIG

Lo\7er or only station Elevation

location belo\7 iiiiiiiin i///////////' j 96QQ f Sampling method Length - feet Sampling adequate Sampling inadequate X if scales collected Estimated % fish biomass

Rough Fish

Game Fish

Est. % rough fish biomass Bullheads Car /////////// iiiiiiiiiir. Cottids i ' Dace 1: Minnov7S j

Sampling method Electrofishinig - 50 Suckers li

Length - feet ; ICQ ft. Sunfish

Sampling adequate X Combined stations

Estimated 7, fish biomass ' 111111111//\

Sampling inadequate '

X if scales collected >

Rough Fish j

Gome Fish ; 100% ■

Est. % rough fish biomass • ///////////!

Bullheads Cam Cottids ; ; Dace Mrnnows Suckers ; i Sunfish

Estimated % fish biomass Game Fish

Est. % rough fish biomass

Bullheads Car Cottids Dace Minnows Suckers Sunfish

No. of game fish .-6.0"

"///////////

(52)

STREAM SURVEY SUMMARY

(2 mi above Taylor RES. at Holt Guest Ranch Bridge)

cci/;.

w i !

1 qw C reek

Code: i<'406'4

Loco t i on TlkS R81W S22 SEI./A

9- 18-86 Gear Types Backpack EIectrofishina Unit

« v; C I < Kehme i er/ McC1e1 i and /Henry

C n rl r (..c

•r.v:- - id-n 7.52 m (2k .67 ft)

21 .38 cm (8.5^ in)

O '• : 1 C! c

0.05 k

Stat ion I. e ng t ii 138.7 m (ASS ft)

Area 0. 1 Ok ha (1/ha = 9.6) 95k C I

R

Lz...

I B ; 21 10 120

. 2in

i

200 y

/ha 202 231k Ave. 7/ha li a mm u n) _g, U b s) mm / mAi, 8.k3 k.36 100.55 (9.M 239.3 (k. l l) 10k.3 (k.76) 1 20.8 (0.29) 125.5 (.Ok7) 21 .6

ii!?^

/ 67 58 / 21. 758 / 37^ ■ Pnip . cor: k.6 ! 0.78 0.3k 6.8 88.6k ; 0.93 ! ■ J "I I t s .

(53)

TOPOG MAPS; TAYLOR PARK RESERVOIR MX. HARVARD (5 MIN)

TEXAS CREEK

Section No. 1

Date: 27 August 1980

Primary Drainage: Taylor Park Reservoir, Taylor River

Terminus; Lower

Location: Taylor Park Reservoir

T 14 S, R 82 W, Sec. 8

Width: 25 ft. Elevation: 9360 ft.

pH: 7.0 pHTH: 0.0 ppm MO: 34 ppm

Hardness: 34 ppm Conductivity: 74 pohm/cm Stream Profile: No

Est. Flow: 25 cfs

Water Temperature @ 4:00 - 54 F Terminus: Upper

Location: Lake Rebecca

T 13 S, R 80 W, Sec. 21

Width: 15 ft. Elevation: 12480 ft.

SECTION SUMI-LARY

Width: 20 ft. Flow: Normal Acreage: 57.8

County: Gunnison Miles: 15.9 Beaver Dams: Abundant

Physical Stream Damage: None

Accessibility:

Non-Surfaced: 7.2 Miles Established Trail: 5.9 Miles No Established Trail: 2.8 Miles Land Status:

USFS: 15.9 Miles Stocking:

Creel Size: Rainbow 1971-79 Fry: Native 1974

None: 8.7 Miles Aquatic Vegetation:

Filamentous Algae: Common

Watercress: No

(54)

Texas Creek Code No. 43618 Page 2 Stream Size: Medium Stream 20-35' Gradiant: 3.6% Fishery Value: Below Average

Fishery Value - Limiting Factors;

Riffle Area Excessive - A-9

FISH SAMPLING

Length: 120 ft. Scales Collected: No

Sampling Method: Electro-Fishing - 50

Sampling: Inadequate

Estimated % of Fish Biomassi Game Fish: 100%

Comments: The area that we electrofished was not necessarily representative of the stream. Also the flow and size was too large for one

backpack to sample well.

Station //I: Eight miles above confluence with Taylor Reservoir.

Distance: 120 ft. Width: 20 ft. Acreage: 0.055

Equipment Used: Back Pack Personnel: Cohen and Allen

Sta. Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Tot.

1 Brown 1 1

(55)

COLORADO STREAM SURVEY (1976. REVISION)

Surveyed by: Cohen and Allen

Record Data

Code No. _43hl8 Region ( Southwest

Date ; _{27 Aiig RO} Beaver Dams 1///////////

Section No. 1 ₁ Number (count or estimate) Abundant '• S tream Name: TEXAS CREEK_ Estimated acreage

Primary Drainage: Tavlor Park. Reservoir. Physical stream damage (7. of'iiiiimi; Taylor River

Maior Drainage Gunni

section affected) None '//////////•

son River. 34-G Bank degradation

Lower terminus Jllllllllll Channelization Location:Taylor Park

f

Reservoir Dredging !

t

i

Mine tailing encroachment j

; Road encroachment !

1 Accessibility (miles) ///////////

T. ' 14 S Surfaced

R. : 82 W Non-Surfaced car 7.2 Miles

S. 1 8 ' 4-Wheel }

Width 25 ft. i Established trail 5.9 Miles

Elevation 9360 ft. • No established trail 2.8 Miles

Flow (c.f.s.) Est. 25 cfs Boat only

pH I 7.0 No access

phth 0.0 ppm Land Status and mileage ///////////

MO 34 ppm USFS 15.9 Miles

EDTA 34 ppm BLM

Conductivity /4 pohm/cm Municipal

X if stream profile obtained Div. of Wild.

Upper terminus

///////////I

Private, no public access

'

Location: Private, open to public

State Land Board County

T. 13 S Mixed small tracts, open R. 80 w : Mixed small tracts, closed

S. 21 Stocking ///////////

Width 15 ft. Miles creel size Rainbow 1971-79 =

Elevation 12480 ft. ■ Miles fingerling

Flow 1 Miles Fry Native 1974

pH Miles not stocked 8.7 Miles

phth

i

Aquatic Vegetation

'//////////

MO Filamentous algae (x one) '//////////

EDTA Absent

Conductivity ; Rare

X if stream profile obtained; Common X

Section Summary '///////////• Abundant

Meander factor 1.5 Watercress 1IIIIII!Ill\

Length in Miles 15.9 Miles X if present

Width in feet 20 ft. Size Classification (X one) 'llllllllll

Acreage 57.8 Large river -j 100' •

Obseryed Flow Normal River 60-99'

X if inundated by reservoir Large stream 38-59

Mileage unsectioned Medium 20-35' X

Counties where section located/////////// Small 10-19'

County Gunnison Minor 4-9' !

Miles 1 15.9 Miles Very small stream r 4'

County Gradient (computer entry) ' mill III!

Miles \ Percent per mile ! 3.6% :

County Miles

(56)

Fishery Value (X one None Poor Belov; averace Average Above Average Excellent

Fishery Value - limitin factors

Riffle Area Excessive

Record Data ///////////! ;///////////: 1//////////A A-9 Upper Station Elevation

Describe or map station location below

Record Dnt

:///////////

FISH SAl-IPLIIIG

Lo\7er or only station Elevation

Describe or map station location below

I mill III

i///////////'

i 9900 ft

Comments: The area that we electro- i

I

fished was not necessarily representa- !

tive of the stream. Also the flow and ■

size was too large for one backpack to I

sample well. '

Sampling method Electro-Fishing - 50 Length - feet

SampIing adequate SampIing inadequate X if scales collected Estimated 7. fish biomass

Est. 7. rough fish biomass Bullheads Car Cottids Dace Minnows Suckers Sunfith 120 ft. !/////////// I ; 100% , • nun nun Sampling method Length - feet Sampling adequate Sampling inadequate X if scales collected

Estimated 7„ fish biomass

Est. % rough fish biomass Bullheads Carp Cottids Dace Minnows Suckers Sunfish Combined stations

Estimated 7. fish biomass Rough Fish

Game Fish

Est. 7. rough fish biomass

Bullheads Car" Cottids Minnows Suckers Sunfish

No. of game fish -6.0 er mile ///////////I ■7/////////A tnnnnni\ riiiiiinni] jinnnni

(57)

/ '

TOPOG MAPSt TAYLOR PARK RES. PIEPLANT

Ml. HARVARD

ILLINOIS CREEK Southwest Region

Section No. 1

Primary Drainage: Taylor River

Code No.: 40763

Date: 26 August 1980

Terminus: Lower

Location: Confluence with Taylor River T 13 S, R 82 W, Sec 32

Width: 15 ft. Elevation: 9400 ft. Flow: 15.2 cfs pH: 7.1 pHTH: 0.0 ppm MO: 41 ppm

Hardness: 51 ppm Conductivity: 70 yohm/cm Stream Profile: No

Water Temperature @ 16:10 - 62°F

Terminus: Upper Location: Headwaters T 13 S, R 81 W, Sec. 21 Width: 1 ft. Elevation: 11600 ft. Stream Profile: No SECTION SUMMARY

Meander Factor: 1.1 Length:

Width: 8 ft. Flow: Normal County; Gunnison Miles: 6.8 Beaver Dams: Abundant

Physical Stream Damage: None Accessibility:

Non-Surfaced: 0.6 Miles Established Trail: 0.1 Miles No Established Trail: 6.1 Miles

Land Status: USES: 2.6 Miles Private-Glosed: 4.2 Miles Stocking: Fry: Native, 1975 None: 6.8 Miles 6.8 Miles Acreage: 7.25

(58)

Illinois Creek Code No. 40763 Page 2

Aquatic Vegetation:

Filamentous Algae: Abundant Watercress: No

Stream Size:

Minor Stream 4'-9' Fishery Value:

Excellent

Fishery Value - Limiting Factors:

Land Abuse - Livestock - C-12

Gradient: 6.12%

FISH SAMPLING

Length: 100 ft.

Sampling Method: Electrofishing

Sampling: Adequate Estimated % of Fish Biomass:

Game Fish: 100%

Station #1: First road crossing.

Distance: 100 ft. Width: 15 ft, Acreage: 0.0344

Equipment Used: Back Pack Personnel: Allen and Cohen

SIZE LENGTH IN INCHES Sta. Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Brown Rainbow

9 10 11 12 13 14 Tot. 2 1 2 2 2 1

Comments: Sts. #1 : Brovm = 934 g ttl. wt. = 59.8 lbs./acre netted;

(59)

Surveyed by: Allen and Cohen

Record Data

Code No. 40763 Region Southwest..

Date ;26 Aug 80 Beaver Dams ///////////

Section No. ii Number (count or estimate)Abundant '

Stream Name; ILLINOIS CREEK Estimated acreage i

Primary Drainage; Taylor River Physical stream damage (7, of7/////////I

Illltinill\

section affected) None

Ma lor Drainage Gunnison River, 34-G Bank degredation \

Lower terminus

///////////

Channelization Location; Confluence with Taylor River Dredging

\

i

Mine tailing encroachment j

; Road encroachment 1

! Accessibility (miles) lllllllllll

T. 13 S Surfaced

R. '82 W Non-Surfaced car 0.6 Miles

s. 4-Wheel ■

Width

'i5 tt.

Established trail 0.1 Miles

Elevation '9400 ft. , No established trail 6.1 Miles Flow (c.f.s .) ■ 15.2 cts Boat only

PH ./.i No access

ph th U.U ppm Land Status and mileage \iiiiiiiim

MO jAi ppm USFS

2.6 Miles

EDTA Pi ppm BLM

Conductivity 70 pohm/cm Municipal

X if stream profile obtained' Div. of Wild.

Upper terminus

///////////!

Private, no public access 4.2 Miles

Locat i nn• Headwaters Private, open to public

State Land Board County

T. 1^ S Mixed small tracts, open

R. 81 w ; Mixed small tracts, closed Width Elevation "71 1 tt; llfaUU it. Stocking

Miles creel size Miles fingerling

Flov; Miles Fry

Native

pH Miles not stocked

phth Aquatic Vegetation

MO Filamentous algae (x one)

EDTA Absent

Conductivity Rare

X if stream profile obtained- ;

Section Summary

///////////

1975 6.8 Miles [/////////// /////////// j Common Abundant nr

Meander factor _■I.l Watercress

Length in Miles

f//////////l

6.R Miles

Width in feet 8 ft.

Acreage \1.15

Obseryed Flow I Normal R

X if inundated by reservoir

Mileage unsectioned

Counties where section located///////////

Countv Gunnison Miles County Miles County Miles 6.8 Miles

Size Classification (X one) ///////////

Large river l 100' 1 River 60-99* Large stream 36-59' Medium 20-35' Small 10-19' ' Minor 4-9' X

Very small stream .' 4'