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Description:

Led By

Zachary Hooley-Underwood​, CPW; Kevin Thompson, CPW - retired

Study Area

Gunnison River Basin

Project Status

Ongoing

Research Objectives

  • Determine whether CPW biologists can effectively use exclusion devices such as weirs to prevent non-native and hybridized suckers from participating in native sucker spawning events in intermittent tributary streams.​

Project Description

Flannelmouth Sucker (Catostomus latipinnis), Bluehead Sucker (Catostomus discobolus), and Roundtail Chub (Gila robusta) are often referred to as the “three species” because the typically coexist with each other, and have similar life cycles.  Natives of the Colorado River basin, they each occupy only 45 – 55% of their historic native range in the upper Colorado River basin. All three have experienced declines due to habitat loss and invasions of non-native predatory and competitory fishes. In addition, Bluehead and Flannelmouth suckers are prone to hybridization with non-native sucker species (primarily white sucker and longnose sucker) that were unintentionally introduced to the Western Slope. The range and relative numbers of these non-native suckers have expanded in western Colorado over the last 30 years, in some areas dramatically. Continued hybridization and introgression could result in the eventual extinction of the native suckers.

Unlike native Cutthroat Trout or other coldwater species, these native suckers rely on big rivers and low elevation tributaries for much of the year. Therefore, CPW can’t effectively conserve the genetics of these species by creating isolated populations of these suckers above barriers in small streams as they do with Cutthroat Trout. Instead, CPW initiated a study to investigate the effects of excluding non-native suckers and their hybrids from an important spawning tributary of the Gunnison River.  CPW conducted a three-year study of excluding non-native and hybridized suckers from the spawning run using a picket weir and fish trap to answer this question, comparing the selected stream to another in which no fish control was attempted. To test the effectiveness of the exclusion, larval suckers were collected in both streams, and were genetically analyzed to identify the species, or hybrid composition, of each larvae. We found that picket weirs cannot always accommodate the volume of water and debris associated with spring runoff in the streams these fish spawn in, and unfortunately, there were periods of time when the weir was compromised during each year of the study. This resulted in the entry of at least some non-native suckers every year, and many of the resulting larvae had non-native genetics. Additionally, we found that the ratio of non-native to native larvae was much higher than the ratio of non-native to native adults in the exclusion stream, but these ratios matched up in the unmanipulated stream. The unmanipulated stream hosted a greater proportion of just the two native sucker species compared to the manipulated stream. This finding was concerning as it indicated that a few non-natives participating in the spawning run can have a large, disproportional effect on the population.

A new study is underway to use a better weir design – a resistance board weir – in a larger stream to exclude greater numbers of White Suckers and hybrids. Resistance board weirs can be more easily kept clean, and if overwhelmed they submerge, allowing debris to pass over. The new weir was deployed in March 2020, but precautions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in an early termination of the work. The study resumed in 2021 and was replicated in 2022. The weir was operated during the full spawning period in 2021, and we expect that non-native suckers were unable to gain entry to the stream that year. A heavy snowpack and cool spring followed by a week of rapid warming in 2022 resulted in far-above-average flows in the creek that overwhelmed the abilities of the weir. Non-native suckers were able to access the creek for approximately half of the spawning season. Larvae collected in 2019-2023 will be genetically analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the weir.

If this study determines that non-natives can be successfully repressed to the advantage of native suckers, progeny produced in a manipulated stream would result in more pure fish in the Gunnison River. While this approach would not result in the disappearance of non-native suckers from the entire Gunnison basin, it may provide an avenue toward ensuring that the native species persist in the Gunnison Basin. If successful, this strategy could be implemented in other river basins on appropriate tributaries as well.

Video (1:55):Western Slope Native Suckers Leaving Spawning Grounds

These Colorado River basin native Bluehead Suckers and Flannelmouth Suckers are leaving a spawning tributary in the Roubideau Creek drainage near Delta, Colorado. This video was captured in late May 2016, and PIT tag antenna data indicate that this type of scene was common for about 4 days as the tremendous numbers of fish that had ascended the stream to spawn made their exit as the water began to drop and clear up.Video (12:09): The Native ThreeColorado Parks and Wildlife's aquatic research scientists have embarked on multiple projects to protect the three fish species native to the Upper Colorado River Basin (Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker and Roundtail Chub). This video, ‘The Native Three’ helps tell that story. Produced by Sean Ender, Peak to Creek Films, featuring Zachary Hooley-Underwood, CPW Aquatic Research Scientist.

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Type: Article
Subjects: Social science
Conservation planning
Wolf reintroduction
Adaptive management
Type:Article
Subject:Social science
Conservation planning
Wolf reintroduction
Adaptive management
Description:A growing body of literature has highlighted the value of social science for conservation, yet the diverse approaches of the social sciences are still inconsistently incorporated in conservation initiatives. Building greater capacity for social science integration in conservation requires frameworks and case studies that provide concrete guidance and specific examples. To address this need, we have developed a framework aimed at expanding the role for social science in formal conservation planning processes. Our framework illustrates multiple ways in which social science research can contribute to four stages of such processes: 1) defining the problem and project team; 2) defining goals; 3) identifying impact pathways and designing interventions; and 4) developing and evaluating indicators of success (or failure). We then present a timely case study of wolf reintroduction in Colorado, U.S.A., to demonstrate the opportunities, challenges, and complexities of applying our framework in practice. [show more]
Type:Article
Subject:Mysis relicta
Kokanee
Colorado
Habitat management
Description:Abstract. In studies of zooplankton and kokanees Oncorhynchus nerka in Lake Granby, Colorado, conducted from 1981 to 1983, we investigated the suspected role of introduced Mysis relicta in the decline of the kokanee sport fishery and egg take. Mysis relicta entered surface watersat night and preyed on zooplankton, except when summer temperatures above 14°C excluded it from the epilimnion and created a temporary refuge for cladocerans. We attributed the disappearance of hypolimnetic Daphnia longiremis to predation by mysids, and the virtual elimination of Daphnia pulex (once the preferred item in the kokanee diet) to the effects of intense selective predation by abundant M. relicta and to kokanee overstocking. Daphnia galeata mendotae, historically the most abundant daphnid, has replaced D. pulex as the principal item in the kokanee diet. Premysid populations of Daphnia spp. appeared by late May and peaked by late July, whereas postmysid populations appeared in late June and peaked in late August or early September. Mysis relicta appeared more frequently in stomachs of large  kokanees ( 21)0 mm in total length) and sometimes contributed substantially to the biomass of the kokanee diet. However, actual numbers of mysids and their frequency of occurrence in individual kokanee stomachs remained low. The disappearance or persistence of Daphnia spp. in other Colorado waters containing mysids appears to be explained by thermal conditions. It is clear that the introduced M. relicta has not adequately substituted for the diminished daphnid populations that were used heavily by planktivorous fishes. [show more]
Type:Moving Image
Description:Video Tutorial demonstrating the features of the new EBSCO Discovery Service user interface.
Type: Fact Sheet
Subjects: Waterfleas
<em>Bythotrephes longimanus</em> (Spiny)
<em>Ceropagis pengoi</em> (Fishhook)
<em>Daphnia lumholtzi</em>
Invasive species
Type:Fact Sheet
Subject:Waterfleas
<em>Bythotrephes longimanus</em> (Spiny)
<em>Ceropagis pengoi</em> (Fishhook)
<em>Daphnia lumholtzi</em>
Invasive species
Description:Waterfleas are zooplankton aquatic crustaceans that have a jumpy or jerky mode of swimming. The Daphnia waterflea was introduced from the aquarium trade and fish stocking. They are native to Africa, Asia and Australia. Like invasive mussels, the Bythotrephes and Ceropagis were introduced into the Great Lakes from ships' ballast water coming from Eurasia. Unlike the fleas dogs are known to carry, waterfleas are very different. They do not live outside the water, and do not bite or harm people or pets. [show more]
Description:

Led By

Dan Kowalski 

Study Area

Colorado, Gunnison and Rio Grande Rivers

Project Status

Complete

Research Objectives

  • To investigate the influence of physical habitat conditions on the giant stonefly Pteronarcys californica density in Colorado rivers.

Project Description

Past studies show that giant stoneflies (also known as salmonflies or willow flies), serve as a primary food source for trout in Colorado rivers where they occur. They live as aquatic larvae in rivers for 3-4 years before emerging as winged adults in June to mate and die. Their large and synchronous emergence produces some of the best fishing of the year and is eagerly anticipated by many anglers. The species' high densities and large size also make them important in the flow of energy and nutrients between aquatic and riparian systems. Although giant stoneflies can exist at extremely high numbers in certain locations, the density and range of this species has decreased in some places most likely in association with changes in stream flows and physical aquatic habitat. 

CPW completed a project to determine the influence of physical stream habitat on giant stonefly density in an effort to identify limiting factors and reasons for the species' decline. To do so, CPW researchers estimated stonefly density at 16 sites on three rivers; the Gunnison, the Colorado, and the Rio Grande and measured habitat variables at each site. 

The results of this study indicated that percent fine sediment, cobble embeddedness and average cobble size were the best predictors of stonefly density. Fine sediment is defined as sand, silt and clay particles less than 2 mm in diameter. As fine sediment levels increased, stonefly density decreased. The D50 is the median cobble size and as it increased so did stonefly density. Embeddedness is the extent that cobbles are submerged or buried by silt, stonefly densities were higher in areas with low embeddedness. Fine sediment was the single best predictor of the habitat variables and it explained 45% of the variability in stonefly density while a model with all of the top three variables explained about half of overall variability (50%), so further research is necessary to identify other environmental factors that could be influencing stonefly density. To support an average density of stoneflies (compared to sites in these three Colorado Rivers), a site would have approximately 5.1% fine sediment in the riffles while maximum stonefly densities could be expected with sites that have 0-2.5% fine sediment. 

The results of this study indicate that giant stoneflies prefer riffle habitat with low fine sediment, larger sized cobble and low levels of cobble embeddedness. This information will be used to inform management and restoration activities, as well as to identify sites for giant stonefly re-introductions. By maintaining and restoring giant stonefly populations, wildlife managers can protect an important part of native aquatic ecosystems and improve river fisheries for Colorado's anglers.

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Description:

Jake IvanSenior Wildlife Research Scientist, Species of Conservation Concern

Current or Recent Research Projects

Areas of Interest and Expertise

My research focuses on estimating wildlife population parameters and forest carnivore ecology, conservation and monitoring. 

Streaming Videos

Select Publications

Education

  • Ph.D., Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology — Colorado State University, 2011
  • M.S., Wildlife Biology — University of Montana, 2000
  • B.S., Wildlife Science — Purdue University, 1997

Current or Recent Positions

  • Wildlife Researcher — Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2010–Present
  • Refuge Biologist — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2003-2005
  • Piping Plover Recovery Biologist — The Nature Conservancy, 2000-2003
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Type:
Subjects:
Description:Aquatic Research Scientist Cool and Warmwater Lakes and Reservoirs

Contact Information

317 W Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80526Email: target="_blank" rel="noopener">jesse.lepak@state.co.usPhone: 970-657-5820

Education

  • Ph.D., Natural Resources (Concentrations: Fisheries, Natural Resource Policy and Management, Cellular and Molecular Medicine) — Cornell University, 2008
  • M.S., Natural Resources (Concentration: Fisheries) — Cornell University, 2004
  • B.S., Biology, Zoology, Biological Aspects of Conservation — University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2001

Current or Recent Positions

  • Aquatic Research Scientist – Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2023-Current
  • Research Associate, Colorado State University Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2022-2023
  • Aquatic Research Section Technician, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2021-2022
  • Great Lakes Fisheries and Ecosystem Health Specialist, New York Sea Grant, 2017-2020
  • Adjunct Biologist, Biodiversity Research Institute, 2016-present
  • Aquatic Research Scientist – Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2010-2015
  • Affiliate Faculty Member, Dept of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, 2011-2016

Areas of Interest/Expertise

I focus largely on the interactions between fish in lakes and reservoirs. I am primarily interested in sport fish and fisheries, but also consider native species within lake and reservoir systems. My areas of expertise include; contaminant cycling, bioenergetics, freshwater food webs, ecosystem dynamics, fish behavior and movement, fisheries management, fish immune systems and disease, aquatic nuisance species, aquaculture, biological control of invasive species, nutrient inputs and uptake, and sources of fish mortality. Combining these interests provides a better understanding of freshwater ecosystems to help protect, maintain, and enhance fisheries in Colorado.

Publications

In press: Lepak, J.M., Hansen, A.G., Johnson, B.M., Battige, K., Cristan, E.T., Farrell, C.J., Pate, W.M., Rogers, K.B., Treble, A.J., and Walsworth, T.E. Four decades of change: cyclical multi-trophic level responses to an introduced forage fish. Fisheries.

Lepak, J.M., Pate, W.M., Cadmus, P., Hansen, A.G., Gallaher, K.D., Silver, D.B. 2024. Response of an invasive aquatic crustacean to the fish toxicant rotenone. Lake and Reservoir Management 40(3):330-337

Hansen, A.G., J. M. Lepak, E. I. Gardunio, and T. Eyre. 2024. Evaluating harvest incentives for suppressing a socially-valued, but ecologically-detrimental, invasive fish predator. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 00, e12699.

Lepak, J. M., A. G. Hansen, E. T. Cristan, D. A. Williams, and W. M. Pate. 2023. Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) influence on walleye (Sander vitreus) recruitment decline: mtDNA evidence supporting the predation hypothesis. Journal of Fish Biology 103(6):1543-1548.

Lepak, J. M., B. M. Johnson, M. B. Hooten, B. A. Wolff, and A. G. Hansen. 2023. Predicting sport fish mercury contamination in heavily managed reservoirs: Implications for human and ecological health. PLoS ONE 18(8): e0285890.

Hansen, A.G., Miller, M.W., Cristan, E.T., Farrell, C.J., Winkle, P., Brandt, M., Battige, K., and Lepak, J.M. 2023. Gill net catchability of walleye (Sander vitreus): are provincial standards suitable for estimating adult density outside the region? Fisheries Research. 266: 106800.

Cristan, E. T., A. G. Hansen, and J. M. Lepak. 2022. Effects of ethanol preservation on larval and juvenile walleye and gizzard shad body size. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 42:874-881.

Hansen, A. G., E. T. Cristan, M. M. Moll, E. I. Gardunio, and J. M. Lepak. 2022. Factors influencing early growth of juvenile tiger trout stocked into subalpine lakes as biocontrol and to enhance recreational angling. Fishes 7:342.

Lepak, J. M., A. G. Hansen, M. B. Hooten, D. Brauch, and E. M. Vigil. 2022. Rapid proliferation of the parasitic copepod, Salmincola californiensis (Dana), on kokanee salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum), in a large Colorado reservoir. Journal of Fish Diseases 45:89-98.Wolff, B.A., Johnson, B.M., and Lepak, J.M. 2017. Changes in sport fish mercury concentrations from food web shifts suggest partial decoupling from mercury loading in two Colorado reservoirs. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 72:167-177.

Kopack, C. J., E. D. Broder, E. R. Fetherman, J. M. Lepak, and L. M. Angeloni. 2016. The effect of a single prerelease exposure to conspecific alarm cue on poststocking survival in three strains of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Canadian Journal of Zoology 94(9):661-664.

Lepak, J.M., Hooten, M.B., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Tate, M.T., Lutz, M.A., Ackerman, J.T., Willacker, J.J. Jr., Evers, D.C., Wiener, J.G., Flanagan Pritz, C., and Davis, J. 2016. Assessing potential health risks to fish and humans using mercury concentrations in inland fish from across western Canada and the United States. Science of the Total Environment. 571:342-354.

Eagles-Smith, C.A., Ackerman, J.T., Willacker, J.J., Tate, M.T., Lutz, M.A., Fleck, J., Stewart, A.R., Wiener, J.G., Evers, D.C., Lepak, J.M., Davis, J., and Flanagan Pritz, C. 2016. Spatial and temporal patterns of mercury concentrations in freshwater fishes across the Western US and Canada. Science of the Total Environment. 568:1171-1184.

Eagles-Smith, C.A., Wiener, J.G., Eckley, C, Willacker, J.J., Evers, D.C., Marvin-DiPasquale, M., Obrist, D., Fleck, J., Aiken, G., Lepak, J.M., Jackson, A.K., Webster, J., Stewart, A.R., Davis, J., Alpers, C., and Ackerman, J.T. 2016. Mercury in western North America: a synthesis of environmental contamination, fluxes, bioaccumulation and risk to fish and wildlife. Science of the Total Environment. 568:1213-1226.

Jackson, A., Evers, D.C., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Ackerman, J.T., Willacker, J.J., Elliott, J.T., Lepak, J.M., VanderPol, S.S., and Bryan, C.E. 2016. Mercury risk to avian piscivores across the western United States and Canada. Science of the Total Environment. 568:685-696.

Willacker, J.J., Eagles-Smith, C.A., Lutz, M.A., Tate, M.T., Ackerman, J.T, and Lepak, J.M. 2016. The influence of reservoirs and their water management on fish mercury concentrations in Western North America. Science of the Total Environment. 568:739-748.

Vigil, E., Christianson, K., Lepak, J.M., and Williams, P. 2016. Temperature effects on hatching and viability of juvenile gill lice; Salmincola californiensis. Journal of Fish Diseases. 39:899-905.

Fetherman, E. R., J. M. Lepak, B. L. Brown, and D. J. Harris. 2015. Optimizing time of initiation for triploid walleye production using pressure shock treatment. North American Journal of Aquaculture 77:471-477.

Kopack, C. J., E. D. Broder, J. M. Lepak, E. R. Fetherman, and L. M. Angeloni. 2015. Behavioral responses of a highly domesticated, predator naïve rainbow trout to chemical cues of predation. Fisheries Research 169:1-7.

Johnson, B.M., Lepak, J.M., and Wolff, B.A. 2015. Effects of prey assemblage on mercury bioaccumulation in a piscivorous sport fish. Science of the Total Environment. 506-507:330-337.

Hargis, L.N., Lepak, J.M., Vigil, E.M., and Gunn, C. 2014. Prevalence and intensity of the parasitic copepod (Salmincola californiensis) on kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in a Colorado reservoir. The Southwestern Naturalist. 59:126-129.

Pate, W.M., Johnson, B.M., Lepak, J.M., and Brauch, D. 2014. Management for coexistence of Kokanee and trophy Lake Trout in a montane reservoir. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 34:908-922.

Lepak, J.M., Cathcart, C.N., and Stacy, W.L. 2014. Tiger muskellunge predation upon stocked sport fish intended for recreational fisheries. Lake and Reservoir Management. 30:250-257.

Fetherman, E.R., and Lepak, J.M. 2013. Addressing depletion failure and estimating gear efficiency using known population abundances. Fisheries Research. 147:284-289.

Lepak, J.M., Cathcart, C.N., and Hooten, M.B. 2012. Otolith weight as a predictor of age in kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) from four Colorado reservoirs. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 69:1569-1575.

Lepak, J.M., Hooten, M.B., and Johnson, B.M. 2012. The influence of external subsidies on diet, growth and Hg concentrations of freshwater sport fish: implications for fisheries management and the development of fish consumption advisories. Ecotoxicology. 21(7):1878-1888.

Stacy, W.L., and Lepak, J.M. 2012. Relative influence of prey mercury concentration, prey energy density and predator sex on sport fish mercury concentrations. Science of the Total Environment. 437:104-109.

Lepak, J.M., Fetherman, E.R., Pate, W.M., Craft, C.D. and Gardunio, E.I. 2012. An experimental approach to determine esocid prey preference in replicated pond systems.  Lake and Reservoir Management. 28:224-231.

Lepak, J.M., Kinzli, K.D., Fetherman, E.R., Pate, W.M., Hansen, A.G., Gardunio, E.I., Cathcart, C.N., Stacy, W.L., Underwood, Z.E., Brandt, M.M., Myrick, C.M., and Johnson, B.M.  2012. Manipulation of growth to reduce sport fish mercury concentrations on a whole-lake scale. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 69(1):122-135.

Pate, W.M., Stacy, W.L., Gardunio, E.I., and Lepak, J.M. 2011. Collaborative research between current and future fisheries professionals: facilitating AFS subunit participation. Fisheries. 36(9):458-460.

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Description:

​​​​​​​Research Librarian​​

Current or Recent Research Projects

Maximizing access to CPW reports and other publications through cataloging, digitization, and collection management

Expanding access for CPW personnel to scholarly research resources 

Areas of Interest and Expertise

In all the different libraries I've worked in, from elementary through academic, and now at CPW, a focus has been to help patrons access and use the best resources for their information need. Another area of interest is to continue to build and archive as complete a collection as possible of CPW publications, from the earliest days of the agency to the present. ​

​​Education

  • M.S., Library and Information Science — University of Washington, 1994
  • B.A., Spanish — University of Utah, 1984 

Current or Recent Positions

  • Research Librarian — Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2022-Present
  • Ranch Manager - Ishawooa Mesa Ranch, 2010-2022
  • Ranch Manager - Dayton Creek Family Ranch, 2006-2010
  • Reference and Instruction Librarian - University of Idaho, 1998-2006 
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Type:Text
Subject:Gray wolf
Pets
Human-wildlife ocnflict
Description:Information on keeping your pets safe at home and in the field.