https://cpw.cvlcollections.org/files/original/07ad7bcd5462310848405038fd148c12.pdf 83d559d353434e85da88867cb4dfde39 PDF Text Text DRAFT PROPOSED Upper Colorado River Headwaters Project Monitoring Plan Prepared by Colorado Parks and Wildlife March 19, 2018 1 �Table of Contents Chapter 1: Project Overview 4 1.1 Introduction 4 1.2 Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project 4 1.3 Kemp Breeze State Wildlife Area (SWA) Habitat Restoration Project 6 1.4 Irrigators of Lands in the Vicinity of Kremmling (ILVK) Project 8 1.5 Monitoring Overview 9 Chapter 2: Fish Populations 2.1 10 Introduction 10 Sportfish Evaluations 10 Native Fish Evaluations 12 2.2 Methods 13 Population Estimates for Trout Fry 13 Population Estimates for Adult Trout 14 Population Estimates for Mottled Sculpin 14 2.3 Study Sites 14 Trout Fry 14 Adult Trout 15 Mottled Sculpin 15 2.4 Monitoring Schedule 18 Trout Fry 18 Adult Trout 18 Mottled Sculpin 18 Chapter 3: Benthic Macroinvertebrates 18 3.1 Introduction 18 3.2 Methods 20 3.3 Study Sites 20 3.4 Monitoring Schedule 21 Chapter 4: Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Geomorphology 21 4.1 Introduction 21 4.2 Methods 22 2 �Hydrology 22 Hydraulics 22 Geomorphology 23 4.3 Study Sites 24 4.4 Monitoring Schedule 24 Chapter 5: Monitoring Budget 24 References 25 Appendix A: Proposed Geomorphic Monitoring of the Connectivity Channel 28 A.1 Introduction 28 A.2 Methods 28 Hydrology 28 Hydraulics 29 Geomorphology 29 A.3 Study Sites 30 A.4 Monitoring Schedule 30 A.5 References 30 Appendix B: Proposed Fish Movement Study 32 B.1 Introduction 32 B.2 Methods 33 B.3 Study Sites 36 B.4 Monitoring Schedule 37 B.5 References 38 3 �Chapter 1: Project Overview 1.1 Introduction In December 2016, a group of partners including American Rivers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD), Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), Denver Water, Grand County, Irrigators of Lands in the Vicinity of Kremmling (ILVK), Municipal Subdistrict of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern Water), Trout Unlimited, and the Upper Colorado River Alliance was awarded $7.75 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through their Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for the Upper Colorado River Headwaters Project (Headwaters Project). The Headwaters Project is comprised of three endeavors within Grand County that will collectively restore fish and wildlife habitat, and improve water quality and agricultural water management on a regional scale. The RCPP funding will be utilized to focus on two specific project components: 1) reconnecting the Colorado River upstream and downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir (referenced as the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project); and 2) restoration of the Colorado River channel to be resilient to hydrological modifications, while sustaining agriculture, and aquatic and riparian habitat (referenced as the Irrigators of Lands in the Vicinity of Kremmling Project). The third endeavor, the Kemp Breeze State Wildlife Area (SWA) Habitat Restoration Project, is expected to be funded by the partners, and other interested parties. These three project components are further described in the following sections. 1.2 Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project The Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project was selected among several alternatives evaluated to improve degraded habitat of the Colorado River downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir (Tetra Tech 2015). This project will create a new river channel around Windy Gap Reservoir, reconnecting the Colorado River upstream and downstream of the reservoir, while simultaneously preserving water storage for Northern Water’s municipal water supply. The new channel will be designed to mimic natural conditions, including increasing habitat heterogeneity with the addition of riffles, pools, and runs that accommodate upstream and downstream passage of juvenile and adult life stages of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) and Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii). Reconnection will also expand available wildlife habitat, reestablish sediment transport, and improve water quality conditions downstream of the project area. The Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project will be primarily managed by Northern Water, in collaboration with other partners, and will entail a three-phase approach to plan, design, and implement/monitor/maintain within a five to six year period, beginning in 2017. The details and projected timeline are described below in Table 1.1. 4 �Table 1.1. Proposed process and schedule for the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project. Step 1. Planning Tasks Timeline Identify goals and objectives 2017-2018 Evaluate goals and limiting factors 2017-2018 Develop watershed plan and NEPA 2017-2018 Easement and ROW 2018-2019 Tasks Timeline Step 2. Design 3. Permitting Survey and analysis 2017-2019 Evaluate alternatives 2017-2019 Conceptual design 2017-2019 Preliminary design 2017-2019 Final design 2017-2019 404 permit and others 2017-2020 Step 4. Implementation Tasks Timeline Contract documents 2019-2020 Construction 2020-2021 Baseline 1980-2020 Implementation 2020-2021 Effectiveness 2021-2026 6. Adaptive Management Maintenance 2021-2026 5. Monitoring Information dissemination 5 2021-2026 �1.3 Kemp Breeze State Wildlife Area (SWA) Habitat Restoration Project The original “Habitat Project” was designed in coordination with Northern Water to address concerns raised by CPW and other stakeholders regarding conditions of the aquatic ecosystem in the Colorado River downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. The goal of the Habitat Project is to design and implement a stream restoration program to improve the existing aquatic environment in the Colorado River from the Windy Gap diversion to the lower terminus of CPW’s Kemp Breeze State Wildlife Area (SWA) by returning the river to a more functional system considering current and future hydrology. The intent is for Denver Water and Northern Water to join with CPW and other stakeholders in a cooperative effort to identify and address desired improvements to the stream environment. To guide project implementation, the Denver Board of Water Commissioners and CPW signed an Intergovernmental Grant Agreement (IGA) to implement the Habitat Project on March 26, 2014. Northern Water and CPW signed a parallel IGA on April 3, 2014. Though the IGAs describe the large-scale Habitat Project (including a project area of approximately 16.7 miles of the Colorado River), the 2017 NRCS RCPP Headwaters Project will focus entirely on CPW’s Kemp Breeze SWA Habitat Restoration Project. This project area will include a smaller scale reach (approximately 2.7 miles) contained within the larger geographical area of the overall Habitat Project, where CPW can complete planning, design, and implementation of the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project within the five to six year time frame required by the NRCS. The lowermost segment within the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project includes the Williams Fork River, the largest tributary in the project area. The Colorado River through the Kemp Breeze SWA is owned almost entirely by the State of Colorado, and is likely the most heavily fished section of the Colorado River in Grand County. Improving habitat conditions within the Kemp Breeze SWA reach will include defining the thalweg, targeting channel narrowing through point-bar enhancement, de-armoring riffles, and increasing habitat heterogeneity. This section will likely also benefit from some of the most intensive channel work required in the largescale Habitat Project upstream. The Kemp Breeze SWA segment has been identified as the highest priority for habitat improvement when compared to seven other reaches within the Habitat Project. The rationale for this assessment was based on several factors, including the need for restoration, increased public fishing access, lack of complex landowner agreements, proximity to Windy Gap Reservoir, and preliminary cost estimates. The location of the Kemp Breeze SWA as the segment farthest away from potential unknown impacts of the proposed Windy Gap connectivity channel was a huge consideration in the prioritization process. Construction of the proposed Windy Gap connectivity channel will likely be on a similar schedule as the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project. 6 �Table 1.2. Proposed process and schedule for the Kemp Breeze SWA Habitat Restoration Project*. Step 1. Planning 2. Prioritize actions Tasks Identify goals and objectives 2017-2018 Evaluate goals and limiting factors 2017-2018 Site selection 2018-2019 Step 3. Design 4. Permitting Tasks 6. Monitoring 7. Adaptive Management Timeline Survey and analysis 2018-2019 Evaluate alternatives 2018-2019 Conceptual design 2018-2019 Preliminary design 2019-2020 Final design 2019-2020 404 permit 2020 Floodplain permit 2020 Landowner agreements 2020 Step 5. Implementation Timeline Tasks Timeline Contract documents 2019-2020 Construction 2020-2021 Baseline 1980-2020 Implementation 2021-2023 Effectiveness 2023-2028 Maintenance 2023-2028 Information dissemination 2023-2028 * This table reflects implementation of habitat restoration on the Kemp Breeze SWA only, and not the entire Habitat Project. 7 �The Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project will be primarily managed by CPW in collaboration with the large-scale Habitat Project Stream Team, which includes members from the CRWCD, Denver Water, Grand County, Northern Water, Trout Unlimited, and other parties including but not limited to private landowners. The restoration process will entail a three-phase approach to plan, design, and implement/monitor/maintain the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project within a five to six year period, beginning in 2017. The details and projected timeline are described below in Table 1.2. 1.4 Irrigators of Lands in the Vicinity of Kremmling (ILVK) Project In general, most Irrigators of Lands in the Vicinity of Kremmling (ILVK) experience difficulty in retrieving or using water during low flow periods in late summer, especially during drought periods. Low water level creates a lack of positive pressure in ditch heads, making irrigation systems more difficult to operate. Measures to address these issues, including the installation of pumps and cobble dams, have failed to fully address the problem, and have resulted in several unintended consequences, including increased soil erosion and instream habitat modification. Eleven private ranches are participating in the ILVK Project by improving the Colorado River channel through a series of practices utilizing the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). These practices will create and install innovative in-stream structures designed to improve water levels for irrigation, while rebuilding riffle and pool structure to enhance river habitat. Structures include grade control riffles, riffle vanes, sustainable habitat riffles, point bar creations, habitat structures, and pool enhancements. Several pilot projects within the ILVK area have already been completed, and the results to date indicate success beyond expectations. The ILVK Project will be primarily managed by Trout Unlimited in collaboration with other partners, and will entail a three-phase approach to plan, design, and implement/monitor/maintain within a five to six year period, beginning in 2017. The details and projected timeline are described below in Table 1.3. Table 1.3. Proposed process and schedule for the ILVK Project. Step 1. Planning 2. Producer outreach and recruitment Tasks Timeline Identify goals and objectives 2017-2018 Evaluate goals and limiting factors 2017-2018 Site selection 2017-2018 8 �Step 3. Producer participant selection; contracting with producers 4. Design 5. Permitting Tasks Survey and analysis 2018-2019 Evaluate alternatives 2018-2019 Landowner agreements and contracts 2018-2019 Conceptual design 2017-2019 Preliminary design 2017-2018 Final design 2018-2019 404 permit and others 2018-2019 Step Tasks Timeline 6. Implementation Construction 2019-2022 7. Monitoring Baseline 2017-2019 Implementation 2019-2022 Effectiveness 2019-2024 Maintenance 2019-2024 Information dissemination 2019-2024 8. Adaptive Management 1.5 Timeline Monitoring Overview The NRCS requests a Monitoring Plan be developed as part of the RCPP process. This document has been developed by CPW in collaboration with the other partners to comply with this requirement for the Headwaters Project. The Monitoring Plan is considered a “living document” with the flexibility to incorporate necessary schedule updates and other relevant modifications as the Headwaters Project proceeds. Multiple partners are completing various monitoring activities (primarily of the chemical and physical attributes of the upper Colorado River drainage) related to their respective Headwaters Project components and permitting requirements. Those efforts, some of which may be directly connected to the Headwaters Project, are not included within this document. Rather, this plan 9 �focuses on the monitoring that CPW has committed to with regard to labor and equipment within the RCPP. Though monitoring is included for each of the three components of the Headwaters Project, most of these efforts by CPW will be related to the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel and Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project, with limited fish monitoring within the ILVK Project area. Pre-project (baseline) and post-project evaluations are incorporated within the plan. Specifically, CPW will primarily be concentrating on fish populations (Chapter 2), benthic macroinvertebrates (Chapter 3), and hydrology, hydraulics, and geomorphology (Chapter 4) of the upper Colorado River. CPW will evaluate elements included within Chapter 4 with an emphasis on the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project; hydraulic modeling, sediment transport surveys, and assessment of the Windy Gap connectivity channel can be investigated should supplementary funds be secured or if monitoring priorities are changed during discussions with project stakeholders. Thus, CPW has included Proposed Geomorphic Monitoring of the Windy Gap connectivity channel in Appendix A. Additionally, CPW has developed a Proposed Fish Movement Study in Appendix B that may also be pursued should additional funding and staff time become available. Chapter 2: Fish Populations 2.1 Introduction Sportfish Evaluations Prior to the introduction of whirling disease, caused by the parasite Myxobolus cerebralis, in the upper Colorado River, adult Colorado River Rainbow Trout (CRR) had an average abundance of 689 fish/mile while adult Brown Trout averaged 385 fish/mile (Nehring and Thompson 2001), resulting in a ratio of Rainbow Trout to Brown Trout of 2:1. Rainbow Trout fry abundance ranged from 9,012 to 13,518 fry/mile of stream bank and Brown Trout fry ranged from 4,184 to 9,173 fry/mile (Walker and Nehring 1995). Traditionally, eggs were harvested by CPW from this wild CRR brood stock, reared in state hatcheries, and used to stock many rivers across the state. However, the CRR was one of the most susceptible strains of Rainbow Trout to whirling disease, developing over 150,000 myxospores/fish (Fetherman et al. 2012). Myxobolus cerebralis was unintentionally introduced to the upper Colorado River in the 1980s when privately-reared Rainbow Trout previously exposed to M. cerebralis were stocked into three private water bodies located upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. Fish downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir tested positive for M. cerebralis in 1988, and a subsequent decline in the younger age classes of Rainbow Trout was observed in the early 1990s (Nehring 2006). While several reasons for the declines were investigated (Schisler et al. 1999a; Schisler et al. 1999b; Schisler et al. 2000), exposure to M. cerebralis was determined to be the primary cause for the disappearance of the younger age classes (Nehring and Thompson 2001). In an effort to restore the Rainbow Trout fishery, tens of thousands of CRR were stocked annually between 1994 and 2008. Despite these repeated stocking efforts, the CRR exhibited low survival and little recruitment success, resulting 10 �in a Rainbow Trout abundance that was approximately 90% lower than the Rainbow Trout abundance observed prior to the establishment of M. cerebralis (Nehring 2006). Whirling disease-resistant Rainbow Trout were first introduced to the upper Colorado River in 2006, with an additional introduction occurring in 2010, using a strain of Rainbow Trout known as the HxC. The HxC is a cross between the whirling disease-resistant, but domesticated Rainbow Trout strain known as the German Rainbow (GR), or Hofer, strain and the CRR. The HxC cross was chosen for these introductions because they exhibited resistance characteristics similar to the GR strain (Schisler et al. 2006; Fetherman et al. 2012), and were capable of attaining critical swimming velocities similar to those of the CRR strain (Fetherman et al. 2011). Larger Rainbow Trout (> 6.69 inches TL) were used in these first introductions because larger fish were: 1) less susceptible to M. cerebralis infection (Ryce et al. 2005), and 2) less susceptible to Brown Trout predation. However, despite these potential survival advantages, the apparent survival rate of the introduced HxC cross over the entire study period between 2006 and 2011 was estimated to be only 0.7%, and the adult Rainbow Trout population in the upper Colorado River continued to decline. Although survival of the introduced HxC cross was low, these fish did reproduce in the river, resulting in genetic shifts in the fry population toward GR-cross fish and a decrease in average myxospore count of the fry population over time (Fetherman et al. 2014). One potential reason for the low survival in the introduced HxC cross was the length of time these fish were held in the hatchery to reach the larger sizes needed prior to stocking. It was thought that the longer these fish were held in the hatchery, the more they acted like the domestic GR rather than the wild CRR upon stocking. Stocking fish as fry was thought to potentially counteract these effects because fish would be held in the hatchery for a shorter period of time prior to stocking. The HxC cross was first stocked into the Colorado River as fry in 2013, with additional stocking occasions in 2014 and 2015. Since fry stocking began, survival and recruitment from fry to adult life stages have increased in the upper Colorado River, and the adult Rainbow Trout population has exponentially increased from a low of three adult fish/mile in 2013 to 165 adult fish/mile in 2017. In recent years (2016 and 2017), fry stocking has continued using pure GR strain fish since these fish exhibit similar apparent survival rates to the HxC cross, and to reduce resistance issues due to backcrossing and outcrossing that could occur when using the HxC cross for Rainbow Trout reintroductions (Avila et al. In review). The objective of this project component is to re-establish a wild, and ultimately, self-sustaining Rainbow Trout population in the upper Colorado River. A variety of stocking techniques, including manipulating size-at-stocking and strain stocked, have been used to achieve this objective. The goal of the fry stocking in recent years has been to determine if stocking GR and GR-cross fish as fry increases post-stocking survival, and recruitment to the adult Rainbow Trout population, and if overall M. cerebralis infection prevalence and severity decreases with an increase in abundance of whirling disease-resistant Rainbow Trout. 11 �Native Fish Evaluations Sculpin are an ecologically important part of freshwater ecosystems because they can occur in high densities in depauperate coldwater mountain streams (Adams and Schmetterling 2007). Additionally, sculpin can exert a large influence on aquatic food webs through their diverse trophic positions. The Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii) is common in coldwater western Colorado streams where they occur in sympatry with important sport and native trout species. Mottled Sculpin prefer cool, high gradient mountain streams with cobble habitat and are rarely found in stream reaches where substrate is embedded with silt (Sigler and Miller 1973; Woodling 1985; Nehring et al. 2011). As such, their habitat preferences for cobble substrate and high quality riffle-run habitat make Mottled Sculpin a good ecological indicator of stream health (Adams and Schmetterling 2007; Nehring et al. 2011). Dams are known to drastically alter river habitat and have many diverse effects on fish and invertebrate habitat and populations (Ward and Stanford 1979). Dams can radically alter stream temperature and substrate composition, which are considered the primary influences of sculpin habitat suitability (Scott and Crossman 1973). In the upper Colorado River basin, stream reaches below many dams and water projects have reduced the density of Mottled Sculpin (Nehring et al. 2011). The decline in sculpin distribution appears to be both temporally and spatially related to impoundments. Mottled Sculpin were common in the main stem Colorado River before Windy Gap Reservoir was built, but are rare or absent after construction (Erickson 1983; Nehring et al. 2011). A survey conducted in 1975-1976 on the Colorado River before Windy Gap Reservoir was constructed documented Mottled Sculpin at all sampling sites (Dames and Moore 1977). In 2010, a project investigating the sculpin distribution and density throughout the upper Colorado River revealed that sculpin density was on average 15 times higher in sites upstream of impoundments than downstream (Nehring et al. 2011). In the main stem of the Colorado River between Windy Gap Reservoir and the confluence with the Williams Fork River, a single Mottled Sculpin was encountered in 3,200 ft of river sampled by electrofishing. This study attributed the decline of Mottled Sculpin in the upper Colorado River downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir to habitat and flow changes associated with the reservoir. Surveys conducted by CPW in 2013 confirmed these patterns, finding that sculpin were common upstream of impoundments on the upper Colorado River, but rare or absent downstream (Kowalski 2014). As part of this study, three sites were sampled on the Colorado River between Windy Gap Reservoir and the Williams Fork River confluence, and no Mottled Sculpin were found. While Mottled Sculpin were once common downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir, and remain common upstream, habitat alterations associated with the reservoir seem to have reduced the habitat quality in the river to a point where viable populations are rare or nonexistent. Restoring connectivity and addressing habitat limitations associated with the flow and sediment regimes should improve conditions for this important native fish in the upper Colorado River. The objective of this segment of the project is to document how the Windy Gap connectivity channel 12 �affects the distribution and density of Mottled Sculpin in the Colorado River downstream of the Fraser River confluence. Goals ● Re-establish a wild, self-sustaining Rainbow Trout population in the upper Colorado River ● Re-establish a wild, self-sustaining population of native Mottled Sculpin in the Colorado River downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir Objectives ● Evaluate the effects of fish stocking techniques on Rainbow Trout post-stocking survival and recruitment to the adult population ● Determine if the overall M. cerebralis infection prevalence and severity decreases with an increase in abundance of whirling disease-resistant Rainbow Trout ● Document the distribution and density of Mottled Sculpin over time in the Colorado River downstream of the confluence with the Fraser River 2.2 Methods Population Estimates for Trout Fry GR and GR-cross fish are stocked by CPW as post-swim-up fry in the margins of the river between Hitching Post Bridge and either the Chimney Rock Ranch diversion structure near the confluence with Drowsy Water Creek or the Sheriff Ranch, dependent upon annual fry availability in July. In previous years, 70,000 to 250,000 fry have been stocked into this section of the river. Fry are loaded into a well-aerated tank on a raft and walked or slowly floated downriver and evenly distributed throughout optimal fry habitats on both sides of the river. Seven fry sites are sampled in the Colorado River annually by CPW to obtain fry abundance estimates, genetic composition, and for myxospore enumeration (see Table 2.1, Sections 2.3 and 2.4, and Figures 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3). All seven fry sites are sampled at least once prior to fry stocking to determine if wild reproduction of Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout has occurred. Genetic samples in the form of a caudal fin clip (top lobe) are collected from all wild Rainbow Trout fry encountered to determine the percentage of GR genes in the wild fry population. The same seven fry sites are sampled once a month from July through October to determine abundance and survival of wild Brown Trout and stocked Rainbow Trout fry in the Chimney Rock Ranch/Sheriff Ranch reach, or wild Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout fry in the sites downstream of Byers Canyon. Three-pass depletion population estimates are completed using two, Smith-Root LR-24 backpack electrofishing units running sideby-side to cover all available fry habitat at each site. Genetic samples are collected from all Rainbow Trout fry that can be identified as wild. In October, five Brown Trout and five Rainbow Trout fry are collected from each site for myxospore enumeration via the pepsin-trypsin digest (PTD) method using whole fish samples. 13 �Population Estimates for Adult Trout Adult trout populations in the Colorado and Fraser rivers are monitored by CPW at several sites on a varying schedule (see Table 2.1, Sections 2.3 and 2.4, and Figure 2.1). Two-pass markrecapture adult population estimates are conducted using raft-mounted, fixed-boom electrofishing units on the Chimney Rock Ranch, Paul Gilbert-Lone Buck, Parshall-Sunset, and ILVK reaches. All fish captured on the mark run are given a caudal fin punch, measured to the nearest millimeter, and returned to the river. At least one day is left between the mark and recapture runs to allow redistribution of marked fish. On the recapture run, fish are examined for the presence of caudal fin punches, measured to the nearest millimeter, and weighed to the nearest gram. Up to sixty genetic samples are collected from Rainbow Trout encountered on the Chimney Rock Ranch reach to determine the proportion of GR genes present in the adult spawning population, and to correlate this proportion with that observed in the wild fry population. On rivers that are too small to float a raft, such as the Fraser and the Colorado rivers upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir, two-pass depletion population estimates are conducted using a Smith-Root 2.5 GPP bank electrofishing unit and wade electrofishing crews. Population Estimates for Mottled Sculpin Mottled Sculpin will be sampled in the fall annually by CPW at eight sites utilizing presenceabsence and three-pass depletion electrofishing (see Table 2.1, Sections 2.3 and 2.4, and Figures 2.2 and 2.3). Sampling will be completed using either Smith-Root LR-24 backpack electrofishing units or a Smith-Root 2.5 GPP bank electrofishing unit. Presence-absence sampling sites will range from 50-500 feet long depending on channel dimensions and fish density. Sites in which Mottled Sculpin are present will range from 50-100 feet long, and will be sampled using threepass depletion electrofishing for abundance determination. At sites where Mottled Sculpin are not documented in the first pass, sampling will continue upstream for up to 500 feet in an attempt to detect sculpin over larger river reaches. 2.3 Study Sites Trout Fry GR and/or GR-cross fry stocking by CPW occurs between Hitching Post Bridge and either the diversion structure on the Chimney Rock Ranch near the confluence with Drowsy Water Creek or the Sheriff Ranch, dependent upon annual fry availability. CPW completes fry population estimates at seven sites, four upstream of Byers Canyon, and three downstream. Sites upstream of Byers Canyon include: Hitching Post (13T 414502, 4440208), Upper Red Barn (13T 412749, 4439680), Lower Red Barn (13T 412287, 4439359), and Sheriff Ranch (13T 409063, 4438050). Sites downstream of Byers Canyon include: Paul Gilbert (13T 403510, 4433781), Lone Buck (13T 402804, 4433786), and Breeze Bridge (13T 398436, 4435431; Figures 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3). 14 �Adult Trout Adult trout population sampling by CPW on the Colorado River from the Chimney Rock Ranch to the Sheriff Ranch occurs from just upstream of the Hitching Post Bridge at CR 57 (13T 414569, 4440307) to just upstream of the Sheriff Ranch (13T 409216, 4438019; Figure 2.1). In 2016 and 2017, this section was broken into two sections, upstream and downstream of the diversion structure on the Chimney Rock Ranch (13T 412203, 4439300), to evaluate effects of the diversion structure on trout abundance and distribution. Mottled Sculpin Mottled Sculpin sampling sites (Figures 2.2 and 2.3) include the following locations: Windy Gap connectivity channel (13T 416671, 4439947), Hitching Post (13T 414502, 4440208), Upper Red Barn (13T 412749, 4439680), Sheriff Ranch (13T 409063, 4438050), Paul Gilbert SWA (13T 403398, 4434163), and Breeze Bridge SWA (13T 398436, 4435431). The number and location of Mottled Sculpin sampling sites may be adjusted in response to river conditions and budget constraints; additional sites could be surveyed opportunistically. Table 2.1. Fish monitoring locations in the upper Colorado River and Fraser River, monitoring period and monitoring frequency for trout fry, adult trout, and Mottled Sculpin. Monitoring Target Trout fry population estimates, genetic composition, and myxospore enumeration Monitoring Target Adult trout population estimates Site Colorado River, Hitching Post Colorado River, Upper Red Barn Colorado River, Lower Red Barn Colorado River, Sheriff Ranch Colorado River, Paul Gilbert Colorado River, Lone Buck Colorado River, Breeze Bridge Site Colorado River, Chimney Rock Ranch to Sheriff Ranch Colorado River, ILVK reach Colorado River, Parshall-Sunset reach on Kemp-Breeze SWA Colorado River, Gilbert-Lone Buck SWA Colorado River, Town of Granby property (2 sites at Granby Trails) Fraser River, 4-7 sites 15 Monitoring Period Monitoring Frequency June-October Monthly Monitoring Period Monitoring Frequency Spring Annually Spring Annually Fall Annually Spring Biannually Fall Biannually Fall Some annually, some biannually �Monitoring Target Site Mottled Sculpin population estimates Confluence of Fraser and Colorado rivers Colorado River, Windy Gap connectivity channel Colorado River, Hitching Post Colorado River, Chimney Rock Ranch Colorado River, Pioneer Park SWA Colorado River, Hot Sulphur SWA Colorado River, Kemp Breeze SWA Colorado River, Powers BLM Monitoring Period Fall Monitoring Frequency Annually Fall Annually Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Fall Annually Annually Annually Annually Annually Annually Figure 2.1. Map of the adult trout population sampling location in the Colorado River from the upstream terminus at the CR 57 bridge on the Chimney Rock Ranch to the downstream terminus on the Sheriff Ranch (from Fetherman et al. 2014). 16 �Figure 2.2. Map of the upper Colorado River trout fry, Mottled Sculpin and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling sites downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. Figure 2.3. Map of the upper Colorado River trout fry, Mottled Sculpin and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling sites downstream of Byers Canyon. 17 �2.4 Monitoring Schedule Trout Fry GR fry stocking by CPW will continue into July 2018. Fry stocking using the Hofer by Gunnison River Rainbow (HxG) will occur from 2019-2021. CPW will complete fry population estimates, genetic composition, and myxospore enumeration monthly, June-October, at all seven sites from 2018-2022. Adult Trout CPW will conduct annual adult trout population estimates in the spring in the Colorado River from Chimney Rock Ranch to Sheriff Ranch and also within the ILVK reach from 2018-2022. The Parshall-Sunset reach of the Colorado River on Kemp Breeze SWA will be sampled annually in the fall, beginning in 2018 and continuing through 2022. Three additional sites on the Colorado River (two on the Town of Granby property at Granby Trails) and one at the Gilbert-Lone Buck SWA will be sampled biannually in the fall and spring, respectively, beginning in 2018 and continuing through 2022. Multiple sites (four to seven) on the Fraser River will be sampled in the fall on rotating annual and biannual schedules, beginning in 2018 and continuing through 2022. Mottled Sculpin CPW will conduct annual Mottled Sculpin sampling at eight sites along the Colorado River in the fall, beginning in 2018 and continuing through 2022. Additional sites may be sampled opportunistically depending on river conditions, and budgetary and personnel constraints. Chapter 3: Benthic Macroinvertebrates 3.1 Introduction Dams are known to drastically alter river habitat and have many diverse effects on aquatic invertebrates (Ward and Stanford 1979). Those effects can be large and result in long term changes in invertebrate communities (Vinson 2001). In the upper Colorado River basin, previous work documented the dramatic change of the aquatic invertebrate community in the upper Colorado River downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir since construction of the reservoir and that these changes may be associated with flow alterations (Nehring et al. 2011). Nehring et al. (2011) documented a 38% reduction in the diversity of aquatic invertebrates below Windy Gap Reservoir between 1980-2011. Nineteen species of mayflies, four species of stoneflies, and eight species of caddisflies have been extirpated from the sampling sites since 1982. In addition to the changes temporal changes in the invertebrate community, there was a spatial pattern of increasing diversity downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir that indicated current effects of the reservoir on invertebrate 18 �habitat and communities. Sensitive species including Drunella grandis, Pteronarcella badia, and Pteronarcys californica were reduced or eliminated from sites close to Windy Gap Reservoir and replaced by tolerant species including Ephemerella sp, Baetis sp, and Hydropsyche sp. The salmonfly (P. californica) is a large aquatic invertebrate that can reach high densities in some Colorado rivers. These invertebrates play an important ecological role as grazers in stream systems and have been documented as extremely important to stream dwelling trout as a food resource. Nehring (1987) reported in a diet study of trout in the Colorado River that P. californica was the most common food item, comprising 64-75% of the mean stomach content over the four year study. Because of their high biomass and hatching behavior, salmonflies also play an important role in supplementing terrestrial food webs and riparian communities with stream-derived nutrients (Baxter et al. 2005; Walters et al. 2018). While ecologically important and found in high abundance at some sites, the salmonfly has relatively specific environmental requirements and is considered intolerant of disturbance in bioassessment protocols (Erickson 1983; Fore et al. 1996; Barbour et al. 1999). Salmonflies are sensitive to habitat alterations in part because of their lifespan; they are one of the longest lived aquatic insects in the Nearctic (DeWalt and Stewart 1995). Previous work indicates that the range and density of P. californica have declined in the Colorado River, and that these declines may be associated with flow alterations (Nehring et al. 2011). Once common in the upper Colorado River (USFWS 1951; Dames and Moore 1977; Erickson 1983), the abundance of salmonflies has declined, especially downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir where flow alterations associated with trans-mountain water diversions are greatest (Nehring et al. 2011). This pattern has been observed in other rivers. Richards (2000) documented six to eight times lower density of salmonflies downstream of a reservoir compared to upstream and found a negative correlation between their density and substrate embeddedness. Aquatic invertebrate diversity, as well as salmonfly abundance and distribution, have been reduced in the Colorado River downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. Habitat alterations associated with the project seem to have reduced benthic aquatic habitat quality in the river. Restoring connectivity in the upper Colorado River and addressing habitat limitations associated with the flow and sediment regimes should improve conditions for, and the diversity of, invertebrates in the Colorado River. The objective of this project is to document the distribution and density of P. californica in the upper Colorado River and investigate changes over time after the construction of the Windy Gap connectivity channel. 19 �● ● ● ● 3.2 Goals Increase the abundance and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the upper Colorado River and re-establish historically common species Increase the distribution and abundance of salmonflies downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir Objectives Evaluate how the Windy Gap connectivity channel affects the aquatic invertebrates of the upper Colorado River Evaluate the distribution and density of salmonflies in the upper Colorado River Methods Replicate macroinvertebrate samples (n = 5) will be collected by CPW at each site using a 0.92 ft2 Hess sampler with a 350-µm mesh net. The replicate samples will be collected from the same riffle with predominantly cobble substrate by disturbing the streambed to a depth of approximately 3.9 inches. Field samples will be washed through a 350-µm sieve and organisms preserved in 80% ethanol. Velocity and depth will be taken at each Hess sample site to ensure samples were taken from similar riffle habitat. Macroinvertebrate samples will be sorted and sub-sampled in the laboratory using a standard USGS 300-count protocol, except that replicates will not be composited and each one will undergo sub sampling and identification protocols (Moulton et al. 2000). All organisms, except for chironomids and non-insects, will be identified to genus or species. Chironomids will be identified to subfamily and non-insects (e.g., oligochaetes, amphipods) identified to class. Salmonfly emergence and density will be monitored by CPW during the emergence period of late June through early July. Multiple pass removal estimates will be completed by searching 98.6 foot sections of stream bank for P. californica exuvia adjacent to riffle habitat. If possible, each site will be visited multiple times to encompass the entire emergence. If a site is visited only once, this will occur as soon as possible after the emergence is complete. Three to seven people will intensively search the riparian area from 3.3 to 65.6 feet from the water’s edge depending on exuvia distribution. On a single sampling occasion, each area will be searched two to four times with identical search areas, effort, and personnel. A multiple-pass depletion model will be used to estimate the total density of exuvia at each site (Zippin 1956). 3.3 Study Sites Aquatic invertebrate sampling sites (Figures 2.2 and 2.3) include the following locations: Windy Gap connectivity channel (13T 416671, 4439947), Hitching Post (13T 414502, 4440208), Upper Red Barn (13T 412749, 4439680), Sheriff Ranch (13T 409063, 4438050), Paul Gilbert #2 (13T 403398, 4434163), and Breeze Bridge #2 (13T 398341, 4435450). Exuvia sampling sites include the following locations: Windy Gap connectivity channel (13T 416671, 4439947), Hitching Post (13T 414502, 4440208), Sheriff Ranch (13T 409063, 4438050), Paul Gilbert SWA (13T 403398, 20 �4434163), and Breeze Bridge SWA (13T 398436, 4435431). The number and location of invertebrate sampling sites may be adjusted in response to river conditions and budget constraints; additional sites could be surveyed opportunistically. 3.4 Monitoring Schedule Benthic macroinvertebrate samples will be collected in August-September of each year, and salmonfly density and emergence will be monitored in June-July of each year. Sampling will begin in 2018 and continue through 2022. If construction of the Windy Gap connectivity channel is delayed, the proposed monitoring schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Chapter 4: Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Geomorphology 4.1 Introduction Aquatic habitat in the upper Colorado River has been altered by changes in the flow regime, water depletions, sedimentation, and armoring of the stream bed (Municipal Subdistrict 2011). Flow alteration has impacted a myriad of processes related to hydrologic, hydraulic, geomorphic, physicochemical, and biological stream functions (Harman et al. 2012). The reduced capacity to mobilize sediment has embedded riffle habitats important for benthic organisms, such as the salmonfly and Mottled Sculpin. Reconnecting flows from the Colorado River through the Windy Gap connectivity channel should improve sediment transport supply to reaches downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. However, reconnecting reaches upstream and downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir may not be sufficient to restore benthic organisms without improving habitat conditions. Habitat restoration will reduce channel dimensions to improve the frequency of sediment transport and floodplain activation under current and future flow regimes. Riffle de-armoring techniques will also be applied to improve habitat for benthic macroinvertebrates and fish in reaches associated with the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project. This chapter presents a monitoring approach for CPW to evaluate the effectiveness of the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project on instream hydraulics and geomorphology. Hydrology will be evaluated by investigating the channel-forming discharge, flood frequency, and flow duration for historical, current, and future flow regimes. Analysis of hydrology will also inform design of the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project. Assessment of floodplain connectivity and flow dynamics will be used to evaluate changes in hydraulics. Geomorphology monitoring will include evaluation of sediment transport, lateral stability, riparian vegetation, bedform diversity, and bed material characterization. The Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project may utilize experimental riffle de-armoring treatments, which will be monitored to inform the application of those treatments in other project areas. 21 �Monitoring and evaluation of hydrology, hydraulics, and geomorphology for the Windy Gap connectivity channel is beyond the scope of this monitoring plan, but should be conducted if additional funding becomes available or if monitoring priorities are changed during discussions with project stakeholders. An approach for geomorphic assessment including evaluation of channel hydraulics and sediment transport is presented in Appendix A to support project development and fundraising. Although CPW cannot commit to geomorphic assessments for the connectivity channel without additional resources, CPW will continue to provide technical design assistance and review for the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project. Goals ● Improve sediment transport processes in upper Colorado River reaches associated with the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project ● Improve floodplain connectivity in upper Colorado River reaches associated with the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project ● Restore and enhance riparian corridors of the upper Colorado River to improve wildlife habitat and increase flood resilience Objectives ● Increase sediment transport capacity and competence by manipulating channel dimensions ● Decrease the prevalence of fine sediment in embedded riffle habitats ● Increase the suitability of aquatic habitat for Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Mottled Sculpin by improving instream hydraulics ● Increase the abundance of native riparian vegetation along streambanks and floodplains ● Increase the frequency of floodplain inundation under current and future flow regimes 4.2 Methods Hydrology Average daily and annual peak discharge records will be obtained by CPW for existing stream gauges and used to evaluate flow alteration and inform restoration designs. Design flows will be selected from hydrologic analysis to support hydraulic modeling. If the location or availability of streamflow data from existing stream gauges is insufficient to support assessment and design, streamflow measurement may be conducted to support evaluation of project reaches. As there are a number of stream gauges located throughout the upper Colorado River basin, collecting additional streamflow measurements may not be needed. Hydraulics Floodplain connectivity and flow dynamics will be evaluated by CPW to support monitoring of hydraulics within the Habitat Restoration Project reach on the Kemp Breeze SWA. Topographic surveys will be conducted with survey-grade GPS and an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to support hydraulic modeling and project design. Hydraulic models will be configured 22 �and calibrated for existing, proposed, and as-built conditions. The Hydrologic Engineering Center - River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model will be used for assessment, design, and evaluation of the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project. Stream velocity, water depth, shear stress, and stream power will be derived from model outputs to investigate channel hydraulics and habitat suitability. HEC-RAS models will also be used to investigate changes in floodplain connectivity by determining the extent and frequency of floodplain inundation across a range of flows. Channel narrowing activities associated with the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project should increase the frequency of floodplain inundation under current and future flow regimes. Geomorphology Geomorphology monitoring will include evaluation by CPW of sediment transport, lateral stability, riparian vegetation, bedform diversity, embeddedness, and bed material characterization. Sediment transport will be evaluated within the Kemp Breeze SWA by monitoring the movement of 200-600 Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagged rocks. Using PIT tags to monitor sediment transport is an ideal technique for tracking movements of individual sediment particles in gravel-bed rivers (Lamarre et al. 2005). Pebble counts will be conducted to characterize bed material and select sediment sizes for tagging. PIT-tagged rocks will be placed in riffles, and movement of rocks will be monitored using stationary and mobile radio frequency identification (RFID) antennas. Mobile antennas will be used to relocate PIT-tagged rocks and locations will be recorded with survey-grade GPS. Stationary antennas will be placed downstream of select areas where PIT-tagged rocks have been deployed to monitor the sediment transport across a range of flows. Measurements of sediment movement will be combined with results from hydraulic modeling to evaluate changes in sediment transport associated with implementation of the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project. Sediment monitoring will target locations where riffle dearmoring occurs to evaluate the effectiveness of these experimental treatments, including assessments of fine sediment and embeddedness. Channel morphology will be monitored with repeat surveys of the longitudinal profile and monumented cross-section locations. Geomorphic surveys will be conducted with survey-grade GPS and an ADCP. Additional survey points will be collected throughout the active stream channel, on islands, and along the floodplain. Lateral stability and bedform diversity will be evaluated for existing, proposed, and as-built conditions within the Kemp Breeze SWA using data derived from longitudinal profile and cross-section surveys. The greenline stability rating (Winward 2000; ACOE 2017) will be used to evaluate changes in riparian vegetation and lateral stability for the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project. Identification of riparian vegetation will be limited to the following classes: anchored rock/logs, trees (coniferous and deciduous), willows, other shrubs (sagebrush, cinquefoil, etc.), wet sedges and rushes, other sedges, wet grasses, other grasses, and unvegetated areas (sandbars, loose rock, and bare soil). As CPW aquatic biologists and researchers would not typically be tasked with vegetation identification, additional funding could be used to support a more rigorous approach to riparian vegetation monitoring. 23 �4.3 Study Sites The primary study area is the Habitat Restoration Project at the Kemp Breeze SWA. Additional study areas could include sites associated with the future, larger scale Habitat Project, such as Pioneer Park SWA, Hot Sulphur Springs SWA, and Chimney Rock Ranch. Reference reaches on the Fraser River could also be monitored to compare habitat conditions in project areas to relatively undisturbed reference areas, but reference-reach surveys on the Fraser River are currently beyond the scope of this monitoring plan. 4.4 Monitoring Schedule The proposed schedule for the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project is presented in Table 4.1. Baseline monitoring will be conducted in 2018 and 2019, project construction is scheduled for 2020, implementation monitoring will occur in 2021, and effectiveness monitoring will take place in 2022. The schedule assumes that the Kemp Breeze Habitat Restoration Project will be constructed in 2020, but the construction schedule is dependent upon various factors and is subject to change. If construction of the project is delayed, the proposed monitoring schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Table 4.1. Proposed schedule for the Kemp Breeze SWA Habitat Restoration Project. Task 2018 Project Design 2019 2020 2021 2022 X X X Project Construction X Geomorphic Surveys and Assessment X Hydraulic Modeling X X X Sediment Transport Surveys and Assessment X X X Riparian Vegetation Surveys and Assessment X X X Chapter 5: Monitoring Budget CPW has committed within the Headwaters Project to a budget of $115,000 annually beginning in 2017, across five years of effort for a total of $575,000. Securing additional funds could be beneficial for more extensive evaluation of the Headwaters Project, i.e. proposed hydrology, hydraulics, and geomorphology assessments specifically related to the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project (Appendix A), and the proposed fish movement study (Appendix B). 24 �References ACOE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). 2017. Wyoming Stream Quantification Tool (WSQT) User Manual and Spreadsheet. Beta Version. Avila, B. W., D. L. Winkelman, and E. R. Fetherman. In review. Survival of whirling disease resistant Rainbow Trout fry: a comparison of two strains. Submitted to the Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. Baxter, C. V., K. D. Fausch, and W.C. Saunders. 2005. Tangled webs: reciprocal flows of invertebrate prey link streams and riparian zones. Freshwater Biology 50:201-220. Dames and Moore. 1977. Environmental assessment report Windy Gap project Grand County, Colorado for municipal subdistrict, Northern Water Conservancy District. Denver, CO. DeWalt, R. E., and K. W. Stewart. 1995. Life-histories of stoneflies (Plecoptera) in the Rio Conejos of southern Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 55:1-18. Fetherman, E. R., D. L. Winkelman, M. R. Baerwald, and G. J. Schisler. 2014. Survival and reproduction of Myxobolus cerebralis resistant rainbow trout in the Colorado River and increased survival of age-0 progeny. PLoS ONE 9(5):e96954. Fetherman, E. R., D. L. Winkelman, G. J. Schisler, and M. F. Antolin. 2012. Genetic basis of differences in myxospore count between whirling disease-resistant and -susceptible strains of Rainbow Trout. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 102:97-106. Fetherman, E. R., D. L. Winkelman, G. J. Schisler, and C. A. Myrick. 2011. The effects of Myxobolus cerebralis on the physiological performance of whirling disease resistant and susceptible strains of Rainbow Trout. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 23:169-177. Fore, L. S., J. R. Karr, and R. W. Wisseman. 1996. Assessing invertebrate responses to human activities: Evaluating alternative approaches. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 15(2):212-231. Harman, W., R. Starr, M. Carter, K. Tweedy, K. Suggs, and C. Miller. 2012. A function-based framework for stream assessment and restoration projects. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, Washington, DC. EPA 843-K-12-006. Kowalski, D. A. 2014. Colorado River aquatic resources investigations. Federal Aid Project F237-R21. Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration, Job Progress Report. Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Aquatic Wildlife Research Section. Fort Collins, Colorado. Lamarre, H., B. MacVicar, and A. G. Roy. 2005. Using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to investigate sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers. Journal of Sedimentary Research 75:736-741. Municipal Subdistrict. 2011. Windy Gap Firming Project Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Plan. Prepared by the Municipal Subdistrict, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District in partnership with Denver Water. 15 pp. Nehring, R. B. 1987. Stream fisheries investigations. Federal Aid Project F-51-R. Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration, Job Progress Report. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Fish Research Section. Fort Collins, Colorado. 25 �Nehring, R. B. 2006. Colorado’s cold water fisheries: whirling disease case histories and insights for risk management. Colorado Division of Wildlife Aquatic Wildlife Research Special Report Number 79. Denver, Colorado. 46 pp. Nehring, R. B., B. Heinhold, and J. Pomeranz. 2011. Colorado River aquatic resources investigations. Federal Aid Project F-237-R18. Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration, Final Report. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Aquatic Wildlife Research Section. Fort Collins, Colorado. Nehring, R. B., and K. G. Thompson. 2001. Impact assessment of some physical and biological factors in the whirling disease epizootic among wild trout in Colorado. Colorado Division of Wildlife Aquatic Research Special Report Number 76. Denver, Colorado. 78 pp. Richards, D. C., M. G. Rolston, and F. V. Dunkle. 2000. A comparison of salmonfly density upstream and downstream of Ennis Reservoir. Intermountain Journal of Sciences 6(1):1-9. Ryce, E. K. N., A. V. Zale, E. MacConnell, and M. Nelson. 2005. Effects of fish age versus size on the development of whirling disease in Rainbow Trout. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 63:69-76. Schisler, G. J., E. P. Bergersen, and P. G. Walker. 1999a. Evaluation of chronic gas supersaturation on growth, morbidity, and mortality of fingerling Rainbow Trout infected with Myxobolus cerebralis. North American Journal of Aquaculture 61:175-183. Schisler, G. J., E. P. Bergersen, and P. G. Walker. 2000. Effects of multiple stressors on morbidity and mortality of fingerling Rainbow Trout infected with Myxobolus cerebralis. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 129:859-865. Schisler, G. J., K. A. Myklebust, and R. P. Hedrick. 2006. Inheritance of Myxobolus cerebralis resistance among F1-generation crosses of whirling disease resistant and susceptible Rainbow Trout strains. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 18:109-115. Schisler, G. J., P. G. Walker, L. A. Chittum, and E. P. Bergersen. 1999b. Gill ectoparasites of juvenile Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout in the upper Colorado River. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 11:170-174. Scott, W. B., and E. J. Crossman. 1973. Freshwater fishes of Canada. Bulletin of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada Number 184. Sigler, F. F., and R. R. Miller. 1963. Fishes of Utah. Utah Department of Fish and Game. Salt Lake City, Utah. Tetra Tech. 2015. Final Report Windy Gap Reservoir Modification Study. Fort Collins, Colorado. USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 1951. Recreational use and water requirements of the Colorado River fishery below Granby Dam in relation to the Colorado-Big Thompson diversion project. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 2. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Vinson, M. R. 2001. Long-term dynamics of an invertebrate assemblage downstream from a large dam. Ecological Applications 11:711-720. Walters, D. M., J. S. Wesner, R. E. Zuellig, D. A. Kowalski, and M. C. Kondratieff. 2018. Holy flux: spatial and temporal variation in massive pulses of emerging insect biomass from western U.S. rivers. Ecology 99(1):238-240. 26 �Ward, J. V. 1998. Riverine landscapes: biodiversity patterns, disturbance regimes, and aquatic conservation. Biological Conservation 83:269-278. Ward, J. V., and J. A. Stanford. 1979. The ecology of regulated streams. Plenum Press, New York. Woodling, J. 1985. Colorado’s little fish, a guide to the minnows and other lesser known fishes in the state of Colorado. Colorado Division of Wildlife. Denver, Colorado. Walker, P. G., and R. B. Nehring. 1995. An investigation to determine the cause(s) of the disappearance of young wild rainbow trout in the Upper Colorado River, in Middle Park, Colorado. Colorado Division of Wildlife Report. Denver, Colorado. 134 pp. Windward, A. H. 2000. Monitoring the vegetation resources in riparian areas. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-47. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 49 p. 27 �Appendix A: Proposed Geomorphic Monitoring of the Connectivity Channel The following proposal describes a geomorphic monitoring study that could be conducted in conjunction with the construction and evaluation of the Windy Gap connectivity channel in the Colorado River, if additional funding and staff time are added for these evaluations. A.1 Introduction Aquatic habitat in the upper Colorado River has been altered by changes in the flow regime, water depletions, sedimentation, and armoring of the stream bed (Municipal Subdistrict 2011). Reconnecting flows from the Colorado River through the Windy Gap connectivity channel should improve sediment transport processes for reaches downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. The connectivity channel should also support fish passage for target species and life stages across a range of flows and operational scenarios. This document presents a monitoring approach to evaluate the effectiveness of the Windy Gap connectivity channel. Hydrology should be monitored to support evaluation of fish passage and channel evolution. Flow monitoring within the connectivity channel may also be necessary for water rights administration. Geomorphology monitoring will include evaluation of sediment transport, lateral stability, riparian vegetation, bedform diversity, and bed material characterization. Theses monitoring targets were selected to support evaluation of project goals and objectives. Goals ● Restore sediment transport in the upper Colorado River around Windy Gap Reservoir ● Restore fish passage in the upper Colorado River around Windy Gap Reservoir Objectives ● Transport sediment loads from the Colorado River through the Windy Gap diversion structure and connectivity channel ● Convey flood flows through the connectivity channel and adjacent floodplain ● Validate that hydraulics within the connectivity channel are within the range of target fish passage criteria ● Evaluate evolution of the connectivity channel to ensure it maintains a target range of dimensions that support fish passage ● Improve the resilience and stability of streambanks along the connectivity channel by increasing the abundance of native riparian vegetation A.2 Methods Hydrology Flows through the connectivity channel should be monitored to support evaluation of the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project. Discharge records will be obtained for existing stream gauges and diversion structures to evaluate flows within the connectivity channel. If the location or 28 �availability of streamflow data from existing stream gauges and diversions is insufficient to support assessment and design, streamflow measurements may be conducted to support project evaluation. The establishment of any streamflow stations should be coordinated with Northern Water to ensure that monitoring is adequate to support water rights administration and project evaluation. Hydraulics Floodplain connectivity and flows dynamics will be evaluated to support monitoring of hydraulics within the connectivity channel. Topographic surveys will be conducted with survey-grade GPS and an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to support hydraulic modeling and project evaluation. Hydraulic models will be configured and calibrated for as-built (implementation monitoring) and post-runoff (effectiveness monitoring) conditions with the Hydrologic Engineering Center - River Analysis System (HEC-RAS). Stream velocity and water depth will be derived from model outputs to compare channel hydraulics and fish passage criteria. HECRAS models will also be used to investigate sediment transport and floodplain connectivity. Geomorphology Geomorphology monitoring will include evaluation of sediment transport, channel evolution, riparian vegetation, bedform diversity, and bed material characterization. Sediment transport will be evaluated within the connectivity channel by monitoring the movement of 200-600 Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tagged rocks. Using PIT tags to monitor sediment transport is an ideal technique for tracking movements of individual sediment particles in gravel-bed rivers (Lamarre et al. 2005). Pebble counts will be conducted to characterize bed material and select sediment sizes for tagging. PIT-tagged rocks will be placed in riffles, and movement of rocks will be monitored using stationary and mobile radio frequency identification (RFID) antennas (see Appendix A). Mobile antennas will be used to relocate PIT-tagged rocks, and locations will be recorded with survey-grade GPS. Stationary antennas will be placed downstream of select areas where PIT-tagged rocks have been deployed to monitor sediment transport across a range of flows. Connectivity channel morphology will be monitored with repeat surveys of the longitudinal profile and cross-section locations. Geomorphic surveys will be conducted with survey-grade GPS and an ADCP. Lateral stability and bedform diversity will be evaluated for as-built and post-runoff conditions using data derived from longitudinal profile and cross-section surveys. The greenline stability rating (Winward 2000; ACOE 2017) will be used to evaluate changes in riparian vegetation and lateral stability. Identification of riparian vegetation will be limited to the following classes: anchored rock/logs, trees (coniferous and deciduous), willows, other shrubs (sagebrush, cinquefoil, etc.), wet sedges and rushes, other sedges, wet grasses, other grasses, and unvegetated areas (sandbars, loose rock, and bare soil). Additional funding could support a more rigorous approach to riparian vegetation monitoring if desired. 29 �A.3 Study Sites The primary study area is the Windy Gap connectivity channel associated with the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project. Topographic surveys will include the connectivity channel and adjacent floodplain from the upstream diversion point to the downstream confluence with the Colorado River. A.4 Monitoring Schedule Baseline monitoring will not be conducted prior to construction of the Windy Gap connectivity channel, but survey data collected during project design should be sufficient to document changes associated with project implementation. Implementation and effectiveness monitoring for the connectivity channel would occur in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The schedule assumes that the Windy Gap connectivity channel will be constructed in 2020, but the construction schedule is dependent upon various factors and is subject to change. If construction of the project is delayed, the proposed monitoring schedule will be adjusted accordingly. Table A.1. Proposed geomorphic monitoring schedule for the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project. Task 2021 2022 Geomorphic Surveys and Assessment X X Hydraulic Modeling X X Sediment Transport Surveys and Assessment X X Riparian Vegetation Surveys and Assessment X X Project Design Project Construction A.5 2018 2019 X X 2020 X References ACOE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). 2017. Wyoming Stream Quantification Tool (WSQT) User Manual and Spreadsheet. Beta Version. Lamarre, H., B. MacVicar, and A. G. Roy. 2005. Using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to investigate sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers. Journal of Sedimentary Research 75:736-741. 30 �Municipal Subdistrict. 2011. Windy Gap Firming Project Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Plan. Prepared by the Municipal Subdistrict, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District in partnership with Denver Water. 15 pp. Windward, A. H. 2000. Monitoring the vegetation resources in riparian areas. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-47. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 49 p. 31 �Appendix B: Proposed Fish Movement Study The following draft proposal describes a fish movement study that could be conducted in conjunction with the construction and evaluation of the Windy Gap connectivity channel in the Colorado River, if additional funding and staff time are added for these evaluations. The proposal is still in draft form and is subject to change. B.1 Introduction Connectivity is a fundamental element of landscape structure and ecological processes, and longitudinal connectivity is especially important in rivers (Taylor et al. 1993; Fausch et al. 2002). Loss of free passage due to artificial barriers can lead to habitat fragmentation and limit fish distributions, such as those of Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii) in the Colorado River, by reducing access to key habitats (Fausch et al. 2002; Lucas et al. 2009). In general, fish require three major habitat types: 1) feeding habitats with favorable growth conditions, 2) refugia from harsh environmental conditions with unfavorable growth conditions, and 3) spawning habitat with necessary flow conditions for egg incubation. Movements among these various habitat types occurs continuously throughout the year based on spawn timing (e.g., spring for Rainbow Trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss] and fall for Brown Trout [Salmo trutta]), environmental and flow conditions, physical or habitat conditions and availability, and growth or life stage (Schlosser and Angermeier 1995). The construction of the connectivity channel around Windy Gap Reservoir will help restore connectivity for these types of movements, and provide access to favorable habitats, such as upstream spawning locations, that had been previously unavailable for fish populations in the Colorado River downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. Conversely, fish such as Mottled Sculpin, which are currently absent immediately downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir, will be able to distribute downstream increasing the diversity of the riverine ecosystem downstream of the reservoir. This study will be focused on evaluating fish movement rates through the connectivity channel and validating that the connectivity channel is being used for fish passage in both the upstream and downstream directions. Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags are an important tool for evaluating fish growth, movement, and mortality due to their relatively low cost, longevity, ability to identify unique individuals, ease of application, and minimal effects on fish survival, growth, feeding behavior, and swimming performance (Zydlewski et al. 2006; Newby et al. 2007; Ficke et al 2012). Antennas constructed of copper wire anchored to the bottom of the river (stationary antenna) or actively passing over the fish (portable antennas) are used to detect PIT tags that have been inserted internally in target fish species. The antennas create an electromagnetic field that activates the tag and records the unique identification number returned from the tag to an interrogation system or reader. Since the tags are activated by an electromagnetic field rather than battery, they are not only considered passive, but also have an infinite life. In recent years, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has utilized PIT technology to monitor movement of salmonids in and out of specific management sections (Fetherman et al. 2014; Fetherman et al. 2015), passage of salmonids, 32 �suckers, and dace at whitewater park structures (Fox et al. 2016), and evaluate Brown Trout habitat utilization in mountain streams (Richer et al. 2017). The focus species for this study include Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout, the dominant sport fish species in the Fraser River and Colorado River upstream and downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. Mottled Sculpin distribution in the downstream direction through the connectivity channel will also be an important focus of the fish movement monitoring efforts. Although most Mottled Sculpin are relatively sedentary, recent research has shown that a small percentage of these fish exhibit considerable movement capability (Breen et al. 2009; Hudy and Shiflet 2009). Using PIT tags and stationary and portable PIT tag antennas, the overall objectives of this study are to evaluate Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Mottled Sculpin movement both upstream and downstream through the connectivity channel, adequacy of attraction flows from the connectivity channel, and large-scale movement patterns of various age classes of target fish species throughout the upper Colorado River. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● B.2 Goals Restore longitudinal connectivity for fish populations around Windy Gap Reservoir Primary Objectives Evaluate fish movement patterns under existing conditions upstream and downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir Validate that the connectivity channel is being utilized for fish passage by Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Mottled Sculpin Secondary Objectives Determine if the stream gage on the Fraser River upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir is an obstacle for fish movement Determine if the diversion structure on the Fraser River below Highway 40 is an obstacle for fish movement Determine if the diversion structure on the Chimney Rock Ranch is an obstacle for fish movement Evaluate the relative proportion of the fish population that is utilizing the Colorado and Fraser rivers upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir Evaluate fish entrainment into Windy Gap Reservoir following construction of the Windy Gap connectivity channel diversion structure Evaluate utilization of spawning habitat in the headwaters of the Fraser River Methods The study will include two distinct phases. First, a baseline study of fish movement patterns and rates will be conducted for reaches upstream and downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. Second, the baseline study design will be expanded to evaluate the efficiency of fish movement through the Windy Gap connectivity channel. To achieve the primary study objective of evaluating fish movement patterns under existing conditions, stationary antennas will be installed in the Colorado River on the Chimney Rock Ranch upstream of the Hitching Post Bridge and upstream of Windy 33 �Gap Reservoir downstream of the confluence with the Fraser River in 2019 to monitor baseline movement rates. An additional stationary antenna will be installed on the Chimney Rock Ranch just upstream of the confluence with Drowsy Water Creek to determine distances moved from downstream fish tagging locations. All three antenna locations will consist of paired antenna loops constructed from 8-gauge copper speaker wire and anchored to the substrate to prevent movement or change in shape, maximizing read range. Paired antenna loops allow researchers to determine directionality of movement (upstream versus downstream) when it occurs at each antenna location. Antenna stations will be powered by multiple 12-V, 120-Ah marine deep cycle batteries housed in a job box along with the reader(s). Additional power for each antenna station will be supplied by solar panels installed near each antenna location. Readers will run continuously after installation to capture fish movements during all times of the day and throughout the entire time that they are installed. Baseline fish movement rates will be monitored in 2019 and 2020, prior to the construction of the Windy Gap connectivity channel. Following the completion of the Windy Gap connectivity channel, additional antenna stations will be installed upstream and downstream of the connectivity channel to achieve the primary study objective of validating that the connectivity channel is being used by Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Mottled Sculpin. The downstream antenna will be installed in the connectivity channel just upstream of where the channel reconnects with the Colorado River downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir. The upstream antenna will be incorporated into the diversion structure located at the upstream end of the connectivity channel. Similar to the antenna design described above, each antenna location will have paired antenna loops to determine directionality of movement into or out of the connectivity channel. Additionally, successful movement in either direction through the connectivity channel will be evaluated during the data analysis phase of the project by quantifying the proportion of fish that were detected at both antenna locations within the connectivity channel. A third antenna station may be installed on the Schmuck’s bypass channel originating from Windy Gap Reservoir, dependent upon the amount of flow in this channel, to determine if flows attract fish and prevent them from finding or using the connectivity channel during certain times of the year. Efficiency of the connectivity channel will be monitored using these three antenna stations in 2021 and 2022. Portable antennas, antennas mounted in or on rafts and floated on the surface of the river, will be deployed during both the baseline and efficiency monitoring phases of the study (2019-2022) to improve detection probability of tagged fish and determine the fate of fish that are never detected at a stationary antenna site. GPS technology will be incorporated into portable antenna designs to get more precise locations on fish throughout the study reach and to estimate average distance moved by fish species and size. Portable antennas will be deployed in three reaches: 1) on the Colorado River between Hitching Post Bridge and the Sheriff Ranch; 2) on the Colorado River upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir and the confluence with the Fraser River; and 3) on the Fraser River between the Highway 40 diversion structure and Fraser Canyon (Figure A.1). An additional portable antenna reach will be added within the connectivity channel following its completion, which will be monitored during the effectiveness monitoring phase of the study (2021-2022) to determine location and fate of fish that entered but did not exit the channel. During deployment, 34 �portable antennas will be run down the thalweg, as well as the left and right sides of the river channel, to increase detection probabilities of fish throughout the channel. The combination of the three runs will constitute a single detection or “mark” pass in any given reach. A second set of three runs (thalweg, left and right sides of the river) will be used as a “recapture” pass to estimate detection probability, tagged fish abundance, and change in detection location in the event that a fish moved between passes. To maximize the chance of capturing fish movements during portable antenna surveys, surveys will be conducted in the spring (March-April) and fall (SeptemberOctober) during times when fish are most likely to be moving to spawning sites. Secondary objectives, specifically determining if the gauge on the Fraser River upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir, the diversion structure on the Fraser River downstream of Highway 40, and the diversion structure on the Chimney Rock Ranch are obstacles for fish movement, will be achieved using additional antenna stations at these locations. At each location, a set of paired antennas will be installed upstream and downstream of each structure allowing for determination of directionality of movement as fish approach the structure. Antennas located downstream of each structure will provide information regarding the number of fish that approached and attempted to pass the structure, whereas antennas located upstream of the structures will provide information regarding the number of fish that successfully passed the structure. Each of the three locations will be monitored for at least one season during the baseline monitoring phase of the study (20192020). The secondary objective of determining the relative proportion of the fish population that are utilizing the Colorado and Fraser rivers upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir will be achieved by installing a paired antenna on the Colorado River upstream of the confluence with the Fraser River to estimate fish movement rates among the two rivers. This antenna will be installed during the baseline monitoring phase and remain intact following construction of the Windy Gap connectivity channel (2019-2022). Additionally, an antenna station will be installed downstream of the dynamic weir in the inlet to Windy Gap Reservoir to achieve the secondary objective of determining if fish are entrained in Windy Gap Reservoir following construction of the Windy Gap connectivity channel diversion structure. Finally, to further validate that the connectivity channel is being utilized for fish passage, an antenna station will be installed roughly half way through the connectivity channel to better ascertain the fate of fish moving within the channel but not detected at both ends of the channel. This antenna will be used to both determine if fish move partway down the channel and then turn around, and/or if fish are being retained and using the habitat features constructed within the channel itself. The antennas installed in the inlet and connectivity channel will be used to monitor fish movement at these locations in 2021 and 2022. Antenna design, construction, and power needs for the antennas used to achieve the secondary objectives will be similar to those described above. However, additional personnel will be needed for antenna installation, upkeep, data collection and archiving, and data analysis. Portable antennas will be used to obtain the secondary objective of evaluating utilization of spawning habitat in the headwaters of the Fraser River. Similar to portable antenna deployments described to meet the primary objectives, multiple runs will be used to increase detection probability across the width of the channel. Mark and recapture passes will be used to estimate detection probability, tagged fish (or tag) abundance, and location and fate of fish that have moved 35 �into spawning sites within the Fraser River. GPS data from multiple sampling occasions will be compared to determine if detected tags remain in live fish (indicated by change in location between passes and/or sampling occasions) or have been spawned out (no change in movement between passes or sampling occasions). Tags determined to have been spawned out of the fish will be used to monitor the use of and identify preferred spawning sites for both Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout in this section of the river. Portable antennas used to evaluate spawning habitat in the Fraser River will be deployed during or following the spring and fall spawning periods in 2019-2022. Fish will be tagged in multiple reaches upstream and downstream of stationary antenna locations. A large portion of the tagging on the Chimney Rock and Sheriff ranches will occur during the spring adult population estimates conducted in May 2019-2022. Additional tagging events will be needed to tag fish in the Colorado and Fraser rivers upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir, likely concurrent with standard sampling sites conducted in these locations. Additionally, fish may be tagged as far downstream as Pioneer Park to look at long-distance movements within the upper Colorado River. Target species for tagging include Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Mottled Sculpin. Multiple age classes will be tagged of all three target species using 12 mm, 23 mm, and 32 mm tags as appropriate for fish body size and desired detection distance. The number of tags used will be dependent upon target species and age class abundances. The goal is to tag at least 250 Rainbow Trout and 250 Brown Trout (500 fish total) in the Chimney Rock Ranch reach, with an additional 250 fish of each species tagged in the Colorado and Fraser rivers upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir (combined) annually between 2019 and 2022. In the Fraser and Colorado rivers upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir, up to 250 Mottled Sculpin will be tagged annually. Additional numbers of fish of each species will be tagged opportunistically dependent upon tag availability and number of fish captured during electrofishing efforts in each reach. To achieve the secondary objective of evaluating utilization of spawning habitat in the headwaters of the Fraser River, an additional 100 Brown Trout and 100 Rainbow Trout will be tagged annually in headwater sections of the Fraser River near the towns of Fraser and Winter Park between 2019 and 2022. All fish will be anesthetized using AQUI-S 20E (clove oil), tagged in the interperitoneal cavity using a tagging gun and needle, and secondarily fin clipped to estimate tag loss. Fish will be held in net pens following tag insertion to ensure recovery from tagging and anesthetization prior to release back into the river. B.3 Study Sites The project study area will extend from the Fraser and Colorado rivers upstream of the connectivity channel downstream through the Chimney Rock Ranch to the Sheriff Ranch, incorporating stationary and portable antenna deployment locations described above to meet the primary and secondary objectives of the study. Additionally, portable antenna stations may extend further upstream on the Fraser River to evaluate utilization of spawning habitat in the headwaters of the Fraser River. Primary fish tagging reaches will include the Chimney Rock Ranch, the Colorado River upstream of the confluence with the Fraser River, and the Fraser River near Highway 40. Additional tagging locations for evaluating the utilization of spawning habitat may be located in 36 �the Fraser River closer to the towns of Fraser and Winter Park. An overview of stationary antenna locations, mobile antenna reaches, and electrofishing sites is presented in Figure B.1. Figure B.1. Location of stationary sites, mobile antenna reaches, and electrofishing sites for the proposed fish movement study. B.4 Monitoring Schedule Pre-construction baseline movement rates will be monitored in the Colorado and Fraser rivers upstream of Windy Gap Reservoir and in Chimney Rock Ranch beginning in 2019 and continuing through the completion of the connectivity channel in 2020. Tagging will begin on the Chimney Rock Ranch during the spring 2019 adult population estimates and continue annually during these estimates through 2022. Antenna installation for baseline monitoring would occur in 2019, with additional antennas being installed in and around the connectivity channel for monitoring the efficiency of the channel to pass fish in fall 2020 or spring 2021, dependent upon when construction of the channel is complete. Antennas will remain in place through fall 2022, with additional tagging events occurring in the Colorado and Fraser rivers in 2020, 2021, and 2022. 37 �B.5 References Breen, M. J., C. R. Ruetz III, K. J. Thompson, and S. L. Kohler. 2009. Movements of Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii) in a Michigan stream: how restricted are they? Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 66:31-41. Fausch, K. D., C. E. Torgersen, C. V. Baxter, and L. W. Hiram. 2002. Landscapes to riverscapes: bridging the gap between research and conservation of stream fishes. Bioscience 52:483-498. Fetherman, E. R., B. W. Avila, and D. L. Winkelman. 2014. Raft and floating radio frequency identification (RFID) systems for detecting and estimating abundance of PIT-tagged fish in rivers. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 34:1065-1077. Fetherman, E. R., D. L. Winkelman, L. L. Bailey, G. J. Schisler, and K. Davies. 2015. Brown trout removal effects on short-term survival and movement of Myxobolus cerebralis-resistant rainbow trout. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 144:610-626. Ficke, A. D., C. A. Myrick, and M. C. Kondratieff. 2012. The effects of PIT tagging on the swimming performance and survival of three nonsalmonid freshwater fishes. Ecological Engineering 48: 86-91. Fox, B. D., B. P. Bledsoe, E. Kolden, M. C. Kondratieff, and C. A. Myrick. 2016. Eco-hydraulic evaluation of a whitewater park as a fish passage barrier. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 52(2):1-23. Hudy, M., and J. Schiflet. 2009. Movement and recolonization of Potomac sculpin in a Virginia stream. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 29:196-204. Lamarre, H., B. MacVicar, and A. G. Roy. 2005. Using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags to investigate sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers. Journal of Sedimentary Research 75:736-741. Lucas, M. C., D. H. Hubb, M.-H. Jang, K. Ha, and J. E. C. Masters. 2009. Availability of and access to critical habitats in regulated rivers: effects of low-head barriers on threatened lampreys. Freshwater Biology 54:621-634. Newby, N. C., T. R. Binder, and E. D. Stevens. 2007. Passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagging did not negatively affect the short-term feeding behavior or swimming performance of juvenile Rainbow Trout. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 136:341-345. Richer, E. E., E. R. Fetherman, M. C. Kondratieff, and T. A. Barnes. 2017. Incorporating GPS and mobile radio frequency identification to detect PIT-tagged fish and evaluate habitat utilization in streams. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 37(6):1249-1264. Schlosser, I. J., and P. L. Angermeier. 1995. Spatial variation in demographic processes of lotic fishes: conceptual models, empirical evidence, and implications for conservation. American Fisheries Society Symposium 17:392-401. Taylor, P. D., L. Fahrig, K. Henein, and G. Merriam. 1993. Connectivity is a vital element of landscape structure. Oikos 68:571-573. Zydlewski, G. B., G. Horton, T. Dubreuil, B. Letcher, S. Casey, and J. Zydlewski. 2006. Remote monitoring of fish in small streams: a unified approach using PIT tags. Fisheries 31(10):492502. 38 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Documents Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Draft proposed Upper Colorado River Headwaters project monitoring plan Description An account of the resource In December 2016, a group of partners including American Rivers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD), Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), Denver Water, Grand County, Irrigators of Lands in the Vicinity of Kremmling (ILVK), Municipal Subdistrict of Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Northern Water), Trout Unlimited, and the Upper Colorado River Alliance was awarded $7.75 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through their Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for the Upper Colorado River Headwaters Project (Headwaters Project). The Headwaters Project is comprised of three endeavors within Grand County that will collectively restore fish and wildlife habitat, and improve water quality and agricultural water management on a regional scale. The RCPP funding will be utilized to focus on two specific project components: 1) reconnecting the Colorado River upstream and downstream of Windy Gap Reservoir (referenced as the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel Project); and 2) restoration of the Colorado River channel to be resilient to hydrological modifications, while sustaining agriculture, and aquatic and riparian habitat (referenced as the Irrigators of Lands in the Vicinity of Kremmling Project). The third endeavor, the Kemp Breeze State Wildlife Area (SWA) Habitat Restoration Project, is expected to be funded by the partners, and other interested parties. These three project components are further described in the following sections. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Colorado Parks and Wildlife Subject The topic of the resource Upper Colorado River Headwaters Habitat restoration Extent The size or duration of the resource. 38 pages Date Created Date of creation of the resource. 2018-03-19 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource application/pdf Language A language of the resource English