Local Wildlife Conservation Strategy News Items
Mueller State Park begins grooming trails for cross-country skiers1/26/2021 1:39:41 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bill Vogrin
Southeast Region Public Information Officer
719-466-3927 / bill.vogrin@state.co.us
Cross-country skiers will find groomed trails now at Mueller State Park
Mueller Sate Park in Teller County is using its Utility Track Vehicle to pull a grooming sled to grooming trails for cross-country skiers.
Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Jan. 26, 2021
Cross-country skiers will find groomed trails now at Mueller State Park
DIVIDE, Colo. – Cross-country skiers looking for groomed runs should get in the habit of checking conditions at Mueller State Park thanks to the addition of trail-grooming equipment to its tool shed.
When the snow piles up at the Teller County park on the west flank of Pikes Peak, Mueller staff jump in their tracked Utility Terrain Vehicle and tow their new trail grooming sled around two popular cross-country ski loops.
“We’re excited to be able to offer this new amenity to enhance winter visits to Mueller State Park,” said Brian Kerrigan, park manager. “People already love snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at the park. This will make the experience even better.”
The park’s new sled produces groomed trails with classic ski tracks. On snowy days, and as snow conditions permit, the park is grooming two loops:
Stoner Mill - a 2.08-mile round trip rated moderate. It is accessed from the School Pond trailhead parking lot.
Grouse Mountain Campground Road - a 1-mile round trip rated easy. It is accessed from the Camper Services Building trailhead parking lot.
Besides cross-country skiing, Kerrigan said snowshoers are welcome. But he asked them to observe trail etiquette and keep their tracks separate from the groomed ski tracks.
The park hopes to expand the offering of groomed trails, if and when, snowpack conditions allow.
“We are not a ski area and we’re not trying to be,” Kerrigan said. “This is perfect for those who want to spend a day close to home in the outdoors and in the snow. And where else can you ski groomed trails for $9 a day?”
Maps are available at the Visitor Center. And skiers can call ahead to check on conditions at 719-687-2366.
Mueller State Park is open year-round. A $9 daily pass or $80 annual pass is required to enter the park. It is located 45 minutes from Colorado Springs along Colorado Highway 67, just 3½ miles south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 24 at Divide on the west side of Pikes Peak.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 1/26/2021 11:37 AM
Colorado waters test free of invasive mussels; Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan approved1/25/2021 4:29:41 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bridget Kochel
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-219-2919 / bridget.kochel@state.co.us
Colorado waters test free of invasive mussels; Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan approved
Colorado has mandatory boating inspection regulations in place to help monitor that mussels do not cross state lines.
DENVER - After three consecutive years of negative testing, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has removed Green Mountain Reservoir in Summit County from the positive waters list for quagga mussels, a prohibited aquatic nuisance species (ANS). As Green Mountain Reservoir was the only body of water in Colorado suspected of having a population of quagga mussels, this de-listing makes Colorado a completely negative state for both zebra and quagga mussels.
In August 2017, Green Mountain Reservoir, which is owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and whose developed public recreation sites are managed by the White River National Forest, tested positive for the presence of quagga mussel larvae (veligers). No adult mussels were ever found in Green Mountain Reservoir nor have they ever been found in a Colorado water body. Regional standards require three years of subsequent negative testing in order to re-classify the water from Suspect to Negative.
“After three years of negative testing, we are confident that Green Mountain Reservoir is free of invasive mussels and does not pose a risk to other aquatic resources,” said CPW’s Invasive Species Program Manager Robert Walters. “Colorado is the only state to de-list all mussel positive waters. This is a testament to the fact that our mandatory watercraft inspection and decontamination procedures do work to protect Colorado’s waters from invasive species.”
While Colorado is once again completely free of invasive mussels, the threat of zebra or quagga mussels entering Colorado from another infested state is still quite real. Boaters using infested waters must take extra care not to transport mussels across state lines and to comply with Colorado's mandatory inspection regulations.
“Our staff want to express our gratitude to the boaters who help keep Colorado’s waters safe from harmful invasive species. By participating in Cleaning, Draining, and Drying your watercraft and gear between each and every use, we can continue to prevent the spread of invasive species,” said Walters.
State of Colorado Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan Approved
On December 10, 2020, the national Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force approved the State of Colorado Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plan to protect Colorado waterways from invasive species.
The management plan was originally conceptualized in 2006 and has been collaboratively developed by CPW staff, the Colorado ANS Task Force and by ANS experts and stakeholders across the state.
“The approval of this plan is a significant milestone in ANS program history because it sets a clear path forward on how we can prevent and manage aquatic nuisance species in Colorado,” said Reid DeWalt, CPW’s assistant director for aquatic, terrestrial and natural resources. “Invasive species have the potential to cause significant irreversible environmental impacts. The ANS management plan includes a coordinated prevention plan to keep Colorado’s waters free of ANS and a rapid response strategy that is designed to quickly contain new populations that may establish. This aims to minimize negative impacts on human safety, our wildlife populations and our native ecosystems.”
In an effort to balance outdoor recreation with mindful conservation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife requires boaters to purchase an ANS Stamp when registering a boat in Colorado to help protect state waters. The stamp provides approximately half of the funding needed to run the ANS Program operations annually, which includes watercraft inspection and decontamination services, monitoring of state waters and management of existing populations.
To learn more about CPW’s ANS Program and Aquatic Research Projects, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/ISP-ANS.aspx and https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Aquatic-Research-Projects.aspx .
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 1/25/2021 2:28 PM
CPW seeks volunteers to plant trees, collect trash in State Wildlife Areas east of Colorado Springs area1/22/2021 5:54:42 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bill Vogrin
Southeast Region Public Information Officer
719-466-3927 / bill.vogrin@state.co.us
CPW seeks volunteers to plant trees, help clean up State Wildlife Areas east of Colorado Springs area
Volunteers stand among rows of trees the planted in a State Wildlife Area.
Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Jan. 21, 2021
CPW seeks volunteers to plant trees, help clean up State Wildlife Areas
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Volunteers are being sought by Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Southeast Region to help plant trees and clean State Wildlife Areas east of Colorado Springs.
CPW relies heavily on volunteers to perform a variety of important tasks at its 42 parks and 350 wildlife areas. Volunteers also make major contributions to efforts of biologists working with aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.
“In 2020, 2,703 volunteers contributed 273,350 hours, which was the equivalent of 131 full-time employees,” said Jeanette Lara, volunteer coordinator for CPW’s Southeast Region. “CPW calculated the value of the 2020 work at $8 million. We couldn’t do nearly as much as an agency without the valuable contribution of our volunteers.”
As the 2021 volunteer season begins, anyone interested is encouraged to contact Lara by email at: Jeanette.lara@state.co.us .
The first project involves planting trees, courtesy a Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant to pay for volunteer projects to improve habitat or help wildlife. The Kinney Lake Tree Planting Project is scheduled Feb. 13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Kinney Lake State Wildlife Area.
Volunteers will plant cottonwood trees and install protective tree guards. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions, comfortable closed toed shoes, gloves, mask, and sunscreen. Volunteers should bring water and sunscreen. Additional items volunteers could bring include shovels, fence pliers and T-post drivers. Lunch will be provided for pre-registered volunteers working on the tree planting project.
Besides the Kinney Lake tree planting, here is a list of scheduled cleanup days:
Flagler SWA Cleanup Day, April 3
Kinney Lake SWA Cleanup Day, April 17
Karval SWA Cleanup Day, May 1
Hugo SWA Cleanup Day, May 15
Ramah SWA Cleanup Day, May 29
Each cleanup day is scheduled 8 a.m. to noon.
Crews will walk roadsides and comb the SWAs for trash. In addition to appropriate clothing, water and snacks, volunteers are encouraged to bring reflective vests, trash pickers and five-gallon buckets, if they have them. Appropriate COVID precautions will be followed.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 1/22/2021 3:51 PM
CPW issues reminder that shed-antler collecting is prohibited through April 301/21/2021 4:49:41 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joe Lewandowski
Southwest Region Public Information Officer
970-759-9590 / joe.lewandowski@state.co.us
Collection of shed antlers on public lands west of I-25 is prohibited through April 30.
CPW issues reminder that shed-antler collecting is prohibited through April 30
DURANGO, Colo. – To protect wintering big-game animals and sage grouse species, collection of shed antlers on all public lands west of I-25 is prohibited from Jan. 1 through April 30.
“The purpose of the closures is to reduce disturbance of wintering wildlife during the time of year they are most vulnerable,” said Scott Wait, senior terrestrial biologist for the Southwest Region of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Big game and sage grouse species live in a basic survival mode during the winter when food is scarce. If forced to move and burn calories unnecessarily, wildlife can lose the energy they need to make it through the winter.
In addition to the statewide restrictions, additional special regulations are also in place for the Gunnison Basin. In Game Management Units 54, 55, 66, 67 and 551, it is illegal to search for or possess antlers and horns on public lands between legal sunset and 10 a.m. from May 1 through May 15.
Shed antler collecting has become very popular. The interest in personal and commercial collection has led to a substantial increase in the number of people searching for antlers across big-game winter range in western Colorado. The seasonal prohibition applies to both commercial and personal collectors.
Violating these regulations can be costly, said Brandon Diamond, area wildlife manager in the Gunnison area. The act of antler hunting during the closure qualifies as one violation and possession of each individual antler is a separate violation. The fine for each offense is $100 plus five license-suspension points. If an individual accumulates 20 points, his or her hunting privileges could be suspended.
“These regulations will be most effective and have the greatest positive impact to our wintering wildlife when we work together within our communities to monitor and enforce them. Don’t tolerate the behavior of those that would cheat,” Diamond advised. “Let’s make sure we are all doing what’s best for wildlife and help give them a break during their toughest time of year.”
Anyone witnessing violations of the shed-antler hunting regulations should call the nearest CPW office or Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 1/21/2021 2:48 PM
Latest Colorado Outdoors podcast episode discusses backcountry winter safety1/21/2021 9:04:41 AM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jason Clay
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-291-7234 / jason.clay@state.co.us
@CPW_NE
Latest Colorado Outdoors podcast episode discusses backcountry winter safety
Photos by Bridget Kochel/CPW
DENVER - Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s latest podcast episode discusses how to get in front of backcountry danger in the winter.
Click here to listen to this episode. All episodes of Colorado Outdoors can also be found on your favorite podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , iHeartRadio , Spotify , Pandora and more .
Outdoor agencies across Colorado have seen an increase in park visitation and off-grid winter recreation. Recreating in the backcountry requires certain precautions and equipment to ensure a safe outdoor experience.
Podcast host Mark Johnson talks with two CPW experts on winter backcountry recreation. Ben Plankis is the trails coordinator for the northeast region of the agency and Michael Haskins is a park ranger at Chatfield State Park who assist backcountry search and rescue teams with rescue missions.
For more information on backcountry winter safety courses, visit colorado.com/WinterBackcountrySafety and take the Colorado Backcountry Winter Safety Pledge .
TOPIC LIST:
2:40 - what do people need to consider when they head up into the high country
3:56 - know before you go - Check Avalanche and Weather Forecast at colorado.gov/avalanche
4:37 - equipment to keep you safe should you be caught in an avalanche
5:40 - avalanche awareness classes
6:38 - what to know if new to Colorado
7:28 - what should you look for when in potential avalanche terrain
8:05 - advice for experienced backcountry visitors
9:40 - snow conditions this year and more people venturing out in the backcountry
10:10 - guidelines for heading up into the backcountry
11:38 - easy access into the backcountry can lead people into a false sense of security
12:30 - what to do/know/have if you need help
15:20 - COTREX trails app and cell phone GPS capabilities
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 1/21/2021 7:03 AM
2020 Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Awards will support rehabilitation efforts across Colorado1/19/2021 3:14:41 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Travis Duncan
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-595-8294 / travis.duncan @state.co.us
2020 Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Awards will support rehabilitation efforts across Colorado
These great horned owl chicks went to the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program for rehab after their nest tree was cut down.
DENVER – Ten recipients of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s third annual Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants have been announced. The grants are offered by CPW to support wildlife rehabilitation efforts across the state.
“These ten grants reach across the state,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. “They include investments to expand rehabilitation facilities for the long-term and funding to help keep existing facilities open to meet public demand.”
“We had more than $48,000 in funding requests but only $16,200 in funding available,” said Jim Guthrie, Program Coordinator for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Program. “There’s a big need out there. A lot of Colorado rehabbers run on shoestring budgets. They put in tremendous personal effort for the love of helping animals recover from accidents or injury.”
“The rehabilitation of Colorado's wildlife species often happens quietly, by a relatively few number of qualified and licensed professionals around the state,” said John Gale, Chair of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants Board. “They provide critical services across a diversity of species - large and small - often at great personal expense. Colorado’s grant program provides important support to wildlife rehabilitators, increasing resources and allowing them to help more animals.”
The work supported through this year’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants includes:
Flight cages and equipment to overwinter bats at the Colorado BatCREW facility in Conifer
Continued construction of a new rehabilitation facility at the SonFlower Ranch in Brighton
Food and medical supplies at the Rocky Mountain WildHeart center in Colorado Springs
Veterinary and medical expenses at the Rocky Mountain Raptor center in Fort Collins
The grant program was created through House Bill 17-1250 . Funding for the grant program comes primarily from the nongame tax check-off program, along with fines from nongame wildlife-based offenses and interest income. For the first $250,000 raised annually, 10 percent is allocated to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program, which aims to provide funding specifically for wildlife rehabilitation centers. For many rehabbers, this kind of funding fills a critical gap.
“On behalf of my fellow committee members and Colorado Parks and Wildlife professionals,” said Gale, “I want to extend our appreciation to Colorado taxpayers for their generous donations and continued investment in this highly successful grant program.”
Applications for Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Awards are due each year in early November. For more information on the grant program and application materials, please visit the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants page.
2020 Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Awards
Rocky Mountain WildHeart – Colorado Springs
Food, supplies, medical supplies
Grant Award: $2,000
Lynette Carson – Beulah
Raccoon enclosure
Grant Award: $3,000
Colorado BatCREW - Conifer
Flight cages and equipment to overwinter bats
Grant Award: $2,000
Emily Davenport - Sedalia
Lead testing equipment
Grant Award: $2,000
North Park Wildlife Rehabilitation
Food, medical supplies, veterinary services, travel, caging materials
Grant Award: $1,200
Wild Bird Rescue – Englewood
Facility operations – rent, food, medical supplies
Grant Award: $2,000
Shellee Lawson – Bailey
Food and supplies
Grant Award: $1,000
Rocky Mountain Raptor Program – Fort Collins
Veterinary and medical supply expenses
Grant Award: $1,000
SonFlower Ranch Wildlife Rehabilitation - Brighton
Concrete floors for caging and new building
Grant Award: $1,000
Bill Main – Colorado Springs
Food, medical supplies, veterinary services
Grant Award: $1,000
Total grant awards: $16,200
Caption for photos below: This red-tailed hawk was struck by a vehicle and had severe spinal and head trauma when it was brought to the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program for rehab. With time and care it was released back to the wild again.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 1/19/2021 1:12 PM
Mule deer and elk captures underway along the Front Range1/19/2021 11:14:40 AM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jason Clay
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-291-7234 / jason.clay@state.co.us
@CPW_NE
Mule deer and elk captures underway along the Front Range
A herd of elk in South Park by Reinecker Ridge on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 (photo by Jason Clay/CPW)
DENVER - Several studies of mule deer and elk on the Front Range have begun with the deployment of satellite GPS collars on adult does (female deer) and cow (female) elk.
The animals will be captured by a professional capture crew using helicopter net guns as well as by Colorado Parks and Wildlife personnel on the ground using immobilization techniques.
The goals of the study are to identify mule deer and elk seasonal ranges, migration corridors, habitat use and future habitat improvement projects.
Deer and elk will be captured in several project areas on winter range east of the Continental Divide, ranging from the Wyoming border down into South Park. Project areas include private land, state and federal lands as well as Jefferson and Boulder County Open Space properties. You may see low flying aircraft in these areas over the next few weeks as crews work on capturing animals in project areas.
The GPS collars will record the positions of each animal for the next three to five years. Daily position updates will be available to biologists via email notifications throughout the study.
If an animal dies during the study, a mortality signal will be sent to the local wildlife biologist who will search for the animal’s carcass, determine the cause of death and collect biological samples.
The studies are the result of many years of planning and a lot of collaboration between CPW, Jefferson and Boulder Counties, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These projects have received generous financial support from collaborative partners listed above, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3362.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 1/19/2021 9:11 AM
CPW aquatic biologists studying Bear Creek after survey shows troubling decline in population of threatened greenback cutthroat, Colorado's state fish12/22/2020 11:34:43 AM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bill Vogrin
Southeast Region Public Information Officer
719-466-3927 / bill.vogrin@state.co.us
CPW aquatic biologists studying Bear Creek after survey reveals troubling decline in population of threatened greenback cutthroat trout, Colorado's state fish
A greenback cutthroat trout caught in Bear Creek near Colorado Springs
Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Bill Vogrin
Dec. 22, 2020
CPW aquatic biologists studying troubling decline in greenback cutthroat population
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Aquatic biologists and researchers at Colorado Parks and Wildlife have launched an intensive review of data on Bear Creek after a routine survey revealed a troubling decline in greenback cutthroat trout populations.
“We have looked into several factors that may have contributed to this decline including water quality, temperature, flow, sediment accumulation, disease and the possibility of some unnatural human-caused event,” said Josh Nehring, senior aquatic biologist for CPW’s Southeast Region. “At this point, we cannot say there is one single, definitive cause.”
In 2012, CPW confirmed that tiny Bear Creek, on the city’s southwest edge, was home to wild greenback cutthroat trout, which are the Colorado state fish and are native to the South Platte River in the northeast.
For decades the greenback was believed to be extinct. So protecting the 3½-mile stretch of water holding the only known population of naturally reproducing greenbacks became a top priority of CPW aquatic biologists. Today, the greenbacks are listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a threatened species.
In the years since the discovery, CPW has worked to protect and improve the creek habitat and the surrounding watershed and to develop a second brood stock. Brood stock is a small population of fish kept in optimal conditions in a hatchery to maximize breeding and provide a source of fish for the establishment of new populations in suitable habitats. Each spring, CPW spawns the greenbacks on the banks of Bear Creek. The CPW Mount Shavano Hatchery in Salida hatches the fertilized eggs in its Isolation Unit. Extra milt collected from make greenbacks in Bear Creek goes to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Leadville National Fish Hatchery to fertilize eggs from the greenbacks in its brood stock. The eggs are then taken to Salida to be hatched and eventually stocked onto the landscape. At various sizes, the fish are then stocked into creeks and lakes in the South Platte River drainage. CPW hopes these releases will lead to greenbacks being re-established and reproducing in the wild. But that milestone has not yet been documented, making the Bear Creek population critical to the species’ survival.
“Since 2008, we have surveyed Bear Creek every three years to assess the size and health of the greenback population,” Nehring said. “We only surveyed every three years to minimize stress on the fish.
“This September, we surveyed four reaches of the creek and the results were troubling. They suggested up to an 80 percent decline in the adult population. However, a fairly robust class of immature fish suggests that adults were still common and prolific until recently.”
CPW launched an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the decline.
Water temperatures appear to be normal over the past three years and CPW’s annual disease inspection on brook trout living in Bear Creek downstream of the greenback population showed they continue to be disease-free.
The U.S. Forest Service, which shares jurisdiction over Bear Creek with El Paso County and Colorado Springs, is monitoring sediment accumulation in the creek. And a major restoration project was just completed to improve the habitat, increase pool depth and reduce sediment accumulation in the creek.
The September survey preceded the creek habitat restoration work. CPW biologists do not believe that work, or a recent wildfire that burned within a half mile of the creek, had any impact on the greenback population.
Bear Creek is somewhat unusual as it does not typically experience a snowmelt-driven runoff in the spring. Rather, peak flows generally occur during the late summer monsoon season and are precipitated by strong rain events.
“Over the past three years, we have not seen these higher flows that help to scour out the pool habitats,” Nehring said. “Although there has been an increase of sediment in the pool habitats, it doesn’t appear that would have been the sole reason for the decline in the population.”
CPW’s investigation into the population decline and search for a solution is ongoing.
“We will continue to evaluate and investigate these factors and others, such as possible deliberate human caused events,” Nehring said. “The take or killing of a threatened species is a serious offense and carries significant fines under the Endangered Species Act.
“At the same time, we are intensifying our efforts to broaden our brood stock, accelerate our release of greenbacks into their native waters and look for other ways to preserve this important fish.”
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NEWS EDITORS/PRODUCERS NOTE:
Unfortunately, Josh Nehring, senior aquatic biologist for CPW’s Southeast Region, is not available today for interviews. So we have recorded a video interview with Josh discussing the findings on Bear Creek and the status of the greenback cutthroat trout. This B-roll video is available upon request.
To get the YouTube link, please email Bill Vogrin, bill.vogrin@state.co.us.
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PHOTOS
All photos Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Captions:
Greenback cutthroat trout are seen during spawning events on Bear Creek.
Josh Nehring, senior aquatic biologist for CPW's Southeast Region, displays a greenback cutthroat trout over a bucket on the banks of Bear Creek during the June 2018 spawning event.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologists are seen electroshocking Bear Creek during the June 2017 spawn.
Holding pens sit in Bear Creek and an outdoor lab awaits on the side of the creek during the June 2018 spawn. Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologists used electroshock equipment to catch greenback cutthroat trout. They were held into the nets until biologists were ready to spawn them.
Signs warn campers, anglers, hikers and bikers of the protected 3 1/2-mile stretch of Bear Creek that is home to the threatened greenback cutthroat trout.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2020 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 12/22/2020 9:29 AM
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