tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158002275117190986.post239885944826369972..comments2024-02-21T10:19:47.260-08:00Comments on Colorado Headwaters Fisheries Management: More stoneflies for the Arkansas.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15609959590066227459noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158002275117190986.post-7580808914046196562013-04-24T20:57:21.325-07:002013-04-24T20:57:21.325-07:00James, sculpin are definitely a west-slope species...James, sculpin are definitely a west-slope species. The east slope rivers have longnose dace, but no sculpin that I'm aware of. As far as how much of a trout's diet consists of sculpin, I would have to go back and look at some of Barry Nehring's diet analysis he did with brown trout on the Colorado back in the '80's. The only problem is, he conducted that study in an area where there are not sculpin now - I don't know if there were sculpin there then. I'm not aware of a thorough trout diet study that has been done in a place that has a high density of sculpin. It's a great question. We make the assumption that they are important trout food, but don't necessarily have direct data to support that. It would be a good thing to have and we may be pursuing that over the next couple of years. One thing I can point out, though, is that for the size of the stream (which is relatively small), brown trout larger than 14" are much more common in the Fraser than in many similar-sized streams that do not have sculpin. I consider that to be INDIRECT evidence that the presence of sculpin constitutes an important component to the forage base.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609959590066227459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158002275117190986.post-63587205092507585942013-04-24T20:44:10.056-07:002013-04-24T20:44:10.056-07:00Dan (and Bennett), I believe this is the first tim...Dan (and Bennett), I believe this is the first time that this has been tried in Colorado. If it is successful, I'm sure other biologists around the state will consider trying it too. The thing about the Arkansas, though, is that we know this species is native to that river. It's an entirely different deal to talk about introducing a species that has never historically occurred in a particular water (possibly Clear Creek - I don't actually know if Pc were native there or not). That tends to give biologists the heebie-jeebies. There are so many examples throughout history of species introductions that went horribly wrong and had unintended negative consequences. From my limited knowledge of Clear Creek, I'm under the impression that it hasn't been cleaned up very much and still has a lot of problems with metals. I could be wrong about that though. Likewise, I'm nut sure about the Poudre - that would be a good question for Kurt Davies.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15609959590066227459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158002275117190986.post-6208019431788932062013-04-24T05:19:55.611-07:002013-04-24T05:19:55.611-07:00I remember in Browns Canyon last year in September...I remember in Browns Canyon last year in September having a huge stone fly landing all over us at the Hecla Junction camp ground, not much of a flyer those things. I had no idea they had been wiped out on the Ark and introduced that year until I read one of your previous posts on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158002275117190986.post-60652982236005116652013-04-23T09:55:16.394-07:002013-04-23T09:55:16.394-07:00That's pretty cool Jon!That's pretty cool Jon!COCarphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14095072342648975248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158002275117190986.post-28205662217970861612013-04-23T06:57:16.756-07:002013-04-23T06:57:16.756-07:00Back in March you discussed sculpins on the Fraser...Back in March you discussed sculpins on the Fraser River. From what I've been able to read, sculpins are only in the San Juan, Animas, Yampa, White, Colorado, Gunnison, and Dolores river basins. What about the Eastern rivers (South Platte, Arkansas, etc)? When they are present, how much of a trout's diet is made up of sculpins? I'm sure it depends on the size of the fish and species. Thanks.Jamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158002275117190986.post-14701413295614780062013-04-22T13:45:46.327-07:002013-04-22T13:45:46.327-07:00Dan you beat me to the question! I was wondering ...Dan you beat me to the question! I was wondering if a river like the Poudre River could be a candidate since the fire has impacted it with silt/ash?<br /><br />Bennett ColvinBennett Colvin and Kirsten Brendtrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02623353462092729284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158002275117190986.post-79425665941584083882013-04-22T10:01:48.649-07:002013-04-22T10:01:48.649-07:00Very cool on the Stonefly nymph transplants.
Are ...Very cool on the Stonefly nymph transplants.<br /><br />Are there other rivers in the state where this has been tried? If successful on the Arkansas, are there other rivers that are candidates for this type of transplant? Clear creek seems like a place that has stonefly habitat and a history of acid mine drainage that is similar to the Arkansas.Dan Kageyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12439991665992897006noreply@blogger.com