Dissolved oxygen study
Wildlife Research
Researching Aquatics
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Research Section provides a combination of field and laboratory experimentation to answer statewide fisheries management questions, improve efficiency in production and management of aquatic species, and provide centralized fisheries management functions related to data management, stream habitat improvement and brood stock development.
Our Work
Rainbow Trout
Whirling disease is believed to be a major factor in the declines of wild rainbow trout populations across Colorado waters. Many North American native salmonid species have little to no resistance to this parasitic infection.
Thus, CPW is focusing research efforts on breeding whirling disease resistant rainbow trout strains, optimizing these strains for production in state hatcheries and for survival in the wild, and developing and managing wild brood stocks of whirling disease resistant strains.
Flathead Chub
The eastern plains streams of Colorado are home to the highest fish species diversity in the state, which historically consisted of 36 native species. Unfortunately, six species have been extirpated, and 12 more are currently listed as special status by the State of Colorado. These species are part of our state’s natural history, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is tasked with conserving them.
Cutthroat Trout
The most diverse trout species in North America, the historical distribution of cutthroat trout covers the broadest range of any stream dwelling trout in the Western Hemisphere. The rugged topography of their range has lead to isolation, which in turn has given rise to fourteen recognized subspecies.
All three remaining species have either been petitioned to be listed or are currently listed under the Endangered Species Act. Dramatic reductions in their range have been precipitated primarily by the introduction of nonnative salmonids. Specifically rainbow trout that hybridize with cutthroat trout, and brook and brown trout that tend to replace them in streams and rivers. In an effort to preserve the legacy of these fish, multi-agency conservation teams have been established for each subspecies.
Boreal Toad
Once common in montane habitats between 7,000-12,000 feet in the Southern Rocky Mountains, the boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) has experienced dramatic population declines over the past two decades. The declines appear to be related to infection by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which can cause a disease with a very high mortality rate. Other factors such as habitat loss may also play a role.
Mountain Whitefish
One of only two salmonids native to Colorado, the mountain whitefish was historically found in just the Yampa and White River drainages in the northwestern part of the state. Alarming declines in the Yampa River in the late 1990s spurred interest in this relatively unstudied species. Similar declines were documented in almost every other state across the native range during the same time period, while other populations in neighboring drainages often remained robust.
From the Newsroom
CPW introduces Trojan Male brook trout in a historic effort to protect native cutthroat trout in Colorado
“This is a pretty historic moment for Colorado and native cutthroat trout restoration across the state,” said CPW Aquatic Biologist Jon Ewert. “This is a combination of both the hard work and dedication of CPW biologists current and retired.”
Video: "A Toad Pond" - CPW
SPOTLIGHT
Featured Project
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with partners on the Boreal Toad Conservation Team, have been hard at work to insure that the State Endangered Boreal Toad does not disappear from high elevation wetland habitats in our state. This short documentary, created by CPW Aquatic Conservation Technicians in the NE Region, celebrates Boreal Toads as well as a variety of other species, big and small, that depend on the same habitat.
Aquatic Research
Research Library
The Research Library was created in the late 1960s to provide support primarily to the wildlife research sections. The Research Library evolved to serve the broader information management needs of CPW staff. Library collections are focused on wildlife ecology and associated ecological information and CPW public historical records such as Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting agendas and minutes.
Research Software
JakeOmatic Version 2.42
This fish survey analysis program is designed for fishery professionals to analyze lake, stream and river data typically gathered during routine surveys. Common analyses such as the generation of length frequency histograms, population estimates, biomass estimates, relative weight, and relative stock density are all provided.
WaTSS Version 3.0
This software currently calculates a raft of commonly used temperature metrics including average daily, weekly, monthly, and rolling average temperatures, as well as maximum temperatures, accumulated degree days, maximum weekly maximum temperature (MWMT) and maximum 30-day average temperature all over user specified ranges. Please read the manual for more details.
Download:
WaTSS executable zip (120 MB)
Fish Telemetry
This is companion software for Chapter 14 in the AFS book "Analysis and Interpretation of Freshwater Fisheries Data. This program performs three basic functions that are commonly used in the analysis of fish telemetry data.
- Calculates the distance from fish locations to the nearest shoreline.
- Determines if the distribution of fish locations are random (and provides a means to generate a distribution of the test statistic so that a P-value can be assessed).
- Evaluates if habitat selection is occurring, and whether fish are selecting for habitat types in a similar fashion.
- Calculates selection ratios for various habitat types.
Download:
Fish Telemetry executable zip
Fish Telemetry Chapter 14 - (2007) Chapter 14 of the aforementioned "Analysis and Interpretation of Freshwater Fisheries Data." This is companion software for Chapter 14 in the AFS book "Analysis and Interpretation of Freshwater Fisheries Data.
CPW Aquatics Research Team
The Aquatics Research team conducts scientific investigations to develop the necessary knowledge, techniques and procedures to effectively manage Colorado's aquatic wildlife. Get to know our researchers and learn more about their respective areas of expertise and current research projects.
Meet the Team
George J. Schisler
Aquatic Research Chief
Phone: 970-472-4361
Kelly Carlson
Aquatic Research Program Assistant
Phone: 970-472-4320
Brian Avila
Aquatic Research Scientist, Population Genetics
Phone: 970-817-4880
Pete Cadmus
Aquatic Research Scientist/Toxicologist, Water Pollution Studies
Phone: 970-472-4332
Tawni Riepe
Aquatic Research Scientist/Toxicologist, Water Pollution Studies
Phone: 970-666-0912
Eric R. Fetherman
Aquatic Research Scientist, Salmonid Disease Studies
Phone: 970-472-4436
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Aquatic Research Scientist, Eastern Plains Native Fishes
Phone: 970-472-4336
Adam G. Hansen
Aquatic Research Scientist, Coldwater Lakes and Reservoirs
Phone: 970-472-4432
Jesse M. Lepak
Aquatic Research Scientist, Cool and Warmwater Lakes and Reservoirs
Phone: 970-472-4432
Zachary Hooley-Underwood
Aquatic Research Scientist, Western Slope Native Fishes
Phone: 970-252-6037
Matthew C. Kondratieff
Aquatic Research Scientist, Stream Habitat Restoration
Phone: 970-472-4316
Eric E. Richer
Aquatic Research Scientist/Hydrologist, Stream Habitat Restoration
Phone: 970-472-4373
Dan Kowalski
Aquatic Research Scientist, Stream and River Ecology
Phone: 970-252-6008
Kevin B. Rogers
Aquatic Research Scientist, Cutthroat Trout Studies
Phone: 970-846-7145
Andrew J. Treble
Aquatic Research Scientist, Aquatic Data Management and Analysis
Phone: 970-472-4372
Brad Neuschwanger
Hatchery Manager, Fish Research Hatchery
Phone: 970-482-1141
Tracy Davis
Hatchery Technician, Fish Research Hatchery
Phone: 970-482-1141
Troy Meyer
Hatchery Technician, Fish Research Hatchery
Phone: 970-482-1141