COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

CPW Lake and Reservoir research scientists devote themselves to understanding and improving fisheries throughout the state. 

Their research focuses on food web structures, lake and reservoir characteristics, understanding and managing prey bases, growth and condition of sport fish and how sport fish interact with each other. 

Research scientists use a combination of new and long-standing techniques to address issues facing sport fisheries in Colorado.

Lake and Reservoir Ecology Research Projects:

• Understanding and Decreasing Gill Lice Infections in Colorado Fish  
• Understanding Mercury Bioaccumulation in Sport Fish  
• Testing Fish Marking Methods to Assess Stocking Success
• Exploring Alternative Methods for Determining Fishery Characteristics
• Determining the Impact of Tiger Muskellunge Predation on Stocked Fish Intended to Improve Recreational Fisheries

Stream and River Ecology

Colorado's streams and rivers provide anglers excellent sport fishing opportunities. In order to protect these fisheries, CPW is dedicated to researching ways in which to improve habitat, food supply and survival of the fish that call Colorado's rivers and streams home.

Stream and River Ecology Projects:

• Prevalence and distribution of R. salmoninarum, the Causative Agent of Bacterial Kidney Disease, in Colorado’s Wild Trout and Stocked Sport Fisheries​
• Evaluation of an Electric Fish Barrier on the South Canal, an Irrigation Ditch on the Lower Gunnison River, Colorado
• Investigating the Habitat Use and Hatching Ecology of the Giant Stonefly

As human development expands and climate changes alter the landscape, maintaining high quality fish habitat remains vital. 

Stream and Fisheries Habitat researchers restore degraded stream habitat on rivers across the state and evaluate the impact of habitat change on Colorado sport fish.

Stream Habitat Investigations Research Projects:

• Fish Passage and Barrier Studies
• Monitoring Fisheries Response to Aquatic Habitat Restoration
• Post-Flood Recovery Assessment & Stream Restoration Guidelines for the Colorado Front Range
• South Platte River Restoration and Habitat Enhancement
• Upper Arkansas River Habitat Enhancement Evaluation
• Whitewater Park Studies

Western Slope Native Fish Species

Western slope native fish research focuses on three species: flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and roundtail chub. 

Each of these species is estimated to occupy only 45-55 percent of its historic native range in the upper Colorado River basin and all three show downward population trends. 

Thus, research aims to enhance these species' current range and minimize the probability of listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Western Slope Native Species Research Projects:

• Studying the Three-Species Spawning and Rearing Locations  
• Evaluating the Genetic Purity of Western Slope Native Sucker Fish
• Determining the Distribution of the Three-Species in Western Colorado
• Influencing the Genetic Purity of Native Sucker Spawning Runs​

​ Plains Fish

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. 

Plains Fish Research Projects:

• Plains fish optimal sampling protocol
• Flathead Chub survival and movement
• Plains fish passage
• Owens-Hall fish passage structure evaluation
  

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