OCR Text |
Show 1 6 Fall 2000 Discover Dinosauriand Flaming Gorge Dam faces new challenges When Flaming Gorge Dam was completed in 1964, it created a host of ecological changes in the river and riparian communities. The controlled releases of water from the dam did not match the pre-dam spring flows, and the river banks were no longer seasonably scoured of vegetation, fish no longer received natural signals to migrate up the Green, and spawning gravel bars became unusable by four native fish which are now on the federal endangered species list: the Colorado pikeminnow, humpback hump-back chub, bonytail chub and razorback sucker. The endangered fish research completed in the 1980s has pointed biologists toward several strategies that will assist the recovery of the native fish and revive the Green River and its ecosystem. Foremost of these is to maintain the natural flow characteristics char-acteristics of the Yampa River in other words, not to dam it. The Yampa flows into the Green River at Echo Park. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently finalizing a document which will recommend a new strategy for releases from Flaming Gorge. In the past the flows have been primary governed gov-erned by power demands. For the past 8 years, the Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the dam, has been cooperating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife to simulate sim-ulate the natural flows of the river. When the Yampa is flooding flood-ing with spring runoff, releases from Flaming Gorge should be quickly increased, in incremental stages, until the Yampa runoff peaks. After the Yampa runoff peaks, releases from Flaming Gorge should gradually be reduced. Time will tell if these measures will allow the Green River's endangered fish to achieve a comeback. There are many environmental envi-ronmental factors, only some of which are directly related to Flaming Gorge Dam. Major releases even for a X f .. !i ? f l I J. r ' . . :' i .a.-,.- .... . - - Raming Gorge Dam, 41 miles north of Vernal on SR 191, provides hydro-power and flood control. con-trol. Daily tours are available. Check at visitor's center. short duration can perhaps help fight exotic plants along the river, create plant-free silt beds for cottonwood tree seeds, and restore sandbars and fish spawning spawn-ing cobble bars. Someday, Flaming Gorge Dam may play a major role in reviving the Green River. T J I " - , i Razorback sucker is one of four endangered native fish in the Green River. 2 miles North of Flaming Gorge Dam Phone (435) 885-3191 Raft Rentals Shuttle Service C-Store Fly Shop Fast Foods Guide Service ifotf fabulous Green River mies 5owz o Flaming Gorge Dam Phone (435) 889-3773 www.lodge.com Raft Rentals Lodging Shuttle Restaurant Service Guide Fly Shop Service Flaming Gorge Lodge Flaming Gorge Recreation Service .00 off Raft Rental with coti Good Sunday - Thursday |