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CPW presents mixed fishery picture after river reconnection; tiger muskie used to tackle white sucker overpopulation
Summary
A Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist told the Grand County commissioners that the newly reconnected Colorado River reach shows strong biomass and early rainbow trout recruitment but persistent brown trout recruitment problems after wildfire. CPW described a three‑year tiger muskie stocking trial in Shadow Mountain Reservoir to reduce a large white sucker population and noted monitoring and spill‑risk safeguards.
John, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife fisheries biologist, briefed the Grand County Board of County Commissioners on the status of local fisheries following the Colorado River connectivity project and other recent management actions.
CPW reported that a May 2025 electrofishing survey of a 6,600‑foot reach of the reconnected Colorado River produced an estimated biomass of roughly 123 pounds per surface acre and about 31 fish over 14 inches per acre—figures that exceed CPW's trout biological criteria. The biologist said those fish colonized the channel naturally and that CPW later stocked roughly 350,000 wild‑type rainbow trout fry to bolster recruitment.
The presentat…
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