United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Environmental Research
Laboratory
Duluth MN 55804
EPA-600/3-80-070
July 1980
Research and Development
Environmental
Effects of Western
Coal Surface Mining

Part VIII
Fish Distribution in
Trout Creek, Colorado
1975-1976

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                RESEARCH REPORTING SERIES

Research reports of the Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, have been grouped into nine series. These nine broad cate-
gories were established to facilitate further development and application of en-
vironmental technology.  Elimination  of traditional grouping was consciously
planned to foster technology transfer and a maximum interface in related fields.
The nine series  are:

      1.  Environmental  Health Effects Research
      2.  Environmental  Protection Technology
      3.  Ecological  Research
      4.  Environmental  Monitoring
      5.  Socioeconomic Environmental Studies
      6.  Scientific and Technical  Assessment Reports (STAR)
      7  Interagency Energy-Environment Research and Development
      8.  "Special" Reports
      9.  Miscellaneous Reports

This report has been assigned to the ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH series. This series
describes research on the effects of pollution on humans, plant and animal spe-
cies, and materials. Problems  are assessed for their  long- and short-term influ-
ences. Investigations  include formation, transport, and pathway studies to deter-
mine the fate of pollutants and their effects. This work provides the technical basis
for setting standards to minimize undesirable changes in living organisms in the
aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments.
This document is available to the public through the National Technical Informa-
tion Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.

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                                                       EPA-600/3-80-070
                                                       July 1980
      ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF WESTERN COAL SURFACE MINING
PART VIII - FISH DISTRIBUTION IN TROUT CREEK,  COLORADO, 1975-1976
                               by
              John P. Goettl,  Jr. and Jerry W.  Edde

                  Colorado Division of Wildlife
                    Fisheries  Research Center
                  Fort Collins, Colorado 80522
                        Grant No. R803950
                         Project Officer

                         Donald I.  Mount
            Environmental Research  Laboratory-Duluth
                     Duluth, Minnesota 55804
                ENVIRONMENTAL  RESEARCH  LABORATORY
              OFFICE OF  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
              U.S.  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                     DULUTH,  MINNESOTA 55804

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                                 DISCLAIMER

     This report has been reviewed by the Environmental Research Laboratory-
Duluth, U.S.  Environmental  Protection Agency, and approved for publication.
Approval  does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and
policies  of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of
trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation
for use.

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                                 FOREWORD

     This eighth report in a series discusses the impact of surface coal
mining in a Colorado stream.  The mining activity is composed of both old
and new operations.  No striking effects of the mining operation were
identifiable within the resolution of the study and natural variation.
Other reports will supply data on the chemical  characteristics of the water
quality.


                                       Norbert  Jaworski, Ph.D
                                       Director
                                       Environmental Research  Laboratory-Duluth
                                    111

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                                  ABSTRACT

     A study was conducted on Trout Creek in northwestern Colorado during
1975-1976 to assess the effects of drainage from an adjacent surface coal
mine on the distribution of fishes in the creek, and to relate their dis-
tribution to physical  and chemical variables.  A second objective was to
determine the possible toxicity of surface coal mine drainage water on fish
stocked in ponds receiving surface and groundwater run-off from the mine.

     Results did not indicate any direct effects of mine drainage water on
the distribution of fishes in Trout Creek, although possible effects may
have been masked by elevation, stream flow, streambed alterations, and agrv
cultural irrigation return flows.  Brook trout (Salvel-inus fontinalis] was
the dominant salmonid species in the upper reaches of the creek; rainbow
trout (Salmo gairdnem.) and brown trout (S. trutta] were found only in the
region of the mine.  Mottled sculpin (Cottus ba-ird-i} and speckled dace
(Rhinichthys osoulus]  were the most common fishes found throughout and at
all but the uppermost reaches, respectively.

     Rainbow trout stocked in mine seepage water ponds for a year evi-
denced high survival rates over an eight-month period during the winter,
but fared poorly during the ensuing summer months, this latter most pro-
bably because of extremely high water temperatures.  There was no apparent
evidence of toxicity to the fish from contaminants in the mine pond water.
                                     IV

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                                  CONTENTS

                                                                      Page

Foreword	    iii

Abstract	     iv

Figures	     vi

Tables	    vii

Acknowledgments  	   viil

     I    Introduction 	      1

    II    Conclusions  	      2

   III    Recommendations  	      3

    IV    Description of the Study Area and Sampling Sites 	      4

               Study Area	      4
               Sampling Sites  	      6

     V    Methods	     10

               Physical Factors  	     10
               Fish Population Estimates 	     10
               In-s-itu Toxicity Tests	     10

    VI    Results	     11

               Fall 1975 Sampling	     11
               Physical Factors  	     14
               Fish Creek Sampling, Summer 1975 and 1976	     14
               In-situ Toxicity Tests  	     14

   VII    Discussion	     18

               Longitudinal Zonation 	     18
               Simple Linear Coefficients of Determination 	     18
               Physical Factors  	     21
               In-situ Toxicity Tests  	     23

References	     26

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                                  FIGURES

Number                                                                Page

  1       Location map of the Edna Mine study site	      5

  2       Fish sampling stations  on Trout Creek,  Colorado  	      7

  3       Longitudinal profile of three western mountain streams
          and the zonation of fish species in these streams  ....     19

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                                   TABLES

Number                                                                Page
          Estimated numbers of fish per 200 m of Trout Creek  at
          various sampling stations during late summer of 1975
          and 1976	     12

          Number of fish collected in one electrofishing  pass
          at four stations on Trout Creek, 22-23 October  1975  ...     13

          Physical characteristics of Trout Creek during  fish
          sampling periods in late summer, 1975 and  1976	     15

          Percentages of rainbow trout recovered from coal  mine
          strip pit ponds	     16

          Physical and chemical  characteristics of three  experi-
          mental strip pit ponds used for rainbow trout plant-
          ings 	     17

          Coefficient of determination (r2) matrix for physical
          parameters measured on Trout Creek during  fish
          sampling	     22

          Coefficient of determination matrix showing values  of
          r2 calculated for regressions of differences (1975
          minus 1976) in the stream physical factors measured
          on Trout Creek	     24
                                     VII

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                              ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

     The field studies reported herein were carried out with the full  coopera-
tion of the Pittsburgh and Midway Coal Mining Company.  We are indebted to
the following persons who reviewed the manuscript at various stages prior to
publication, and who made several helpful  suggestions:  Oliver B. Cope,
Martin A. Hamilton,  Robert P.  McConnell,  Glenn R. Phillips, Rodney K.  Skogerboe,
and Robert V. Thurston.

     This research was funded  in part by  the U.S. Environmental  Protection
Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory--Duluth,  Research Grant No.  R803950,
awarded to Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory,  Colorado State University,
and Fisheries Bioassay Laboratory, Montana State University.
                                     vm

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                                  SECTION I

                                INTRODUCTION

     The Edna Coal Mine near Oak Creek, Colorado, lies in the watershed of
Trout Creek, a montane stream draining Colorado's Flattop Mountains.  Ele-
vation in the study area ranged from 1,980 to 2,440 m.  The stream is classi-
fied as rithron (mean monthly temperature less than 20°C) owing to its small
size, high elevation, and water source primarily from snowmelt runoff.  Fish
in Trout Creek show a longitudinal zonation of species typical of many mountain
streams (Holton 1953, Vincent and Miller 1969, Allen 1969, Moyle and Nichols
1973, Gard and Flittner 1974).

     Primary agricultural uses of Trout Creek include livestock watering and
pasture irrigation.  Much of the lower third of this stream has been chan-
nelled to produce more arable land where oats, hay, and wheat are grown.
Woody riparian vegetation is reduced in this area.   The absence of streamside
vegetation results in diurnal summer temperature ranges of about 7°C at the
lower stations while the range at the upper stations is only 3°C.

     The Edna Coal Mine is situated at approximately the midpoint of the
study area.  Surface runoff from the most recently  active portion of the mine
enters Trout Creek from a ditch draining a final-cut strip-pit.  Drainage
from the older mining area joins an irrigation ditch and enters Trout Creek
several hundred meters upstream from a ditch which  drains the most recent
mining area.

     The primary objective of this study was to determine the distribution of
fish species in Trout Creek, relative to the Edna Coal Mine, and to relate
these distributions to the physical and chemical parameters existing in the
stream.  Sampling stations were chosen to include sites both above and below
the mine.  A secondary objective was to determine the toxicity of undiluted
coal mine drainage water to rainbow trout (Salmo ga-Lrdneri-}.

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                                 SECTION II

                                 CONCLUSIONS

     The number of rainbow trout and brown trout (Salmo  trutta)  in Trout
Creek was maximal  at the level  of the Edna Coal  Mine.   This relationship is
probably a result of these two  species responding to a metabolic temperature
optimum at the level of the mine.  Brook trout (_Salvelinus font-inalis]  did
not show a similar optimum, but increased in numbers with elevation and were
predominant in numbers at the upper station.  Over their range in Trout
Creek, they apparently preferred temperatures in the range of 12-14°C,  as
opposed to 12-23°C for rainbow and brown trouts.

     It was not possible to demonstrate direct effects of the Edna Coal Mine
on the distribution of fishes in Trout Creek because of other man-induced
alterations in the mining area.  The potential coal  mine impact area contained
irrigation diversions, channelled areas, and irrigation  return flows.  This
problem was further complicated by the fact that the coal mine is located
along the stretch of Trout Creek where the stream slope  flattens distinctly.

     Effluent from the Edna Coal Mine was not acutely toxic to rainbow
trout.  This was determined by -in situ toxicity tests  in ponds receiving
drainage water from the mine site.  These tests showed that some of the test
fish survived as long as one year in the ponds.

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                                 SECTION III

                               RECOMMENDATIONS

     Mining procedures which minimize impacts on Trout Creek such as stabili-
zation of spoils banks by contouring and planting should be followed.
Drainage from the Edna Coal Mine to Trout Creek would be most detrimental  to
the fishery when carrying a significant load of suspended solids.  To  minimize
this impact, service roads which ford Trout Creek should only be constructed
when no alternative route is available.  The absence of strip-mining in the
alluvial valley of Trout Creek is the single most important benefit of current
mining practice toward reduction of adverse effects upon the stream.  Encroach'
ment of the mine into the valley would increase the silt load of the stream
and its bed.  This would reduce both the feeding and spawning habitat  avail-
able to fish.

     Fraser (1972) states that a flow of 60 percent of the mean annual  flow
is considered by some to be the minimum amount necessary to maintain a viable
fishery.  Unpublished data from David B. McWhorter (Department of Agricultural
Engineering, Colorado State University) show a mean annual flow of 1.12
m3/sec at the Homestead station.  On 28 July 1976 the flow at this station
was 0.40 m3/sec or 60 percent of the recommended flow for trout during this
critical warm water period.  Benefits from further withdrawals of water from
this stream should be weighed against an anticipated adverse effect on the
fish populations described in this report.

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                                 SECTION IV

                        DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY  AREA
                             AND SAMPLING SITES
STUDY AREA
     The area has been previously described by Bass  et  al.  (1955)  and  McWhorter
et al. (1975).  A summary of those descriptions follows.

Physical Characteristics

     The study area lies in northwestern Colorado  in the  southeastern  portion
of a gently rolling, 2,590 km2,  coal  mining region known  to  the  industry  as
the eastern part of the Yampa coal field.   The climate  is semiarid with an
annual precipitation of 38 to 51 cm;  at least half of this  occurs  as snow.

     Trout Creek is west of the  town  of Oak Creek  and southwest  of Steamboat
Springs (Figure 1).  It originates in a mountain region at  an elevation in
excess of 3550 m, runs several  kilometers  through  national  forest, enters a
small valley containing Pittsburgh and Midway's Edna Mine,  and continues
northward to its confluence with the  Yampa River near Milner, Colorado.   At
the higher elevations above the  mine, the  land is  largely vegetated with
trees and native grasses.  In the valley,  vegetation changes to  native
grasses and some alfalfa fields.  Stock ranches utilize the  land across the
creek from the mine and downstream.

     It may be noted in Figure 1 that mining started on the  upstream side in
the World War II era.  Although  the strata disrupted by mining in  the  older
area have not been regraded to their  original aspect, the area is  sparsely
vegetated in native scrubbrush (oak)  and grasses.   Mining operations then
moved progressively north, reaching the northern extreme  around  1970;  these
latter were the first spoils to  be regraded to the original  contours and  are
now partially vegetated with native plants.  Current activity is centered on
the upslope (east) side of the mine near the top of the ridge separating  the
Oak and Trout Creek watersheds.

     The area mined during the 1950's includes a bowl-shaped cut,  about  200
m2 x 30 m deep, near the base of the  spoils that is barren  of vegetation.
With this exception, the density of native vegetation is  approximately pro-
portional to the age of the spoil material.

     The surface material of the previously mined  areas is  composed largely
of mine overburden which is the  only  soil  layer above bedrock.  Below  the
surface, which is graded only in the  northern end  of the  mine, the overburden
consists of debris ranging in size from that associated with clays to  rocks

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       Apex Mine
   (underground)
                     •  Steamboat
                       Spri ngs

                      Denver*
                                 Upper and
                            Lower Twin Pond
                     Miles
Figure  1.       Location  map of the  Edna Mine study  site.   (Inset  indicates
                location  in Colorado.)

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1 m in diameter.  This material  normally ranges  from 10  to  20 m in  depth  and
represents a marked contrast to  the relatively well-sorted  soils and  strata
present prior to mining.  The mine is typically  separated  from the  creek  by
approximately 50 m of undisturbed area which  serves  to  some extent  as a
buffer zone through which mine drainage must  pass.

Hydrology

     Trout Creek is the major drainage of the 110 km2 watershed which includes
the mine.  The hydrology of this drainage has been  characterized by McWhorter
et al. (1975).  The mean annual  discharge measured  just  below the mine has
been estimated at 2.8 x 107 m3/year.   This is approximately equivalent to a
precipitation of 26 cm/year over the  watershed.   The surface water  divides  in
the area coincide generally with the  topographic highs.   In the spoil areas,
the surface drainage patterns are disrupted in several  areas such that
precipitation tends to accumulate in  depressions and infiltrate into  spoils
with little or no overland flow.  Thus, a high fraction  of  the precipitation
is lost by evapo-transpiration or infiltration into  the  ground.  It is clear
that mining has changed the surface and subsurface  drainage patterns; this
can be inferred from Figure 2.  The depth to  which  water can percolate has
been generally changed from a few meters to more than 15-20 m; this increases
the potential for the dissolution of  spoil materials by  water.  Although  a
highwall of undisturbed rock exists between the  mine and the creek, at least
a small amount of subsurface flow from the mine  through  the alluvial  aquifers
and into the creek occurs (McWhorter  et al. 1975).   The  quantity of this
underflow is not known.  Small drainages enter the  creek from the ranch area
opposite the mine but their contribution to the  total inflow is small. In
general, the major inflow contributions to the stream originate on  the mined
site.

SAMPLING SITES

     Eleven stations on Trout Creek proper and one  on its  tributary,  Fish
Creek, were sampled in the summers of 1975 and 1976. Site  locations  are
shown in Figure 2.  Four of the  Trout Creek stations were  also sampled in the
fall of 1975.  Bear River, a nearby tributary to the Yampa  River, was also
sampled to determine if this river contained  fish species  not present in
Trout Creek.  No species, not already present in Trout  Creek, was found so
the Bear River was not sampled after  the summer  of  1975.  The eleven  stations
on Trout Creek and the one station on its tributary, Fish  Creek, are  described
below.

     Routt station.--Located just inside the  boundary of the Routt  National
Forest.  The riparian vegetation is a dense stand of willows and conifers.
The stream bottom is composed primarily of medium to large  cobble.

     Apex station.--Adjacent to  the county road, approximately 3 km upstream
from the Apex mine--a small coal adit supplying  private  consumers.  The
stream is partially protected by a canopy of  willow (Salix  sp.) and cotton-
wood (Populus angustifolia].  At this station the stream bottom is  primarily
gravel.  Habitat is mostly riffle with a few  deep pools  interspersed.

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                           Water f^reen
                            pump
                     Old draglineX^" EDNA  COAL MINE
                                            0
                                          10
                 'STILLWATER
                    RESERVOIR
                                kilometers
Figure 2.
Fish sampling stations  on  Trout Creek, Colorado

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     Homestead station.--Directly across from the beginning of the  oldest
coal mining area.  At the center of this section, an irrigation ditch  diverts
water east to a pasture.  The bottom type is gravel.  Willows  border the  east
bank, and the west bank is vegetated with grass.

     Dragline station.--Located about 0.5 km north of an obsolete dragline,
this consists of a mixture of deep pools and short riffles.  Riparian  vege-
tation is mostly grass with some willows.  An irrigation headgate diverts
water from the upper limit of this section and a  portion of diverted water
re-enters Trout Creek near Pump station.  The primary bottom type is gravel.

     Pump station.--A gasoline-powered water pump is located at this station
and is used to transfer water from a pool to tank trucks.   Surface  drainage
from the most recent mining area enters Trout Creek near this  pump.  In  1976
a ford was graded across this section of stream,  ostensibly as a service  road
for power lines.  Gravel was the principal  bottom constituent.  The entire
section was bordered by a dense growth of willows.

     Green station.--Located on the property of Perley Green.   The  station
was relocated slightly in 1976 to accommodate a beaver dam which caused water
levels to rise too high for electrofishing.   Riparian vegetation is largely
pasture types with some willows in the upsteam half.  More sandy bottom was
found here than at any other station.

     McKune station.--Streambank cover is of moderate density  here  and much
of the stream is bordered by pasture.  Stream bottom cover in  the form of
boulders or cobble is lacking as well.  Narrow portions along  this  section
are swept clean of alluvium, and the bottom is primarily bedrock.

     Yowel1 station.--Riffles predominate here, with only one  large pool
found along the 200 m sampled downstream from the county road  bridge.  The
bottom is composed of cobbles and gravel.  Riparian vegetation consists
almost entirely of grasses.

     Liske station.--This station, and those below it, are characterized  by
low gradients and streambed channelization.   Good fish cover in these  areas
is largely lacking with the exception of some undercut banks.   Bottom  type is
principally gravel with sandy material in the deeper water.  Riparian  vegeta-
tion is entirely legume-type hay.

     Bedell station.--The upstream limit of this  station is the county road
bridge crossing Trout Creek north of the Bedell ranch.  Channelization is
more extensive at this station than at any other.  The stream  is bordered by
a small grain field to the east and riparian vegetation is absent.   The
stream bottom is sand and gravel.

     Black station.--Located at the first bridge  crossing Trout Creek  from
Milner, Colorado, the station consists of a series of deep pools broken  by
occasional short riffles.  The bottom is a mixture of alluvial deposits
ranging from sand to large cobble.  Deciduous trees border the right bank.

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     Fish Creek station.--This one station  on Trout Creek's only permanent
tributary, Fish Creek,  was sampled for  species composition.   It is bordered
by hay and small grain  fields at  an elevation of 2,060 m.  The bottom is
small gravel and sand.

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                                  SECTION V

                                   METHODS

PHYSICAL FACTORS

     Flow, velocity,  and discharge were  measured  at  three  points  along  a
transverse section at each station,  after the  methods  of Robins and  Crawford
(1954).   Specific conductance (expressed as  ymhos/cm)  was  measured in the
stream by use of an Industrial  Instruments Solu Bridge.  Temperatures were
corrected to predicted noonday values  using  a  measured 8 to  9  hour daylight
temperature pulse of 0.7°C/hour and 0.4°C/hour for unshaded  and shaded
stations, respectively.   Slopes were calculated from elevations recorded on
U.S. Geological  Survey topographical maps (7.5 minute  series).

FISH POPULATION ESTIMATES

     Fish populations were sampled using backpack electrofishing  equipment.
Three successive passes  were made through each 200 m station.  Fishes captured
during each of three passes were identified, counted,  measured, and  released.
The DeLury regression method (Lagler 1952) was used  to estimate population
sizes for each species at each station.   Population  estimate plots were
unsuitable in some cases because of positive slopes  or very  low catches on
the final pass.   In these instances, the total catch was considered  to  be the
best estimate of the population.

IN SITU TOXICITY TESTS

     Three ponds, consisting of strip-pits filled with mine  runoff water, are
located at the Edna Coal Mine.   The first pond (Sign Pond) is  located in the
older series of strip pits which were  mined  about 30 years ago.   The other
two ponds (Upper and Lower Twin Ponds) are at  the base of  a  strip pit which
drains a relatively recent mining area.   These ponds are separated by a coal
dam.  Upper Twin Pond has no outlet, but Lower Twin  Pond drains into Trout
Creek via a small ditch.

     Between 25 and 70 rainbow trout were stocked on each  of two  occasions  in
each of these ponds,  first in the fall of 1975 and again in  the spring  of
1976.  Various fin clips were used to  distinguish between  these groups.
Trout averaged 119 mm at the time of stocking. Planted trout  were recovered
by seining and gillnetting one month after stocking  in the fall of 1975,
again in the spring of 1976, and in the fall of 1976.   Water samples were
collected from each pond at time of stocking in September  1975 and analyzed
for specific conductance, hardness, dissolved  oxygen,  and  alkalinity using
procedures described in  American Public Health Association et  al. (1971).
                                       10

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                                 SECTION VI

                                   RESULTS

     Ten species of fish were observed in Trout Creek during  the three
sampling periods as follows:  mountain whitefish (Prosopium will-lamson-L],
cutthroat trout (Salmo clark-i). rainbow trout, brOwn trout, brook trout,
speckled dace (Khiniohthys osoulus],  redside shiner (Richardsonius bdlteatus],
white sucker (Catostorms aorrmersoni),  mountain sucker (C.  platyrhynchus),  and
mottled sculpin (Cottus ba-irdi].   Fish Creek contained speckled dace,  redside
shiner, and white sucker.  In addition, the creek chub (Semot-ilus atromocu-
latus) and hybrids of the creek chub and the redside shiner were found  in
Fish Creek, but not in Trout Creek.

     The occurrence of nine resident fish species (plus the mountain whitefish,
which is a fall migrant) in Trout Creek was essentially the same both  in  1975
and in 1976 (Table 1).  Trout populations were relatively  stable, the  only
significant exceptions being an increase in rainbow trout  at  the Homestead
station in 1976 (possibly due to stocking directly upstream in  the fall of
1975) and a decrease in brook trout at the Apex station.   The estimated
numbers of redside shiner and speckled dace varied more than  the trout  at
the various stations between 1975 and 1976.  In 1976 the redside shiner
showed higher populations at the lower stations than in 1975.  The number  of
dace showed no trend -in location selection; they declined  at  some stations,
and greatly increased at others.   The Liske station, in particular, showed a
sharp increase in the number of speckled dace, white suckers, and mottled
sculpins in 1976.  The number of mountain suckers declined considerably at
the Green station by 1976.  The numbers of mottled sculpin varied in much  the
same manner as the speckled dace, increasing sharply at some  stations  in  1976
and declining sharply at others,  with no apparent relation to elevation.
With the exceptions of mottled sculpins and brook trout, populations of the
other species tended to be maximum at some point along Trout  Creek with
declining numbers both upstream and downstream from this point.

FALL 1975 SAMPLING

     Sampling was conducted at Black,  Bedell, Green, and Apex stations
(Table 2).  Surface ice formed on Trout Creek on 25 October,  preventing
sampling at other stations.  Mountain whitefish were taken during fall
sampling of Trout Creek, but were not observed in summer sampling. One
rainbow trout was captured at the Black station.  Green station (-25  km
upstream) was the nearest station where rainbow trout were recovered  during
summer.  Fall distribution of brook trout was approximately the same  as in
summer.  The temperature decline  in Trout Creek during the fall does  not
appear to influence the range of brook trout.
                                      11

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           Table 1.  Estimated numbers of fish per 200 meters of Trout Creek at various sampling stations during late sunnier of 1975 and 1976.
ro
Station
Black

Bedell

Liske

Yowell

McKune

Green

Pump

Dragline

Homestead

Apex

Routt

Cutthroat trout
Year Salmo
clarki
1975
1976
1975
1976
1975
1976
1975
1976
1975
1976
1975
1976
1975
1976
1975
1976
1975
1976
1975
1976
1975
1976
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Rainbow trout
Salmo
gairdnen-
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
16
13
8
8
2
24
4
1
0
0
Brown trout
Salmo
trutta
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
2
1
3
5
8
11
3
1
0
0
Brook trout
Salve linus
fontinalis
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
2
70
3
80
103
Speckled dace
Rhiniohthys
osoulus
2
69
10
82
61
1,031
675
166
85
549
450
96
56
46
26
131
26
63
1
0
0
0
Redside shiner
Riahardsoniua
balteatus
0
11
1
25
0
21
32
1
1
1
25
1
25
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
White sucker
Catos totnuB
oommeraoni
8
1
3
9
0
84
4
1
0
1
4
0
0
3
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mountain sucker
Catos tomus
platyrhynchus
0
0
1
1
0
2
9
0
1
5
67
3
5
11
16
7
7
15
11
0
0
0
Mottled sculpin
Cottus
bairdi
1
6
4
78
18
855
162
13
72
38
231
38
86
53
54
175
354
203
128
162
206
217

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Table 2.  Number of fish collected in one electrofishing pass at four
          stations on Trout Creek, 22-23 October 1975.
Species
Mountain whitefish
(Prosopiim williamsoni.)
Rainbow trout
(Salmo ga-irdnev-i)
Brown trout
(Salmo trutta)
Brook trout
(Sa1veli,nus fonti-naUs)
Redside shiner
(R-iohardsonius balteatus)
Speckled dace
(Rhin-ichthys osoulus)
White sucker
(Catostomus oormerson'i)
Mountain sucker
(Catostomus platyrhynohus)
Mottled sculpin
Sampling station
Black
8

1

0

0

0

1

1

0

2
Bedell
2

0

0

0

2

27

4

2

35
Green
0

0

3

0

0

5

1

0

55
Apex
0

3

0

9

0

1

0

2

15
  (Cottus bai-rdi)
                                 13

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PHYSICAL FACTORS

     Discharge,  specific conductance,  velocity,  and  noon-corrected tempera-
ture were measured at the time of fish sampling  during  1975 and  1976  (Table
3).  Discharge was considerably lower  in  the  second  year  at all  stations
below Apex.   The two upper stations, Apex and Routt,  had  nearly  identical
flows in 1975 and 1976.   The reduced flows recorded  at  stations  below Apex
were the result of increased irrigation during this  relatively dry year.
Physical conditions in Fish Creek were similar in  1975  and 1976;  discharge
rates in Fish Creek were 0.09 and 0.11 m3/sec, and specific conductivities
were 1,000 and 1,200 umhos/cm, respectively.

FISH CREEK SAMPLING, SUMMER 1975 AND 1976

     Speckled dace, redside shiner, and white sucker, common  to  both  Trout
and Fish Creeks, were recovered during summers 1975  and 1976.  Creek  chubs,
not found in Trout Creek, were recovered  during  the  1976  sampling period  in
Fish Creek.   Also, several creek chub/redside shiner hybrids  were observed in
Fish Creek (identification by Darrel Snyder,  Dep.  Fishery and Wildlife  Biology,
Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins).   The recovery of all species was greater
in 1976.

IN SITU TOXICITY TESTS

     The results of the experimental stocking of rainbow  trout in strip pits
of the Edna Coal Mine are summarized in Table 4, and physical characteristics
measured at time of stocking are listed in Table 5.

     In October 1975, one month after  stocking,  the  number of fish recaptured
and removed from Lower Twin Pond was 75 percent  of those  stocked, and for
Sign Pond it was 20 percent; several fish were observed in Upper Twin Pond,
but none removed.  In May 1976, eight  months  after stocking,  there was  56
percent recovery of possible remaining fish in Lower Twin Pond and 48 percent
recovery in Upper Twin Pond; no fish were recovered  from  Sign Pond.

     At the time of the May 1976 harvest, 50  additional fish  were stocked in
each pond, and all three ponds were netted or seined in September 1976.  One
fish from the May 1976 stocking was recovered in each of  Lower Twin  Pond  and
Sign Pond, and no fish were recovered  from the September  1975 stocking.  Four
fish were recovered in Upper Twin Pond from the  September 1975 stocking,  and
none from the May 1976 stocking.
                                      14

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Table 3.  Physical characteristics of Trout Creek  during fish  sampling periods in late
          summer, 1975 and 1976.
Station
Black
Bedell
L i s ke
Yowell
McKune
Green
Pump
Dragline
Homestead
Apex
Routt
Elevation
(m)
1,975
1,987
1,999
2,048
2,085
2,109
2,158
2,170
2,195
2,316
2,487
Distance
from mine
(km)
-25.3
-19.6
-18.0
-8.0
-5.6
-2.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
+6.4
+13.0
Slope
(%)
0.22
0.19
0.19
1.00
1.10
1.02
1.37
1.46
1.24
1.96
3.43
Date
(day/
month/
year)
30/7/75
31/7/76
31/7/75
30/7/76
31/7/75
31/7/76
17/8/75
29/7/76
1/8/75
22/7/76
19/8/75
21/7/76
5/8/75
27/7/76
6/8/75
29/7/76
15/8/75
28/7/76
7/8/75
21/7/76
16/8/75
19/7/76
Discharge
(m /sec)
1.33
0.39
1.43
0.39
1.40
0.41
0.71
0.32
1.04
0.26
0.80
0.43
0.72
0.50
0.89
0.42
0.90
0.40
0.96
1.00
0.83
0.80
Specific
conductance
(ymhos/cm)
640
925
650
1,000
650
900
500
645
500
750
480
480
480
480
400
440
320
410
380
380
180
180
Surface
velocity
(cm/sec)
49.5
26.5
59.6
38.7
71.5
29.2
63.8
41.0
49.3
35.4
86.2
18.3
34.2
28.7
72.1
46.2
66.2
28.9
60.5
68.3
54.7
52.3
Noon-
corrected
temperature
(°C)
18.0
26.0
18.0
24.0
19.5
20.5
16.0
21.5
15.5
17.0
12.5
17.0
23.0
19.0
14.0
15.0
13.5
15.0
14.5
12.0
9.5
12.0

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Table 4.  Percentages of rainbow trout recovered from coal mine strip
          pit ponds.


Strip Pit Pond                Percent Recovery-'   (Date--Month/Year)

                                 (10/75)     (5/76)       (9/76)


Lower Twin Pond
     9/75 Stocking                  75          56           0
     5/76 Stocking                  —          --           2

Upper Twin Pond                       , ,
     9/75 Stocking                  NS-7        48           8
     5/76 Stocking                  --          --           0

Sign Pond
     9/75 Stocking                  20           0           0
     5/76 Stocking                  —          --           2


—  Percentages are based on maximum possible number of fish remaining
   after stocking or after prior sampling.

-  Not sampled.
                                  16

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Table 5.  Physical and chemical characteristics of three experimental  strip pit ponds
          used for rainbow trout plantings.  (Samples taken 24 September 1975.)
s
Sign
Twin
Lower
Twin
Width x
26 x 36
17 x 25
9 x 38
Mean
depth
(cm)
30-60
24
46
Specific
conductance
(ymhos/cm)
4,000
4,025
4,050
Dissolved
8.1 2,368
7.6 2,868
7.9 2,544

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                                 SECTION VII

                                 DISCUSSION

LONGITUDINAL ZONATION

     Studies of fish distribution in two western  streams  comparable  to  Trout
Creek are reported in the literature.   Gard and Flittner  (1974)  examined  the
distribution of fish in Sagehen Creek,  California (Figure 3).  This  stream  is
approximately the same size as Trout Creek.  Its  gradient is much  steeper in
the upper reaches than the section of Trout Creek we sampled,  although  the
mean elevation is lower than Trout Creek.  The second stream studied, which
was of comparable size and elevation to Trout Creek, is Little Beaver Creek,
Colorado (Vincent and Miller 1969).  Like Sagehen Creek,  Little  Beaver  Creek
has a steeper gradient than Trout Creek; however, unlike  Sagehen Creek  its
elevation is higher than the Trout Creek study area.

     The following fish were common to both Trout Creek and Sagehen  Creek:
Mountain whitefish, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, speckled dace,
and mountain sucker.  The other species found in  Trout Creek,  redside shiner,
white sucker, and mottled sculpin were congeners  of species found  in Sagehen
Creek, namely lahbntan redside (Riohardsonius egregius),  Tahoe sucker (Cato-
storms tahoensis], and piute sculpin (Cottus beldingi).   The greatest physical
differences between the three streams are temperature and gradient.

     Figure 3 illustrates the correspondence between the  relative  occurrence
of the fish species in these similar, though geographically distant  streams.
The elevation at which a particular species was found differed among the
three streams.  Sculpins and brook trout co-dominate in the upper  reaches of
Trout Creek.  Mottled sculpins occur below the brook trout zone  in Sagehen
Creek and are not reported in Little Beaver Creek.

SIMPLE LINEAR COEFFICIENTS OF DETERMINATION

     Nonlinear models are frequently more representative  of the  relationship
between number of fish and physical factors.  However, Gard and  Flittner
(1974) have used first-order linear models to describe these relationships  in
Sagehen Creek, California.V  In order to compare the results  obtained  in the
present study with those of other authors, linear regressions  were computed
for the independent variables, elevation, temperature, conductivity, velocity,
     When fitting multivariate models to data by regression methods;  linear
     models are not without merit when computer time and number-of observations
     are limited.  Also, the number of independent variables included in the
     model increases both the amount of computer time and the required number
     of observations.

                                      18

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   3050r
          \
2800h
        brook
        v trout
        "\ zone
          \
                        Little Beaver Creek, CO
LU
_l
LU
2550
2300
    2050
                   ^ brown
                    \  trout
                     \ zone
                      \
           brook trout,
             sculpin
                zone
                   rainbow trout,
                       brown  trout,
                           sculpin,
                                mountain sucker
                                                    Trout Creek,  CO
    1800
         •.[brook trout
         ["•. zone

           ']•. rainbow  trout,
             '•.. brown trout,
               ''••.. sculpin   sucker, dace,
                  '••.. zone  redside
                     '-•...  zone
        	I	i   -I	-I	
                                             white  sucker, dace, sculpin,
                                                      redside  zone
                                             Sagehen  Creek, CA

                                             i _ i _ i
                          10       15       20       25

                                 STREAM LENGTH  (km)
                                                          30
                                                                   35
 Figure  3.
              Longitudinal  profile of three  western mountain streams and
              the zonation  of fish species in  these streams.  [Little
              Beaver Creek,  Colorado, from Vincent and Miller (1969);
              Sagehen Creek,  California,  from  Gard and Flittner (1974);
              Trout Creek,  Colorado, from Goettl and Edde  (present re-
              port).]
                                        19

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discharge, and gradient versus the dependent variables,  populations  of  the
various fish species.   Only brook trout were significantly  (a  =  0.05) corre-
lated with any of the  physical factors in a linear manner.   The  coefficients
of determination (r2)  calculated for this species versus gradient  and elevation
were 0.65 and 0.67, respectively.  The highest value  of  multiple (four  para-
meters) r2 calculated  by Gard and Flittner (1974) were for  brook trout  in
Sagehen Creek.  Here gradient and temperature were considered  to be  the most
important factors measured in controlling brook trout numbers.

     The apparent downstream shift of redside shiners in Trout Creek during
the low flows of 1976  was examined by calculation of  the linear  regression of
differences in redside shiner numbers at each of the  stations  (1975  minus
1976) versus the differences in discharge [1975 minus 1976)  noted  at these
same stations.

     The coefficient of determination for this regression (r2  =  0.88)  indi-
cated a fairly strong  inverse relationship between the change  in redside
shiner numbers and the change in discharge.  This species was  usually  found  in
sheltered areas of the stream and may be displaced by high  flows and strong
currents.  Gard and Flittner (1974) noted that redside shiners were  often
found near the surface of larger pools, while dace, an associated  species,
were generally found in and near riffle areas.

     Mountain whitefish were captured in Trout Creek  only in the fall  and
only at the lower stations (Table 2).  Brown (1952) states  that  this species
migrates into lower reaches of small tributaries during  fall for spawning:
Donald Horak (Colorado Division of Wildlife, Fort Collins,  personal  communi-
cation) recovered gravid mountain whitefish as small  as  229 mm,  although the
more common length at sexual maturity is 254 to 279 mm  (Sigler and Miller
1963).  The largest mountain whitefish captured in Trout Creek was 120  mm.
The absence of this fish during August sampling of 1975  and 1976 indicates
that these presumably immature fish were fall migrants and  their upper  limit
of distribution indicates they were probably upstream migrants.

     Cutthroat trout were found only at the highest station on Trout Creek.
One individual was captured at this station during both  1975 and 1976,  though
not the same fish as shown by fin clipping.  Cutthroat trout are the only
native trout in Colorado.  McAfee (1966) points out that they  compete  poorly
with rainbow, brown, and brook trouts and are displaced  by  these species
where they occur.

     Rainbow trout were most numerous at the elevation of the  Edna Coal Mine.
Although elevation was the best predictor of rainbow  trout  abundance from  the
available data, it seems likely that its correlate, temperature, may have
been the controlling factor in this relationship.  Cherry et at. (1975) found
that rainbow trout preferred temperatures which increased from 11.6 to  22°C
as the acclimation temperature increased from 6 to 24°C.  The  range of tem-
peratures preferred in these tests never exceeded 1.1°C  for any  one acclimation
temperature.  The range of noon-corrected temperatures recorded  within the
rainbow trout zone of Trout Creek was 12 to 23°C (Tables 1  and 3).  This
range is probably near the yearly maximum temperature for these  stations,  as
the measurements were taken in July and August.  These  temperatures correlate

                                      20

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quite closely to those indicated above as preferred temperatures  of rainbow
trout.  Temperatures greater and less than the preferred  range  of rainbow
trout were recorded—at stations outside their observed range—in Trout  Creek
during summer sampling.  It is possible that thermal  limitations  are imposed
on rainbow and brown trouts outside their ranges.   That is,  reduced feeding
or metabolic efficiencies may cause these species  to  be relatively uncompeti-
tive outside their "thermal optimum" (Li 1975).   Using  first-order models,
Gard and Flittner (1974) found that among the variables they measured (eleva-
tion, gradient, percentage pool, and temperature)  elevation  was the best
predictor of rainbow trout abundance.  Although  we strongly  suspect temperature
as the controlling variable in rainbow and brown trout  abundance, we too have
chosen elevation as the best predictor of their  numbers.   It is quite possible
that elevation is a better indicator of mean temperature  than temperature
itself, given the infrequency of temperature measurements on Trout Creek.

     Holden and Stalnaker (1975) have noted movement  of rainbow trout into
the Yampa River (Trout Creek's receiving stream) from the Green River,
apparently in response to cooling of the Yampa River  in the  fall.  Rainbow
trout were recovered in the lower reaches of Trout Creek  near the Yampa  River
only during fall sampling when water temperatures  were  much  lower.   The
behavior of this species appears to be influenced  by  temperature  more than
any other species in Trout Creek.

     Unlike the rainbow and brown trouts, brook  trout did not show a popu-
lation maximum over the range of stations measured in Trout  Creek,  but in-
creased in abundance with altitude (Table 1).  Vincent  and Miller (1969)
found no upper altitudinal limit for brook trout in Little Beaver Creek,
Colorado.  Only extremely low flows (0.015 m3/sec) limited brook  trout in
this stream at an elevation of approximately 2900  m.  At  the highest station,
brook and cutthroat trouts occur, the former in  much  greater numbers.  Gard
and Flittner (1974) found that gradient and temperature were the  most important
predictors of brook trout abundance.  Unlike Sagehen  Creek,  whose profile was
a series of step-like slopes, Trout Creek shows  a  gradual, smooth profile,
and the parameters elevation and slope are highly  correlated.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

     Discharge downstream from Apex station was  considerable less in 1976
than in 1975 (Table 3).  This decrease in flow was the  result of  increased
irrigation at the level of the Edna Coal Mine during  this relatively dry
year.  Temporal effects on this difference in flows seem  unlikely as the
Black, Bedell, and Liske stations were sampled on  nearly  the same dates
during both years.  Flows averaged 41 percent of the  1975 flow  at the nine
lowest stations in 1976.  Along with the reduction in flows  below the Apex
station in 1976, there were increases in temperature  and  specific conductance
at all stations except the Green station, and with respect to specific con-
ductance, the Pump station.  The presence of reduced  flows and  elevated
temperatures raises the question of whether the  independent  variables are
related.  Correlations are presented in Table 6.  The positive  correlation
between specific conductance and temperature is  probably  due to the length  of
stream bed (including irrigation ditches and fields)  over which the water has
passed, thus elevating both temperature and specific  conductance.  The highest


                                      21

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                                         o
Table 6.  Coefficient of determination (r )  matrix  for physical
          parameters measured on  Trout Creek during fish sampling.


                 Noon-
               corrected   Velocity  Conductivity  Discharge  Slope
              temperature


Elevation        0.514       0.031       0.684        0.001     0.942

Slope            0.502       0.030       0.693        0.001

Discharge        0.090       0.437       0.074

Conductivity     0.692       0.147

Velocity         0.310
                               22

-------
calculated r2 value was for elevation versus slope--0.94.   This result seems
quite understandable, as Trout Creek shows a profile typical  of a stream
flowing over strata of uniform hardness, slowly leveling out  as it approaches
baseline at Yampa River.  Both.specific conductance and temperature increase
in a downstream direction,-each correlating well  with elevation and slope.
Flow does, not increase much as one proceeds downstream (Table 3).  It is
clear that the magnitudes of the temperature and  specific  conductance in-
creases are related to irrigation withdrawals.   This conclusion might be
questioned on the basis of data in Table 6 which  show that the correlation  of
discharge and specific conductance has a quite  low value of r2.  This relation-
ship is complicated by the strong negative correlation of  elevation and slope
to specific conductance and temperature; i.e.,  both temperature and specific
conductance increase in the downstream direction  regardless of the overall
volume of flow.

     An allowance for decreasing elevation can  be made by  comparing the
differences measured for each of the physical  factors between the years 1975
and 1976 at each station.  Coefficients of determination calculated for these
differences are shown in Table 7.  The values  of  r2 show a change in discharge
which is negatively correlated with changes in  both temperature and specific
conductance.  Velocity is not as highly correlated with these variables,
indicating the importance of the volume of water  involved, which would tend
to buffer both increasing specific conductance  and temperature.

     Jenke (1974) stated that irrigation diversion may produce return flow
waters three to ten times higher in their dissolved solids content than the
receiving stream from which the water had been  originally  diverted.  This
results from evaporative concentration of surface water and percolation into
the local water table which displaces salt-laden  water into the surface
stream.  He pointed out that return flows may  also be aggravated by nonasso-
ciated sources such as natural salt, mining, and  oil  fields.   Walker (1970)
noted that approximately 10 percent of the total  salinity  in  the Colorado
River is added at Grand Valley, Colorado.  Extensive irrigation in this area
transfers water onto the surrounding alluvium,  forcing water  into the river
from aquifers which are "in equilibrium with the  ambient salt concentration."

     In summary, the data collected during the  summer of 1976 on Trout Creek,
Colorado, indicate that both temperature and specific conductance increase  in
the downstream direction.  The natural increase in these parameters at lower
elevations is amplified by point source drainage  from the  Edna Coal Mine (the
ditch draining Upper and Lower Twin Ponds and  other small  ditches) and by
non-point sources such as percolation and infiltration from irrigation of
the alluvium forming the valley of Trout Creek.

IN-SITU TOXICITY TESTS

     Results of the in-situ toxicity tests indicate that the  undiluted drainage
from the Edna Coal Mine is not acutely toxic to rainbow trout.  An escape
route to Trout Creek was available to fish planted in Lower Twin Pond during
the fall of 1975, but few, if any, fish died or left the pond within one
month of stocking, since 75 percent recovery was  achieved.  No evidence of
                                      23

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                                                                 2
Table 7.  Coefficient of determination  matrix  showing  values  of  r
          calculated for regressions  of differences  (1975  minus  1976)
          in the stream physical  factors measured  on Trout Creek.
                     Discharge          Velocity          Conductivity



Temperature             0.29             0.13                0.33


Conductivity            0.85             0.06


Velocity                0.24
                                24

-------
dead fish was found during sampling, and all  fish recovered were in apparently
good condition.

     Although there was no evidence of over-winter survival  of fish in Sign
Pond, the high percentage of over-winter survival (50 percent) in both Upper
and Lower Twin Ponds is an indication that the mine water leachate itself was
not accutely toxic.  Further, although percentage of summer survival  was
extremely low, at least one fish did survive  in each of the three test ponds.

     Measured water chemistry parameters for  all  three ponds were comparable.
During the winter months water levels in all  three ponds  remained fairly  con-
stant, and water exchange between the aquifer and the ponds was negligible.
During the summer months, however, pond water levels dropped appreciably, and
volumes decreased to an estimated 25 percent  of these winter volumes.   During
latter summer, water temperatures rose to values  most probably near the upper
tolerance limits for rainbow trout.  These factors, plus  possible predation
from great blue herrons (Ai\i^\: /i^pcdias] which were observed in the vicinity
of the ponds, were most likely responsible for the high summer mortality
rates of the stocked fish.
                                      25

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                                 REFERENCES

Allen, K. R.  1969.   Distinctive  aspects  of  the  ecology of stream  fishes:   A
     review.  J.  Fish.  Res.  Board Can.  26(6):1429-1438.

American Public Health  Association,  American  Water Works Association,  and
     Water Pollution Control  Federation.   1971.   Standard methods  for  the
     examination of water and wastewater.  13th  Ed.   New York.   874  p.

Bass, N. W., J. B.  Eby, and  M. R. Campbell.   1955.   Geology  and  mineral  fuels
     of parts of Routt  and Moffat Counties,  Colorado.  Survey  Bull.  1027-D,
     U.S. Geological Survey.   Pp. 143-250.

Brown, C. J. D.  1952.   Spawning  habits and  early development  of the mountain
     whitefish (Prosop-iim wilHcmson-L]  in Montana.   Copeia 1952:109-113.

Cherry, D. S., K. L. Dickson, and J.  Cairns,  Jr.  1975.  Temperatures  selected
     and avoided by fish at  various  acclimation  temperatures.  J.  Fish.  Res.
     Board Can. 32(4):485-491.

Fraser, J. C.  1972.  Regulated stream  discharge  for fish and  other  aquatic
     resources:  An annotated bibliography.   Food and  Agric. Organ,  of the
     United Nations Fisheries Tech.  Paper No.  112, FIRI/T112.  FAO,  United
     Nations, Rome.   103 p.

Gard, R., and G. A.  Flittner.  1974.  Distribution and abundance of  fishes  in
     Sagehen Creek,  California.  J.  Wildl. Manage. 38(2):347-358.

Holden, P. B., and C. B. Stalnaker.   1975.   Distribution and abundance of
     mainstream fishes  of the middle and  upper Colorado River  basins,  1967-
     1973.  Trans.  Am.  Fish.  Soc. 104(2):217-231.

Holton, G. D.  1953.  A trout population  study on a  small creek  in Gallatin
     County, Montana.  J. Wildl.  Mange. 17(l):62-82.

Jenke, A. L.  1974.   Evaluation of salinity  created  by irrigation  return
     flows.  EPA-430/9-74-006. 128 p.

Lagler, K. F.  1952.  Freshwater  fishery  biology.  Wm. C. Brown, Publishers,
     Dubuque, Iowa.   421 p.

Li, H.  1975.  Competition and coexistence in stream fish, p.  19-30.   In
     Symposium on Trout/Non-game  Fish Relationships  in Streams.  P.  B. Moyle
     and D. L. Koch, eds.  81 p.
                                      26

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McAfee, W. P.  1966.  Lahanton cutthroat trout,  p.  225-231.   In Inland Fish-
     eries Management.  Calif. Dep.  Fish and Game,  A.  Calhoun,  ed.   546 p.

McWhorter, D. B., R. K. Skogerboe, and G. V. Skogerboe.   1975.   Water quality
     control in mine spoils, Upper Colorado River Basin.   EPA-670/2-75-048.
     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati,  Ohio.   122 p.

Moyle, P. B., and R. Nichols.  1973.  Ecology of some  native  and introduced
     fishes of the Sierra-Nevada foothills in Central  California.  Copeia
     1973(3):478-490.

Robins, C. R., and R. W. Crawford.  1954.  A short, accurate  method for
     estimating the volume of stream flow.  J.  Wild!.  Manage.  18:366-369.

Sigler, W. F., and R. R. Miller.  1963.  Fishes  of Utah.   Utah  State  Dep.
     Fish and Game, Salt Lake City.   203 p.

Vincent, R.  E., and W. H. Miller.  1969.  Altitudinal  distribution  of brown
     trout and other fishes in a headwater tributary of the South Platte
     River,  Colorado.  Ecology 50(3):464-466.

Walker, W. R.  1970.  Hydro-salinity model of the Grand Valley.   M.S.  Thesis.
     Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins.  94 p.
                                      27

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                                   TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
                            (Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO.

    EPA-600/3-80-07Q
                                                           3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
 Environmental Effects of Western
 Part VIII  - Fish Distribution  in
 1975-1976
Coal Surface Mining  -
Trout Creek, Colorado,
5. REPORT DATE
  JULY  1980  ISSUING DATE.
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
 John P.  Goettl, Jr., and Jerry  W.  Edde
                                                           8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
 Colorado Division of Wildlife
 Fisheries Research Center
 Fort Collins, Colorado  80522
                        10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.

                           1HE625, 1NE831
                        11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
                                                              R803950
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
  Environmental  Research  Laboratory
  Office of  Research  and  Development
  U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency
  Duluth, Minnesota   55804
                        13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
                           Final
                        14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
                            EPA/600/03
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
16. ABSTRACT
     A study was conducted on Trout  Creek in northwestern Colorado  during
 assess the effects of drainage  from an  adjacent surface coal mine  on the
 of fishes in the creek, and to  relate  their distribution to physical and
 variables.  A second objective  was  to  determine the possible toxicity of
                                         1975-1976  to
                                         distribution
                                         chemical
                                         surface  coal
 mine drainage water on fish stocked  in  ponds receiving surface  and  groundwater run-off
 from the mine.
     Results did not indicate any  direct effects of mine drainage  water on the distri-
 bution of fishes in Trout Creek,  although  possible effects may  have been masked by
 elevation, stream flow, streambed  alterations, and agricultural  irrigation return flows
 Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)  was the dominant salmonid species  in the upper
 reaches of the creek; rainbow  trout  (Salmo gairdneri) and brown  trout  (S_. trutta) were
 found only in the region of the mine.   Mottled sculpin (Cottus  bairdi) and speckled
 dace (Rhinichthys osculus) were the  most common fishes found throughout and at all but
 the uppermost reaches, respectively.
     Rainbow trout stocked in mine  seepage  water ponds for a year  evidenced high survi-
 val rates over an eight-month  period during the winter, but fared poorly during the
 ensuing summer months, this latter most probably because of extremely  high water
 temperatures.   There was no apparent evidence of toxicity to the  fish  from contaminants
 in the mine pond water.
                               KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
                  DESCRIPTORS
 Fish distribution
 Biological  effects
 Field studies
 Turbidity
                                              b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
            Energy  deviation
            Coal mining
            Mine drainage
                                                                           COSATl Field/Group
                  06/F
18. DIS"
                                              19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report I
                                                UNCLASSIFIED
                                      21. NO. OF PAGES
                                              36
 RELEASE TO PUBLIC
           20 SECURITY CLASS (This page}
             UNCLASSIFIED
                                                                         22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (Rev. 4-77)   PREVIOUS EDITION is OBSOLETE
                                                         it U.:,. GOVERNMENT PR IN I ING OFFICE: 1930 — 657-165/0063
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