A regional aquatic team for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, geared up in waders, waterproof neoprene socks and safety gloves, moved along last week in the waters of the Lower Dolores River. The venture Aug. 12 was a fishing operation near the Dove Creek Pump Station to survey native fish populations. … The stretch referred to starts below McPhee Reservoir, flowing more than 100 miles until merging with the San Miguel River. It is seen by CPW biologists as a particularly significant stronghold for the residential roundtail chub, bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker and a secondary fourth native, the Colorado River sculpin, which all together support the wider ecosystem’s health that eventually flows 87 more miles to reach the Colorado River. The team at CPW uses 30 years worth of data to understand trends and the overall fishery health at multiple sites.

Other fish biology news:

• California WaterBlog (UC Davis): Meet California’s preeminent fish squeezer – Dr. Peter B. Moyle
• The Land Desk: Blog: Save the humpback chub!