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Researchers Document Rich Life South Platte River

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Nov 11, 2009 8:40 pm US/Mountain

Researchers Document Rich Life South Platte River

Written by Paul Day

Reporting
Paul Day
DENVER (CBS4) ― New research indicates the urban waterway flowing through downtown Denver is rich with life and appears healthy.

"The population distribution is quite good and the numbers are quite good," said Tami Schenk, owner of Aquatics Associates, a Fort Collins fishery consulting company conducting a major study.

Using electroshock probes on Wednesday, her crew temporarily stunned, then netted, whatever was swimming in the South Platte River next to shoreline apartment houses and a rail yard.

Pails of water were used to keep alive a variety of native fish that were collected like darters, daces and suckers. There were also tiny game fish including smallmouth and largemouth bass and black crappie.

The most common fish caught proved to be the flathead minnow; the biggest was the common carp -- several were 15 pounds or larger.

"The goal of our study is to document the abundance and distribution of fishes," explained Schenk.

It's the second year of what will be a 5-year study of the river stretching from Chatfield Dam to Interstate 70. The assembled research will help construct a new database that will be used by local municipalities to set water quality standards.

They're studying more than just fish. The study will also document aquatic insects and anything that crawls or burrows in the river.

Some are surprised to learn there are actually several species of freshwater clam living in the urban waterway. An example is the Asian Clam. It's not naturally occurring and has the reputation of becoming a problem because it can clog drainage pipes.

Once counted and weighed, all the collected fish are released alive.

The river study is sponsored by a local coalition of river users, including the cities of Englewood and Littleton and the Centennial Water and Sanitation District, as well as Xcel Energy.

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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