Increasing Flow in Abrams Creek: Protecting a Genetically Unique Population of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout

A collaborative effort among irrigators, conservation interests, regulatory agencies, local entities, and nonprofit organizations is working to restore the declining Colorado River Cutthroat Trout population in Abrams Creek, Colorado that had been impacted by water diversion. The team piped the ditch to improve the irrigation efficiency, which conserved 40% of diverted water that was previously lost to seepage and evaporation in the Creek. They also installed a permanent fish screen to prevent the Cutthroat Trout from entering the ditch. The project managed to reduce water seepage, improve water quality, and reduce the need for costly maintenance to the pipeline, and protect a rare fish lineage.