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<br />annual and project completion reports) gcnerated by other participants in the San Juan River Basin Recovery <br />Implementation Program. . <br /> <br />Objectives: <br /> <br />The objectives of this portion of the San Juan River monitoring effort are to obtain data that will aid in the <br />evaluation of the response (e.g., reproduction, recruitment, and growth) of native and nonnative fishes to <br />different flow regimes and other management actions (e.g., impediment modification), track trends in species <br />populations (e.g., abundance and relative condition), and characterize patterns of habitat use. The data will also <br />be available to all researchers and may be used in conjunction with data obtained in other studies to evaluate <br />future management activities. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Methods: <br /> <br />Thc study reach (Farmington to Clay Hills Crossing) includes geomorphic reaches 6 through I, with Reach I <br />being the most downstream. As stated in SJRMPP, sampling will occur every third mile within the study reach. <br />Secondary channels are defined as channels having less than 25% of the volume of flow at the time of sampling <br />and are at least 300 m in length. Inflow of water at the top of a channel is not necessary for it to be classified as <br />a secondary channel. If any portion of a secondary channel (except mouth) is within a designated sample mile, <br />the secondary channel will be sampled, Young-of-yearlsmall-bodied fish monitoring will occur in conjunction <br />with the large-bodied fish monitoring effort. Air secondary channels in each third-mile will bc sampled. <br />Primary channel shoreline habitats also will be sampled in 3-mile increments. <br /> <br />Primary channel and secondary channel sampling sites will be within the same river mile. In addition to <br />structured primary channel sampling, all backwaters and embayments (>25 m2) associated with the primary <br />channel within each third-mile will be sampled. <br /> <br />I <br />l <br />( <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Sample sites within secondary channels will be a sufficient distance from the inflow to and outflow from the <br />secondary channel to minimize primary channel faunal and physiochemical influences. Secondary channel <br />sample sites will be at least 100 and not more than 200 m in length. All mesohabitats (e.g., pool, riffle, riffle- <br />eddy, and shoal) within the site will be sampled in approximate proportion (visually estimated) to their <br />availability within the site; typically, at least five mesohabitat types will be sampled in each secondary channel. <br />Each mesohabitat will be sampled separately with 3,2 x 1.6 m (4 mm mesh) drag seines, Each secondary <br />channel sampling effort will be a minimum of 5 seine hauls. The number of seine hauls, total area (m') seined, <br />and types of mesohabitats sampled will be recorded on standard field forms. Specimens collected in each <br />mesohabitat will be inspected to determine if any rare fishes (Colorado pikeminnow, roundtail chub, and <br />razorback sucker) are present in the seine. If a rare fish is captured, it will be identified, total and standard <br />lengths (:1: I nun) and mass (:10 I g) determined, and released. Any rare fish> 150 nun TL will be scanned to <br />deternline presence ofa PIT tag. Ifnone is present, the specimen will be implanted with a PIT tag having a <br />unique alpbanumeric code. All pertinent data (i.e., total and standard lengths, weight, PIT tag code, <br />mesohabitat, water depth, substrate, and cover) on rare fish captured will be recorded. All large-bodied native <br />fish (i.e., flannel mouth and bluehead suckers) will be weighed, measured, and released. All other specimens <br />will be preserved in 10% formalin and returned to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Laboratory <br /> <br />6 <br /> <br />\ <br />t <br />E <br />