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<br />for identification, enumeration, and measurement (total length and mass). Field collection number, habitat <br />number, and river mile will be recorded on a water-proof label and placed in each specimen container. <br />Location of site (latitude and longitude) will be determined with a GPS unit. Identification of all retained rare <br />fishes will be confirmed by personnel of the Museum of Southwestern Biology, Preserved specimens will be <br />accessioned to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Collection of Fishes or the University of New <br />Mexico Museum of Southwestern Biology. <br /> <br />Within each third-mile (= designated mile), shoreline habitats of the primary channel will be sampled. At each <br />designated mile, all mesohabitats (e.g., riffle, debris pool, and shoal) along 200 m (near center of mile) of <br />shoreline will be sampled. All mesohabitats present will be sampled in approximate proportion (visually <br />estimated) to their availability within the site. Regardless of the number of meso habitats present at a primary <br />channel site, at least 5 seine hauls will be made with a drag seine (3.2 x 1.6 m, 4 mm mesh). The shoreline <br />(river right or left) sampled will be dependent upon accessibility of the shoreline, Where more than one <br />shoreline is accessible (and can be seined efficiently), that with greater habitat diversity/complexity (visually <br />estimated) will be sampled. Location (latitude and longitude) will be determined with a GPS unit. Specimen <br />and habitat data will be obtained and recorded as required for secondary channel sampling. Rare species and <br />large-bodied specimens of common native species will be handled as described for secondary channels. All <br />retained specimens from primary cham1el sampling will be preserved separately from the adjacent secondary <br />channel collection. All retained specimens will be accessioned to the New Mexico Department of Game and <br />Fish Collection of Fishes or the University of New Mexico Museum of Southwestern Biology. <br /> <br />Backwaters and embaymentI'. (>25 m') not Jocated within designated primary channel sampling miles (each <br />third mile) also will be sampled. During periods oflow flow, secondary channel mouths frequently function as <br />backwaters or embayments, In this monitoring effort, secondary channel mouths without surface inflow from <br />upstream will be treated as backwater/embayment habitat. The maximum number of backwaters or <br />embayments sampled will be one per mile (excluding designated mile). Three seine hauls will be made in each <br />backwater or embayment sampled. All specimens collected, except rare fishes, will be retained and returned to <br />the laboratory for identification and enumeration. All rare fish will be measured and released; those> 150 mm <br />will be PIT tagged, Data collection and recording of relevant information (including GPS determined location) <br />will be the same as for secondary and primary channels. <br /> <br />Water quality data (ambient temperature, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and salinity) will <br />be measured in each sampled secondary channel, at primary channel sites and in bad:waters/embayments. <br />Secondary channel water quality data will be obtained a sufficient distance from the inflow to the secondary <br />channel to minimize primary channel influences. All water quality data for each sample will be recorded on <br />standard field forms. <br /> <br />Products: <br /> <br />Data collected during the 2001 monitoring effort will be summarized by geomorphic reaches. Minimally, the <br />annual report will report density per species (number/m') per geomorphic reach, size-structure of commonly- <br />collected species populations by geomorphic reach, and rare fishes and the mesohabitats each was found in. <br />Data obtained from secondary and primary channel sampling will be reported separately. Backwater and <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />~. <br />