Laserfiche WebLink
<br />9 <br /> <br />fishes and the endemic Colorado River fishes. Because these endemic fishes <br />have evolved under natural conditlons of high turbidity, it is assumed that <br />the retention of these highly turbid conditions is important for the recovery <br />of these endangered fishes. Reduction of turbidity may enable introduced <br />species to gain a competitive edge which could further contribute to the <br />decline of the endangered Colorado River fishes. <br /> <br />Colorado Squawfish Activitv in the 15-mile Reach <br /> <br />The Grand Valley area is occupied year round by Colorado squawfish. The <br />15-mile reach is the section of river between the Grand Valley Diversion and <br />the confluence with the Gunnison River. It has been identified as important <br />habitat for Colorado squawfish. <br /> <br />Migration <br /> <br />Radio-telemetry studies show upstream and downstream movement of adult <br />Colorado squawfish in the main stem Colorado River. The most dramatic <br />movement was exhibited by a fish implanted with a radio transmitter at Gypsum <br />Canyon in upper Lake Powell on April S, 1982. The fish was contacted next in <br />the lower Cataract Canyon area on July 9. 1982. The next contact was made <br />above the Black Rocks area of Ruby Canyon, some 160 miles upstream. The <br />movement was accomplished in 41 days and is believed to be related to <br />spawning. At the end of September 1982, this fish was located in the Colorado <br />River in the vicinity of Clifton. Colorado (river mile 178). nearly 200 river <br />miles from its furthest documented downstream location. <br /> <br />Other radio-tagged fish in the Colorado River have not displayed such dramatic <br />migratory behavior. Radio-telemetry studies conducted by the Colorado River <br />Fishery Project (Fishery Project) from 1982-1989 (Miller et a1. 1982: Archer <br />et al. 1986: Osmundson and Kaeding 1989), which focused on upstream reaches ~f <br />the Colorado River in and around the Grand Valley, provide the best indication <br />of use of the 15-mile reach above the confluence of the Gunnison River at one <br />time or another during the field season. Movement of these fish during a <br />field season was generally limited to 25-30 miles. <br /> <br />During 1986-1988, the Fishery Project radio telemetered 17 adult Colorado <br />squawfish collected from the IS-mile reach above the Gunnison River in June <br />(Osmundson and Kaeding 1989). The fish exhibited a diversity of localized <br />movement throughout the Grand Valley but spent a major part of time in the <br />15-mile reach. Two remained in the reach throughout the estimated spawning <br />period. <br />