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<br />The historical reduction in squawfish population in the Gunnison river <br /> <br />is probably in direct relation to reduced flows: 1) low flows prevent <br /> <br />spawners access from the Colorado River into the Gunnison River above the <br /> <br />/' <br />[ <br />~ <br /> <br />Redlands diversion; 2) lower spring flows may have also prevented the establish- <br /> <br />ment or access of young squawfish into limited backwater nursery areas. <br /> <br />The flow pattern has been significantly altered by storage reservoirs <br /> <br />;1 <br /> <br />such as the Curecanti Unit Reservoir and by consumptive use of water for <br /> <br />i~ <br /> <br />irrigation of over 200,000 acres of farmland. Also, increased competition for <br /> <br />food and space may occur in those backwater areas with the many exotic species <br /> <br />'.;1 <br />~I <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />that have been introduced since 1900 (Wiltzius, 1978). <br /> <br />(2) Endan~ered Humpback Chub <br /> <br />'-,.. <br />~ <br />'~ <br /> <br />" <br />. <br /> <br />The h\mpback chub has been on the Fede-ral endangexed species list since <br /> <br />March, 1967. To date, the only viable population known in Colorado is located <br /> <br />(;: <br /> <br />in Ruby Canyon in the Black Rocks area appxoximately 1.5 miles upstream from <br /> <br />k <br /> <br />the colorado/Utah border. <br /> <br />f.- <br /> <br />Humpback chub adults are usually collected in or adjacent to swift deep <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />water characteristic of canyon areas of large rivers (Holden and Stalnaker, <br /> <br />"I <br />j-~ <br />ii <br /> <br />1975; Seethaler et aI, 1976; Kidd, 1977). Adults utilize a variety of <br /> <br />~ <br />~, " <br /> <br />0.3 to 1.0 meters (Holden, 1977). Little is known about the reproduction of <br /> <br />~ <br />".>;. <br />~! <br />~ <br /> <br />microhabitats in these areas, usually over a sand substrate and a depth of <br /> <br />the humpback chub. From all indications, spawning probably occurs in mid- <br /> <br />?i <br /> <br />June through early July at water temperatures of approximately 650F. <br /> <br />.-{,- <br />~d <br /> <br />(3) Proposed Endangered Bony tail Chub <br /> <br />The bony tail chub has been proposed as an endangered species by the <br /> <br />Fish and Wildlife Service. The only record of bony tail chub for the Gunnison <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />13 <br />