Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Data collected by a prior research project was presented along with data from electro. <br />fishing surveys from 1986 to 2003 for the Dolores River. These data showed that native fish <br />were still common in the Dolores River upstream of Big Gypsum Valley, However these <br />surveys revealed that only small-bodied fish (> 15 cm) were presently common and large <br />adult native sucker or roundtail chub were vary rare. It appeared that long-term low flows <br />have impacted the fish community by limiting body size, which appears to be due to a lack of <br />habitat availability for fish larger than 20 em. There has been an increase in nonnative <br />species in the last three years, It appeared that native fish of the Dolores River were <br />vulnerable to replacement by nonnative predators (centrarchids). <br /> <br />RECOMMENDA nONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH <br /> <br />I. Establish two sites on the Gunnison River for mark and recapture population <br />estimates, These sites should be the Delta site and the Escalante Site and sampled in <br />2004 and 2005, <br /> <br />2. Collect bed topography data using the GPS and sonar approach suitable for 2D <br />modeling at both Gunnison River sites, Collect topography data in 2004 and contract <br />the 2D modeling in either 2004 or 2005, budget dependent. <br /> <br />3, Perform mark and recapture estimates at the Com Lake site for one more year, Drop <br />the Clifton site from sampling efforts in 2004, <br /> <br />4. Perform mark and recapture estimates at Lily Park and Sevens for one more year. <br />Drop the Duffy site from sampling efforts in 2004, <br /> <br />5, Perform a preliminary or reconnaissance survey on the White River and locate at least <br />one site suitable for future fish sampling and a bed topography survey, <br /> <br />42 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />1 <br />'I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />