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<br />7 <br /> <br />efforts will concentrate on four areas of impact of dam operations as follows: <br /> <br />1. Dam discharges and instream flows. <br /> <br /> <br />2. Sediment balance and processes, including upper terrace deposits. <br /> <br />3. Mainstem flow and sediment and tributary input (primarily the Little Colorado and <br /> <br /> <br />Paria Rivers) interrelationships and relationships to other resources. <br /> <br /> <br />4. Interaction of mainstem flow and sediment outflow and Lake Mead resources. <br /> <br /> <br />The Biological Resources Program <br /> <br /> <br />Monitoring and research of biological resources is intended to continue and refine <br /> <br /> <br />collection of data on critical components of the Transition Monitoring Program while providing <br /> <br />additional information about the structure and function of Colorado River ecosystems, as well as <br /> <br />the impacts of a range of alternative dam operations on the ecosystem and associated flora and <br /> <br />fauna. The biological resources program needs to be linked to the physical resources program to <br /> <br /> <br />facilitate the understanding of the influence of abiotic factors on biotic resources (i.e., discharge <br /> <br /> <br />and sediment on the aquatic food base and fish habitat). <br /> <br /> <br />Programs will evaluate native and non-native fish population dynamics to assess the native <br /> <br /> <br />and non-native fish communities' responses to alternative dam operations and criteria. Native fish <br /> <br /> <br />species of concern are the humpback chub, razorback sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead <br />sucker and speckled dace. Non-native species of current interest as predators/competitors of <br />native fish include several species of Salmonidae, Icta1uridae, Cyprilnidae and Percicthyidae. <br />Monitoring of the non-native trout fishery in the Lees Ferry reach will concentrate on <br />growth, survivorship, recruitment, and changes in population structure, including the contribution <br /> <br />Final Draft <br />