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<br />001.722 <br /> <br />Table 2 provides a comparison between the angler hours and <br />catch rates during the Test and when releases where higher <br />than 250 cfs. According to the information gathered, the <br />short-term effects would probably not be as detrimental as <br />originally predicted. <br /> <br />Table 2.-Creel census and pressure counts for July 1998-2001 and the 2001 Summer Low Flow Test <br /> Quality waters Regular waters Total <br />Date Angler Catch Angler Catch rate Angler Catch rate <br /> hours rate hours hours ~y <br />July 2001 26.164 1.72 3.450 0.49 29,614 1.11 ~~ <br />July 9-15 4,706 6 1,155 (5A9) 5.861 c0J <br />(Low Flow Test) ~~ <br />July 1-8, 16-31 19.699 1.45 5.166 0.49 24.865 0.97 <br />July 2000 21.949 1.07 7,748 1.6 29.697 @ <br />July 1999 21,043 1.24 9.118 0.39 30.161 0.82 <br />July 1998 27.674 1.23 7.459 0.39 35,133 0.81 <br /> <br />Provided by Marc Wethington, NMDGF, and Rick Vinton. Reclamation. <br />Notes: (1) Angler hours for the month of July 2001 are not additive as the result of deriving full-month <br />data based on a formula with actual counts made during the Test. (2) The low flow data were gathered <br />daily during the Test; the previous years' data for the same week was only gathered two times during the <br />week and the weekend, so data comparisons would not be based on the same number of sampling days. <br />(3) Comparison can only be made on the total monthly data and the catch rates. (4) There is no real <br />explanation why July 1998 and July 2001 angler hours are higher than July 1999 and 2000. (5) The high <br />catch rate for the regular waters in July 2000 is due to public knowledge of the stocking date and place and <br />the resulting catch rate (being at the right place at the right time). <br /> <br />However, long-term projected impacts may include a <br />reduction in licensed outfitters, a shift from dory boat fishing <br />to rubber raft and wade fishing. A decline in recreation can <br />be expected if the overall condition of the trout fishery <br />worsens. <br /> <br />Rahing - Private rafters canceled trips on the lower San Juan <br />River during the Test but commercial rafting trips continued <br />because outfitters talked to their clients and convinced them <br />the flows were adequate because even though the Navajo <br />releases were low, the Animas River was not. Flows during <br /> <br />- 16- <br /> <br />Summer Low Flow Report - November 2001 <br />