WSPP351

• File Number: 8210.130.60
• Description: Colorado River - Colo Riv Basin Orgs/Entities - Upper Colo River Comm‎(UCRC)‎ - Annual Reports
• Date: 2/2/2004
• Author: UCRC
• Title: Summary of Recommendations from 2003 Annual and Final Reports
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

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Laboratory by Darrel E. Snyder, Sean C. Seal, and Kevin R. Bestgen.

We recommend continued annual support of Project 15 with sufficient funds for
processing newly preserved collections covered by this project (beginning in FY 2004,
collections from Project 22F, Yampa and Middle-Green Colorado Pikeminnow and
Razorback Sucker Larval Abundance) and on-going maintenance and management
(curation) of all UCRB specimens held by LFL.

#16: Database Management Program by Charles W. McAda.

Continue the database program.

#22f: Interagency Standardized Monitoring Program (Ismp) Assessment of Endangered Fish
Reproduction in Relation to Flaming Gorge Operations in the Middle Green and Lower
Yampa Rivers by Kevin R. Bestgen and G. B. Haines.

Continue to sample early life stages of razorback sucker and Colorado pikeminnow
annually at these sites. This information is critical to establishment of long-term data that
can guide informed management decisions regarding population viability and recovery.
Data were also used to monitor effects of Flaming Gorge flows and water temperatures in
relation to endangered fish reproduction in spring and summer. This information can also
be used to make real-time recommendations for flow and temperature regimes for
Flaming Gorge Dam during the critical time of reproduction for endangered Colorado
pikeminnow. The Recovery Program should increase funding for this project to cover
costs for additional sample processing costs incurred for the Green River samples.
Sampling may also need to be expanded to assess reproduction by razorback suckers in
the Yampa River. Verification of yet unidentified sucker specimens may shed additional
light on the prevalence of razorback sucker larvae in the Yampa River.

#22k: Humpback chub population estimate in Desolation/Gray Canyon, Green River, Utah by
Julie A. Jackson and J. Michael Hudson.

~ Iffall sampling for this population estimate is to continue, a window of higher catch rates
of humpback chub may exist in the fall after the middle of October or when water
temperatures are around 10 Oc. Therefore, sampling should be conducted around this time
to additionally reduce stress on fish collected.

~ Late spring/early summer sampling for this population estimate should be revisited.
Lower catch rates during Fall 2003 relative to late spring/early summer sampling in the
previous two years is consistent with historic data from Desolation/Gray canyons. A more
accurate population estimate is possible from late spring/early summer sampling.
~ A holding pen for chub should be utilized at each site to prevent repeated captures of the
same individuals and lessen handling stress.

2003 Report Recommendations,